Types of J Basses

[Persona87]

Another option to try out if you can might be the VM Jaguar bass. Its a PJ bass, meaning that the pickup near the neck is a p bass style split coil which has a lot more meat than a regular J pickup. You will get some hum if you run both pickups full blast because the PJ combo doesn't cancel hum like a regular JJ will, but the tone of the P is worth it IMO.

 

[WarriorJoe7]

Without getting all technical, any squier jazz bass (avoid the affinity or ones older than say 2008) or any mexican fender jazz (avoid before 2004) bass would be advisable. Other than that many of the differences are just cosmetic.

 

[hrodbert696]

I got a cheap but great sounding p/j. I love the versatility of it and the playability it has with the narrow neck thats longer than the jazz. that was always my biggest complaint was that the damn neck was so short on a standard jazz. ran 300 bucks.

What P/J are you talking about and how long is the neck? A standard jazz bass' scale length is 34", same as 90% of the other basses on the planet. Or were you comparing your PJ to a short-scale jazz?

 

[khutch]

Why is a Blacktop Jazz Bass better/worse than a Modern Player? Why is the Affinity Series J better/worse than the Vintage Modified 70's?

Why are there so many types of Fender/Squire J's? What should I look at when choosing one?

If you are looking at Fender/Squier basses then you pretty much get more if you pay more. Now, the farther you go up in price the less value each additional dollar spent brings you but it always brings you something. Sometimes it brings you little more than a Fender decal instead of a Squier decal but it does bring you that. I believe all the Squiers are made in Asian factories as are the Fender Modern Player instruments. All the other Fender branded basses are made in Mexico unless they use the word "American" in the model name, those are made in California. And of course simple statements like that are bound to have exceptions which someone else will point out shortly. Basses from each region/country of origin tend to increase in workmanship as you go from cheapest to most expensive and the most expensive models from all three areas are surprisingly close to each other in this respect. When you pay more money you tend to get more features and better components. Having said that the Squier models that sell in your price range, new, are very well made, sound great, and will serve you for a long time with no more care than you would give any other bass. In terms of value per dollar they are probably at the peak of the curve along with the Fender Modern Player series which are essentially top end basses from the Squier factories that have Fender decals.

Why are there so many? Each one has a feature set that tries to appeal to some significant fraction of bass owners in order to convince as many as possible to buy a Fender bass. Each of us finds different features attractive so there are many different models. Once you own one Fender bass then those that you almost bought will start to nag at your regrets over the features that they have over the one that you did buy and eventually convince you to buy another Fender bass, and another, and another .... That is how marketing works.

The biggest contributors to tone are pickup layout, pickups, strings, and playing technique. You say you already know that you like the Jazz Bass pickup layout so looking at Jazz basses is the right thing to do. You can also consider P/J basses which have the same general layout but one of the pickups is the split coil Precision pickup. They are generally similar in sound to a Jazz when both pickups are used or the bridge pickup is soloed and similar to a Precision when the neck pickup is soloed. The pickups themselves can be changed later on when the budget allows and someone on TB has convinced you that you SIMPLY MUST have their favorite pickups. Strings you will change regularly, you can experiment with types as you go along. Playing style is something you have to work on. So the bottom line is that any of the Jazz basses in your price range will work well right out of the box and none of them will really lock you into a tonal palette that cannot be changed down the road when your tastes and preferences develop and perhaps take a new direction. By all means try them out if you can even if you have to devote some serious commuting time to get to stores that have them. However I really think that any bass in your price range that looks good to you will work well for you at this stage of the game so you could just order one online too. I have purchased four of the six basses that I have owned that way and none of them has disappointed me. But playing basses in stores even though they are not exactly what I eventually ordered did help me define and refine what bass I did want to order. So some time spent in stores will help you answer some of your own questions and your own answers are far better for you than our answers will be!

 

[the general]

Get out there and try as many of the basses as you can. Try different music stores in your area, if applicable, and see what they have. You might find that you don't want a jazz bass and like something totally different. Check Craigslist as well for some possible good deals or the classifieds on this site also. Good luck in your search and I hope you find what you're looking for

 

[felis]

....I can push to $350. I'll check out the CV. This'll be my first "good" bass (currently on a POS Bronco), so I'm still kind of discovering my bass style and feel.

Some people here have modified Broncos, and they look and sound good.
The Bronco is a short scale, 30", so any standard size, 34" bass you get is going to feel different.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

Budget: 300
Wood Type: Zero knowledge of the difference between woods when it comes to sound
Appearance: Very minimal requirements for me. I like the look of all the J Basses. Color is hardly important to me.
# of Frets: Currently playing with nineteen, and it works just fine. 20 is good, but I don't mind if it's 24.

