Which jazz bass and why?

[Greenman72]

Long story short--I'm in the market for a Fender Jazz bass.
Why? Because I currently don't have one, and "every real bassist needs both a Precision and a Jazz bass".
And it has to be a Fender, because....well, it just does.
(Don't argue the assumptions. Let's just assume them to be true.)

That said, which jazz bass would YOU get? And why?
(I did a similar poll a few years ago, but prices have changed--as has my understanding of the instrument.)

Any insight into the actual differences between the models would be appreciated.
(EG - what's the difference between "vintage" pickups and "V-Mod II" pickups?)

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[bholder]

I love my Sire V7s. All of them. FWIW. YMMV.

 

[konaaayukeeenee]

I love my Sire V7s. All of them. FWIW. YMMV.

LOL was about to say inb4 somebody recommends a Sire instead.

If it were me and I was buying a Jazz bass just to have a Jazz bass...I'd probably go for Player Plus just cause it seems to be the most bang for buck out of the choices. Assuming the prices are correct, you get nice upgrades for less than $100 more (better electronics and hardware).

 

[nickpc]

Find a nice Player Plus that you like playing, upgrade the pickups if necessary.

 

[marchone]

Another grand will get you to a Fender Custom Shop ‘64 Jazz Bass.

 

[GIBrat51]

Long story short--I'm in the market for a Fender Jazz bass.
Why? Because I currently don't have one, and "every real bassist needs both a Precision and a Jazz bass".
And it has to be a Fender, because....well, it just does.
(Don't argue the assumptions. Let's just assume them to be true.)

That said, which jazz bass would YOU get? And why?
(I did a similar poll a few years ago, but prices have changed--as has my understanding of the instrument.)

Any insight into the actual differences between the models would be appreciated.
(EG - what's the difference between "vintage" pickups and "V-Mod II" pickups?)

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Well...
The last Fender Jazz Bass that I've had in my hands was the American Professional II model. It was on a trip to the Sweetwater campus last year. It was a lefty, too; which was the reason I even bothered to look at it. It was a very nice bass - except for being a Jazz Bass. But, if I were ever in the market for one? That would most likely be what I'd get...
Sorry, but... I've just never liked them. For several reasons. The offset body feels... weird. Out of the 30 basses in my "Herd", I only have one with an offset body - a Canadian-made, '93 Fury Anthem fretless bass. I don't mind the offset body on that one, 'cause it's offset the "wrong" way. You wouldn't know, unless you looked closely at it... I also don't like the way they've always been wired - so that the volume drops, when the output's dimed. Doesn't happen with any of the non-Fender basses I own, with dual single coils; it can't be that hard to fix... Plus, they're noisy - and I don't see why I should have to shield the control cavity, and everything else under the pickguard. It's not like any of this stuff is new; Fender Jazz Basses have been like this since the first one hit the store - in 1960. However...
I really do like the Jazz Bass necks. A lot. Which is why my left handed '78 Fender P-Bass has the JB-sized, optional "A-spec" neck. And, that's about as close to a Jazz Bass as I care to get...
So... yeah; if I were ever to change my mind? The Professional ll is what I'd buy. At least the color's nice...

 

[BassicJazzy]

If you can find one of these from the early 90's (90 - 94) you will get an excellent USA-made J Bass, with a Kubicki 9V preamp as well. Can probably get one for around $1,500, perhaps a bit more, but they are rare. I believe only about 1,000 were made. It was the premium J bass of its time, and has a slightly smaller body than the tradition J bass, weighs less, under 9lbs. Maple neck on mine but I've seen them with Rosewood too.

 

[SteveCS]

You forget the Laura Lee - Ultra Jazz pickups and a stack-knob control arrangement in creamy aged white with a rosewood fingerboard and reverse tuners. What's not to like?

 

[ghostdog93]

No Vintera II? If I was going to drop $1200+ on a must-be-a-Fender Jazz, that's the one I would pick. But I do love the 7.25" radius board and vintage frets, and realize not everybody digs that setup.

Out of all your choices, I'd probably go for either the Player II on the lower end of the price scale, or the AmPro II on the higher end.

 

[Aric Bjorn]

Is there an option for: Build your own Jazz from a kit, including your own custom art, plus upgrading whichever parts you want to, and for a fraction of the cost?

Thread 'NBD - My "Close Enough For" Jazz'

Nov 15, 2025

It started as a kit from Solo, and now it's one of one. I feel like it has finally "arrived" because I just had it out jamming with some friends and it performed great. It's a real bass now! Wilkinson pickups, Ernie Ball Beefy 65-130s with BEAD tuning, a stutter mute, and a serial/parallel switch

Building it has been so rewarding that I feel like building another one too, but different. I would highly recommend it to anyone out there considering building one of your own. Go for it!

It's a little rough in spots, but it's perfectly imperfect, and it will do nicely. I'm very...

• Aric Bjorn
• Replies: 24
• Forum: Basses [BG]

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[HelpImaRock]

Standard and change the pickups if necessary.

 

[pbass2]

The Geddy--MIJ or USA are what I'm familiar with--can be excellent. Just gotta decide if you want 70's spacing. I dig both 60's and 70's but I do feel there's a pretty noticeable difference. 70's with flatwounds--super cool....

 

[ComicBass]

I got an Ultra II last year. It is amazing, everything I was looking for in a jazz bass. The quartersawn neck was a desirable feature to me and makes it a step above the rest imo.

 

[ClassicJazz]

The new Player II are excellent basses for the money. The build quality is great and very comfy with the new rolled neck edges. They are also cheap enough if you wanted to do some mods like new pickups or hardware, you would still be in it less then US models. I bought a Player II Jazz and was so impressed I got the Player II P-Bass.

As far as the Jazz I got, it sounds great! Just like I good Jazz should. I did change the pickguard as well as add a Fender high mass bridge which I find adds a bit more punch then the standard Fender bend metal bridge. I did the same on the P-Bass.

This is the Player II P-Bass I got after the Jazz.....

 

[Octoplus]

I've been playing J-basses long enough to know that I really have to play a bunch of them then pick the one that feels and sounds right. The last one that blew me away (and quite unexpectedly) was a used Fender Highway One that I picked up locally several years ago, which turned out to be the best $600 I've spent on music gear.

 

[mambo4]

And it has to be a Fender, because....well, it just does.

Disqualifies my first answer

I'd keep trying Standards until I found one I liked

 

[mdogs]

No Vintera II? If I was going to drop $1200+ on a must-be-a-Fender Jazz, that's the one I would pick. But I do love the 7.25" radius board and vintage frets, and realize not everybody digs that setup.

I was going to say the same thing, I find the Vinteras to be some of the best basses that Fender is building right now.

 

[Bass4ThePublic]

Used vintera 1. Every vintera Jazz I’ve ever played was fantastic.

 

[JC BASS 91]

I personally hate Fender's preamps, so I would remove all active basses from consideration.

In 2021, I got an Am Pro II Jazz V and could not be happier with it. It is a great player and sounds like a Jazz should sound. Meanwhile, my old MIM Fender Active Jazz Deluxe with Noiseless pickups and the preamp has never sounded like a Jazz should sound. I thought it might be the pickups, so I changed them out for a set of Am Pro II single coil pickups, and that didn't fix it, so it left me to conclude that the preamp is terrible. A feeling solidified by playing other active preamp Fenders in the local stores.

So...I voted Am Pro II.

I mean, just look at this beauty.

 

[Gervais Cote]

American Performer because I tried almost all the ones in your listing and the American Performer always sounded the best and most lively.