Marc S

Thanks for that Hutton, I tried the bass briefly, and was quite impressed with it The guy wants around £350 for it and I just thought a USA Jazz for that money seemed a great offer It's just about mint condition too.... He just changed the pickguard, and played about with the bass at home.... I wanted to be sure the components etc were of good quality I still find it odd that the neck is a different / slightly chunkier shape from every other Jazz I've played Thanks again anyway

[quote name='Hutton' timestamp='1404205848' post='2490184'] There you go - Fender 1990 'American Traditional' Jazz Bass. [/quote] Thanks for that Hutton Is that your bass? How do you find it, in terms of quality? The one I'm thinking of getting seems fine, and good value for the money I really wanted to know what peoples thoughts were on these basses and how they found quality of components / build / sound etc Does look like a nice Jazz... Cheers again

[quote name='Mr Fretbuzz' timestamp='1404137566' post='2489602'] No this is one of the new ones Marc... Unbelievably light PS you look familiar. Were you sitting next to me at Joe Bonamassa? :-) [/quote] Haven't tried one of the newer series Although heavy, my old Rumble 100 had a great sound Loud too. So if the new ones are lighter and sound just as good - perfect No, I wasn't at Joe Bonamassa Perhaps I've got one of those "familiar faces"?

[quote name='Chiliwailer' timestamp='1404140773' post='2489660'] [b]American Traditional Jazz Bass!![/b] That was bigging the sh*t out of me The pickguard and control plate have been changed on the one in the eBay link. They should be a one piece. Fender using up old bodies and pickguards.... If yours is one, it'll say it on the end of the headstock in small writing. [/quote] Thanks for that Chiliwailer, This bass does indeed say "American Traditional" in small typeface on the end of the headstock Also, the original scratchplate WAS indeed a one-piece The guy showed it to me He had replaced it with a more fetching 2 piece, in rather nice tort Anyone know of how well these basses were built, or the quality of components?? It seems a fair bass for the money I'm tempted to go for it, and maybe get my local luthier to re-profile the neck to more of the traditional Jazz shape.... I do like the profile of Jazz bass necks Cheers again for your help folks

[quote name='Mr Fretbuzz' timestamp='1403993683' post='2488451'] Might bring my new fender rumble 100 and my warwick corvette active :-) [/quote] Had a Rumble 100 once Nice combo - just a tad heavy for my ageing bod..... Looking forward to the wide range of gear folk are bringing

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1404135571' post='2489572'] I've not played any from that time, so until someone turns up who knows what they're talking about, it might be worth doing a search over on Talkbass - there's bound to be a plethora of opinions there. [/quote] Ah, I thought BC was the forum where people were in the know Hope someone has experience of one of these basses from this era As I'd said, it seems a quality build Just the neck profile being a tad chunkier.... Odd that Fender should change the neck profile of a Jazz I've played quite a few (I own one) and they seem pretty consistent... Re the date - I'll ask the guy again He is known as a decent bloke, and pretty honest as far as I'm aware..... Cheers all

Just spotted this similar bass on ebay It's got a very similar serial number, and the seller reckons it's a 1990 [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Jazz-Bass-USA-1990-Hiscox-Lightweight-Hard-Case/181445053650?_trksid=p2045573.c100033.m2042&_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131017132637%26meid%3D7984478620028697837%26pid%3D100033%26prg%3D20131017132637%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D181445053650"]http://www.ebay.co.u...%3D181445053650[/url] Just wondered about the quality of these cheaper USA models really Any thoughts / experiences? It's a similar colour too and the fretboard is a similar, slightly lighter tone than the usual rosewood....

Thanks for that - could be that I misheard when he said he bought the bass Anyone know of how they compare to other Jazzes though folks? Quality of build / components etc? EDIT: Or why they are so cheap, compared to other USA Fenders??

Hi folks, Just after a little bit of advice really Locally, someone has a Fender Jazz bass for sale, and it's a really quite low price for a bass apparently from the USA.... I know there are some dodgy models from seemingly every manufacturer The bass appears pucker, is in pretty much mint condition The decals on the neck state "made in the USA" The serial no on the neck starts with "N90" followed by 4 more digits The seller is really a guitarist, and having a clearout He says he had the bass from new, in 1991 He reckoned it was a budget series, produced by Fender in the USA and that appears to be the case I was just wondering what is anyone's experience with these basses? Are they quality instruments, or were financial savings made when making this range? All seems fine, but the neck seemed wider at the nut end, and not quite like other Jazzes I've played... EDIT: I just wondered what other differences there might be Any comments would be welcome I am really quite tempted by this, as it's not much more than a Mex or China bass Cheers PS. I don't really "need" another bass - but I fancied this one And didn't want to kick myself for missing a bargain!

