Conan

[quote name='Lw.' timestamp='1389865609' post='2338726'] - for the price of a deluxe you could get a killer bass from one of the others... [/quote] Or two Geddy Lees!! One black, one sunburst maybe?

[quote name='Guinness21' timestamp='1389800094' post='2338046'] It's a bit weird that you comment on your own comments - just put them all in to one big one.[/quote] I take it that comment was aimed at me. I wasn't commenting on my own comments, simply replying to a number of other comments (yours included) in some sort of random order... I tend to think of these thread discussions as being like a conversation face to face. I think it makes for a better conversation if the participants make a series of shorter comments rather than a single, trailing monologue. You clearly disagree. That's cool. You asked for advice about two specific basses. We tried to give you that. You've made your mind up and decided to go for one of them. That's cool as well. Sounds like a pretty successful thread to me! BTW, I never said that you hadn't played the US Deluxe - I was just advising you to play both/all of the basses you were considering. You seem to be cherry-picking at the advice you have been given. We are only trying to help - as you said yourself that you haven't been playing long. Whatever. It's your money.

[quote name='Geek99' timestamp='1389794449' post='2337966'] 960 euros? 800 pounds or so. You might get £550 if you were lucky [/quote] Agreed. The market is very slow at the moment, and although Fenders are still selling, they are often going for less than the seller might have hoped for... Actually, I've just looked at the link above and they are now going new for 898 euros, which is £745 at today's rate. £550 is looking a bit generous maybe...

[quote name='Guinness21' timestamp='1389791047' post='2337896'] I though the pickups in the geddy were american vintage, they're surely not run of the mill! [/quote] What makes you say that? To what are you comparing them?

[quote name='tedmanzie' timestamp='1389792334' post='2337926'] I had a MIJ Geddy Jazz and it had the best neck ever! But if you don't like slim (front to back) then you may disagree. All the necks I have ever had have been gloss finish, I don't find it an issue. [/quote] I thought the neck finish was beautiful. Smooth and slick and definitely not as "glossy" as many other Fenders I've played and owned (including my MIJ Marcus Miller), which can feel a bit "draggy" if you know what I mean. I loved everything about the neck on my CIJ Geddy, and from what I have read the MIJ ones are just as good! [quote name='Guinness21' timestamp='1389792777' post='2337934'] I didn't know the geddy lee is made in mexico these days. Tbh, with the pickups in the deluxe and the graphite truss rod I'm thinking I might go for the american deluxe jazz. [/quote] Fair enough mate - but you did ask for help/advice! The US deluxe is over twice the price of the Geddy, which does imply higher quality. Whether it is more than twice as good is open to conjecture and discussion... One thing I do know though. If I was spending that sort of money on a new bass, I would make sure I tried it (and its competitors) in the flesh first. Fenders are notorious for their variability, so even though I loved my Geddy Lee I might play others that I don't get on with so well. It's the nature of the beast I'm afraid.

[quote name='Guinness21' timestamp='1389789655' post='2337869'] I looked up the geddy and found that it had a great bridge and pickups, so it had to be considered. [/quote] The bridge is a standard BadAss II, which is regarded as an upgrade on the Fender BBOT (Bent Bit Of Tin!). The pickups are nothing special really, but a bit growly as others have said. What sets the Geddy apart from all other J basses (IMO) is the neck profile. It is very shallow (front to back). To me that makes it very "fast" and comfortable, but to others it is "flimsy and skinny". Horses for courses! But I would definitely advise you to try one before deciding

[quote name='Geek99' timestamp='1389785339' post='2337791'] Some pics would help ? Specify jazz or precision would also assist - with the deluxe gig bg and case candy or not ? Do a search in the market place for threads selling them, and look for the sold ones and take 10% off the price asked and you wont be too far off. They're really good basses and thats a popular colour - whats so wrong with it that you need to sell.?. [/quote] Good reply. The OP gives so little information that it is hard to give useful advice! How much did you pay for it? Was it new when you bought it? What is it worth to you? What do similar ones sell for? etc, etc.

[quote name='Guinness21' timestamp='1389787410' post='2337835'] I know some people say yes and some say no to having issues with the neck on the geddy, but the fact that a fair few people have isn't fantastic. Can find no complaints about the am. deluxe's neck. [/quote] The Am Deluxe is just what it says on the tin - a pretty standard (but nicely specced) J bass. The Geddy is something a bit different. Whether different = good depends on the person involved. Sounds like you have already decided on the Am Del. Good bass - hope you enjoy it!

[quote name='Skybone' timestamp='1389788289' post='2337848']give them all a try. The best feeling/playing/sounding one wins and gets to go home with you. You really cannot beat going into a shop and actually trying guitars out. If none of the ones you try float your boat, you're free to walk away, but you also have a better idea of what fits you and what doesn't. [/quote] Good advice. Talking about which bass you [i]think[/i] you'll prefer based on the preferences of others is rather pointless and often leads to disappointment. To my knowledge, not many people have had problems with the necks on Geddy Lee sig models - but plenty of people just don't like the profile. On the other hand, many others (myself included) count them among the best necks they have ever played. YMMV of course!

