PJ slug out

[Wally]

I'm pretty much settled that for the new band I'm with I'd like to upgrade my Bass. My Ibanez ATK is decent for cutting through scooped rock guitars but the new lot are a leaner, mellower, funky blues thing and I'm thinking a smooth passive P/J would sound somewhat more fitting in the mix.

So far It's a light middle weight (in price) contest between - In the blue corner weighing in at a hefty 12 kilos (can it really be that heavy?) the well regarded and seasoned Yamaha BB424x.



And in the red corner: weighing in at 6 kilos (I think), the new 'pretender' with a touch of pedigree - The Overwater by Tanglewood Classic jazz.



Problem is I can't try them both out in the same place at the same time. I've played the Tanglewood and the neck was no trouble, couldn't fault the build quality, the tones were good across the range and pick up panning was nice and smooth. I'm sure the Yamaha will probably be suitably decent but with no local stocks to try before buy there's a touch of risk to a blind order. I hear the necks take a bit of living with but how true that is......

If I could put them in a heads up brawl do any pundits, armchair spectators, users of etc wanna take a stab at which one would get lifted aloft by a ref at the bitter end. Anyone wanting to confuse the matter by chucking in a tag team option please feel free.

May the best bass win.

[LukeFRC]

I would go for the overwater hands down. a great bass- I didn't like the style of the neck on the one I tried but it sounded so so good.
One question- why a PJ over a Jazz?

[Sean]

[quote name='Wally' timestamp='1334174465' post='1612161']
leaner, mellower, funky blues thing and I'm thinking a smooth passive P/J would sound somewhat more fitting in the mix.
[/quote]

The Yamaha isn't lean or mellow and it isn't smooth, it's like a big nasty bear that wants to rip your bandmates' arms off; I never leave home without mine (which makes motorcycling a real pain in the arse).

The necks are somewhere between a Jazz and a Precision but slightly more towards a Jazz and very similar to a real MM Sterling if you need a different reference.

The Yamaha is easily tamed and I'd buy one of the many Yamaha BBs for sale on here and on eBay at the moment and spend the difference on...

...another Yamaha BB

Or some motorbike gear or something else self-indulgent like a motorcycle bass rack.

Edited April 11, 2012 by Sean

[Sean]

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1334175134' post='1612186']
One question- why a PJ over a Jazz?
[/quote]

That's like asking someone about their hobby; why boxing over flower arranging

[LukeFRC]

[quote name='Wally' timestamp='1334174465' post='1612161']
I'm pretty much settled that for the new band I'm with I'd like to upgrade my Bass. My Ibanez ATK is decent for cutting through scooped rock guitars but the new lot are a leaner, mellower, funky blues thing and I'm thinking a smooth passive P/J would sound somewhat more fitting in the mix.

[/quote]
[quote name='Sean' timestamp='1334175711' post='1612205']
That's like asking someone about their hobby; why boxing over flower arranging
[/quote]

cos depending on the band a jazz might fit better?

[neepheid]

There's no way that bass is 12kg. 12lb is heavy for a bass and my BB614 is way lighter than that. I don't know who you've been talking to regarding the necks but you'll only find them chunky if you're strictly a Jazz bass type. I like a chunky neck and the BB, while more svelte than I prefer isn't objectionable in use.

If you like blend controls then the BB424 isn't for you - it has a 3 way switch.

[Wally]

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1334175134' post='1612186']
I would go for the overwater hands down. a great bass- I didn't like the style of the neck on the one I tried but it sounded so so good.
One question- why a PJ over a Jazz?
[/quote]

I guess because I've never owned or played in a band setting with a true P or a true J I'm a little worried that I if I settled for one or the other I'd be wondering 'what if'.

The band range is over 'nut bush city limits', Stevie Ray Vaughans 'Pride and Joy', Ranconteurs 'Steady as she goes,' Stevie Wonders 'Superstition', Clash 'brand new cadillac' theme from Pulp Fiction, 'Play thay Funky music', 'Soul Man' type stuff.

.[quote name='Sean' timestamp='1334175419' post='1612194']
The Yamaha - it's like a big nasty bear that wants to rip your bandmates' arms off;

I'd buy one of the many Yamaha BBs for sale on here and on eBay at the moment
[/quote]

Couple of plus points.


[quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1334176386' post='1612223']

If you like blend controls then the BB424 isn't for you - it has a 3 way switch.
[/quote]

A minus point I think. Well picked up that Judge.

Sounds like the Yamaha can come out throwing the big hooky punchs. The Overwater Tanglewood a touch more adaptable possibly over the distance if it can throw out the strong jabs and solid straights.

[LukeFRC]

nah 1st min knockdown by the tanglewood in my book. It's one of the first PJ's I played where the P didn't dominate the J

[Lozz196]

Not played that specific Yam BB, but I did have a BB1100s in the late 80s. Quality bass, well put together, sounded good on either active or passive mode, nice and easy to play. Assuming the current Yam BBs are as good, this would get my vote. 12 kg can`t be right though - that`s 26 lbs. A US Precision is just less than 9 lbs for reference.

