Who makes a great J right now?

[Titania]

Sandberg

Case closed

Agreed.

 

[somebrains]

Whose cnc is better than the others?

If you want handfitting learn to do it yourself.

 

[milesdavisblue]

I have owned all brands listed in your poll some I have kept some I have sold. I have for the last three years played pretty much exclusively Lakland for live gigs. Great Neck, Great electronics, Great craftsmanship.

 

[socialleper]

How much time do you have?
There are a lot of companies out there making great jazz style bass. The only limitation is how much money you have in your bank account.
I tried a Sadowsky and liked the feel, but not the price tag.
Mayones makes some nice stuff up around the $2k mark.
The Lakland Skyline jazz basses are very nice for the money.
A lot of people will probably say that the Sire V7 basses are the best bang for the buck.

 

[Maynjo]

I voted Fender, but if you're looking for the 70s spacing maybe you should look at a Mayones Jabba. They're beautiful basses and sound amazing. Plus they have 24 frets which is pretty cool.

 

[Bassamatic]

I would certainly consider a Sire. There is a great blind test between a Sire and a Custom Shop Jazz on YouTube.

 

[BurtMacklinFBI]

If money is no object, I’d go with Sadowsky. Otherwise, Fender or G+L.

 

[FrenchBassQC]

If money is no object, I’d go with Sadowsky. Otherwise, Fender or G+L.

G+L=GL

 

[GroovyBaby]

I found one for you! You don't really want an ash body... ;-)
For Sale - G&L JB (Jazz Bass). 7.8 lbs

 

[dhagopian]

Moollon.

 

[Scott Baiowulf]

After playing Fender jazzes for a couple years, I'm a Lakland fanboy now. Started with a MIM jazz, then an MIA, now I'm playing a Lakland Skyline DJ4 (the one in my avatar pic). It's a 2015 so it doesn't have the Aero pickups but the Hansons sound amazing. It blows the fit and finish of the MIA Fender I had completely out of the water.

 

[warwicktor]

After playing Fender jazzes for a couple years, I'm a Lakland fanboy now. Started with a MIM jazz, then an MIA, now I'm playing a Lakland Skyline DJ4 (the one in my avatar pic). It's a 2015 so it doesn't have the Aero pickups but the Hansons sound amazing. It blows the fit and finish of the MIA Fender I had completely out of the water.

For sure dude!!!

 

[saabfender]

View attachment 3126025 View attachment 3126027

Hokey Smokes! Will you look at that thing! If you doesn't motivate you to put something awesome together yourself, nothing will.

 

[somebrains]

Hokey Smokes! Will you look at that thing! If you doesn't motivate you to put something awesome together yourself, nothing will.

I bought it off a guy that retired.
I'm not crazy enough to blow $540 on a bare neck.
I know the guy that built it, not crazy about his Plek preferences, he is a really light right hand guy and I'm a gorilla.

I've done hand fitting, I've done simple bolt together jobs.

I prefer to buy someone's $1300 retail worth of parts and do light rework like neck inserts to tighten up the union.

Setup is always personal preference.

 

[MoeTown1986]

I’ve never played one, but Valenti J basses look AMAZING!

 

[lexefx]

You can still get old school Lakland style basses, but they are special order. Invalid Link Removed Carl Pedigo was the foreman of the USA Lakland shop in the Dan Lakin era. He builds outstanding basses, I love my Carlo J. He still does warranty work for Lakland, but he is independent. Can't recommend him enough.

 

[red_rhino]

Don't overlook Suhr.

 

[mark beem]

@Nino Valenti is my guy. My T21-J5 is incredible. I currently have a second, passive Jazz in the works. HIGHLY recommended.

 

[mark beem]

I’ve never played one, but Valenti J basses look AMAZING!

They are!

 

[backin82]

I have a Lakland Skyline DJ5 and absolutely LOVE it. But if I had the money, I would look at a Lull, Valenti, or Sadowsky.