Author Topic: New Fender Basses (Read 758 times)

tmoney61092 · « **Reply #45 on:** July 30, 2010, 12:39:30 AM »

i guess i understand brand loyalty to a certain extent but it's always good to have an open mind, was just trying to prove a point that you can also customize a bass much like a Harley

~Taylor

lidon2001 · « **Reply #46 on:** July 30, 2010, 12:48:17 AM »

Yes, I am familiar with them. I wanted a maple with pearl blocks neck, so I shopped around. Bought the body and neck off EBay and the seller was kind enough to get me a very light body so this weighs about 8-8.5 lbs. After I screwed up the first nut I punted and took it to the shop for final steps. They were surprised how well it went together; no fret work was needed, very tight neck pocket. They actually enjoyed it as much as a Sadowsky they had in at the time. Of course, a few weeks after it was done the neck pickup died, so I bought a set of Fender '75's and still have the original concentrics from my reissue so they will be going in shortly. And yes, I put a decal on there - sue me! lol

sonicus · « **Reply #47 on:** July 30, 2010, 01:03:46 AM »

Taylor , I agree . I Like to Customize things , It is quite rewarding . look what Berry Oakley did with his Jazz Bass with a Guild/ Hagstrom pickup. That would also work with a Darkstar Pickup! http://www.allmanbrothersband.com/index.php?module=My_eGallery&do=showpic&gid=15&pid=3605&orderby=dateD

sonicus · « **Reply #48 on:** July 30, 2010, 01:17:35 AM »

Tom , I have a Jazz bass that ended very Sadowsky like . I replaced the Fender bridge with a Schaller Roller Saddle bridge and replaced the stock Fender Jazz Bass pickups with Bartolini 9W4 pickups. Last I installed a graphite stringnut. It worked out swell .It sounds even better through an Alembic SF-2.

jet_powers · « **Reply #49 on:** July 30, 2010, 05:30:13 AM »

I had a MIJ 75 Jazz that I traded along with a fretless 80 P Bass for my 1st Alembic. I got the fretless back when my ex bought it back for me for a Xmas present. I put Barts and a Badass bridge on the Jazz and it had a very good tone. Somewhere I still have the original Jazz PU's.

I can't say I have really missed the Jazz as the Persuader has served me quite well over the years, but lately I have been having this strange urge to acquire a Jazz or at least a fretted Fender. I thought about kits but I hadn't considered the pawn shop angle.

I saw a Marcus Miller model in a GC the other day but I wasn't impressed. It seemed somehow to be kind of cheesey! Especially for the money that were asking. I guess I've been spoiled by my Alembics!

I'll keep my eyes open and look at the G&L's next time I see one....

JP

bassilisk · « **Reply #50 on:** July 30, 2010, 06:45:18 AM »

I must confess - of all the basses out there my favorite type is the Jazz Bass. I was weaned on a Fender - bought a 1970 Tele bass brand new and used it through my formative years. At this point I have a slew of customized Jazz variants capped with an amazing all original '66.

I also have 2 G&L's (L2K, ASAT) and a Musicman Sterling (one of the best necks I've ever played and tricked up with a Lane Poor pickup).

The last relatively new Fender I had was an '05 Stu Hamm Urge II. I found that overall it was constructed and thought out pretty well, a nice bass with a lot of versatility. I also thought the price for a new one was crazy - I got a great deal for this one used on ebay. I flipped it because I already had enough J's and P's to fill my needs and didn't need a combination that was not quite either, though I must say Fender took pains to get tones that were very close to each.

Yes I really like my Alembics, but for me they're like Ferraris in a garage full of old muscle cars. They each have their draw for me with the Rogue being my most favorite to play. It is the most comfortable by far. I think the MK sounds the best (all in a relative way - I'm only comparing my Alembics to each other) though it's also the heaviest and most cumbersome. The Distillate with the basic Spoiler electronics is just a lot of fun to play, neck dive and all.

But its Jazz basses that will always have a hold on me. I love what Warmoth has to offer (I have 4) and my latest addition is this CAR J with Nordstrand Big Singles run passive.

rjmsteel · « **Reply #51 on:** July 30, 2010, 07:32:16 AM »

bassilisk:
Those Nordstrand Big Singles must sound awfully round and warm. Love those block inlays on that dark fingerboard, nice!

I too own an all original '66 Jazz Bass! Can\t believe I paid only $350.00 for it.

Obviously I\ve also chosen to go with the Rogue body shape as well .
Distillate and neck dive... yeah, but it sure IS fun to play and sounds great especially though an SF-2. Haven\t tried my jazz through the S-filter yet.

bassilisk · « **Reply #52 on:** July 30, 2010, 09:10:56 AM »

Thanks - Yeah, the Nordy's can be warm but they are single coils and are designed to give the jazz tone in spades. Highs are not harsh, low mids are right with the right amount of crunch and defined lows. Seems a lot of folks use an active pre with them but I don't see the need.
It's wired like a stacker V-T, V-T - I just couldn't get a double 250K pot that I was comfortable with and went with split CTS's.

The neck is maple with an ebony board and the body's alder. It really sounds and plays killer.

My '66 cost substantially more, but I must say it was worth every nickel. I got to pick it out of several 60's era J's and this was clearly the one to take home.

I have an F-1X but I'm finding myself liking all my basses (including the Alembics) through my 20 year old GK800RB better. Not as soft sounding with the sound more in-your-face (to me at any rate). I really like a low mid bump and I love how the Alembics respond to that without using the Q. I may be putting that on the block and going back to my Ashdown pre.

toma_hawk01 · « **Reply #53 on:** July 30, 2010, 09:33:28 AM »

Oh my goodness, that bass looks like this bass Lewis Johnson was ripping... (I wonder...)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enIzgC5E7Hk&feature=related

Peace and Love,

Hal-

rjmsteel · « **Reply #54 on:** July 30, 2010, 09:49:00 AM »

I do not own either the F-1X or F-2X for that matter; just run my Alembics/ other basses straight into the front preamp jack on the SF-2 and then into my Eden head, (and Hartke head also when I\m running two heads: splitting my lows and highs). I get that soft tone, (low freq.) when rolling off on the SF-2 mixed with the tube pre in the Eden then fast attack with the solid state portion: sounds great!

Still need to run my Jazz ('66) through the system, since I got my SF-2. I do have a Fender, (Japan) hollow body Fretless with Lace p/ups that I occasionally play run in the system and it sounds pretty cool.

crgaston · « **Reply #55 on:** August 02, 2010, 10:48:41 PM »

Will, those old G-K's sound phenomenal...really pushes the bass up front. Shoot me an email if you're serious about seling...

bassilisk · « **Reply #56 on:** August 04, 2010, 10:05:30 AM »

Charles, you will be the first to know. This move may be closer than further away. I'll be in touch.

(Message edited by bassilisk on August 04, 2010)

bigredbass · « **Reply #57 on:** August 04, 2010, 10:03:14 PM »

Every time I think of 'new' Fenders, I actually start thinking of Bacchus, Atelier-Z, STR, Moons, Navigators, etc. Something like this, maybe:

http://www.deviser.co.jp/modules/features/index.php?content_id=3

J o e y

rockbassist · « **Reply #58 on:** August 08, 2010, 07:08:55 PM »

I have owned many Fenders and would not buy one unless it is made in the U.S. The Mexican made basses are generally of much poorer quality than those from the U.S., Japan and Korea. They do not use the same electronics, nut, bridge, fret wire, etc. They often have problems with intonation and staying in tune. Not a bad bass for a beginner, but an experienced player will be disappointed.