Heartbreaker

My 82 Wal, didn't get on with the tones & it was very heavy. Unique colour though, like Marmite I guess. [attachment=94481:Wal 81 2.JPG][attachment=94482:Wal 81 1.JPG]

Fender Jazz's have never been renowned for their 5 string B quality compared to the likes of Lakland 5's etc. As for heavy, you will get every range of weight in every model range so you need to check before buying if you want a light one & this is typical with most makes of bass. I tried a new 2010 US Jazz Deluxe at GAK when they first arrived in the shops & it was a very heavy one yet I've also played others that are light. Do your groundwork properly if your going to spend hard cash.

I've had quite a few Jazz's over the years & much prefer the extra scope of the Deluxe over the std passive Jazz's. I let my 73 Jazz go in preferance to my US Deluxe.Tonally I can get the passive Vol/Vol/Tone sound on the Deluxe with the vol/pan & tone pots but much more too if required with the active eq. I also find the build quality with the US Deluxe's are superb. The US Deluxes have had quite a few different active eq's & pickups fitted to the range since their concept in the mid 90's. First in 1995/6 they had the John Suhr 9v eq & large 4 pole pickups, John was then running the r&d side of Fender. Then around 99 Fender introduced a new 18v eq with Vintage Noisless Pickups followed in 03/4 by the Sumarium Cobolt Noisless pickups & by 2010 a completly new 18v eq with N3 pickups. They all have their own different voices & you realy need to check them out to find which one suits you. The 18v eq has loads of boost & cut in all the bass,mid & treble to give you endless choice of tones & that will cut through any live sound. The early John Suhr 4 pole pickups I found to be a bit weird especially if you realy bend the strings as the volume reduces as you move the string away from the single pole & you had to be very precise on getting the exact pickup height right but I realy did like the 9v eq. My current Jazz is a 96 Cusom Shop US Deluxe with the 9v John Suhr eq but upgraded with the Vintage Noisless pickups. You might also want to check out any Quilt/Flame maple toped US Jazz's too as these have the same pickup/eq arangement as the US Deluxe's.

Hi Big Stu, no its a chromed plastic frame that were fitted to the earliest EB3's. They were not chromed from about 63 on. You can see on the picture where my thumb has rubbed some of the chrome off from playing. [attachment=92496:Gibson EB3 62.JPG]

Hi Evil Lord, only just read your post above. I've had the Girl for many years along with other old EB3's but this one is just mint despite being nearly 50 years old & one of my main gigging basses. A real keeper. I too have been chasing the Holly Grail of tone to get that Andy Frazer sound over the years. I've tried many combinations of heads & cabs since the 60's & eventually am very happy with my latest set up I've now been using for the past 6-7 years. I use an Ampeg SVT4 pro head with a combination of Markbass cabs depending on the venue as we are a very loud band & I have 2 Marshall guitar rigs to cut through to get heard. I usually use 2 x 410hlf Mk1 Markbass cabs or a 410 & 115hlf. [attachment=92464:96 CSJazz 73 Jazz 62 EB3.JPG] [attachment=92466:Heroes 1.JPG]

My beloved 62 Gibson EB3. I've had her for many years & I use her all the time especially for gigging, she's vertually mint despite being 50 years old next year, sounds & plays like silk. [attachment=92458:62 EB3 & Ttrace Elliot - Hartke , Ampeg rigs..JPG] [attachment=92460:DSCF0499.JPG]

My 73 4001 [attachment=90407:Rick 73 2.JPG][attachment=90408:Rick 73 3.JPG][attachment=90409:Infinity Rick Stage1.JPG]

I too need clarity & depth as I play in a very loud classic rock band & some of the bass lines are complex & need to cut through the 2 Marshall guitar rigs so the best I've found is an active Jazz. A standard passive Jazz just does not cut through enough neither too will a P. We only mike up the vocals so rely on the back line to give the volume, clarity & tone. I've used many basses for the job from Rick's, Laklands, Warwicks, Musicmans etc but there comes a point where you cant pick out the detail at volume & the only one that clearly does is my 3eq American Jazz Deluxe Custom Shop. This is an early 96 American Deluxe CS Jazz with the Mk1 John Shur active EQ but have changed the 4 pole pickups to the later Noiseless Vintage pickups. Later ones have different 18v eq's, quite diferent but still OK. Mine gives loads of scope for tonal variatin, depth, punch & clarity yet sounding balanced in the mix & can push as far in front as I like if required. I run it through an Ampeg SVT4pro head & various Markbass cabs, usually 2 Mk1 4x10 hlf's. You'll also need to match your rig too for the right tone & clarity as this is equally as importand a choice as it the bass you use. I loved my 73 Jazz, great for less volume playing but it just didn't cut through at volume so try as many as you can before you jump. Rob.