Lowender

Hmm, this was downloaded from my itunes as an mp3, not a phone. Not sure why it's not opening.

Just a comparison test. A few seconds each of 3 different basses playing a little slap thing. Let me know which you think sounds best. And worst. Thank you!

Not quite the same. One of the main points of special made instruments is that they don't require trying out dozens of them. You order one, pay a fortune and wait 6 months and supposedly get the bass of your dreams. I think owning FOUR specially made $6000 instruments and not being satisfied with any of them is a statement in itself. As for a company doing well, that's fine. (Of course, they don't sell very many overall, but the prices are so high and there's no middleman so they only need to sell a few each month). But how many they sell is of no concern to me as a musician. McDonald's sells a lot of hamburgers. And if you think the topic is boring, why post? After 4 pages, it seems apparent it's something that others want to discuss -- if that's okay with you.

Anything but white.

[quote name='pierreganseman' timestamp='1383133816' post='2260530'] And another senseless thread about Fodera being worth it or not bla bla bla..... They sell every basses available within hours.. And the standards all sold out within hours too..... bla bla bla... must be doing something right...... I owned 4, not for me in the end.... maybe one day a full on custom tailored for me.... but not quite yet ;-) [/quote] What's your point? You agree? Disagree? Just want to be disagreeable? Fodera's sell out? So what. It's interesting that you owned FOUR and decided they weren't for you but choose to complain about a thread where someone felt they didn't live up to expectations.

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1383087184' post='2260162'] I think these last two posts kinda sum things up - there's a world of difference between overpriced and expensive. A Fodera is expensive but you're paying for lots of quality materials and an incredibly labour intensive build process. A rubbish low priced instrument that doesn't even perform its basic function is overpriced because it has virtually zero intrinsic value [/quote] Actually, no, it isn't about just price. It isn't that the more you spend, the better it gets. Some stuff uses expensive materials or has only two people making basses instead of an assembly line and THAT accounts for higher cost, but doesn't produce a necessarily better sounding instrument.

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1380240651' post='2222844'] No. That's not the Made in USA MM SUB (made only between 2003-2006). Entirely different instruments. [/quote] No, not made in the U.S. (Indonesia) but sold in the U.S. I picked one up and the finish is poly and the bass is incredibly good. If it cost 4 times as much no one would bat an eye thinking it wasn't worth it.

I think the entire thread is being seen two ways. One, is if an instrument is worth the cost. In other words, if a Sadowsky is 2% better than a fender but cost 50% more, is it worth it? Is it overpriced? That can be debated endlessly. I think what I really meant to say was that I just don't think Fodera's are all that great. Yeah, well built and exotic wood and all that. But it's like a meal cooked by a world class chef made with truffles, saffron and lobster -- but it doesn't suit you. Who cares if the ingredients are expensive?

[quote name='steve-bbb' timestamp='1383030925' post='2259205'] [/quote] Didn't get it yet. Will post the entire family once it's in.

[quote name='Mornats' timestamp='1382952190' post='2258239'] Is it this one? [url="http://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Squier-by-Fender-Vintage-Modified-77-Jazz-Bass-Amber/UBR"]http://www.gear4musi...-Bass-Amber/UBR[/url] If so, I played one of these and preferred to all of the Mexican Fenders and some of the USA ones. Sorry, I'm not helping. [/quote] Yep , that's it. You sold me. It isn;t a matter of keeping the "best" or "better ones." They all have their own personality and oddly enough, when it comes to recording, the more expensive one isn;t always the best chocie. It really depends on the song and that;'s why I have a collection of basses. I use them all. This one just seems superfluous. But, the price is right. Hell, a couple of dinners out a a few taxis rides and their gone. The bass it forever. Well, we'll see. : )

A MIA. A Squier CV. A J Deluxe and a fretless. All very nice. So why must I have a cheap Squier 77? Those pearl inlays on a maple fingerboard with white binding and a stupidly low price are making it impossible to resist. What kind of mad sorcery does this to me?

Sure. You're attracted to the sound and want to be more attracted. It's just gas for your GAS.

[quote name='AntLockyer' timestamp='1382811970' post='2256913'] Ah so I was wrong about the hole, sorry about that. Lowender the active doesn't have the control plate [url="http://www.fender.com/en-GB/squier/basses/jazz-bass/deluxe-jazz-bass-iv-active-4-string-ebonol-fingerboard-3-color-sunburst/"]http://www.fender.co...color-sunburst/[/url] [/quote] Yep. By the way, that's almost identical to the Squier Deluxe J, which IMO is one of the best bargains out there. And outstanding instrument for about 200.

