NBD - Back to Fender. Back to jazz.

[colleya]

TL:DR - I've bought a new bass. It's very nice.

 

I've been hankering after a jazz for a while to fit with the vibe of my new band.  Thought I wanted another Sandberg, a Vincent or really push the boat out and get a Lull.

 

However, I fell in lust with the blonde Fender Japan Kazuki Arai signature jazz on the Bassbros website.

It was 4.5kg however, so not for me. Then they got one that was listed as 3.8kg on their site. I messaged them to double check. It was actually 3.8kg. I was in trouble. 

 

Being away from Thurs to Sunday guaranteed that this would happen on Thursday afternoon (pic whatsapped to my by my delightful and not at all surprised by another big box arriving other half).

 

 

Had to wait until Sunday to open it, it played nicely straight out of the box, but a swap to my preferred strings and lowering the saddles by a quarter turn really made a difference.

The I plugged it in, oh my, these noiseless vintage pickups really are something. It's the sound I've been chasing for ages. The low B is fabulous. It's gorgeous and not at all 'signature-y'. An engraved neck plate is the only giveaway, and it comes with a plain one too, nice touch.

 

 

I've got my first gig with my new band on Friday. Everything sensible says I should play my Sandberg as it's a known quantity. I won't though, can't wait to hear this thing in the mix. 

 

If anyone's bothered enough then I'll try to get some video and update this post at the weekend. Or, if you're near the bright lights of Chorley then pop along and check us out at The Shed and Garden.

Edited March 24 by colleya

[HeadlessBassist]

Congrats! I was looking at one of these at BassBros a few weeks ago when I bought my KingBass MkII from them. That must've been the heavier one you mentioned. I like the "T" tuners too - I had those on a Mexican Jazz V that I bought about 20 years ago.

 

You're definitely preaching to the converted with me - my main bass for the live shows is an American Original 60's Jazz with a 2012 FSR Limited Edition hand-stained ash Jazz as it's backup.

 

Congrats again -  fabulous looking instrument you have there. 

[madshadows]

Lovely bass and video of the sounds/tones would be cool  

 

John 😎 

[agoulding]

I played it at bass bros when I picked up my Stingray. Lovely bass, nice work!

[chris_b]

I've bought basses and cabs on the way to gigs and played them that night.

 

If the bass is as good as you say, play it. No reason to delay.

[Terry M.]

I was up there a few weeks back and played the black one they still currently have. Man was it nice!!!!

Actually it was the blonde one I tried.

Edited Wednesday at 16:36 by Terry M.

[LeftyJ]

That's lovely! I've always liked the smaller bodied American Deluxe Jazz Basses of the late 90s and early 00s and kinda want one. They made lefty 4-strings in sunburst and a pretty cool black metallic finish with gold pickguard. I'd really love one of the black ones! Prices are gradually going up though, it seems. 

[colleya]

They had a black version of this at BassBros too, but it was listed at 4.5kg. Think if it had been the same weight then I'd have just about gone for black, but the blonde looks great too.

[kuetsum]

On 24/03/2025 at 18:36, colleya said:

TL:DR - I've bought a new bass. It's very nice.

 

I've been hankering after a jazz for a while to fit with the vibe of my new band.  Thought I wanted another Sandberg, a Vincent or really push the boat out and get a Lull.

 

However, I fell in lust with the blonde Fender Japan Kazuki Arai signature jazz on the Bassbros website.

It was 4.5kg however, so not for me. Then they got one that was listed as 3.8kg on their site. I messaged them to double check. It was actually 3.8kg. I was in trouble. 

 

Being away from Thurs to Sunday guaranteed that this would happen on Thursday afternoon (pic whatsapped to my by my delightful and not at all surprised by another big box arriving other half).

 

 

Had to wait until Sunday to open it, it played nicely straight out of the box, but a swap to my preferred strings and lowering the saddles by a quarter turn really made a difference.

The I plugged it in, oh my, these noiseless vintage pickups really are something. It's the sound I've been chasing for ages. The low B is fabulous. It's gorgeous and not at all 'signature-y'. An engraved neck plate is the only giveaway, and it comes with a plain one too, nice touch.

 

 

I've got my first gig with my new band on Friday. Everything sensible says I should play my Sandberg as it's a known quantity. I won't though, can't wait to hear this thing in the mix. 

 

If anyone's bothered enough then I'll try to get some video and update this post at the weekend. Or, if you're near the bright lights of Chorley then pop along and check us out at The Shed and Garden.

If this is the one from the 2nd batch, I have to thank and hate you at the same time.

Thanks for saving my pocket.

 

Let us know how it sounds

Enjoy the new bass! 😁 

 

 

[colleya]

Sound clip update. Here's a bit of go pro footage from Friday's gig.  Hopefully I'll have something a bit clearer once the keys player settles the recordings from the desk.

 

Bass -> GR one 350 -> desk. No cab.

 

Bass settings: bass boost about 20%, mids left at centre, treble cut 90%. Amp set flat.

 

 

 

[colleya]

The desk recordings have just landed:

 

Survive

 

I Try/Millionaire

Edited 6 hours ago by colleya

[BassApprentice]

Great version of I Try/Millionaire! There's a house band near me (that played our wedding actually) that does these 90s/00s tunes. So much fun!