• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Swapping out Fender Jazz for something cheep and cheerful

What should I replace the Fender bass with?

  • Keep it you fool!

    Votes: 75 56.8%

  • Get the Sterling SUB

    Votes: 24 18.2%

  • Get a different inexpensive bass (leave comment!)

    Votes: 33 25.0%
  • Total voters
    132
#22
scottfeldstein said:
How do you tell the latest version? I see a lot of Sterling Sub5 basses on sale new and used on Reverb. But none of them have that big SUB on the headstock. What gives? Older models?
Click to expand...
Older models have the big sub on it. Later versions say ray4. I have read that the later versions have the ray24 electronics. I read where the sub4 had electronics issues. Mine is stable. Stable enough to play at every gig I have played since August.
 
  • Like
Reactions: scottfeldstein
#23
pappabass said:
Older models have the big sub on it. Later versions say ray4. I have read that the later versions have the ray24 electronics. I read where the sub4 had electronics issues. Mine is stable. Stable enough to play at every gig I have played since August.
Click to expand...
That's super helpful, thanks.
 
  • Like
Reactions: pappabass
#26
two fingers said:
What are your favorite things about the Warwick? Find something different similar. If the Warwick feels like home, you wouldn't want to stray too far from home.
Click to expand...
What I love about my Warwick Rockbass Corvette $$ 5...
  • I love the really flat radius on the fingerboard. It's like a 24 inch radius or some such, not 9.5" or 12". It's very flat and I love it.
  • I love the small body form factor. It's much smaller than a Fender Jazz.
  • I love the painted black headstock. A+ if it matches the body, but A if it's at least painted black.
  • Such low action. I don't know if it's the quality of the neck build or the adjustable nut, but it gets really low and I am super into it.
While I'm at it.. what I love about the Fender Jazz Deluxe Active V...
  • It sounds rich and scooped. It has snappy wet highs when you pop the G, but a big bottom when you bump on the E or B.
  • The electronics are such that I feel like I really would use the boost on the bass and maybe even the treble. Like it's not going to throw my whole signal chain out of whack if I do.
 
  • Like
Reactions: stuntbass77, waynobass and EmuBass
#29
BigNotes said:
I enjoy my SUB5. I alternate between it and the Am STD Precision 5. Definitely two worlds there. The SUB5 is easier on my old hands and a little lighter.
Click to expand...
I think I would like the Sub 5. But the Yamaha TBRX 5 stringers are turning my head, too. Looks like a lot of bass for the money.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dramatwist
#30
BigNotes said:
I enjoy my SUB5. I alternate between it and the Am STD Precision 5. Definitely two worlds there. The SUB5 is easier on my old hands and a little lighter.
Click to expand...
Nice. I could see me alternating between my Warwick superstar and a supporting player, like a SUB5. Just to get aggressive on a slap song. Nice to know that it isn't going to break my fragile back.
 
#31
scottfeldstein said:
I think I would like the Sub 5. But the Yamaha TBRX 5 stringers are turning my head, too. Looks like a lot of bass for the money.
Click to expand...
I've owned both a SUB 5 and a TRBX305. The SUB 5 has that crisp aggressive tone, the TRBX305 has a deeper low end, sounds more full (well, it has two humbuckers). The neck on the Yamaha is wider, a little bit heavier but the bass feels nice and solid, I had a mist green TRBX305 and it looked great.
Which one to get depends on whether you want something similar to what you already have in terms of that crisp aggressive mid tone, in which case the SUB would be it or want something that sounds different, the Yamaha.

Another bass that might be worth looking into is an Ibanez Soungear SR 505. If you want a light bass, with a slim fast neck and usually can be found inexpensively, that or maybe the SR305E might be good options.
I would recommend a G&L Tribute L2500 but the bass is a little on the heavy side but tonally, that bass is very versatile. Maybe a Tribute M2500? Don't know how much those weigh.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: One Way and osonu
#32
scottfeldstein said:
I bought a 2002 Fender Deluxe Active Jazz V (MIM) a couple of months ago. It was my intention to use it as my daily driver, my "best bass." I was going to knock my Warwick Rockbass Corvette $$ down to "backup bass" status.

Problem is, I did some work and setups on both of them, and now I definitely like the Warwick better than the Fender. That's good news for my Warwick, which now plays like a dream. Not so good for the Fender, which is now too good to just have sit around as a secondary instrument. That's not how I intended to use that money.

So...I just put the Fender up for sale on Craig's List for $500 with a hard Fender case and some extras.

If it sells quick (and I think it probably will) maybe I'll go cheap and cheerful and pick up a used Sterling SUB5. I see used ones going for under $300 and they're supposedly pretty good. That or something like it. Good but inexpensive.

Am I nuts?
Click to expand...
I own two very nice Ibanez basses. But one of my lifelong heroes plays a Music Man and is awesome-- Tony Levin. So for Christmas I asked wife for a new Sterling by Music Man bass. When I received it, I liked it right out of the box. Very nice build quality. But what floored me was the tone that active bass gets. It's really great and I keep everything fairly flat. It has a nice growl that I can't get out of my Ibanez basses. I did have to tweak the truss rod and bridge a bit but it was one of the easiest setups I've done. The truss nut is a big wheel at the foot of the neck by the body, and it's so easy to turn. The bass came with instructions and both bridge and truss wrenches. Very highly recommended.

One last thing. I definitely won't own a heavy bass. Mine came in around 8 pounds and is well balanced and easy on my neck. This is coming from an ultralight Ibanez bass guy.
 
  • Like
Reactions: stuntbass77
#33
Maxdusty said:
\Another bass that might be worth looking into is an Ibanez Soungear SR 505. If you want a light bass, with a slim fast neck and usually can be found inexpensively, that would be it.
Click to expand...
Ha! Yes, I currently own a SR505. I love playing it, but I didn't love the sound of it. I have currently pledge it to a young, broke player who could use a good instrument for free. Also your other advice is very helpful, so thanks!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Maxdusty
#35
Like you, I loved that flat fb on the Rockbass $$ (mine went to a fellow Worship team member in need). I wouldn't hesitate to suggest the G&L L2500 as another bass I like the fingerboard on, though I don't think it is quite as flat as the $$. It is also a monster tone wise, very fun to play. If you were serious about the "cheap and cheerful" bit, I would definitely find a Talman to at least try. It's been long enough that I can't remember how flat the fb is, but I do remember that I was totally impressed with the sound and feel for the price - cheap and cheerful exactly - to the point I avoid GC's and other shops that might have one because I already have too many basses, and for the price it was just so hard to not take one home! YMMV
 
#36
The physical and ergonomic differences between the Warwick and the Fender are, to say the least, considerable. If the 'Wick checks off a bunch of boxes for you, find another like it or something of a similar build.

You're not too far from Milwaukee, right? Why not make a whole day of it? I'm thinking of something to the tune of…
  1. Order something you think you'd like from Guitar Center's used database and have it shipped to the nearest/most convenient location.
  2. Plan on more making more than one stop on the way to and from said store. The more you can do along the way, the more efficient use of your time.
  3. Give the new acquisition a patient and thorough shakedown trial before you leave the store. See if it needs any setup work by their in-house tech. (I can't speak for all locations, but they guys at my local store will gladly give it a quick eyeball-check and do a little tweak to the truss rod for nothing, if the need is there.)
  4. If you like it, take it home. If not, you can return it on-the-spot. The most you'll lose out on is the shipping fee which usually amounts to around $20 to $25. And if you take it home, you'll still have a month or more to see if you bond with it.
Even if you decide not to keep it, but you still utilize #2, you've already fulfilled some errands while out on the road.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back