Very cheap jazz copy, any suggestions?

[razze06]

I just want to dip my toe in the world of J basses, and I don't want to spend much money at all.
What I'm looking for is something that sounds and looks approximately like a jazz. I am not looking for any subtleties or finesse. Are some makes better than others? Is it just a matter of being lucky with a cheaply built copy? Is there any point in looking at older oriental versions of a jazz bass?
I reckon that second hand is probably best, but the question still remains: what is worth looking out for? Is anyone likely to ever want to sell a VM squier Jazz?

[51m0n]

[quote name='razze06' post='687429' date='Dec 17 2009, 03:48 PM']I just want to dip my toe in the world of J basses, and I don't want to spend much money at all.
What I'm looking for is something that sounds and looks approximately like a jazz. I am not looking for any subtleties or finesse. Are some makes better than others? Is it just a matter of being lucky with a cheaply built copy? Is there any point in looking at older oriental versions of a jazz bass?
I reckon that second hand is probably best, but the question still remains: what is worth looking out for? Is anyone likely to ever want to sell a VM squier Jazz? [/quote]

They do go in the For Sale section reasonably regularly.

Great basses for the money (S/H) too IMO.

[razze06]

[quote name='51m0n' post='687432' date='Dec 17 2009, 03:52 PM']They do go in the For Sale section reasonably regularly.

Great basses for the money (S/H) too IMO.[/quote]

I've seen a fair few, just wondering if there are some that I should be looking out for more than others.

[BassBod]

Two suggestions. Look for an old Tokai jbass or an older japanese squier - these tend to be very faithful copies and more importantly are made of "good" quality wood rather than laminated from allsorts.

The other option I'd recommend is Brandoni in London. They used to have good stocks of Jbass bodies and necks, from quality (Japanese?) makers. Some of the hardware can be cheap and cheerful, but its worth a look. I've still got an alder bodied Jbass I put together ten years ago and it feels and sounds great (with a Badass and Seymour Duncan pickups).

[Dom in Dorset]

I'd love to know what these are like:
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/JOHNNY-BROOK-JAZZ-BASS-GUITAR-BLACK_W0QQitemZ320419273106QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item4a9a7a1992"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/JOHNNY-BROOK-JAZZ-BA...=item4a9a7a1992[/url]
if I £70 to spare i'd get one just to see.

[TRadford]

[quote name='Dom in Somerset' post='687646' date='Dec 17 2009, 07:21 PM']I'd love to know what these are like:
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/JOHNNY-BROOK-JAZZ-BASS-GUITAR-BLACK_W0QQitemZ320419273106QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item4a9a7a1992"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/JOHNNY-BROOK-JAZZ-BA...=item4a9a7a1992[/url]
if I £70 to spare i'd get one just to see.[/quote]


[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=70931"]£30 collected, not far from you.[/url]

[Dom in Dorset]

[quote name='TRadford' post='687654' date='Dec 17 2009, 07:32 PM'][url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=70931"]£30 collected, not far from you.[/url][/quote]
"Not bad at all & AMAZING value for money." -popped up in the next post.
Only idle curiosity on my part, i'll not be snapping it up.

[stefboltonfc]

What I would say, is that if you're new to Jazz Basses, don't get some really horrible tacky replica; you're always going to have bad preconceptions of it in the future.

If you want a replica, get a replica made by the same company, i.e. Squier.

I had a Vintage Mod Squier for my first bass and even though the action was pretty high toward the top end of the neck, it was still very easy to play at the bottom, and most importantly it still produced a [i]really[/i] nice sound.

A brand new £60 copy is, ultimately, going to be God-awful.

Get hold of a second/third/fourth hand decent-model Squier from here, they're well worth the money.

[geoffbyrne]

You wouldn't be interested in the one I mention in the 'So I'm a Convert....', save me breaking it up?

G.

[gutbucket]

[url="http://www.rondomusic.com/bassguitars4.html"]http://www.rondomusic.com/bassguitars4.html[/url]

Here ya go. Cheap replicas, with a decent setup, they are supposed to be pretty great for the money. I just ordered one.

[Dread Bass]

There are unnamed jazz basses that come up on ebay sometimes that are gret i bought one. The neck is more akin to a P bass is the only issue. I also bought a fretless Johnson jazz that was very nice and sub £100.

[rjb]

Try a basic Squier Jazz. They can be had for £150

[url="http://www.dv247.com/guitars/squier-jazz-bass-guitar-black-rosewood--40732"]http://www.dv247.com/guitars/squier-jazz-b...rosewood--40732[/url]

Anything cheaper from new is a case of "false economy" in my opinion. You save money only to waste it.