I'm a major noob to what's going to affect the sound of my bass, build-wise.

For $300, a new Squire VM is a good choice. Or you can shop around and find a used Mexican made Jazz. I see one poster said he got one for $200. I haven't seen anthing less that about $400. I don't know where he is, but I am in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Location will affect prices, but if you have to order online, I would go with Sweetwater (not a plug, but a referral from personal experience). In fact, if you call them, they have knowledgeable people who will be happy to answer your questions and get you going. I have a VM Five string and I like as well as my American J.

 

[Maxdusty]

For $300, a new Squire VM is a good choice. Or you can shop around and find a used Mexican made Jazz. I see one poster said he got one for $200. I haven't seen anthing less that about $400. I don't know where he is, but I am in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Location will affect prices, but if you have to order online, I would go with Sweetwater (not a plug, but a referral from personal experience). In fact, if you call them, they have knowledgeable people who will be happy to answer your questions and get you going. I have a VM Five string and I like as well as my American J.

I bought my MIM Jazz for $200 - it was in excellent condition, hardly used. Kind of lucked out on that. I live in the Detroit area. On average, Fender MIM Jazz basses go for about $300-350 average where I am, but lately, there have been few below $300. Most are older, signs of use etc.
Some examples:-
This one is already sold but the posting is still up. I was choosing between this one and the one I got for $200 two weeks ago, I opted for the one that was a more recent model (2008)and hardly used.
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Currently there's a P-Bass for $225 also an older model, has a pretty bad chip on it, but still.....It's also a Black Label.
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On the Guitar Center website, there are a few MIM Jazz basses for around $249 $275- with $20 shipping, it still gets you under or around $300
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to the OP:
What is pretty important if you look through Craigslist ads, is to realize that some people do inadvertently refer to their basses as "Fender" when in actuality, it's a "Squier by Fender" and overprice their Squier basses based on Fender prices. lol. Read carefully, be vigilant, and you might find the deal that'll work for you.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

I bought my MIM Jazz for $200 - it was in excellent condition, hardly used. Kind of lucked out on that. I live in the Detroit area. On average, Fender MIM Jazz basses go for about $300-350 average where I am, but lately, there have been few below $300. Most are older, signs of use etc.
Some examples:-
This one is already sold but the posting is still up. I was choosing between this one and the one I got for $200 two weeks ago, I opted for the one that was a more recent model (2008)and hardly used.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Currently there's a P-Bass for $225 also an older model, has a pretty bad chip on it, but still.....It's also a Black Label.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

On the Guitar Center website, there are a few MIM Jazz basses for around $249 $275- with $20 shipping, it still gets you under or around $300
Invalid Link Removed


to the OP:
What is pretty important if you look through Craigslist ads, is to realize that some people do inadvertently refer to their basses as "Fender" when in actuality, it's a "Squier by Fender" and overprice their Squier basses based on Fender prices. lol. Read carefully, be vigilant, and you might find the deal that'll work for you.

I would pop for that in a heartbeat were it not for that ding. Looks like it got a serious drop at some time. I would bet the difference in prices is the economy. I know Detroit is falling apart financially, but the DFW area is booming. Anything you see for under $400 looks as bad as this one does. Guess I need to be watching the detroit Craigs list. Willing to do a pickup and ship for me?
Also to the OP. +1 on the watch what you are buying on CL.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

I bought my MIM Jazz for $200 - it was in excellent condition, hardly used. Kind of lucked out on that. I live in the Detroit area. On average, Fender MIM Jazz basses go for about $300-350 average where I am, but lately, there have been few below $300. Most are older, signs of use etc.
Some examples:-
This one is already sold but the posting is still up. I was choosing between this one and the one I got for $200 two weeks ago, I opted for the one that was a more recent model (2008)and hardly used.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Currently there's a P-Bass for $225 also an older model, has a pretty bad chip on it, but still.....It's also a Black Label.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

On the Guitar Center website, there are a few MIM Jazz basses for around $249 $275- with $20 shipping, it still gets you under or around $300
Invalid Link Removed


to the OP:
What is pretty important if you look through Craigslist ads, is to realize that some people do inadvertently refer to their basses as "Fender" when in actuality, it's a "Squier by Fender" and overprice their Squier basses based on Fender prices. lol. Read carefully, be vigilant, and you might find the deal that'll work for you.

I forgot to ask. What is a "Black LabeL"? I have never heard that term used before.

 

[Maxdusty]

I forgot to ask. What is a "Black LabeL"? I have never heard that term used before.

