Who makes a great J right now?

[600 Ohms]

If it doesn't have to be a big price tag. SIRE, and BassMods.

Totally. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't quite impressed with them. My son has a Sire V7, which I borrowed for a recording project, and my mixer told me today, "Hey, whatever you're doing for a bass tone, keep doing it," so they're doing something right.

Since I've decided I want a 60's and a 70's style, I might pay good money for the 60's (most versatile) and maybe get a 70's in a Sire. Something like that.

 

[Midak]

For you Custom Shop guys: How easy are they to work with in terms of getting what you want?

My main bass is a Fender CS 1964 Jazz that I custom-ordered. The whole procedure was really easy, I talk through Thomann and they placed the order at Fender CS. As far as vintage passive Jazzes go, I don't think there is more you can ask.

That RV4 just had the magic.

If you liked so much the RV4, go for it. The best bass you can have is the one that inspires you to play on and on and on. Every time I pick up my CS I smile.

 

[600 Ohms]

Thanks to your suggestions, I found a bunch more J-types and got to play them today:

G&L 5-string Jazz. Very nice. Had a kind of "springy" feel to the strings that I associate with Stingrays. I could see how somebody would be perfectly happy with one of these.

Nash jazz '63 style. Good. Felt nice. Not into relic'ing really, but pretty well put together for a pre-made parts bass. A little overpriced for the market in my view.

2 different vintage 70's Jazz bass by Fender. Ash/Maple. I liked neither. Don't know what it was.

Wilkins J & PJ. Somebody mentioned these a few pages back. There were a bunch at the LABX. These were really nice, actually. Beautifully put together and great finishes. Played effortlessly and were generally very nice. I just didn't connect with them though.

Mike Lull M4V. This one was a few years old, but in nice shape. It had an older preamp/EQ in it. I could see how I'd be perfectly satisfied with a Lull. The build quality is obvious from holding and playing it.

But in the end, I went and played the Sadowskys again. I was concerned about the neck width on the R/MV5, but it felt great today. I really, really fell in love with this one RV4, but want to try to find a five string version, which I think I'll regret not getting. I played them in passive mode for ages and forgot about it, so I knew the pure tone was something I dug without the ear candy the preamp provides.

I put a deposit on the RV4 but am inquiring into having an RV5 made instead. Looks like either way Sadowsky is the winner!

My borrowed UV70 is also superb, but I prefer the RV a little more. When you know, you know.

Thanks all

 

[Barticus]

With all this talk about Jazz basses (other then Fender) and after my trip to Tokyo playing all those Sandbergs and Bacchus basses inspired me to acquire a little Jazz!

A short scale Bacchus with Schaller tuners and bridge! On its way to me now!

Size comparison

 

[BasEd]

Anyone AB'd a Xotic XJ4 and Suhr Classic J?

 

[BasEd]

Totally. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't quite impressed with them. My son has a Sire V7 vintage, which I borrowed for a recording project, and my mixer told me today, "Hey, whatever you're doing for a bass tone, keep doing it," so they're doing something right.

Since I've decided I want a 60's and a 70's style, I might pay good money for the 60's (most versatile) and maybe get a 70's in a Sire. Something like that.

I've bought and sold a few fab basses just because of GAS but I'd never part with my Sire V7 Vintage. Guess that speaks volumes.

 

[600 Ohms]

I'm liking the look of those Bacchus basses. Will definitely seek out next time I'm in Japan.

 

[600 Ohms]

A 5-string Sadowsky RV in Ice Blue Metallic just arrived!

 

[jazzenfunk]

LowEnd Bass is another great one!

I bought that bass from Dan eons ago. Still mad at myself for selling it! If it ever comes up for sale I'm gonna grab it. LEJ's are the bomb.
I just got a used Xotic xj that is pretty damn sweet and lightweight.

 

[600 Ohms]

I just got a used Xotic xj that is pretty damn sweet and lightweight.

I will definitely play these one time. They look great. Peña was a fave growing up. His sound was always world class.

