Anyone know of a 21 fret alder jazz bass?

[funkle]

Hi all

This may be a long shot, but here goes. Been playing quite a few Fender Jazzes and similar the last couple of days - turns out I love the sound of alder and rosewood (as long as it has single coils). However, I'm used to having 21 frets and decent upper fret access, and no-one seems to make an 'off the shelf' alder jazz bass with 21 frets (as opposed to 20, 22, or 24). Anyone know of a maker who does a nice jazz bass with 21 frets, an alder body, and decent upper fret access? (I have considered the US Darryl Jones with an alder body, but it's a little pricey for me...)

I have entertained thoughts of a custom, but I'm a firm believer in trying out what's out there - too easy to go wrong on a custom!

As an aside, played a Squier Classic Vibe 60's Jazz - knocked my socks right off! Unbelievable tone for the money. If I can't find anything out there with 21 frets, it's cheap enough that I might just buy one...

Thanks.

Pete

Edited September 18, 2009 by funkle

[lozbass]

Alleva LGs are alder with a 21 fret rosewood board (access is pretty good too). Not really a cheap option, but the brand is getting some plaudits and there's less chance of disappointment than there might be with a custom build.

[funkle]

Thanks for the suggestion. The website is very nice, some gorgeous finishes on there. The headstock is a little ungainly for my tastes though. Might go hunting for sound clips! Thanks for the head up.

[KennysFord]

Ahem !!
[url="http://willowsguitar.com/willow_sub10_2.html"]http://willowsguitar.com/willow_sub10_2.html[/url]

and.......
[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=28002&hl=spunky"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...2&hl=spunky[/url]

Absolutely love mine to bits.

Exchange rate as of this evening works out at £251 plus around £60 to ship it.I got lucky with the duty or rather lack of it.
Mine worked out at £285 delivered but that was just before the arse dropped out of the £.
Pics of mine just before it was sent.

Edited September 17, 2009 by kennyrodg

[Lfalex v1.1]

Looooooonnng shot from the left field; Vigier Passion (std) series III.

Twin Single coils. 21 Frets. Alder body. Maple through neck. Phenolic Fretboard. Superb upper-fret access...

4 out of 5 ain't bad!

[Doctor J]

Perhaps Bacchus would fit the bill?

[url="http://www.guitarjapan.com/bacchus/spec/woodline_j-classic.html"]http://www.guitarjapan.com/bacchus/spec/wo..._j-classic.html[/url]

[url="http://www.deviser.co.jp/modules/products/index.php?content_id=113"]http://www.deviser.co.jp/modules/products/...?content_id=113[/url]

[funkle]

[quote name='kennyrodg' post='601642' date='Sep 17 2009, 07:57 PM']Ahem !!
[url="http://willowsguitar.com/willow_sub10_2.html"]http://willowsguitar.com/willow_sub10_2.html[/url]

and.......
[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=28002&hl=spunky"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...2&hl=spunky[/url]

Absolutely love mine to bits.

Exchange rate as of this evening works out at £251 plus around £60 to ship it.I got lucky with the duty or rather lack of it.
Mine worked out at £285 delivered but that was just before the arse dropped out of the £.
Pics of mine just before it was sent.[/quote]

Wow, that looks excellent and the price is right. Are they willing to do different colours, or do you have to have it in white? Looks brilliant for my purposes. Some nice aspects of the builds also - countouring of the heel, quarter sawn neck, ?have they tapered the lower horn a bit...nice sound on the videos also, although that one was an ash body.

I'm considering trying one out. How did you find dealing with the factory? Keen to know...

[quote name='Lfalex v1.1' post='601687' date='Sep 17 2009, 08:32 PM']Looooooonnng shot from the left field; Vigier Passion (std) series III.[/quote]

Very nice! Very expensive....

[quote name='Doctor J' post='601965' date='Sep 18 2009, 08:34 AM']Perhaps Bacchus would fit the bill?[/quote]

Great thought! I had forgotten about them...I played a few in Tokyo a few years back and was very impressed. However getting one in the UK looks pricey/awkward. Great basses though, will keep an eye out for one.

These have all been really helpful. Thanks guys!

Edited September 18, 2009 by funkle

[LeftyJ]

[quote name='funkle' post='602266' date='Sep 18 2009, 04:12 PM']Great thought! I had forgotten about them...I played a few in Tokyo a few years back and was very impressed. However getting one in the UK looks pricey/awkward. Great basses though, will keep an eye out for one.

These have all been really helpful. Thanks guys![/quote]

Their European distributor is on this forum: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=24555"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=24555[/url]

[~tl]

Shuker?

[funkle]

[quote name='~tl' post='602405' date='Sep 18 2009, 06:13 PM']Shuker?[/quote]

Been thinking about that, but custom basses remain a chancier prospect all round. With an 'off the shelf' bass, you don't like something about it, it's fine - off it goes, look for something else. There's a name people recognise, makes selling a bit easier.