[quote name='Guinness21' timestamp='1389739176' post='2337504'] If I went for the geddy lee, I would put new tuners on it[/quote] No need IMO. The standard ones are fine. You could change them if you wished to of course, but it wouldn't be a necessity. They work fine and look fine. [quote name='Guinness21' timestamp='1389742184' post='2337559']Well with the addition of the passive/active switch it can only be more versatile.[/quote] Again, not necessarily! Fender active circuits are known for being rather average (at best), which is why so many people swap them out and replace them with East, Aguilar or something similar. In many ways the best sound you will get from a Jazz is when it is in passive mode. (IMO of course!).

Try to play both before deciding. The necks are very different! Personally I love the Geddy necks, but lots of people don't! If you want a black pg for your Geddy (if you get one!) then The Bass Doc on here will make you one up - he still has my old white one as a template!

What are the criteria that you will be assessed against? Is it purely complexity, and if so, who decides how "complex" a part of a piece of music is? Number of notes? How far apart those notes are? Speed? Accuracy? Timing? Some very basic bass lines are very difficult to get right. Some seemingly complex ones are far easier than they sound... I still find these two (seemingly straightforward and popular) basslines a challenge to play accurately: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sanWUUaDIqg[/media] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSL_aA_vCA8&list=PLF328B3824AA8600B[/media] OK, not very "highbrow" it could be said, but who are you trying to impress, and why?

[quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1389612160' post='2336015'] Music is art...there are no rules. [/quote] A good point, well worth remembering. Too many of us pay far too much attention to what others think and say...

[quote name='Fat Rich' timestamp='1389520184' post='2334924'] Newer Status basses have truss rods. My older ones have no truss rod and are completely rigid, I can take 4 strings off the bass and the remaining one is still in tune, no movement at all. My feeling is they're a little too flat and could have done with a little more relief built in, but I use fairly heavy strings and like to dig in when I play.[/quote] My series II was made in 1986 so that firmly puts it in the "older" camp! I use heavy-ish strings (45-105 at the very least) and like the action to have a bit of height for my heavy-handed playing! I just raise the action at the bridge. It never (and I mean [i]never[/i]) goes out of tune. Ever. I guess the entire neck is the truss rod!

In my current band, I don't solo and I find that notes below E sound inappropriate (having tried it). So currently my four string horses suit that particular course. When I was in a metal covers band a couple of years ago, the low B string was indispensible. I feel more comfortable on four stringed instruments, but some of that could be that I have never invested in a good quality fiver - so the fours just feel "better" as well as more comfortable. Every so often a look at a nice five string in the for sale section (it is a Hamer Cruise just now!) and think "I'll just have one more crack at getting used to a fiver...")

Love the backing track! Not so keen on the rap I'm afraid. Not too sure why, but it just doesn't seem to work with the music for me... almost too polite?

[quote name='SteveO' timestamp='1389271019' post='2332112'] . I've often bought things to make me look like something I wasn't - I buy stonewashed jeans, so maybe I'm being a bit hypocritical. [/quote] Good example! Except that the problem is new jeans look crap, whereas a new bass looks lovely!

[quote name='cetera' timestamp='1389266042' post='2332013'] Contact PJ Rubal at Spector directly. You won't find better customer service.... [/quote] Just what I was about to say! He is a legend

[quote name='namefail' timestamp='1389202869' post='2331325'] Done all that bar having some working pickups, Next month, hopefully, some pickups. [/quote] No need to spend too much. I recently bought a set of MIM J pickups on here - twenty quid! They sound good too

[quote name='namefail' timestamp='1389201078' post='2331292'] WOW, they sound perfect!! Now I just need his fingers. They're on the list. [/quote] There's a few of us would give our right arms to have Bobby Vega's fingers! Although then we would have nowhere to put them....

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1389264807' post='2331993'] Apart from their looks, the Fender Roadworns have a good rep for tone and playability, so are valid imho. [/quote] True - but is that not "in spite of" their relicking rather than "because of" it? They are clearly well-made basses, but does the "damaged" finish add to their appeal? I would say not - but some people must like it or they wouldn't sell!

[quote name='Si600' timestamp='1389256045' post='2331861'] I'm going to say warm! I don't dislike the road-worn look, but I'd prefer it to do it naturally, every scuff tells a story sort of thing, so it seems a bit silly to scuff it up without the history if that makes any sense at all! [/quote] [quote name='icastle' timestamp='1389256725' post='2331873'] IMO, they smack of fake 'look at me, I've been around'. Definitely uncool. [/quote] [quote name='HowieBass' timestamp='1389257191' post='2331880'] Not keen; it's a little like faking an antique. I prefer genuine patina. [/quote] These. I don't violently dislike these instruments, but I just don't really see the point.