bassbiscuits Posted August 27, 2014 Share Posted August 27, 2014 New bass... I've been playing bass for 28 years (yikes...!) somehow, but I've always ended up with a P bass (or at least a P Bass-alike) mainly just down to what was available/affordable secondhand, rather than for any technical reason. Though I love Ps, there's been a jazz bass shaped hole in my life - until now! Here's the new arrival - a 1999 USA Jazz in natural ash with white scratch plate. Not sure if they were called American Series/American Standard/Standard at this time, but I haven't seen many like this outside of the more recent 1975 reissues. It came with a Badass II fitted, which is a shame as i love the thru body thing, but no big deal. I love these late 1990s Fenders - despite the neck varnish cracking on all the ones I've played, I really like them - seems Fender did a really nice 'back to basics' job at the time, just doing a few models and doing them well. Sure, there's not a lightweight ergonomic machine head or Custom Shop pickup in sight, but they sound fat and full and thumping to me, as well as being nicely worn in 15 years later. Our local luthier gave it a bit of a set up and a tweak and i got it back on the weekend - since when I've been surgically attached to it. I plumped for the black p/guard in the end after a straw poll of friends reckoned: 'white looks more country, but black looks more rock.' Ha ha! Should get a chance to gig it in a few weeks - through a Littlemark III and a Schroeder 1210 cab. There's every chance it will sound righteous.... Good old Fender Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weststarx Posted August 27, 2014 Share Posted August 27, 2014 Like it! Deffo prefer the black guard as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassbiscuits Posted August 27, 2014 Author Share Posted August 27, 2014 Cheers Weststarx - I'm quite partial to the white one to be honest, but the black does look a little more mean...! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassman Sam Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Very nice. The black pick guard definitely does it for me. After being a P bass man for more years than I care to admit, I'm hankering after a jazz myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassbiscuits Posted August 28, 2014 Author Share Posted August 28, 2014 Hi Bassman Sam - yep that's the position I was in really! I'm not massively adventurous with my gear (if it ain't broke etc) but a jazz was the obvious addition.... and they look cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlungerModerno Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Well it's about time . I'm in the same boat (almost) got my first Jazz in a trade, turns out I love 'em. The rosewood fretboard looks nicer with the black pickguard. All the best with that beauty! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
machinehead Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 I have had a white, a black, and now a tort pickguard on my ash bodied jazz. I think the tort looks best - warm and classy. That's a lovely jazz too and I vote black over the white guard too. Frank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pnefc42 Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Lovely looking bass m8, congratulations. Funny isn't it (& I know we're all different) but the white guard would be my choice. Lovely though!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Out of the two, the balck gets my vote, but I`m in agreement with machinehead, tort. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSiberian Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Lovely the Jazz Bass, but Jaco was right; no pickguard at all! ":0) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassbiscuits Posted September 1, 2014 Author Share Posted September 1, 2014 Cheers folks - yes it's a great looking bass, and a nice change from the usual sunbursts too. Have spent the last week doing little set-up tweaks to the action here and there and getting used to it, and now it plays exactly as I want. Really pleased so far. I've changed the pick guard back to white too - black was a bit too obvious for me, but I'm liking Machinehead's suggestion of a tort plate. You got a picture of yours Machinehead - be great to see how it looks with the tort? I've put a shout out on the "items wanted" section for a tort or pearl white (my other fave) scratch plate, so lets see if anything comes up... just can't wait to gig it now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted September 1, 2014 Share Posted September 1, 2014 Tort for sure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Telebass Posted September 1, 2014 Share Posted September 1, 2014 Puzzled...If that's a USA Jazz, then originally it was string-thru. Why would anyone want to change that to a Badass AND have to drill holes to do it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted September 1, 2014 Share Posted September 1, 2014 Maybe they don't use the string thru function and want a heavier bridge. Perfectly undoable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevB Posted September 1, 2014 Share Posted September 1, 2014 If you want to keep the string thru option then have a look around for a badass III, these allow both conventional and string-thru arrangement whilst also providing the heavier bridge. I have one on mine though I'm not sure if they may be discontinued now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassbiscuits Posted September 1, 2014 Author Share Posted September 1, 2014 Yeah I don't know why they changed the bridge - I love the string thru function on the bridges that came standard on these originally. Ill keep an eye out for an original replacement - I wonder if the current hi-mass ones have same screw pattern? But the badass sounds fine in the meantime - no massive rush to replace it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattM Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 I'm kinda similar, 30 years or so, starting on a Westone Thunder, Fender P, various Rays. Having had a Berger XL2 as my only squeeze for a few months, got used to a narrower string spacing and dual pickup config. Just picked up my first Jazz fretless and loving it so far. Looks better than a P as well IMHO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassbiscuits Posted September 3, 2014 Author Share Posted September 3, 2014 Ah Westone Thunders - they were cool.I had two Thunder 1As at one point, and a white Westone Spectrum, but sold them for a Charvel P bass-alike with a pointy head. It was the early 90s - all my friends were doing it and it seemed like a good idea etc etc... I love P basses, but Jazzes do look cooler I agree! It's the extra knob and shiny metalwork which does it for me. Also love that extra right hand playing position you get on the bottom pickup - essential for Ian Dury-tastic stuff... I'm off to look longingly at it a bit more.... (sigh) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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