For a little more money you should be able to get a Squier VMJ. Well worth the extra - it's perfectly good enough for a seasoned player and it will be easy to resell. This would be my recommendation.

[url="http://www.soundslive.co.uk/product.asp?id=5360"]http://www.soundslive.co.uk/product.asp?id=5360[/url]

Keep an eye out for either of the above on the sale forum and you may get a good deal.

Cheers-

Edited December 20, 2009 by rjb

[Annoying Twit]

I was curious about the Aria STB basses that were being sold for £100 brand new last year.

Not sure if should say who, but a forum member here owns one. Upon me asking, he said that he finds the Aria to be better than the Affinity Squire Jazz basses, but not as good as the Vintage Modified or Classic Vibe. Here's a quote (hope I'm not breaking moral privacy guidelines since this is from a PM).

[quote]The Aria is a cracking little bass. I bought it just to use as a knockabout bass that i can leave at venues and not care about, no great loss if it gets nicked or damaged. When i received it i couldn't stop playing it! The bridge pickup is excellent, it does the Jaco sound better than any other Jazz i've had and is actually louder than the neck pickup. With both pickups on you can really hear the influence of the bridge unit.Wether i got lucky and got a particularly good example or they're all like that is anyone's guess[/quote]

Some time ago I was watching out for VM and CV jazz basses on ebay, but never saw any go for £100-150, they were consistently more expensive than that. Except for the fretless ones, where there were some real bargains.

There was an Aria STB on ebay a few days ago, which was going for £60 or so including an amp! And it got no bids. Making your bass ebay sale "pickup only" when you live in Windermere might not be a good idea. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=70787"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=70787[/url]

IMuso claims to have them at stock, at a price of £109. [url="http://www.imuso.co.uk/Information-Menu/Reviews/Bass-Guitar-Reviews/12537-/Review-of-the-Aria-STB-Jazz-Bass-Guitar"]http://www.imuso.co.uk/Information-Menu/Re...azz-Bass-Guitar[/url]

I first noted them on the website of Hartnoll guitars in Plymouth. But, they've had them as "out of stock" for yonks. [url="http://www.hartnollguitars.co.uk/products.asp?id=134"]http://www.hartnollguitars.co.uk/products.asp?id=134[/url]

They turn up occasionally on ebay, but often for higher prices than the new prices I was seeing before.

Edited December 20, 2009 by Annoying Twit

[solo4652]

I had an american-made 1980's Peavey Fury which sounded absolutely marvellous. Thin neck didn't suit me however, otherwise it would still be here. High-quality, well-made bass with all the jazz features, made in America. Sold it for £150 - complete bargain. There's one on ebay now, I think.

[Cat Burrito]

I'd keep a watchful eye out for a second hand VM Squier or an old Jap Squier if I were looking within that budget. They do come up on these pages

[razze06]

Thanks for all your advice, i'll be looking at my options when i come back from holidays, cheers.

[demanufacture]

there are basses called Pearl (or Perl, I dont remember ). One of my friends bough one. Its PB made in Japan in 1975. And he paid... about 1000 polish zloty (about 200-250 GBP)

[Bay Splayer]

use the search function on this site to search......SX BASSES

then search ..... WIZARD PICKUPS

if you like what you read i have a SX75 jazz bass fitted with a WIZARD 84 (neck pup only)

yours for £100 + p&p

[url="http://img12.imageshack.us/i/48037622.png/"][/url]

[Bassassin]

[quote name='demanufacture' post='693567' date='Dec 26 2009, 01:45 AM']there are basses called Pearl (or Perl, I dont remember ). One of my friends bough one. Its PB made in Japan in 1975. And he paid... about 1000 polish zloty (about 200-250 GBP)[/quote]
Pearl were Matsumoku-built 70s MIJ copies - good but not too common in the UK.

On the other hand - that SX? Looks like a deal to me - and then some.

Jon.

[Soloshchenko]

[quote name='Bay Splayer' post='693623' date='Dec 26 2009, 11:30 AM']use the search function on this site to search......SX BASSES

then search ..... WIZARD PICKUPS

if you like what you read i have a SX75 jazz bass fitted with a WIZARD 84 (neck pup only)

yours for £100 + p&p

[url="http://img12.imageshack.us/i/48037622.png/"][/url][/quote]

That's a good deal.