 

[600 Ohms]

Final result: Ordered a UV70 four stringer in Ash/Maple and going back to my original thought. This leaves room for a more vintage-sounding, passive 60's style, like a Moollon (which are calling me) or Fender. That seems like the most versatile combo for what I want to do.

 

[600 Ohms]

Ash body = Tick!
Maple neck = Tick!
wider 70's pickup spacing = Tick!
active EQ = Tick!

My search for an active Jazz ended with Sadowsky Metro UV70 ten years ago. Built like a tank and punches like nobody’s business. Sadowsky blue SS strings are great companion to Sadowsky hum cancelling pick ups IMO. Truss rod wheel is a big plus as well.

View attachment 3125724

Angry Mob, I should've listened to you the first time.

 

[Angry Mob With Pitchfork]

Angry Mob, I should've listened to you the first time.

I am glad to know that I didn’t have to threaten you with my pitchfork after all!

I wish you the very many happy hours of playing!!

 

[600 Ohms]

I just pucked up a Fender Flea bass, it's basically a 61 reissue with American wiring and pure vintage pickups, roadworn nitro finish. Cant speak highly enough about it, I havent had an instrument i just want to play more than this one. Or just stare at haha. Flea or not it's a beautiful bass. Love the stacked knobs and the extra tone control.

Played one of these yesterday. What a great, easy, modern-sounding bass. Was trying to figure out why, with essentially the same parts, it was so bright and bouncy right out of the box?

By the way, I found this quote on a English grandfather clock specialist's web site years ago, when I was researching how to get ours repaired. It just made me love Flea all the more:

 

[600 Ohms]

So my original question was, "Who is making a great J right now?" and I was not surprised to find one of the answers is the Fender Custom Shop, as this used beauty came home with me yesterday:

View attachment 3181063

 

[joellay]

So my original question was, "Who is making a great J right now?" and I was not surprised to find one of the answers is the Fender Custom Shop, as this came home with me yesterday:

View attachment 3181063

Nobody immitates Fender better than Fender.

 

[Dave Neal]

With all this talk about Jazz basses (other then Fender) and after my trip to Tokyo playing all those Sandbergs and Bacchus basses inspired me to acquire a little Jazz!

A short scale Bacchus with Schaller tuners and bridge! On its way to me now!
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Size comparison View attachment 3142907

Bacchus are great basses .. even the Universe series is great value for the money. Sorry to say it but that Schaller bridge is mounted wrong /or is not the right fit for that green bass.

 

[Snakeman1066]

Nobody immitates Fender better than Fender.

except Lakland...and Sadowsky

 

[Pickebass]

I’ve had this debate for many years and have tried most of the J’s out there... and own too many

Fender- sounds like a Fender. Has a more pronounced midrange. A 70s reissue or Geddy are great. Got a 70s MIJ reissue. Sounds great, but heavy. And of course a Marcus Miller.
Fender deluxe (now elite? Or really similar) - very Sadowsky like. Put a mike pope pre in it and it does something very different from both the Sadowsky and fender.
Xotic - this is one of the most under appreciated basses around. Very fender like and sits in a mix really well. One of my faves. One of the problems with this basss is it does it all well.. which means it may not excel at a particular thing.
Sadowsky- the gold standard for super jazz basses. Sadowskys are not Fender. Same body style, but with different sonic goals. It’s great, but it’s an active bass and designed to be that way.
Alleva Coppolo- you want a new vintage Fender? This is the answer. Every 5 string I’ve played felt like a great old Fender.
Sire - best bang for the buck. I owned one just because. Not a bad instrument, but I’ve got a stable of great J basses

 

[600 Ohms]

I just pucked up a Fender Flea bass, it's basically a 61 reissue with American wiring and pure vintage pickups, roadworn nitro finish. Cant speak highly enough about it, I havent had an instrument i just want to play more than this one. Or just stare at haha. Flea or not it's a beautiful bass. Love the stacked knobs and the extra tone control.

Can you explain "American wiring?" When I played one of these, I found it so different from the "average" Jazz bass in tone that I wondered what they were doing to achieve it.