Bilbo Posted February 16, 2019 Posted February 16, 2019 I may need a fretted bass soon and am gassing for a fretted five string Fender Jazz. Does anyone know of any support groups available? Fender GAS Anonymous? Cognitive Bass Therapy? Quote
oldslapper Posted February 16, 2019 Posted February 16, 2019 Thinking of you at this difficult time. Try not to fret. 2 Quote
Woodinblack Posted February 16, 2019 Posted February 16, 2019 There is one for sale on here. At least one Quote
Len_derby Posted February 16, 2019 Posted February 16, 2019 Definitely try before you buy. I had a Mexican Fender Jazz V and it was seriously 'average'. Heavy too. I moved it on, and now very happy with a Yamaha TRB 5. Quote
Bilbo Posted February 16, 2019 Author Posted February 16, 2019 (edited) Will do, Len. I may be wrong but I don't think I have ever played a Fender Jazz 😃 Actually, that isn't true. I used to roadie for a guy who had one. Age 22 so 33 years ago. Edited February 16, 2019 by Bilbo Quote
oldslapper Posted February 16, 2019 Posted February 16, 2019 Bassist friend of mine was a Warwick and Ibby fan boy, recently got a USA fender 5 string. He plays nothing else now, complete convert. He has an endorsement with a manufacturer but hasn’t told them he doesn’t play their bass now. That probably doesn’t help your decision making and it’s quite a dull story, but he loves his jazz 5 Quote
Grahambythesea Posted February 16, 2019 Posted February 16, 2019 Had mine for 20 years but quite glad to not have it now, heavy, hummed under fluorescent lights and the fretboard wasn’t brilliant. Not sure why I kept it so long. Quote
ubit Posted February 16, 2019 Posted February 16, 2019 I’ve got a Squire Jazz V and surprisingly, it sounds incredible! Quote
ubit Posted February 16, 2019 Posted February 16, 2019 55 minutes ago, oldslapper said: Bassist friend of mine was a Warwick and IBBY fan boy, recently got a USA fender 5 string. He plays nothing else now, complete convert. He has an endorsement with a manufacturer but hasn’t told them he doesn’t play their bass now. I’ve got a K5. I really like it but the neck is so slim that I find it difficult to play smoothly. The string spacing is so tight! Quote
Woodinblack Posted February 16, 2019 Posted February 16, 2019 I played a fender 5, it seemed ok but I am the opposite - the strings are so far apart I can't play it smoothly, I miss the strings. 1 Quote
stingrayPete1977 Posted February 16, 2019 Posted February 16, 2019 I use a usa Jazz V, it's cracking. I think the best advice would be to try a post 2012 one, I'd previously discounted them as junk which tbf most of them were, the ones with five tuners in a row have all had the worst B string I've ever found. 1 Quote
Dan Dare Posted February 16, 2019 Posted February 16, 2019 I tried one a while ago and it was OK, but nothing special. The Lakland Skyline I compared it with was far superior and a bit cheaper. Quote
lozkerr Posted February 16, 2019 Posted February 16, 2019 I have an MIA Jazz V and I absolutely love it. It's a wee bit on the weighty side, but a wide leather strap helps to distribute the bulk. Not neck-heavy at all, and it's a joy to play. 1 Quote
Bilbo Posted February 17, 2019 Author Posted February 17, 2019 😃 I have played a Wal for 33 years so weight is not going to be a problem. Quote
lowdown Posted February 17, 2019 Posted February 17, 2019 Back in 2003 I had Gas for a Fender Jazz 5. I tried several and couldn't find one I liked. Then out of the blue on a gig in Germany, a Fender USA Marcus Miller 5, was the hired in Bass for me. That was it, I found a Jazz I really liked. Soon as I was back in the UK, I ordered a new one. It was more than I wanted to pay, but played like a dream. I still have it and use it now, so a right result. 👍 2 Quote
ubit Posted February 17, 2019 Posted February 17, 2019 (edited) 10 hours ago, Woodinblack said: I played a fender 5, it seemed ok but I am the opposite - the strings are so far apart I can't play it smoothly, I miss the strings. If the Squire Jazz V that I have is anything similar, I know what you mean but to my sausage fingers, the K5 is harder. I think I could get used to the Squire neck ( I have never used it live) but I just can’t get used to the K5 at all. Just to add, I love the sound of the K5. The Squire is incredible too. I’ve just never needed a V when playing live so far. Edited February 17, 2019 by ubit Quote
gareth Posted February 17, 2019 Posted February 17, 2019 Don't forget the Fender roscoe beck 5 ive had both and preferred the rb5 1 Quote
bubinga5 Posted February 17, 2019 Posted February 17, 2019 I wouldnt go anywhere near a Fender Jazz 5 string, especially the 5 in a row tuner basses. Lakland do it so much better and cheaper. I had a Fender American Jazz 5 and the B string was just a floppy mess. Of course this is not case with all Fender 5 string jazz basses depending on the year, just my experience. A Lakland Joe Osbourne is way better instrument. Imo. 1 Quote
bubinga5 Posted February 17, 2019 Posted February 17, 2019 2 hours ago, uk_lefty said: Get a Sire... Or this. Untill you experience/hear the tone from a Sire V7 you wont understand. Its epic. Quote
Woodinblack Posted February 17, 2019 Posted February 17, 2019 8 hours ago, ubit said: Just to add, I love the sound of the K5. The Squire is incredible too. I’ve just never needed a V when playing live so far. Is the K5 not normal spacing for an ibanez. If so then I am sure I would not have a problem. Quote
ubit Posted February 17, 2019 Posted February 17, 2019 1 hour ago, Woodinblack said: Is the K5 not normal spacing for an ibanez. If so then I am sure I would not have a problem. I’ll be honest and say I don’t know as I’ve never played another Ibanez bass. They are famous for their fast necks right enough, so I’m guessing they are all tight string spacing. Possibly I could get used to it, but I’m just not that bothered about a five, so I don’t persevere. It’s a nice bass and I love the finish. I see Fieldy has now got a white one as his bass. Even although I’ve got the black one and am not struck on it, I still get gas for a white one! Quote
lowdown Posted February 17, 2019 Posted February 17, 2019 (edited) 2 hours ago, bubinga5 said: Lakland do it so much better and cheaper. The Skyline is cheaper, but not the USA series. Although a bit pricey, they are lovely Instruments to play. https://www.lakland.com/product/usa-series-55-aj/ https://www.lakland.com/product/usa-series-55-60-vintage-j/ Edited February 17, 2019 by lowdown 1 Quote
Guest Posted February 17, 2019 Posted February 17, 2019 I’ve not played the very latest model, apart from briefly in a store, but I don’t rate them. The B is poor compared to most other 5’s, even on the newest one and for me the offset body just doesn’t feel right scaled up. I had a Montego Black deluxe V, bought blind, which looked lovely and that’s about it! Agreed that the late 90s five tuners in a row are the poorest of the lot. The only convincing Fender V I’ve tried is the Roscoe Beck. Quote
stingrayPete1977 Posted February 17, 2019 Posted February 17, 2019 The funny thing is I had an open cheque book and permission from the boss to buy whichever jazz or derivative I wanted and I still ended up with the USA Fender, EBS_freak has the pictures of me trying the USA Lakland and various other basses, I didn't even go for the deluxe version! Quote
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