• 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
#61
TonyP- said:
My suggestion...
Text can be taken funny and this is sincere response.

Stop with being cheap.

Just go professional and stop trying to put bandaids on crap.

That is the pretty much what you are looking to do on all your threads.

Modding is fine, but going cheap gives you cheap results.
Click to expand...

Well, my Warwick has an MSRP of $1400. And the MIM Fender Deluxe Active Jazz V retails for about $925.
 
Last edited:
#62
Cheap and Cheerful..... LOL
16689532-smiley-ukulele.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Heavy Blue, Playbyear, juggahnaught and 1 other person
#63
scottfeldstein said:
Well, my Warwick has an MSRP of $1400. And the Fender Deluxe Active Jazz V goes for about $925.
Click to expand...
If you don't like your MIM Fender setup up correctly unplugged then move it.
Life is to short to keep something that you don't bond with.
As long as you like how something played and feels unplugged 'almost' any electronics issue can be resolved.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Playbyear, Will_White and scottfeldstein
#64
scottfeldstein said:
I had an Ibanez SR505 as my daily driver for a few years. I loved playing it. Problem was, I didn't love the way it sounded. Still, maybe one of their other models is worth considering. I do love a fast neck.
Click to expand...

I have an SR506 and I ended up replacing the preamp with an Aguilar OBP-3 with push-pull passive knob. While I'm not overly fond of the bridge pickup, I find that the neck-only and full blend tones are pretty usable. It's naturally a pretty modern tone, but with the OBP-3 I can do a heavy bass boost and cut a lot of treble if I want to. Replacing the electronics on these basses makes a difference, for what it's worth.

king_biscuit said:
I would be picking a bass based on sound more than "playability." If you don't like the way your Fender plays, maybe take it to a pro and tell him what you want.
Click to expand...

I'm the exact opposite, here. I'd pick an instrument that felt good and was playable, and then try to achieve sound and tone through amp, signal chain, string choice, playing technique, and finally, electronics on the bass. The way I see it - if your instrument has good playability, you can always make it sound better - but if you don't feel comfortable playing it (assuming a setup, etc) then it's just not for you, no matter how good it sounds. (That said....maximum versatility is king here; learn to play anything and doors open for you.)
 
  • Like
Reactions: BBassBassington and christle
#65
juggahnaught said:
but if you don't feel comfortable playing it (assuming a setup, etc) then it's just not for you, no matter how good it sounds.
Click to expand...

Seems counterintuitive but I think sometimes that's how it is. My Jazz bass sounds killer, at least to me. But if everything else about it isn't right for me, then it isn't right for me.
 
  • Like
Reactions: christle and juggahnaught
#69
juggahnaught said:
I'm the exact opposite, here. I'd pick an instrument that felt good and was playable, and then try to achieve sound and tone through amp, signal chain, string choice, playing technique, and finally, electronics on the bass. The way I see it - if your instrument has good playability, you can always make it sound better - but if you don't feel comfortable playing it (assuming a setup, etc) then it's just not for you, no matter how good it sounds. (That said....maximum versatility is king here; learn to play anything and doors open for you.)
Click to expand...

I hear you, and maybe because I've had many many basses, I know that if an instrument is not defective in some way (warped neck, etc.), playability is really a matter of familiarity. If the OPs Fender is really properly set up and if he spends enough time with it, he will get comfortable with it and that will become a standard for him for playability.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BBassBassington, StayLow and juggahnaught
#70
scottfeldstein said:
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.
Click to expand...
Warwick RockBass Corvette Basic 5-String Active Bass - Nirvana Black Transparent

Buy this, sell the Fender. It's active with JJ pickups, you can get that Scooped sensation while feeling exactly like your $$.

the passive version really does sound amazing, $100 cheaper
Warwick Rockbass Corvette Basic Passive 5 Nirvana Black

A Sterling SUB will feel very much like the Fender, just sound a bit different. Once the honeymoon is over, it might just sit in the closet...
 
Last edited:
#71
king_biscuit said:
I hear you, and maybe because I've had many many basses, I know that if an instrument is not defective in some way (warped neck, etc.), playability is really a matter of familiarity. If the OPs Fender is really properly set up and if he spends enough time with it, he will get comfortable with it and that will become a standard for him for playability.
Click to expand...

I did a setup on it when I got it. It needed a neck shim, but otherwise everything's good. The truss rod works, the neck straightens. I played it some late last night. It's got a nice honky bite when I dig in. And it was just made to slap.
 
#72
My $0.02. If you are going to try an Ibanez then try one with either the Bartolini BH2 or the Nordstrand pickups. They are much better than the MK1 in the SR505. I also like the idea of replacing the electronics in the SR505 you already own. The bass itself is a fantastic, playable instrument. The electronics are its weak point.

Yamaha makes nice basses that balance and play well. Try them out.

It sounds like small body basses work well for you so focus on those body shapes and see what has good "bones" and works out of the box or is worth fixing the electronics.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dramatwist
#73
  • Like
Reactions: eastcoasteddie

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back