"Jazz" bass - okay for any type of music?

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Ricklh

Ricklh

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I'm looking to get a under-$300.00 bass guitar for laying down home demo tracks and I've looked at the Yamaha RBX170 and now the Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Bass. I've watched the Gearwire video review of the Squier and am very impressed by the quality of the sound for $280.00. My question is (forgive my ignorance, please) - does the jazz part of the description mean it's not designed to work as well with classic rock or any type of music other than jazz & funk?
 
I'm not a bass specialist, but . . . . . . .From my understanding, many rock, funk, punk, blues bassists use Jazz Basses. Mark Hoppus from Blink 182 plays a Jazz Bass, so . . . yeah, you can play anything on it.
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Edit: Some research shows that it "was the second model of electric bass guitar created by Leo Fender. The bass is distinct from the Precision Bass in that its tone is brighter and richer in the midrange with less emphasis on the fundamental harmonic. Because of this, many bass players who want to be more "forward" in the mix (including smaller bands such as power trios) prefer the Jazz Bass. First introduced in 1960 as the "Deluxe Model", it was marketed as a stablemate to the Jazzmaster guitar which was also marketed as a "Deluxe Model" in its own right; however, it was renamed the Jazz Bass as Fender felt that its redesigned neck - narrower and more rounded than that of the Precision Bass - would appeal more to jazz musicians." This is from Wikipedia. Plus Les Claypool plays one! So there you have it.
 
I am quite pleased with my Squire Jazz Bass (lefty) but I got it used and at a terrific price- had it been a Precision I would probably as happy with it, then, too.

One thing I do want to say- I STILL don't get the concept of a "Fretless Precision" bass.
 
Yes, Fender once also made a "jazz" guitar - the Jazzmaster, it never found acclaim among jazz musicians, but became the signature of surf and several other genres.

Jazz bass is fine for any type of music, unless you happen to want a certain different sound, like P (Precision) or even humbucker basses.

Since you're looking in that budget bracket, check out:

RondoMusic.com - they have fantastic deals - you could easily get a jazz and a precision type basses for the price of 1 or maybe get a fretless. they are VERY good quality (I reviewed the P/J model a while ago).
 
Thanks for the quick & informative posts. I've read enough consumer reviews and liked the sound of that Vintage Modified bass on the You Tube video enough that I'm pretty much sold on it. I'll check out the RondoMusic site.
 
if you get a chance to play a few basses, also look into the Fender (not suier) Mexican jazz, used. You should be able to get one for 300 or less and good ones are pretty good. Upgrade pickups and you can have a entry level bass that turns into a keeper.

Daav
 
daav said:
if you get a chance to play a few basses, also look into the Fender (not suier) Mexican jazz, used. You should be able to get one for 300 or less and good ones are pretty good. Upgrade pickups and you can have a entry level bass that turns into a keeper.

Daav
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That's what I have,and you're right about the pickups.
 
I've got the Yamaha RBX-170 and love it. It plays great and I can get any tone I want from it. And it was cheap!!! On sale from GC for about $150 new. Not sure what the regular price was; $170 - $180.

peace.
 
Yeah I have a mexican Fender Jazz w/ stock pickups and I love it. It is really versatile. P-bass can be used on a lot but is more specific sound.

Thread hi-jack....what may be good pickups on a mexi-jazz? I like a round, punchy tone.
 
I am primiairily a bass player and build Jazz Bass guitars

The Squier VM Jazz is an excellent Bass for any genre of music you want to use it for. And Squier is in fact a Korean made fender; I would get a Sqier before I would buy a bottom end fender because they are every bit as good as a MIM Fender.
That said the Yamaha RBX 170 is a very good instrument designed around the Fender P/J model in fact it has precesion neck pups and Jazz bridge pup.
Before I sold mine I was using it to record with on a regular basis.

I have never owned the Squier but I have played several pretty extensively and all of the ones I have played had a very low action and plays like butter.
The RBX has a bit higher action and I could never get it quite as low as either one of my Fender Jazz basses.

between these two bass guitars, although I have never owned thr VM Jazz I would have to opt for the Squier.

but if you decide to go with the RBX 170 you will still have a darn nice bass for not a lot of money
Personally if I was going to buy a Yamaha RBX model I would get the RBX4 A2 super light or an RBX 374 with humbucking active pickups.

you might want to check out the Jay Turser semi hollow model, they are discontinued but man this thing is AWESOME!
I got one last week and I have absolutley fell in love with it. This Bass plays so good and is a tone monster! You can get one delivered to your door from a couple of Ebay sellers for less than 250 Bennys. https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=281098 if you want some links to sellers PM me.

sorry to boggle your mind with more choices:D
 
Ricklh said:
Thanks for the quick & informative posts. I've read enough consumer reviews and liked the sound of that Vintage Modified bass on the You Tube video enough that I'm pretty much sold on it. I'll check out the RondoMusic site.
Click to expand...