I was expecting to see big spikes inside it!

I've heard good reports of the Squier VM fretless Plenty of people seem to be talking up the Vintage bass too ....wish I could try one of those..... Let us know what you opt for

[quote name='sblueplanet' timestamp='1403510323' post='2483247'] I'm of the same age Rich and had been away from playing for a while. Basschat has really given me the inspiration to be playing music again with other musos and of course, created a huge amount of GAS. Hope you have room for all the new gear you will be wanting :-) [/quote] Yes, I've noticed my GAS has increased hugely since joining basschat Still, so has my enjoyment of playing

[quote name='Skybone' timestamp='1403612569' post='2484435'] Ever tried helping him get the drums set up? You could help load in, get stands up & place cymbals so he can get them set up for him, you could get drums & cymbals out of cases, hi-hat stand etc, etc. While he's faffing about getting them all into position, you can set your gear up. Being in a band is a team effort after all, so if everyone pulls together as a team, all good for the "common cause", which is why you are all in a rehearsal room together in the first place... surely? [/quote] + 1 to this Yes drummers do have lots of gear to set up Ours is pretty quick - it takes him around 20+ mins, with a large kit I usually arrive for rehearsals at the same time as the drummer some would say it's the only time we are actually in time with each other But I always help him set up & dismantle, where I can..... Just carting the stands in & out of the car and setting them up takes a good while In my experience, it's usually the guitarist who arrives last and avoids having to help the drummer! lol Lend him a hand, and see how that goes......

[quote name='sarah thomas' timestamp='1403031330' post='2479093'] A carved top isn't necessary. In fact, a decent laminate that can take a few inevitable knocks isn't a bad idea. I'd look at the for sale section here and wait for a East European model to come along. It depends on your budget, really. You are unlikely to get ripped off if you buy here though. How much have you got to spend? £800 should see you with a decent starter bass that will last you a few years, or perhaps forever, depending on what you want to play. Second hand basses hold their value too, so if you decide it's not for you after all, then you won't really lose out. Chinese uprights get a bad press generally, although ZMech may well have got lucky. [/quote] I'd definitely agree with Sarah on this I started with an Eastern European laminate and it is a cracking bass When I come to sell it - I know I'll get what I paid, in full Don't know much about Shen's - but fatback seems to know what he's talking about, and is a regular poster on here.... If you've never played before, I know the difficulty you have in not really knowing how DBs compare to one another, and whats good and not so good Take your time, and speak to other Db'ers on here Try a few, when you can Good luck with your search Keep looking on the S/H section of this forum Every Basschatter I've met and bought stuff from have been great people to deal with EDIT: You needn't spend a fortune on pickups either again, you get what you pay for, but a decent S/H pickup can also be picked up not all types require use of a pre-amp

[quote name='SpaceChick' timestamp='1402941872' post='2478144'] A Stagg EUB you say, Marc! Shame I'm skint I'll probably bring my barefaced SuperTwin, my Markbass amp, my Ibanez SR1000 and my defretted SR300. [/quote] I'm looking forward to hearing the barefaced Super Twin and seeing both Ibanez basses - I do like them .... and of course, it will be good to catch up again SpaceChick

Thanks for posting these videos Really useful Yes, that bass looks nice too

Thanks for creating that link bluejay I'm really looking forward to the bash never been to one before

Another positive note re buying Squier basses, which I don't think anyone has mentioned... But if you're gigging with a second-hand Squier, or similar type of instrument You're actually less precious about it than with a USA bass you paid a lot more for..... It can be quite unnerving, going onstage with a really expensive instrument, which hasn't got a scratch on it......... yet

There has been plenty of comment here on Squiers and budget basses Others are quite correct in saying that budget instruments are (mostly) a huge improvement on what they were years back There are good and bad individual instruments from ALL makers and that includes high end USA guitars! My advice is play it if you can before buying I've got a Squier P bass, made in Indonesia It's absolutely brilliant, and I'd measure it against any USA Fender, and I'm sure if you covered the badges up, most of the time you'd swear my Squier was the Fender.... Of course, that's an opinion - but I'm saying don't judge until you've tried If you can't try the bass because it's far away, you could search for one locally I'm a member of a local Guitar, Amp & Gear exchange group on facebook and second-hand basses come up for reasonable money all the time And of course, it's local so you can try before you buy, with no postage costs or packaging worries There's also this very fine forum I've bought several items from the good folk here and every transaction has been a very happy one, I must say Try a few Squiers - some of those Squier Jazz basses are awesome And that J&D Jazz Rumple has linked to looks good Good luck with your search, and let us know what you decide Marc EDIT: I meant to add, that I played several early Chinese and Mex Squiers and Fenders and they weren't good, for several reasons. Some of the newer stuff from both camps is great though....