Geek99

Interesting as the 70s black scratchplate & natural look is one that I like. What is "a Squier 70's VMJs", is it a "Vintage Modified Jazz", whivh I think I've seen online.(GAK and bass centre)? I ask as a store on the Orange Blossom Trail in Florida had exactly the one that you show at a good price ($279), and I cant seem to find a music store in my area that has any Fender/Squier [i]jazz[/i] basses. Precisions seem to be commonplace, and cheap Jazz copies can be found although neither is what I'm looking for. Reading through the posts above, the Squiers do seem reasonably well thought-of. which is interersting for the budget end of Fender's output. I'm happy to buy the cheap end provided the workmanship is good enough and the sound is fairly close or can be made more so, say with a pickup change. I dont gig, or record, so its just kind of a hobby. I cant really justify spending nearly a thousand on an expensive version of something.

thanks for that, I will digest what you've all said.

hi can anyone advise me which of Fender's (or Squier's) various jazz bass models (fretted) is the "most authentic" sounding? I'm planning to buy in the US to save some money. Is it necessary to go to the active models? Are the basic passive ones good enough? Does the mexican standard or the squier do the job well enough or is it worth the extra for the US model? Does the wood make that much difference? I have a Laney RB2 45w amp and a Zoom b2.1u. I like the natural + black scratchplate model and the sunburst + rosewood models cosmetically. I want this to be the last bass I ever buy (ie it does everything, and also looks nice), and I'm disillusioned with cheap stuff that sounds rubbish, or isnt properly finished. thanks