Author Topic: Fender Jazz with Stacked Pots (Read 334 times)

terryc · « **Reply #15 on:** February 11, 2011, 12:23:29 PM »

I agree with rami too, a friend of mine has a 61 strat which is a nightmare near anything electrical whereas his new Jeff Beck Strat is super quiet.
I don't agree with the old is best, I mean if that was the case why do Alembic offer RF upgrade on their older models.

bassilisk · « **Reply #16 on:** February 11, 2011, 12:29:32 PM »

Fender made a clicker insert that went underneath the tone knob. If you buy genuine Fender 62RI parts the tone knob has dents in the bottom that fit onto the bump on the insert. I have one bass set up like that. I had to try it but after doing it I prefer not having it. I'm lazy so it'll stay.

bassilisk · « **Reply #17 on:** February 11, 2011, 12:49:34 PM »

Without trying to rehash old vs new I can only offer my own experience. I have an all original '66 Jazz that had the daylights played out of it and for good reason. I got to AB it with 4 other basses of similar vintage when I was buying. This bass rose to the top by a large margin in the sampling I had and I am thrilled to own it. I have several other Jazzes, various woods, guts etc, all killer AFAIC. None sound like the '66. Nobody was more skeptical about this kind of thing than me until I got this bass. It has a character and voice all its own - I know I got really good one and it's staying.

Having said that it won't compete with my MK Std but it's not supposed to and the reverse is just as true. I have a pretty broad range of basses and all have earned a spot. I love the MK, but I love the others too.

dfung60 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 11, 2011, 11:13:52 PM »

I had one of the American-made Vintage Jazz Reissues from the 80s with the concentric knobs. It was beautifully made and finished, but had a relatively floppy neck. I bought it new, so it had the pickup covers and everything, including a cute copy of the the original owners manual.

I found it to be massively better than the regular Jazz Basses of that time. The American Jazz and Precisions got a signficant update in the 90's and I think they're better overall instrument, even if they're not as authentic.

I rarely turn down the tone controls, so it turns out that the concentric pots were hardly different for me than the normal 3 knob arrangement. The knobs did click (which i liked) by the arrangement described above. I liked the knobs so much, that I bought an extra set of them as spares in case they ever stopped making them.

Ultimately, I decided to sell this bass since I never really used it. I miss it from a collector's standpoint, but not so much as a player.

David Fung

lidon2001 · « **Reply #19 on:** February 12, 2011, 06:33:13 AM »

Funny (ironic?) that this thread comes up almost a year to the day that I had my 1982 AVR Jazz stolen. The only parts I kept from it were the conecentric pots/control panel and the bridge after swapping for a Ken Smith bridge and VVT controls. The neck was twisted, but after a shave and a refret when it was 10 years old, solid as a rock.

I recently saw a (I believe) 1984 AVR Strat sell for about $4800 on EBay. Hang on to the early ones if you have them.

rjmsteel · « **Reply #20 on:** February 12, 2011, 11:49:42 AM »

My, also all original, \66 Jazz (which I purchased in \74 for dare I say $350) just sounds SO warm.
Not exactly the greatest output however.
Even my wife who had not heard the bass in a few years while A/B\ing the differences between my basses for her exclaimed that sounds so warm

---Attempting to justify why I\m spending ($....) on a Series bass. LOL.

bigredbass · « **Reply #21 on:** February 12, 2011, 11:36:31 PM »

Not concentric-knobbed, but the Squier Classic Vibe 60's Jazz is a WHOLE LOTTA Jazz Bass for $349. I'd really like to get one and add some Fralins, maybe a Babicz bridge.

One day I'll build a parts bass. For me, that's the beauty of the Fender-ish axes, inasmuch as there's an endless supply of after market parts to hot rod one, or build one from start to finish. You just screw them together!! And the better Squiers are way cheaper than buying separate parts as a starting point. One day . . .

J o e y

tmoney61092 · « **Reply #22 on:** February 14, 2011, 11:05:09 AM »

well guys, just put a down payment on a sunset orange american standard jazz with maple fretboard and S-1 switch, this is my first bass with a maple fretboard and i have to say it is amazing and i can't wait to finally take her home with me. thanks for all the input as usual

~Taylor

rami · « **Reply #23 on:** February 14, 2011, 05:12:27 PM »

Congratulations! That's a 2006 model? I remember it well. It was the only Ash body American Standard Jazz Bass that year (they haven't made another one since!). I also really loved the S-1 feature. I think it's a real shame that Fender discontinued it.

Your really going to love it. You'll notice how particularly bright and powerful it sounds. The best features of the American Standard Jazz Bass are the Graphite re-enforced neck that make it super strong and stable with no dead spots anywhere, and the string through body bridge that makes the strings super tight and snappy. The S-1 switch puts the pickups in Series or Parallel which makes a HUGE change in its tone. It was really the best innovation Fender ever made to the Jazz Bass and I think it's SUCH a shame that they discontinued it!!!

Wish you a lifetime of pleasure with it.

Cheers,

(Message edited by rami on February 14, 2011)

tmoney61092 · « **Reply #24 on:** February 14, 2011, 05:34:45 PM »

thanks Rami! i put some serious time into testing this bass at the store before i even thought of putting it on layaway. i had been talking with one of the salesmen who was really kind and helpful and i came in today and said i think today is the day. sat down with her for about 30 minutes and decided to pull the trigger.

the main thing that drew me to this bass was the really bright tone it had compared to the other american standards they had. reminds of that great punchy 60's Jaco sound but can also get the smooth, groovin' John Paul Jones tones. i love it, going to be a couple months before i'll be able to finish paying her off(college student=not a lot of money :p). i love how big of a difference the S-1 switch makes and how it's hidden(didn't even notice it the first time i played it!). thanks again!

~Taylor

rami · « **Reply #25 on:** February 15, 2011, 11:16:25 AM »

Hey Taylor,

You'll find that your going to love it even more as the years go by. That Bass is the perfect example of a modern Fender. Great quality, sound and reliability. It becomes a companion and you'll discover new things about it everytime you play it. I learned and entire book of works by Bach on mine. It's truly an extension of my hands.

Best wishes again!