Check out the Squier J Deluxe. It's essentially the same bass at half the price but with a graphite fingerboard. Great bass!

[quote name='AntLockyer' timestamp='1382799874' post='2256711'] [url="http://www.fender.com/en-GB/squier/series/vintage-modified/vintage-modified-jazz-bass-fretless-ebonol-fingerboard-3-color-sunburst/"]http://www.fender.co...color-sunburst/[/url] [/quote] That's the deluxe J which doesn't have a pg. Great bass by the way.

[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1382732963' post='2256167'] So what is the round hole in the lower horn for and does this now not differentiate MIM from US like it seemed to do at one time? [/quote] As mentioned, I believe it's so a machine can just drop the wiring in there, whereas with the American, they need humans to thread the wires through. Some may say it doesn't matter, but it may be one of several things that makes the MIM decidedly inferior.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1382718628' post='2255930'] If it wasn't for the fact that a well known bass player mentioned earlier in this thread took the scratch plate off his Jazz Bass in the 70s and it didn't look crap underneath, no one would be the slightest bit surprised by the photo in the OP. [/quote] I didn't read that post. I just saw that he said American and saw the open cavity, which is not American -- not until 2013 apparently.

Could it be the new ones are open? it's funny, from 2010 to 2012 the Fender J's have been outstanding. But all the 2013's I've played were both lighter in weight and more "shallow" sounding -- in spite of them using "custom shop" pups. Could this be the reason???

Something's fishy. I've never seen an American that was open and don't know why they'd have a "few" that way. The reason for the open cavity is it makes it a little easier and faster (less "hands on") to work on the guts. I've had Mexi's and Squiers and they all have open cavities. I just checked my 2011 MIA and yep, it's closed. So...

Interesting consensus. Yep, they're talented and slick and tight and have great chops. But every arrangement sounds the same. It's like they found this one groove and group of accents and kill it, but that's as far as they've gotten.

[quote name='Moos3h' timestamp='1260988454' post='686643'] Just received yesterday my second Squier Classic Vibe Jazz! I've recently realised that the CV Jazz is without doubt my favourite bass to play and I love the sound! So when searching for a good bass to use as a backup, it was the logical choice! The rest of my band think I'm weird (I'm not going to disagree), but if something works, why not! Anyone else in the same boat? Cheers, James [/quote] The Squier CV J's are outstanding basses. Too good NOT to have! I have one although I already have a MIA standard J. For the price, they're a great back up. But two?

That's a MIM mate. The Americans don't have the open cavity. The Mexi's in general are a low end instrument IMO. The Squier CV's are superior.

[quote name='deanovw' timestamp='1382695125' post='2255465'] I tried Fender flats on a P bass a while ago. Took it to a gig and lasted about 3 numbers. It was horrible. My fingers kept sticking and my playing sounded much worse than usual. Never again. [/quote] Same here. I have my 62 reissue P set up for a vintage sound and figured flats would complement the sound but they were just too dull and unresponsive. Flats seem to work only on the Hofner for me. Rotos sound good for 3 days then you have 3 months of getting your frets chewed up. I now also use the D'Addario's, nickels but with the 100 E. They worked, so I stopped searching. Buying strings, looking for that magic sound is exhausting, frustrating and costly. Find what works and stick with it I say.

[quote name='Woodinblack' timestamp='1382635484' post='2254831'] Bartonlini Mk1. I have no problem with the sound, in fact there isn't really a huge amount of sound difference (and obviously you can change that), it is really down to the neck and playability. The neck of the prestige is just way better (and different as it is a through neck, whereas the 505 is a bolt on). Also the carving of the body is better. Not sure why the 505 was made so thin, but it is too thin. The only thing it has better than the 1000 is that its tone control isn't currently shagged so I don't have to try and find a replacement [/quote] I know what you mean. The 505 is small, light and the neck is thin and the body is thin and that may be why they sound is a little thin. But I just take it for what it is. I've learned to adapt and have other basses with thicker sound. But as you say, feel wise and tone-wise, it isn't a tremendous difference from the prestige and the price is right.

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1382639273' post='2254922'] 'Scam' is totally wrong. There is no intent to defraud from what I can see. The motivations for those willing to play this game will probably be quite diverse. [/quote] Not a scam to defraud -- but profitting on people's hopes when they may have no intention whatsoever of using anyone. Years ago in the states AMerican Idol ran a contest for a "victory song" where songwriters had to pay to enter their song and be considered. The winners turned out to be friends of Randy Jackson. What a coincidence! (And the song went nowhere. It kinda sucked).