Come tax return time I’m thinking about grabbing a second bass to play out in my bands. Right now I’ve gotta 2014 American Professional P I bought brand new. I’ve had a slew of other basses I’ve owned and traded over the years, Ric 4003, Gibson Firebird, couple 4 string MIM Jazz’s. I do have a circa 2000, 5 string MIM Jazz but I just don’t love it and I don’t know if it’s because it’s a 5 string or just the feel of this one. I’m debating on getting a 4 string American Jazz or another American P. Would a 4 string American Jazz feel better than the 3 MIMs I’ve owned? My P just feels phenomenal. Never played better.
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Thinking about that next bass…
- Thread starter Mo Boogs
- Start date
Ok, you've got a P, you've had jazzes, Gibsons, and 5 strings. Looks like it's time for either a multi scale or (better yet) a fretless?
I started playing at 18 and didn't try my first fretless until I turned 70, and I'm kicking myself for that, because now it's the only one of my 5 basses that I want to play!
I started playing at 18 and didn't try my first fretless until I turned 70, and I'm kicking myself for that, because now it's the only one of my 5 basses that I want to play!
Man, I had a fretless Jazz MIM that i absolutely loved! Thanks for reminding me of that. That actually sounds very enticing right now.
I don’t know, TBH, it sounds like you’re just looking to spend some money. I’d recommend you spend some more time thinking and trying basses. Otherwise, your money may be better spent (or invested) elsewhere.
First, focus some more on your 5 string jazz. Try new strings, setup tweaks, etc. Then, go to stores and try a bunch of stuff. Figure out what you like and don’t like. Don’t settle or rush…
At the end of the day, there’s nothing wrong with having just a P bass. Indeed, arguably, it’s all you need.
First, focus some more on your 5 string jazz. Try new strings, setup tweaks, etc. Then, go to stores and try a bunch of stuff. Figure out what you like and don’t like. Don’t settle or rush…
At the end of the day, there’s nothing wrong with having just a P bass. Indeed, arguably, it’s all you need.
Lately I have been playing my Roscoe Classic Precision with flats a lot. I still need a 5 for some songs so my Roscoe Century 5 (avatar pic) comes along as well. It's my favorite bass. Those are generally the 2 I bring to gigs and probably the 2 I'd keep if I had to choose.
I have a Fender Precision (2004 ish) that has rounds that's nice sometimes, but not necessary. I actually have it for sale. I also have a G&L JB-2 jazz with flats that gets used once in a while. I've strayed away from the "jazz" tone lately but it's a nice bass with custom wound hum cancelling pickups. It was a gift from my wife so it stays regardless.
I just sold my fretless because I just didn't use it. Amazing bass, but just not called for with my gigs.
I'd say if you have a 4 string precision you like, sell or trade your current jazz 5 and try to find a 5 string jazz you do like.
I have a Fender Precision (2004 ish) that has rounds that's nice sometimes, but not necessary. I actually have it for sale. I also have a G&L JB-2 jazz with flats that gets used once in a while. I've strayed away from the "jazz" tone lately but it's a nice bass with custom wound hum cancelling pickups. It was a gift from my wife so it stays regardless.
I just sold my fretless because I just didn't use it. Amazing bass, but just not called for with my gigs.
I'd say if you have a 4 string precision you like, sell or trade your current jazz 5 and try to find a 5 string jazz you do like.
Yeah, if I could only have one bass it would be a fretted P, but then I'd need a fretless too and I think minimum config for that is 2 p'ups, so I'd have to get a fretless P/J or J.
It wouldn't be TB if members could just get by on one bass!
When it comes to P's, you can't go wrong having one for flats and one for rounds, especially for recording. If that nuance isn't important for your work then I'd go the other extreme for your next bass and get something totally different, like some kinda shortscale hollowbody or something. But you can't go wrong with a nice Jazz too of course. I've had some MIM Fenders that after a pro setup and pickup upgrade played as well as and were better sounding than many off-the-rack MIA's.
Mexican Made - American Made - P Bass - Jazz - New - Vintage
I own all of the above.
Here is what does not matter - where it was made. Play-ability and sound have everything to do with the actual bass, not where the CNC machine is located.
Basses are individuals. If you play 25 basses, all in the same showroom, some Mexican, some USA, you find most are good, a few have problems, a few are better, and what is left are the ones you know are special.
