Am I missing something??

[TheGreek]

I bought a 2003 American Fender Jazz on eBay midweek - I've never been a great lover of Fenders but, hey ho, I thought I'd buy this to see whether all the fuss is justified, after all, I may have been wrong (it happened once before ).

It is a bit beaten up but "roadworn" are supposedly popular at the moment - picked it up earlier today, left it at home in my living room for a few hours to acclimatise due to the cold weather - played it for about half an hour earlier..

The neck joint on this one is tight, the neck straight, it has (I think) 45-105 strings which are heavier than I normally use and yes it's nicely weighted/balanced. I understand that it's a simple set up and yes, the 20 fret neck has a nice contour and is easy to play, but for the life of me I can't understand why people make a fuss about them.

Look at my signature and you'll see what else I've got - this doesn't compare with any of them - I really don't get it...why do people extol the virtues of Fender Jazzes when this one doesn't seem to[u] excel [/u]in any way.

I'm going to get a second opinion from a couple of friends but I suspect that this may find it's way onto the "For sale" thread quite quickly..

[attachment=99738:Fender Jazz1.jpg] [attachment=99740:Fender Jazz2.jpg]

[attachment=99739:Fender Jazz8.jpg] [attachment=99741:Fender Jazz3.jpg]

What am I missing??

[discreet]

How much d'you want for it?

[gjones]

Don't ask me?

I think it's probably because it's a classic design. There's probably a thousand other basses out there made by other manufacturers which are better in many ways but you don't fantasise about driving through the Swiss Alps in a Honda NSX you fantasise about driving through the Swiss Alps in a Ferrari.

[jackers]

It looks like a nice bass and I am seriously tempted to second discreet's post and ask what you would like for it haha.

Also, from looking at the other basses you have, my first thought is that fenders simply may not be your thing. None of your other basses are really close to a standard fender jazz, (although they are all very nice ), so I guess you want something different to what a fender jazz offers. I love my USA Jazz, but I definitely acknowledge that not everyone will see it the way I do.

[Happy Jack]

[quote name='jackers' timestamp='1328978204' post='1535587']
Also, from looking at the other basses you have, my first thought is that [s]fenders [/s][color=#b22222]Jazz basses [/color]simply may not be your thing.
[/quote]

Amended slightly - and yes, I clocked the Overwater.

I've spent years trying to love Jazz basses, and I've failed miserably. I've had standard Jazzes, vintage Jazzes, super-Jazzes, and they just don't do it for me.

Precisions now, ah well, that's a different kettle of fish, get my drift, know what I mean?

Nowt to do with Fenders, it's just the type of bass that I don't get on with. Maybe the same for you?

[gjones]

By the way I think you have a Highway 1 which may not be the best Jazz Fender ever made but change the pickups and it'll do the business.

I've had four Jazzes over the last 5 years after dismissing them (just like you) for the previous 25.

[jackers]

oops, that's what I meant, haha cheers happy jack I seem have a tendency to miss out important words when typing, lol.

[Al Heeley]

they are a classic workhorse, comfy narrow neck, versatile sounds but they are no boutique bass.

[LukeFRC]

because... well look at it this way in your sig you have the following...
Overwater Jazz 4
Veillette Citron 4 string fretted
Jaydee Supernatural Roadie 11A
Status MK Artist
MM Stingray

now with the exception of the stingray they are all custom, or near enough custom to make no difference basses from small scale specialist manufacturers. I'm guessing to own those basses you have also tried and owned a load more,
so two questions.... what percentage of people who rave about jazzes have owned high end gear like yours?
compare to the overwater jazz, which in my book is up there as one of the best jazz basses you can get, what were you expecting a fender (highway one? what £600 new?) jazz to excel in?

[neepheid]

[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1328978160' post='1535585']
Don't ask me?

I think it's probably because it's a classic design. There's probably a thousand other basses out there made by other manufacturers which are better in many ways but you don't fantasise about driving through the Swiss Alps in a Honda NSX you fantasise about driving through the Swiss Alps in a Ferrari.
[/quote]

I'd rather have a go in the NSX to be perfectly honest. I also dislike Jazz basses. Everyone's different

[Prime_BASS]

A jazz is a jazz.


BTW I'm saving the pennies to have my stingray back!

I don't like Jazzes full stop, regardless of the name on the headstock. Some other designs and the odd one or two with humbuckers rather than single coils have tickled me but it still isn't what I like.

for me the EBMM sterling's single coil option is a better jazz bass alternative. If you want that bridge burpy kind of sound.

[Jacqueslemac]

Just shows it all comes down to taste. One man's meat is another man's poison and all those cliches. (And I'd rather be on my Triumph Tiger than in a Ferrari...)

My USA Jazz is the best Jazz I own (although the Aerodyne's neck is smoother and faster), but at the moment it doesn't tick boxes like my Corvettes do.

Edited February 11, 2012 by Jacqueslemac

[gjones]

[quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1328979928' post='1535635']
I'd rather have a go in the NSX to be perfectly honest. I also dislike Jazz basses. Everyone's different
[/quote]


Well since I've never driven an NSX or a Ferrari I'd probably jump at the chance to drive either of them...............even if it was just to Tescos and back frankly.