[ColinB]

Tag-Team entrants.....

Fender Modern Player jaguar:


Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass Special: (I have one of these with Wizard p/ups (pacified), it's very good)


Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass:

Edited April 12, 2012 by ColinB

[Prunesquallor]

Adding to the line-up...

[url="http://www.sandberg-guitars.de/basscat-overview/calv-series/calvt"]Sandberg California VT[/url] (There's also the Basic version, of course.)

[url="http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/bass_guitars_detail.asp?stock=10031710495738"]Fender Deluxe Precision[/url]

[url="http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/bass_guitars_detail.asp?stock=07061913292629"]Sadowsky RV4 Hybrid PJ[/url]

Don't know what you're budget is. These are high-end, obviously.

Edited April 12, 2012 by Prunesquallor

[Lozz196]

Fender Deluxe Active Precision Special at Coda Music in Stevenage, for £499:

[url="http://www.coda-music.com/product_info.php?cPath=170&products_id=12011"]http://www.coda-music.com/product_info.php?cPath=170&products_id=12011[/url]

[Jono Bolton]

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1334218888' post='1612577']
Fender Deluxe Active Precision Special at Coda Music in Stevenage, for £499:

[url="http://www.coda-music.com/product_info.php?cPath=170&products_id=12011"]http://www.coda-music.com/product_info.php?cPath=170&products_id=12011[/url]
[/quote]

Great shout

[Gust0o]

Shop second hand for a Charvel 2b, or something of similar ilk - the neck and pick-ups sh*t all over those listed thus far.

[Sean]

[quote name='ColinB' timestamp='1334212091' post='1612517']
Tag-Team entrants.....

Fender Modern Player jaguar:


Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass Special: (I have one of these with Wizard p/ups (pacified), it's very good)


Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass:

[/quote]
[quote name='Prunesquallor' timestamp='1334218152' post='1612568']
Adding to the line-up...

[url="http://www.sandberg-guitars.de/basscat-overview/calv-series/calvt"]Sandberg California VT[/url] (There's also the Basic version, of course.)

[url="http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/bass_guitars_detail.asp?stock=10031710495738"]Fender Deluxe Precision[/url]

[url="http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/bass_guitars_detail.asp?stock=07061913292629"]Sadowsky RV4 Hybrid PJ[/url]

Don't know what you're budget is. These are high-end, obviously.
[/quote]
[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1334218888' post='1612577']
Fender Deluxe Active Precision Special at Coda Music in Stevenage, for £499:

[url="http://www.coda-music.com/product_info.php?cPath=170&products_id=12011"]http://www.coda-musi...oducts_id=12011[/url]
[/quote]

Folks! Really! You'd do a hell of lot worse than buying [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/172940-far-sale-rare-jackson-concert-xl-professional-japanese-made-l250/"]this[/url]

It's Japanese, it's PJ and I'll bet it's better built than anything else mentioned so far in the thread [i]for the money[/i]. Add to that the fact that it's already played in, has bags of character and also that you'll be saving the planet a bit by buying second hand and you just can't go wrong. I love it!

Also, if you don't like it, you'll get your money back all day long selling it on. Let's some pics of your smiling face playing it when you get it, eh?

Edited April 12, 2012 by Sean

[Gust0o]

+1 for the Jackson.

[Wally]

Appreciating the input fellas.

A number of suggestions go over my personal budget which is set at 400 (my keyboard pound sign is broke by the way). Cracking choices but such things are hard to justify for a casualish weekend bander with family.

The Squier VM Jag (with a pick up mod) is interesting. I like dots on rosewood.

The Charvel is hard to see coming up local any time soon.

The Jackson is at least a half day trip away. I work a 50-60 hour 6 day a week job and while I like to think of myself as not especially image consciousI am really. Can't see me with the headstock. Though it would be good to intimate the drummer with. Having that under his chin during any tricky fills and changes.

I'd like that Tokai off of Lozz if it wasn't white.

Truth is if it's value, not too cheap, not over budget. Black or natural (no sunbursts). deep blues considered. Is PJ, passive (active bypass even better) with a neck between a thick P and a slim Jazz, retro over modern style, comes with a free pizza and four cans of Czech Budvar (medium chill) which is housed within 15 miles travel and can be tried in conducive surroundings (thinking beanbags, lush drapes, exotic scents and scantily clad nubile's) then I'd consider it. But if I'd started like that you lot would of told me rightly to go swing you fussy get.

So I'm going to walk into town to do the bank for work on Monday. Withdraw some of that quiet little prior gig money I have on the side. Pop into the store, haggle to get a strap chucked into the trade and put down my pounds on the O/T classic Jazz

Not very daring of me. Not a lot of effort put into the hunt but truth is I tried that bass at the start of the week and I've tried to be a bit dispassionate about a purchase, but I can't stop thinking back to it and thinking actually I really liked that.

Really, really liked that.

Cheers again.

Edited April 13, 2012 by Wally