Regarding the Black Label basses and guitars- basically the "Fender" logo is in black. To better describe it, I'll refer to this post to save time.
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/fs-93-black-label-mim-p-bass.1009729/

With MIM Fender basses, I try to look for 2004 or newer as a post mentioned above - there were less quality control with the older ones imo, you could end up with a good one or a nightmare. Manufacturing methods and competency improved over time.

Regarding bass prices here, $300 or under do show up every now and then. I've been lucky and bought these three for $300 or less just this year.
$200 - 2008 MIM Fender Jazz in Midnight Wine (now has black pickguard)
$300 (but obtained in trade ) - MIA Fender JP-90 (this is an awesome sounding bass if you can find it and get over the funky pickguard-it's Made in the US quality)
$300- (obtained in trade for a Sterling Sub Ray) 2006 MIM Fender P-bass (came with Badass II bridge and Seymour Duncan pickups already installed)

the Jazz and P bass were in immaculate condition, the JP-90 has a few very minor scratches. Good deals can be had here as you mentioned, probably because of the current state of the economy here.

 

[awilkie84]

I'm pretty new at this, so if it's wrong, someone will surely step in to correct.

But I think that 'jazz bass' refers to the neck width and body shape.
I've seen all kinds of pickup types in different configurations on basses that are called jazz.

I like to think of a Jazz bass as a combination of dual jazz pick-ups. If it doesn't have that, it's not a jazz.

The blacktop jazz is more of a dual P. Ballsy.
The modern player is a very versatile bass, capable of copping P, J & pseudo MM tones. Great for rock.
There's 1 model that has a P/J setup. These ones are my favorites.

 

[Maxdusty]

I like to think of a Jazz bass as a combination of dual jazz pick-ups. If it doesn't have that, it's not a jazz.

The blacktop jazz is more of a dual P. Ballsy.
The modern player is a very versatile bass, capable of copping P, J & pseudo MM tones. Great for rock.
There's 1 model that has a P/J setup. These ones are my favorites.

I think you're probably thinking of the Aerodyne? I think of P/J basses as P basses Plus. Not really the best of both worlds as some manufacturers want you to believe, but has a sound all it's own. Regardless, I like the sound of them too- love my JP-90 bass for that reason/

 

[awilkie84]

I think you're probably thinking of the Aerodyne? I think of P/J basses as P basses Plus. Not really the best of both worlds as some manufacturers want you to believe, but has a sound all it's own. Regardless, I like the sound of them too- love my JP-90 bass for that reason/

That's the one. lol The Aerodyne, which also comes on a P body in Japan.

I agree that they're neither a P or a J. They combine the best elements of both, though.

 

[lfmn16]

I've never bought a bass before. My current one was a birthday present when I was little. I think I've got my heart set on a Fender (or Squier) J, but unfortunately, I don't have a variety of basses at my fingertips to try out.

Where are you located?

 

[Hypnotaize]

Some people here have modified Broncos, and they look and sound good.
The Bronco is a short scale, 30", so any standard size, 34" bass you get is going to feel different.

I've borrowed standard 34s. Way better feeling.

Where are you located?

Central California.

 

[felis]

I'm getting a new bass in October, ...Budget: 300...

A couple things: there are some Labor day sales going on now.
If you can buy now instead of in October, want to buy new instead of used, are willing to buy online,
and don't mind a Squier, here's a couple around your budget that look pretty good:
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Do a search for them here - there's probably been some threads about them.
Or maybe someone who has one of them will give some input.

 

[lfmn16]

Central California.

If you name a city, maybe some people could recommend a good music store.

 

[Hypnotaize]

If you name a city, maybe some people could recommend a good music store.

Sorry. Always a little vague on my location. The city is Seaside, on the Monterey Bay.

 

[Malak the Mad]

Why is a Blacktop Jazz Bass better/worse than a Modern Player?

I'll answer this, specific part. Neither are better or worse than the other. They are simply two different spins on the same Jazz "platform". But this…

I like to think of a Jazz bass as a combination of dual jazz pick-ups. If it doesn't have that, it's not a jazz.

The blacktop jazz is more of a dual P. Ballsy.

…is where some of us have different perceptions of what it means to be a "Jazz Bass". awilkie84 and I respectfully disagree here. I, like the people at Fender, use the term in regards to the body-type, not the electronics within. For me, it's like cars…even if a VW Beetle has a Porsche engine inside, it's still a Beetle. So as far as I'm concerned, my Blacktop Jazz is still a Jazz. It just happens to have a different "engine".

And speaking of Blacktop Jazzes, we both agree on the "ballsiness" of this bass. It's why I bought it! I have yet to try out a passive bass that is as ferocious as it. In fact, I just made a post about it on another thread. If you like what you hear, you might be able to find one used for close to your budget, or maybe just a little over it. (e.g.: this just popped up on Guitar Center's used database for $350+shipping)