Who makes the best Jazz bass?

[quadebass17]

if you have the cash to accept recommendations like Sadowsky, etc.
you should have the cash to buy a REAL 60's Fender Jazz. or 80's. The 70's are always good too.

if you want a jazz, get a fender. get a fender, get a fender.

 

[Balkan]

Don't know how much the Sadowsky costs. I could pay for a new Jazz bass probably, but I'm not willing to spend $3,000 or whatever for a vintage one. So the question would be whether it's better to a new Jazz bass or something else comparably priced.

 

[caesarbass]

Don't know how much the Sadowsky costs. I could pay for a new Jazz bass probably, but I'm not willing to spend $3,000 or whatever for a vintage one. So the question would be whether it's better to a new Jazz bass or something else comparably priced.

You definitely should get out and get your hands on a bunch of basses, I'm sure when you find one that you like your hands will know!!!
Check out these shops:
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http://www.sadowsky.com/
I'm not sure if they're super close to you, but I thought I'd recommend a couple of places.
Hope this helps...get out there and play some killer basses!!!!

 

[Russell Bergum]

Try a Lakland JO or DJ. The Skyline models are a great bargain. There's a mint Skyline DJ 4 banger in lake placid blue, white pickguard, and rosewood board on Ebay right now for <$800.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

IMHO there isn't a *best* out there. Every player has differing opinions. First of all, play as many Fender Jazz basses that you can get your hands on. I've found quite a few newer Fenders that sound fantastic.

Another option is to find a nice Fender and upgrade the parts that you feel aren't up to your expectations with aftermarket parts. I've done this with my MIA P-Bass. I replaced it's stock pickup with a Nordstrand NP4, and IMO it's now a killer P-Bass.

HI
Many to choose from. Some kinda sound like a Fender, some dont. Depends what you are looking for
Sadowsky
Lull
Lakland
Pensa
Avella Coppola
Suhr
Fodera
Nordstand
and the list goes on!!!!!!!!
Id say try before you buy but alot of these are small time makers who dont have any or alot of retailers. Good luck

Rob

IMO Rob has compiled an excellent list of builders who make upper-end Fender-inspired basses. Hopefully you can try a bunch of these different brands out for yourself.

-Heck, I'd like to try out the basses on this list as well!

 

[bikeplate]

HI

Yea, Poon. There are a bunch more I could probobly come up with. So many great instruments out there. The OP lives in the city so he should be able to try most everything

Rob

 

[joelb79]

I do .

Or that Fender company does too. How about a Fendowsky.

 

[waffle puzzle]

I didn't catch your price range----
makes a HUGE difference

IME +1 on Sadowsky and Lakland

 

[Baryonyx]

Alembic's "Jazz" shape is beautiful, I bet those basses are awesome!

 

[jmccain]

I played a new 2008 Fender American Jazz bass yesterday. It was the 4-string version and I was mighty impressed. If I wanted another bass, it would have been that one.

 

[Nedmundo]

I think Dingwall's Super J is the best bass I've ever played, but with the fanned frets and unique electronics it's a different take on J-bass tone. You should definitely try one though. For classic tone, any high quality J-bass with passive electronics (or at least passive option) and great pickups (Fralin, Nordstrand, Duncan Antiquity, etc.) should do the trick. My favorites have been MIA Fenders (my Am. Ser. rules with noiseless Fralins), Mike Lull, and Lakland Joe Osborn and Darryl Jones sigs. If you're thinking high end, check out Callowhill, which recently introduced a J: www.callowhill.net. This guy makes killer basses. They're very light.

 

[BobaFret]

Try a Lakland JO or DJ. The Skyline models are a great bargain. There's a mint Skyline DJ 4 banger in lake placid blue, white pickguard, and rosewood board on Ebay right now for <$800.

+1 on the Lakland DJ. I got one a couple of weeks ago and it's really a great bass. The best, not necessarily but my favorite. I also have a Fender J that I like but not as much.

 

[T-MOST]

I owned a Fender MIA Active deluxe and that bass was great but I sold it to fund a custom Roscoe SKB 3005. Now I have a Sadowsky UV-70 5 on order. I thought about getting another Fender (because it really was a great bass) but I decided to "step it up" a notch.

 

[Husky]

John Suhr makes a beautiful totally in house crafted Jazz Bass. One builder makes the whole instrument. No assembly line. Search the forums for Suhr. You'll find only good things said about them.

I have a Suhr J with active electronics, fine bass. Lifetime warantee. I think out of that list, he is one of the only builders who actually makes his own necks and bodies pickups and electronics and paints his own product. Maybe Fodera and Nordstrand do as well. Not that it really matters but if I shell out that kind of cash I would rather the guy actually makes the stuff. Seems like many of the guys are kit builders or they hire a 3rd party body / neck shop to make their stuff.

 

[Lesfunk]

Lakland Joe Osborn skyline, very nice.
I played a Korean Fender jazz bazz 24 with basslines pickups yesterday at $650 I was pleasantly surprised.
Some of the new fender stuff is quite good feeling and sounding

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

Lakland JO FTW!!!

 

[Funk 'N' Stein]

if you have the cash to accept recommendations like Sadowsky, etc.
you should have the cash to buy a REAL 60's Fender Jazz. or 80's. The 70's are always good too.

if you want a jazz, get a fender. get a fender, get a fender.

'....The 70's are always good too???.....'

Au contraire my friend...many 70's fenders were TERRIBLE!!!!!

DON'T get sucked in to the hype....(vintage my arse)