With customs though - it's so personal, that if you don't like even one little thing about it, it's really annoying. Fixing it can be expensive (especially if you get it wrong through specifying it incorrectly, and the builder is just doing what you ask/following your instructions), and selling it incurs a huge loss. Unless you know perfectly and exactly what is desired, a custom strikes me as inherently chancy. Although I keep flirting with the idea...and Jon Shuker makes great instruments.

Edited September 18, 2009 by funkle

[KennysFord]

Hey Funkle,
Glad you like the look of it
I'm pretty sure you can spec the colour but it was the antique white look I was after.If you look on their gallery and Bass body pages there's at least a few more different to look at.
From the outset to taking delivery the experience was pleasant indeed.I did have to make a couple of calls to get hold of the guy that puts the basses together but once I managed to speak directly to him on the phone it was a breeze.You will need to speak with Ryu though as I think he's the only one who speaks English.
He was constantly updating me via email and was always happy to take my calls.The one thing that I was'nt completely happy with at first was the colour of the Rosewood board as the one that's on my Bass is darker than the one shown on his website.He explained and I don't know if it's true or not that he put a higher grade wood on my Bass as he wanted to make it "more special" for me.Make of that what you will but to me it's now a very minor point.
As for build quality and value for money ?? Well for me it's top notch.I'm not the most well off person and a boutique Bass is but a dream for me,well for now at least so I honestly feel that it's the lovliest Bass I could own for the money.
I dropped the Bass of this week for a Pro set up with this guy [url="http://www.guitarsetup.co.uk/"]http://www.guitarsetup.co.uk/[/url] His appraisal was that it's equal in build quality/attention to detail to Fender/Gibson guitars,the body/neck wood is of a high quality and the binding work was exceptional.When I told him what I paid for the Bass he was gobsmacked.
There you have it and hopefully that's helped you out.
BTW,
I'm sure he won't mind me saying but Paul @ Prosebass was equally impressed when he saw it.

[nash]

fender usa deluxe? has 22 frets

[funkle]

[quote name='kennyrodg' post='602544' date='Sep 18 2009, 09:17 PM']Hey Funkle,
Glad you like the look of it
I'm pretty sure you can spec the colour but it was the antique white look I was after.If you look on their gallery and Bass body pages there's at least a few more different to look at.
From the outset to taking delivery the experience was pleasant indeed.I did have to make a couple of calls to get hold of the guy that puts the basses together but once I managed to speak directly to him on the phone it was a breeze.You will need to speak with Ryu though as I think he's the only one who speaks English.
He was constantly updating me via email and was always happy to take my calls.The one thing that I was'nt completely happy with at first was the colour of the Rosewood board as the one that's on my Bass is darker than the one shown on his website.He explained and I don't know if it's true or not that he put a higher grade wood on my Bass as he wanted to make it "more special" for me.Make of that what you will but to me it's now a very minor point.
As for build quality and value for money ?? Well for me it's top notch.I'm not the most well off person and a boutique Bass is but a dream for me,well for now at least so I honestly feel that it's the lovliest Bass I could own for the money.
I dropped the Bass of this week for a Pro set up with this guy [url="http://www.guitarsetup.co.uk/"]http://www.guitarsetup.co.uk/[/url] His appraisal was that it's equal in build quality/attention to detail to Fender/Gibson guitars,the body/neck wood is of a high quality and the binding work was exceptional.When I told him what I paid for the Bass he was gobsmacked.
There you have it and hopefully that's helped you out.
BTW,
I'm sure he won't mind me saying but Paul @ Prosebass was equally impressed when he saw it. [/quote]

Thanks mate. If they can change to body colour for very little extra, then it's an astounding deal. Sounds like you had a good experience with them!

Another couple of questions for you - how do you find the neck profile? Simialr to a Jazz, chunkier, thinner? I quite like the necks on the Lakland DJs, so that's my standard for comparison....

And finally - how do you find the upper fret access to be?

Thanks again for all your help!

Pete

[funkle]

[quote name='nash' post='602578' date='Sep 18 2009, 10:24 PM']fender usa deluxe? has 22 frets[/quote]

Thought about it, but ideally I'd like to stick to 21 frets. Picky, I know!

[KennysFord]

[quote name='funkle' post='602691' date='Sep 19 2009, 06:56 AM']Thanks mate. If they can change to body colour for very little extra, then it's an astounding deal. Sounds like you had a good experience with them!

Another couple of questions for you - how do you find the neck profile? Simialr to a Jazz, chunkier, thinner? I quite like the necks on the Lakland DJs, so that's my standard for comparison....

And finally - how do you find the upper fret access to be?

Thanks again for all your help!

