Vintage EJM96

[pikeman]

I'm looking for an inexpensive bass as a backup and these Jazz copies seem to be getting good press.
Has anyone on here had any real world experience with this bass?
Thanks in advance, Steve.

[bassmachine2112]

I,ve just got experience on the p-bass one and it,s a good bass for the money especially if you can snag one s/h

[pikeman]

[quote name='bassmachine2112' post='1069181' date='Dec 25 2010, 10:20 AM']I,ve just got experience on the p-bass one and it,s a good bass for the money especially if you can snag one s/h[/quote]

Thanks Bassmachine, very helpful. I've read that the build quality is quite good. I'd probably swap out a few things but the body and neck build is quite important. I've also looked at the Squire VM JAZZ but I've never been a great fan of maple fretboards. The Vintage jazzes look like a reasonable alternative.

[bassmachine2112]

I,ve swapped the tuners for schallers.Fitted a badass copy bridge and installed a Wizard Thumper pick up .My next one is to replace the pots and jack.
I would have done the same if it was a fender so really I used it for the body and the neck although it was a good bass as standard and sounded well.
Keeping my eye open for a maple neck but thats just me I like the look and feel of them.I should add that the standard neck is nice to play so it,s a cosmetic thing.

[mcnach]

I used to have one and I regret selling it.

[Yahtzee89]

I signed up specifically to reply to this topic, that is how strongly I feel about the Vintage Jazz copy.

It was my first bass, and still my favourite even though I now have a Fender Precision to call my own. I love it, the neck is fast, there is a surprising ammount of grunt to be had from the pickups, and they can do anything. I am an indecisive bassist, my Jazz puts up with Red Hot Chilie Peppers style slaping, Funeral For A Friend type rock (it does really well here), and Muse style "guitarist countermeasure" fuzz.

Simply put I love it, it sounds great and plays great.

A caveat though. It doesn't feel as solid as the Fender, it plays and sounds better, but it doesn't feel like it could stand up to the abuse the Fender could. So maybe it would be worth looking into the Vintage Advance basses, as I assume they will sound failry simillar (and they carry a cheap price tag), but they are built to higher specs, plus you can get one in white, the EJM is only black or sunburst.


Sam

EDIT: I've gigged with this bass for three years, I know it can stand up to the life of a working bass, it's no fragile toy, but it just doesn't feel like you could beat a groupie to death with it and then carry on playing, unlike said Fender.

Edited December 29, 2010 by Yahtzee89

[bassmachine2112]

If you want to beat a groupie to death not that I,m advocating it the a misicman sub is the way forward-nuclear proof and solid as they come and a nice balance for swinging and bit heavier for grunt.
It may be that they are bit lighter so don,t feel as solid as a fender but my vintage is solid as well as stable in the tuning department.