Do Not consider a SX I bought one a few weeks ago and sent it back for an exchange and the second one was just as bad so I sent it back for a refund. not a good choice unless you want to do some work on it.
if you do decide to get a SX you will need to go ahead and buy some fret leveling blocks and some fret files and some new electronics as well.
JM .02 OOMV
 
Ricklh said:
Thanks for the quick & informative posts. I've read enough consumer reviews and liked the sound of that Vintage Modified bass on the You Tube video enough that I'm pretty much sold on it. I'll check out the RondoMusic site.
Click to expand...

stevieb said:
.

One thing I do want to say- I STILL don't get the concept of a "Fretless Precision" bass.
Click to expand...

Fretless Bass guitars have a distinctive sound that is unique to only a fretless bass regardless of the ppickup configuration.
 
Well, the Precision bass was named that because it had frets. That's the "precision" that's the namesake of that model of bass guitar. So a "fretless precision" bass is a "fretless fretted" bass. Oxymoronic.
 
Seafroggys said:
Yeah I have a mexican Fender Jazz w/ stock pickups and I love it. It is really versatile. P-bass can be used on a lot but is more specific sound.

Thread hi-jack....what may be good pickups on a mexi-jazz? I like a round, punchy tone.
Click to expand...


I put Lindy Fralin's in mine (Light's suggestion i think) and have been really pleased. Overall it is quieter, nice tone and yeah, punchy as hell.

Daav
 
In my opinion, do not get an SX unless you want a bass to modify and tweak.

There are really nice Squiers and really nice MIM Fender Jazz basses to be found. There are also lemons of either variety. If you have a casual need, play a couple and pick the one you like best. You'll be happy with it. If you're more selective, play many and choose the best.
 
I'd save and buy the one that makes you play more, not just some import thing that doesn't inspire. I'd say this with any instrument if you're a serious musician.

What I mean by serious, is anyone who takes their instrument seriously, regardless if you are a basement player, or have a $400,000 recording contract advance.

For me, I'm saving for an Ibanez Gary Willis bass. Basic design, basic appointments, but fretless for cool things and a ramp for faster playing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17jfU1BvRpY&feature=related
 
Tadpui said:
Well, the Precision bass was named that because it had frets. That's the "precision" that's the namesake of that model of bass guitar. So a "fretless precision" bass is a "fretless fretted" bass. Oxymoronic.
Click to expand...
that being the case any fretted bass is a precision bass.
but you are right and I do know the history behind the name but the body style and pickup configuration has made the precision more recognized as a Precision than its namesake anymore:)
That said I guess some people want a fretless bass with a P body style and pickup configuration and don't really care whether having one is oxymoronic or not:p
 
Roguetitan said:
The Squier VM Jazz is an excellent Bass for any genre of music you want to use it for. And Squier is in fact a Korean made fender; I would get a Sqier before I would buy a bottom end fender because they are every bit as good as a MIM Fender.
Click to expand...

So what you are saying is that a plywood body is better than an ash body?..the Mexican fender has better overall tone while not plugged in because of this.

I have replaced the stock pu set in my fender with a vintage fender set.
 
Ricklh said:
I'm looking to get a under-$300.00 bass guitar for laying down home demo tracks and I've looked at the Yamaha RBX170 and now the Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Bass. I've watched the Gearwire video review of the Squier and am very impressed by the quality of the sound for $280.00. My question is (forgive my ignorance, please) - does the jazz part of the description mean it's not designed to work as well with classic rock or any type of music other than jazz & funk?
Click to expand...

The jazz bass is used in rock just as much as any other bass. It isn't at all for just jazz. In fact, it's one of the most versatile, all around basses. It's called the Jazz bass because when fender was first making it, they thought the neck and body design (thinner/faster than a Precision bass) would appeal to Jazz players more. It's a great bass to have. As far as getting one, you should find a Mexican Fender jazz used rather than getting a Squire new. It will be a good investment and you won't outgrow it in a long time or possibly ever.
 
darrin_h2000 said:
So what you are saying is that a plywood body is better than an ash body?..the Mexican fender has better overall tone while not plugged in because of this.

I have replaced the stock pu set in my fender with a vintage fender set.
Click to expand...

are you trying to tell me that a Squier Vintage modified Jazz bass has a plywood body?:confused:
You better check again friend
FYI Squier is owned by Fender.
I will take a Squier VM Jazz over a mexican jazz any day of the week.
 
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