Pete[/quote]

Hey Funkle,
I'd say the neck is definitely slightly chunkier than your average Jazzer,any that I've played at least,MIA,MIM and a Squire VMJ etc and I suppose I have fairly small hands but I don't struggle.I was looking for a decent cheapish Jazzer at the time and it was a toss up between the VMJ and this one.I thought the VMJ was a cracker for the money but comparing the quality between my mates VMJ and the Spunkster.....well it's a step above and then some.
I've never had the pleasure of playing a Lakland so I can't help you there.As for the dusty end,well I don't venture that way too often but again,when I do have a twiddle up there I've not noticed any problems.

[funkle]

[quote name='kennyrodg' post='602700' date='Sep 19 2009, 08:06 AM']Hey Funkle,
I'd say the neck is definitely slightly chunkier than your average Jazzer,any that I've played at least,MIA,MIM and a Squire VMJ etc and I suppose I have fairly small hands but I don't struggle.I was looking for a decent cheapish Jazzer at the time and it was a toss up between the VMJ and this one.I thought the VMJ was a cracker for the money but comparing the quality between my mates VMJ and the Spunkster.....well it's a step above and then some.
I've never had the pleasure of playing a Lakland so I can't help you there.As for the dusty end,well I don't venture that way too often but again,when I do have a twiddle up there I've not noticed any problems. [/quote]

Thanks mate. I guess we're both up early today!

Thanks for the pic of the dusty end. I get up there moderately often, what with playing jazz and what not...

The neck being a little chunky takes some thinking about. I love the DJ neck, and I think it's about the same as a vintage Fender Jazz neck (less chunky than many modern Jazz necks). That said, modern Jazz necks still feel pretty comfy to me, and I spent a few days trying out MIA/MIM/Squier Fenders, most of which felt ok to me.

Thanks again!

[KennysFord]

No worries Pete,
Glad to help.

[nig]

Hi, If you know a luthier you could mod your jazz, I have an alder body jazz and chopped the body away to take a maple ray neck, it all worked out fine and dandy. saves loosing a loved one, however you do marry your mod, as maybe no one else will want it.

[eude]

Hey Pete,
how you about this?

[url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/JABBA_4_white.html"]http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_sp...BA_4_white.html[/url]

It's got 24 frets, but looks like you'd only be able to reach 21 of them comfortably...
Nice looking bass though!

Hope you're well dude.
Eude

[eude]

Looks very nice in this finish too >>
[url="http://www.mayones.com/en/katalog/jabba/jabba_classic_MBLKG"]http://www.mayones.com/en/katalog/jabba/jabba_classic_MBLKG[/url]

[eude]

Oh, and there's always Sandberg >>
[url="http://www.sandberg-guitars.de/basscat-overview/calj-series"]http://www.sandberg-guitars.de/basscat-overview/calj-series[/url]

They also do custom jobs, for not much more, assuming they're just mods.

[b]dontcarebear[/b] on here has one and loves it to bits!

Eude

[Annoying Twit]

From the Willow site, this is an interesting look for a Jazz Bass.

[url="http://willowsguitar.com/willow_sub12_1.html"]http://willowsguitar.com/willow_sub12_1.html[/url]

The main picture is too large to inline, so [url="http://willowsguitar.com/imges/big_photo/amazon/big_1sawb.jpg"]look here[/url].

[funkle]

Thanks guys. Eude, thanks for the heads up (x2!). Mayones looks nice. Know of any secondhand? It's hard to splash that much cash unseen, whereas the 'Spunky' () is cheap enough that I've just about worked myself up to have a go at it, unheard. The Sandbergs are nice too, but have one fret too many - 21 frets is where it's at for me, and I think it's going to remain that way.

The 'Amazon' Willows bass looks very nice, and pretty fancy too! Again, though, falls into the category of too expensive to try sight unseen (as resale value if it's not quite right is probably lowish, given the poor brand recognition over here).

I had forgotten about Mike Lull, but I love his work ( [url="http://www.mikelull.com"]http://www.mikelull.com[/url] ). HIs philosphy and mine tally nicely, and I'd be willing to stump up for a secondhand one if I see it, as it could probably be moved on without too much hassle if it wasn't right. There's one on the 'bay at the moment, but it's going for a leetle too much cash.... OTOH, I suppose I could always save the shekels for a Lakland USA alder DJ4 (though the 'Signature' DJ model has been pulled from their website, I believe Lakland intend to re-name it and continue producing it).

Pete

Edited September 20, 2009 by funkle

[Lfalex v1.1]

Does it [i]have[/i] to be Alder and have 4 strings?
If not;

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=61004"]Luke's Vigier for sale![/url]

[funkle]

[quote name='Lfalex v1.1' post='603775' date='Sep 20 2009, 06:10 PM']Does it [i]have[/i] to be Alder and have 4 strings?
If not;

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=61004"]Luke's Vigier for sale![/url][/quote]

Ah, yes

Nice looking bass for sale though!