 |
I bought this bass after semi-retiring a vintage Rick. For rock, the Fender Jazz has the great hi-fi sound that many performers are using. P-basses have a bit more of a 'tubby' tone ... very old-school feel, with a neck that is very accomodating for slap style players as well as finger style. Jazz basses have a clearer more modern sound, along with a much narrower neck for fingerstyle and picking. You can slap on this bass, but it's much easier on a P. All in all, the Fender American Standard Jazz Bass will suit the needs of 90% of bass players with it's classic styling and solid tone. Maybe not best suited for shredders and metal players. Mine came with the S1 switching which allows for both a J tone or a P tone. Incredibly durable with an impeccable finish. My only complaints are some assembly weirdness like putting the back plate upside down and winding the strings downward, instead of upward to create downward string pressure on the nut. I had a buzzy string for a while, and thought it was a bad nut, when it turned out it was strung improperly. I'd rate this bass a 9.5 out of 10. Sweet tone, plays great, looks fantastic.Read full review
The Fender Standard American Jazz Bass is an icon for a reason. Bottom end punch and that unmistakable growl are the trademarks the greatest bass players have utilized for decades. The instrument I am reviewing is a 2001 model, Standard (passive) American model. Specifically a "natural" finish Ash body with a Maple fingerboard. Later models are equipped with the Fender High Mass bridge and other features. I can find no fault with stamped bent steel bridge. The saddles have grooves cut into them, allowing for "adjusting" string width. Steady intonation is not an issue. I selected a Ash/Maple combination for the tried and true tone and overall lightness. I am not disappointed. It sounds magnificent. The finish is quite thick and very glossy. It seems quite durable however careful handling would be advisable. The neck is typical USA Fender, well finished, straight and fairly chunky. You'll have to make up your own mind as to whether it's for you or not. This is a no skunk stripe neck, meaning it is constructed in two pieces. with the dual action truss rod imbedded below a glued on fingerboard. This bass is built to a very high standard. Every aspect of its construction is first rate and the parts are all of excellent quality, as expected of a American Fender. The only modification I have made, is the addition of a drop-D tuner. I utilize one, on all my four string basses. One thing to note is the pickups are fantastic, but, they are not split/dual coil, hum-bucking design. So if one pickups volume is reduced, 60Hz hum, becomes apparent. Noiseless pickups are available, but at a sacrifice in tonal clarity. Every bass player should include a J-Bass in the arsenal at least once. The American series is clearly a better instrument than its South of the border cousins both in finish and parts quality and is as good or better than any of its copies. The American series is a pro level instrument and casual players may not need to pay the price of admission. Excellent less expensive MIM's or Squires could suffice. Those who want the best won't mind.Read full review
Look at what all the "great" bass players play...or at least have one in their arsenal. American made Fender Jazz. I have been playing since I was 13 years old and have played them all. What do I always come back to and own right now...1997 American Fender Jazz. It has great feel the neck is very fast even if you have smaller hands like myself, you can still work your way around this thing with ease!! The variation in tones that are available fill the gambit, from deep growl to treble"ish" punch. This guitar just feels right at home from the moment you slip it on, once you start playing it and really feel and hear all that it can do you will never want to slip it off. I now own 3 of them, my American made, a Mexican made, and an American 5 string. They are all great basses and all have their place when I play, if you are considering a new bass, try the Fender Jazz before you make your purchase, you will not regret it!!Read full review
Verified purchase: No
Fender Jazz bass (if original) is just a great instrument. It doesn't matter if it is used, the quality of the body construction and the pickups, make the difference. Jaco Pastorious, one of the best bass players in time, used to play in a Jazz bass with a very touched body. That means a body with scratches, peel-off and whatever you can imagine. But, that is not the sound. Be realistic, the electric guitars and bass guitars are not acoustic. They depend just in some aspects: quality of the electronics and pickups, the fretboard, and of course the way the strings-bridge- are set up. No more, the rest are cosmetics and culture-developed dependence on colors, brands, etc. Go to your instrument store, connects fender and a Ibanez or whatever, fell the difference in sound, you will notice if you have some ear. Just have a brand Fender Jazz , or Fender Precision and you will have a good instrument. Check they have original pickups. Pay for a right tune up (guitar center or whatever) and play. You have your own style; don’t follow anybody as a god, juts to learn rhythms. Develop your own style. Work.Read full review
There is a reason there have been very little modifications in the basic design of the Jazz Bass over the years, it's simply one of the best all around basses on the market. I have owned and played numerous basses from Laklands, Modulus, Carvin, and several Music Mans, and they all have their merits, but the Jazz Bass has been a real surprise to me for it's playability, tone, and quality. I have always been a Music Man guy and that is sort of my baseline for what a good medium price range American made instrument should be and I must say that my last 3 gigs have been with the Jazz and not the Music Man. I just love the tones I can dial in and it really does have a great slap tone. This is just a great all around bass that has earned it's reputation the hard way; in the hands of players. Often immitated, but rarely defeated, this bass is a must have for anyone looking for a quality American made instrument.Read full review
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Best Selling in Bass Guitars
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Save on Bass Guitars
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- You may also like
