JamesBass Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 So I'm thinking of buying/building a jazz bass soon, but I know next to nothing about Jazz basses in General! So if you could spec the ultimate Jazz, what would you do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 Well I wouldn't build one for a start 😊 All personal taste but for me - narrow 4 string, 34-35mm nut - and passive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul h Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 70's pickup spacing and a matching headstock would be on my list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 Under 8lbs, 32" scale, black body, bwb pickguard, maple neck, passive with S1 switch. Anything else is icing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 Mine would be a pimped vintage MIJ bass, and would have DiMarzio Model Js, stack knobs, passive electronics, Schaller 3D bridge, maple/blocks and a vulgar scratchplate. In fact it would be this: [sharedmedia=core:attachments:66973] Jon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubinga5 Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 (edited) for me the ultimate ever jazz bass is a Suhr. I've played Sadowsky's, De Gier,s, Lulls. nothing comes close to the feel and sound you get from John Suhr's instruments. only my opinion. they are pure jazz bass porn aswell. i will…..yes i will own a Suhr one day.. Edited March 21, 2015 by bubinga5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 Xotic for me or Celinder....GB Spitfire in that baby blue colour maybe.....Alleva.....a Fender if you can get a good one....Sadowsky......Sei..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk_lefty Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 Ebony fretboard, or maple. Rosewood is what everyone else has. Badass bridge, walnut top at least... Matching headstock would be ideal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlungerModerno Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 [quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1426951479' post='2723916'] Under 8lbs, 32" scale, black body, bwb pickguard, maple neck, passive with S1 switch. Anything else is icing. [/quote] +1, But I'd go with Jumbo frets, light tuners, and a well contoured body. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassmachine2112 Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 Early Peavey Foundation with super ferrite pick ups. Cheap as chips and made in USA. My one is 31 years old and gets gigged every week. These are seriously good basses Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jono Bolton Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 [quote name='bassmachine2112' timestamp='1427017889' post='2724642'] Early Peavey Foundation with super ferrite pick ups. Cheap as chips and made in USA. My one is 31 years old and gets gigged every week. These are seriously good basses [/quote] Agreed. I don't particularly like Jazz basses because of the body shape, so the Foundation suits me better. The Super Ferrites are great pickups. My Foundation is a dream to play, thin, fast neck, straight as an arrow and really low action. The neck tilt feature is totally underrated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zero9 Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 If you know next to nothing about Jazz basses, you best get yourself out there and try a load. That should give you an idea if it's 'the one' for you before blowing a load of cash on the ultimate one. Just a thought Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesBass Posted March 22, 2015 Author Share Posted March 22, 2015 Think the point of my thread has been missed which is my fault! I'm planning on building/commissioning a Jazz bass soon. I know enough to go buy off the shelf, but I'm interested in building a jazz that is "The ultimate Jazz" basically a jazz like the Fender 50th Anniversary jazz but even better! So far I know I want matching headstock. Bound rosewood neck, undecided on dots or block inlays, I'd like it to be a stack knob but don't know about body pickup positions and their pros and cons, what about neck shape/specs? Or how has the body shape and contours changed and what's the consensus on the best neck shape and dimensions and body shape and contour? I'm looking for it be sound balanced, articulate, and 60s inspired as I play soul, blues, jazz, and funk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noisyjon Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 (edited) [quote name='zero9' timestamp='1427029620' post='2724818'] If you know next to nothing about Jazz basses, you best get yourself out there and try a load.... [/quote] I think this is good advice to start off with, especially if you're commissioning a bass to be built. Another point is Warmoth do some fantastic parts and are easy to put together IME. You really can get what you want then! Edited March 22, 2015 by Noisyjon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 (edited) Best I've played is my MIJ Geddy Lee jazz. Fantastic instrument..matching black headstock would have been lovely, but there you go ! Edited March 22, 2015 by ahpook Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visog Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 If you're commissioning one, then consider Bernie Goodfellow's GB Spitfires or Overwater. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 Well if my Peterbuilt ever actually arrives it'll hopefully be close to my perfect jazz LIned Fretless, matched H/S, DiMarzio Js & stack knobs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 From the front it would just like a standard Jazz with a rosewood board, blocks and binding and a matching headstock. However it would have a neck-through construction with the neck painted to mach the rest of the bass, angled headstock, Lightwave pickups under the bridge ashtray and the lower cutaway enlarged to allow as much access to the upper frets as possible without obviously changing the body shape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lw. Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1427121846' post='2725978'] From the front it would just like a standard Jazz with a rosewood board, blocks and binding and a matching headstock. However it would have a neck-through construction with the neck painted to mach the rest of the bass, angled headstock, Lightwave pickups under the bridge ashtray. [/quote] I mostly agree with you here (though I'd swap the blocks & binding for clay dots & no binding) but I'd go Wenge neck-through, no paint or varnish. I'd love to have a bass like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1427121846' post='2725978'] From the front it would just like a standard Jazz with a rosewood board, blocks and binding and a matching headstock. [/quote] BRX in "my ultimate Fender" shock!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Cloud Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 Difficult to answer this question, it is so subjective. I would guess that you know what you like - just go for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 This is what I built with Jon Shuker. On reflection I should have gone with body coloured headstock. Spec is Seymour Duncan Soapbar pickups with the Steve Bailey 4 band eq. This has a pull-out slap setting too (not that it ever gets used!) It's nice and light ( for a 5er) c. 9 lbs and is swamp ash with a maple facing. [attachment=187339:S5000265.JPG] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonestar Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 [quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1426951479' post='2723916'] Under 8lbs, 32" scale, black body, bwb pickguard, maple neck, passive with S1 switch. Anything else is icing. [/quote] My one is a 2006 USA although with a 34" rosewood neck. Love it. I've never tried a maple one nor seen many around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubit Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 (edited) I have 14 basses, but when I'm gigging, I always seem to go for my American std Jazz. I just love the feel, the sound, the weight, everything is perfect, at least for my tastes anyway. I think they just got it right. Edited March 23, 2015 by ubit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 [quote name='Conan' timestamp='1427126367' post='2726085'] BRX in "my ultimate Fender" shock!!! [/quote] But that's the whole point! It's not a Fender. It's something that fixes all the things that are wrong for me on the original. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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