By the way we may have a mutual friend - Angus McCurrach (he's played with The Oxbow Lake Band) and now plays on a set of Flintstones drums with 'The Trybe' up your way.

[TheGreek]

[quote name='Prime_BASS' timestamp='1328980300' post='1535645']
A jazz is a jazz.


BTW I'm saving the pennies to have my stingray back!

I don't like Jazzes full stop, regardless of the name on the headstock. Some other designs and the odd one or two with humbuckers rather than single coils have tickled me but it still isn't what I like.

for me the EBMM sterling's single coil option is a better jazz bass alternative. If you want that bridge burpy kind of sound.
[/quote]

You may need to fight Nick Smith for it - he was round the other week and fell in love with it - you'd better hope he doesn't find a buyer for his kidney before you've saved the pennies..(( )) (( )) (( ))

Edited February 11, 2012 by TheGreek

[neepheid]

[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1328980544' post='1535653']
Well since I've never driven an NSX or a Ferrari I'd probably jump at the chance to drive either of them...............even if it was just to Tescos and back frankly.

By the way we may have a mutual friend - Angus McCurrach (he's played with The Oxbow Lake Band) and now plays on a set of Flintstones drums with 'The Trybe' up your way.
[/quote]

Heh, yes I know Angus. He left the Oxbow Lake Band before I joined but I have bumped into him a couple of times - in fact we played with The Trybe at a gig last year

Oops, thread hijack

[crez5150]

I've never found a fender that I would say is a player..... I ended up buying a copy.... Vintage brand that plays far better than any fender I've tried.

[discreet]

[quote name='crez5150' timestamp='1328981501' post='1535677']
Vintage brand that plays far better than any fender I've tried.
[/quote]

Vintage make great basses, and can't be beaten on price. Even by Squier.

[tom1946]

I love USA Jazzes, wonderful things but I've never owned a boutique bass.

[Fat Rich]

Maybe try it in a band situation before ditching it, Fenders have a strange habit of fitting in really well despite sounding a bit ordinary soloed. You'll probably need to adjust your EQ settings as it's a world away from the modern sounds some of your other basses give you, don't be afraid to give it plenty of midrange.

Plus as has been suggested before it might benefit from some better pickups.

[pietruszka]

I can see your point totally, I think Fenders are insanely over rated. I'v never gotton on with fenders, I really don't like the feel of them, and every one I'v played feels totally different from the others, even 2 Jazz' feel different. As for the suggestion of changing the pick ups, when you buy a bass of that standard should you really need to change parts? It should be like their (supposed) reputation; spot on.
I'v never seen the appeal with Fenders, and I would like a Jazz bass, but the way I view Fender is that they really gave the industry a massive kick start. Since then other companies have joined in and have (IMO) done the job better, they've taken influence and produced to a higher level.



Dan

[TheGreek]

[quote name='pietruszka' timestamp='1329044425' post='1536313']
I can see your point totally, I think Fenders are insanely over rated. .

As for the suggestion of changing the pick ups, [b]when you buy a bass of that standard should you really need to change parts? [/b]It should be like their (supposed) reputation; spot on.
I'v never seen the appeal with Fenders, and I would like a Jazz bass, but the way I view Fender is that they really gave the industry a massive kick start. Since then other companies have joined in and have (IMO) done the job better, they've taken influence and produced to a higher level.



Dan
[/quote]

My feelings exactly - in general I think of Fenders as Ford Model T's - did it first but everybody has done it better since..this has just confirmed it for me..

Anybody want to make me a sensible offer??

[pietruszka]

To add even more insult to injury, a band I used to be in was doing some recording and the guitarist had a Fender Jazz master guitar, the Elvis Costello signature model. Lovely sounding guitar, stunning even. But he couldn't record with it because of a constant buzz probably due to shielding. Bear in mind it was as new but bought second hand as was over £1k. I would have been livid if that was my guitar. You spend all that money on something you can't record with because it hasn't been built properly.


I'll stick to my stingray, which, ironically is essentially a Fender!




Dan

Edited February 12, 2012 by pietruszka

[SteveK]

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1329045121' post='1536335']
My feelings exactly - in general I think of Fenders as Ford Model T's - [b]did it first but everybody has done it better since[/b]..this has just confirmed it for me..

Anybody want to make me a sensible offer??
[/quote]Can't really comment regarding Jazzes (never owned one), but as far as Precisions go...
Providing you get along with the feel of the neck and you haven't bought a dog, then they can be as playable as any other bass. But, for me it's more about the sound. There's something reassuring about it, probably due to the fact that, over the years Fenders have been used on more records than any other bass. I really wouldn't be without my '72 P

[Marvin]

[quote name='crez5150' timestamp='1328981501' post='1535677']
I've never found a fender that I would say is a player..... I ended up buying a copy.... Vintage brand that plays far better than any fender I've tried.
[/quote]
[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1328985905' post='1535765']
Vintage make great basses, and can't be beaten on price. Even by Squier.
[/quote]

Ohhh, what d'yu say that for? I'd just made my mind up to be a bass that has Fender written on the headstock

[discreet]

[quote name='Marvin' timestamp='1329050152' post='1536423']
Ohhh, what d'yu say that for? I'd just made my mind up to buy a bass that has Fender written on the headstock
[/quote]

Don't worry, Rich. I was just making crez5150 feel better about not having a proper Fender.