For example, I personally own 8 different Pbasses; a couple of vintage 70's, USA, Deluxe USA and Mexican Players. There is one that is the clear winner and it happens to Player 75th Anniversary Precision, made in Mexico. Play it acoustically, its loud and resonant, modern C neck is perfect for me. The stock pickups sing, a bit bright but the tone control, rolls them into the perfect, quintessential Pbass tone.
This story has nothing to do with Precision or Jazz - play a bunch of basses judge each one on its own merits. This much more valuable advice than trying to identify the best by which model made win which country. FWIW
I own all of the above.
Here is what does not matter - where it was made. Play-ability and sound have everything to do with the actual bass, not where the CNC machine is located.
Basses are individuals. If you play 25 basses, all in the same showroom, some Mexican, some USA, you find most are good, a few have problems, a few are better, and what is left are the ones you know are special.
For example, I personally own 8 different Pbasses; a couple of vintage 70's, USA, Deluxe USA and Mexican Players. There is one that is the clear winner and it happens to Player 75th Anniversary Precision, made in Mexico. Play it acoustically, its loud and resonant, modern C neck is perfect for me. The stock pickups sing, a bit bright but the tone control, rolls them into the perfect, quintessential Pbass tone.
This story has nothing to do with Precision or Jazz - play a bunch of basses judge each one on its own merits. This much more valuable advice than trying to identify the best by which model made win which country. FWIW
find a shop or store that you can play it yourself, you wont know until you hold it and play it....everything else people suggest is subjective and pretty much useless
I`m also in the camp of trying out before you buy. I`m not gonna promote one brand over another. Tone & feel is everything and all of us are unique and not a one size fits all. I currently have a Fender P and PJ, a G&L J, and, at 59, I`ve just assembled my first real fretless J (Squier body & electronics, AllParts neck, and Schaller tuners. Lovin` it). I suppose at some point I need a hollow body, but that`s more of a "want". For what I`m playing I really don`t need another bass. Maybe GAS just hasn`t hit me hard enough yet
More about not wearing out one bass and having a couple to choose from for gigging. I’m also thinking about throwing some Labella flats on my 5 string jazz. I absolutely love them on my P.
100% correct. It's nice to have something really different, like an SR, or a Rick, or a headless, or a Ray. He had a Rick so maybe sub a short scale in that slot?
It depends on SO MANY variables that its not measurable. But I've owned most Fender J models at one time or another and NO they are not all the same. Even getting into the upper levels of the signature models, Pro's and Ultras there are significant differences in the "FEEL" of the neck. TO ME.... .the American Vintage II ''66 J bass is as good as it gets and I've sold off the others (Geddy Lee, Adam Clayton, Ultra's). But thats just to say that it fits ME perfectly. You may hate it (doubt it though). Having said all that, I'll tell you that my 2nd choice would be my Road Worn 60's J-bass (MIM) even over those others. Point is ..... you have to try them and see what you like. But NO they are not all the same by a long shot.
I was playing my American Professional Jazz last night and was reminded of how good it sounds and how much fun it is to play. I've owned Alembics, a Modulus, EBMMSR, a Honer, Rickenbacker, and a Kramer. It turns out that what I really wanted was an American made Fender
american jazz will be the same as the mim for the most part. unless your others were poorly set up or you are prone to placebo.
imho there are two types of players: find what you want and stick to it, or “a little bit of everything” types. i was the former, now i enjoy the latter.
P bass guys are always p bass guys. dont fight it.
imho get another p and admit you dont need it, or go wild and try something new. and make the p a nice one as you dont have a million basses so you owe it to yourself. and if you go new accept that it will look/feel/sound different and embrace the variety.
my rabbit hole was i was a j bass guy, but i wanted the standards. but i just threw it out the window and stuck to what i liked. so a lot of 4003’s. then i took a risk with dingwall and now i have 3. so i am a jazz, 4003, and dingwall (fanned fret stingray, lets be real) guy now. the rest are variations on those.
and i am happy
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I agree. My rabbit hole - - I am a 4 string, conventional long scale guy. I am equally comfortable on the Fender P or J but nothing is easier to play than the P. I like Ibanez SRs only because of the necks. I have not found any bass that plays faster or with a lighter touch than an SR, especially the fretless version. Fender tone is vastly superior to the Ibanez tone. I played Rick 4001 for 12 years but quite frankly enjoyed looking at it more than playing it, nothing special there, but it did have that Rick tone which was awesome.
If I was to go back today to 1972 with the choice of the equipment available today, I would have started on a 5 string, and quickly added 5 string fretless to the mix as soon as I was competent enough to do so. Now at age 71 too late to change things up that much.
