Getting a new bass guitar

OrganoXOrganoX Join Date: 2004-03-21 Member: 27473Members
in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">Need some advice</div>I have played bass for some time now and i feel that i want to purchase a new bass.
Im thinking of Fender Jazz, like <a href="http://www.fender.com/products/prod_images/basses/0257802321_xl.jpg" target="_blank">this</a> signature bass.
What do you think of that bass and do you have some other advices on other basses, then go ahead.
Hope there is some bassist out there.
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Comments

  • LikuLiku I, am the Somberlain. Join Date: 2003-01-10 Member: 12128Members
    edited March 2007
    What's that metal plate over the strings?

    It depends on the style you play and such; I hate 5+ string basses though so stick to 4, they don't need that much range.

    I don't know the exact model, but I played a Fender Jazz Bass at my local Guitar Center. Very nice tone, but I did't play Jazz with it.
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  • OrganoXOrganoX Join Date: 2004-03-21 Member: 27473Members
    It's a pickup cover.
    Very useful because you can rest your thumb on it without damaging the pick when you play.
    I play mostly progressive rock and funk/jazz.
    I have a very large taste of music.
    Right now, im playing on a 6 string Yamaha bass (look at my sig).
    And i dont like the tone of it, it's to dist for me.
    Fender Jazz have a very good sound and it fits on what im playing.
    You dont have to play Jazz to play the Jazz model <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
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  • LikuLiku I, am the Somberlain. Join Date: 2003-01-10 Member: 12128Members
    Without damaging the pickup you mean? I've never seen that, crazy, I just rest my thumb on the pickup.
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  • OrganoXOrganoX Join Date: 2004-03-21 Member: 27473Members
    Not really damaging the pickup but the pickup on my first bass were kinda loose after some use.
    I had to screw them harder after some time.
    Also, everytime i play bass, i play very long time with my band. Around 5-6 hours.
    After that time, i have some pain on my thumb because of the shape of the pickup.
    That's why i like the pickup cover. The shape is flat and perfect for my thumb to rest.
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  • lolfighterlolfighter Snark, Dire Join Date: 2003-04-20 Member: 15693Members
    Actually, there is something to be said for 5+ string basses. I'm not a bassist (I'm a singer), so bear with me if my terminology is wrong, but we played a number where the bassist had to tune his lowest string down. It really came in handy for him to have a 5-string bass.

    So go with any amount of strings you think you need.
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  • JazzXJazzX cl_labelmaps ∞ Join Date: 2002-11-19 Member: 9285Members, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester
    I have a '96 Fender Jazz bass (just a standard and not a deluxe, sadly) and love the thing to death. It has a great sound and it just feels good when you play it. Its heavy as a rock, as are all Fender Basses, but the tone you get from that is absolutely worth it.

    As for number of strings, since you already have a 6-string then I think a 4-string would be a wise choice. In addition to my Jazz Bass I also have a 5-string Fretless Epiphone, and while I like having the option more often then not even when I'm playing that I tend to stay on EADG anyway.

    I've done a massive range of musical styles and genres with mine, from Jazz to Classic Rock to Metal and while I was in High School some Percussion-ensemble stuff. Coming from a six-string this probably won't be much of an issue for you, but the necks on Fender Jazz Basses are a little thick (not as much as with their Precission series, but still more than many other manufactures).
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  • OrganoXOrganoX Join Date: 2004-03-21 Member: 27473Members
    How much did you pay for your '96 Fender Jazz?
    The signature model cost around 1538 US dollars here in sweden.
    The 5 string model of that signature model cost 1000 US dollars more.
    That's a overskill price for just a extra string and some tweaks.

    About the neck, i like thick necks. Because i have big hands, it helps me to play easier.

    Anyone heard the tone of the bass im looking at?
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  • JazzXJazzX cl_labelmaps ∞ Join Date: 2002-11-19 Member: 9285Members, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester
    <!--quoteo(post=1618129:date=Apr 1 2007, 04:57 AM:name=OrganoX)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(OrganoX @ Apr 1 2007, 04:57 AM) [snapback]1618129[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--> How much did you pay for your '96 Fender Jazz?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->Unbeliavbly I still have the hand-written receipt for it, and apparently I paid $400 for it plus a soft-case (carrying bag, really). I don't know if they threw that in or what, because it came to an even 400.

    A current model Standard-edition list at 650, and I probably paid around list when i bought mine (it was a small hole-in-the-wall shop).

    I don't remember exactly but I want to say that the Deluxe version at the time cost about double what Standard was priced at, and all of their Signature basses are Deluxe Price+
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  • OrganoXOrganoX Join Date: 2004-03-21 Member: 27473Members
    400? That was a good price for that bass.

    I wonder if the value of the signature basses is high as the deluxe models <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/confused-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="???" border="0" alt="confused-fix.gif" />
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  • JazzXJazzX cl_labelmaps ∞ Join Date: 2002-11-19 Member: 9285Members, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester
    <!--quoteo(post=1618224:date=Apr 1 2007, 05:42 PM:name=OrganoX)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(OrganoX @ Apr 1 2007, 05:42 PM) [snapback]1618224[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--> 400? That was a good price for that bass.

    I wonder if the value of the signature basses is high as the deluxe models <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/confused-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="???" border="0" alt="confused-fix.gif" /> <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> Well I did buy it 11 years ago <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" />

    The Signature series are kind of all over the place price-wise. However many of them are really upgrades of the Deluxe version, so they are frequently even more expensive then just the Deluxe Models. As for the huge price difference between the 4-string and the 5-String, I'd guess a lot of it is due to the fact that almost nothing from the standard 4-strings can be used on the 5 strings. The neck, pickups, fretboard, nut, frets and headstock all have to be 5-string specific.
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  • OrganoXOrganoX Join Date: 2004-03-21 Member: 27473Members
    I went today to a music-shop to test the signature bass and i love it!
    The bass have a switch for passive/active pickups, very nice.
    I love it so much that i order it, i got 20% free off because the owner of the shop was nice! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" />
    3-4 weeks to get it from Fender but i have chosen my new bass now! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
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