fretmeister Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Anyone got one / tried one? Since getting my Status with a bendwell I have discovered I really like the 32 scale, so I've been looking at the medium Fenders, but I can't find one to try anywhere. Something like this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Japan-Medium-Scale-Jazz-Bass-JB62M-/251002105436?pt=Guitar (There's a 'ghost' pic in the picture roll that has the regular size imposed on the smaller one). Any opinions out there? It would be a lot of dosh to spend on an experiment! ta Paul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2x18 Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 There is a CIJ medium scale Squier P-Bass for trade on the forum ( I used to own the twin of this one--Really nice Bass ) The P-Basses are rare so I reckon the Jazzes will be even rarer! [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/170898-ft-mij-squier-precision-bass-32-scale/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/170898-ft-mij-squier-precision-bass-32-scale/[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted March 16, 2012 Author Share Posted March 16, 2012 mmm. I don't mind the idea of getting Ishibashi to send one over, they have a great reputation. It's just taking a punt on the money as to whether I like the neck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2x18 Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Or how about the Medium scale version of the Aerodyne Jazz! [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Japan-Medium-Scale-Aerodyne-Jazz-Bass-AJB-M-/260970850009?pt=Guitar&hash=item3cc31326d9"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Japan-Medium-Scale-Aerodyne-Jazz-Bass-AJB-M-/260970850009?pt=Guitar&hash=item3cc31326d9[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted March 16, 2012 Author Share Posted March 16, 2012 That's a good looking bass!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fender73 Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 although my most recent purchase is a 35" scale, i too love the feel of shorter scale basses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Apologies for the momentary hijack- do you find the 35" scale harder to stretch for ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benebass Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 [quote name='2x18' timestamp='1331911176' post='1580822'] I used to own the twin of this one--Really nice Bass [/quote] And I bought it - lovely neck! If you're ever up in the North East then you could maybe pop round to try it out... B. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benebass Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Have you seen this old sunburst Jazz up for auction? Looks good! [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Japan-Jazz-Bass-Medium-Scale-Old-Used-Japanese-Electric-Bass-N040-/260977210025"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Japan-Jazz-Bass-Medium-Scale-Old-Used-Japanese-Electric-Bass-N040-/260977210025[/url] B. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkle Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 I have two of the Fender CIJ 32" JB-62M jazzes. A red one and a black one. They're both very light and they both are built well. I like the same gauges of strings on these as for my Squier CV Jazz, 40 - 100, though I've thicker gauges on there. These basses are extremely sensitive to the gauge and type of string used. I find the E and A sound best when 100 and 80, the D and G I'm still working it out but they may sound better at 65 and 45. I pulled out my calipers and measured the nickel strings Fender Japan sends them out with - 100/80/65/45. Soundwise, they sound close enough to their 34" brethren, though personally I find the low end the tiniest bit weaker on the E string on the 32" compared to the 34". However a bit of bass boost on the amp sorts it. Or you can also do what I did and drop a John East J-Retro in there, which sorts things out nicely. The medium scale Jazzes are perhaps a bit sweeter on the upper registers of the D and G strings. The only real annoyance of these basses is the truss rod access is a screw-type slot located at the body end. To adjust it, you have to take the neck off! First thing I did was to get a small slot routed there to allow me access with the neck still attached. I have also exchanged the tuners for Hipshots on both, which helped lower the weight further and got rid of a minimal tendency of the neck to hang lower. Replaced the bridges with the Babicz bridge, which I think is a well engineered and nicely adjustable bit of kit, but which I do not honestly think changes the sound terribly much. Both basses are 7 - 7.5 pounds when I last checked. Lovely to play for a long set. I use mine for jazz, funk, soul, big band stuff, and no-one notices that it's not a full scale instrument. I suspect a bass with a stiffer neck might have a stronger E string, but they build these basses the same way they do all Jazzes. I like them. However 32" does not to my ear sound quite like 34". It sounds good, but slightly different. My 2p. Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkle Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 I forgot to say. The necks on both my jazzes feel great. Gloss finish. They both measure 1.5" at the nut. Compared to my Squier CV Jazz, the necks do feel slightly different - ?maybe slightly slimmer front to back? - very fast to get around on - extremely comfy for any Jazz bass fans out there. The fretwork is good too though I would have preferred vintage sized frets as opposed to medium frets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 Take a 34" scale bass and tune it to Eb-Ab-Db-Gb. Put a capo on the first fret. You now have a very close to 32" scale bass tuned to E-A-D-G. It should give you a feel for what you are going to get. Of course the dot markers won't be in the usual places. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benebass Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 [quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1336422529' post='1645484'] Take a 34" scale bass and tune it to Eb-Ab-Db-Gb. Put a capo on the first fret. You now have a very close to 32" scale bass tuned to E-A-D-G. It should give you a feel for what you are going to get. Of course the dot markers won't be in the usual places. [/quote] +1 - I tried this before buying one. Capo on the second fret & you're not far off the short scale of a Mustang bass or EB-3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 [quote name='benebass' timestamp='1336430341' post='1645633'] +1 - I tried this before buying one. Capo on the second fret & you're not far off the short scale of a Mustang bass or EB-3 [/quote] Yep, second fret is approx 30.3" scale whereas first fret is approx 32.1" scale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkle Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 Brief update. I sat down and redid my setup (nickel roundwounds, 40-100). The fretwork from the factory has been good enough on my red CIJ to allow the neck to have relief of 0.005", a nut slot cut to allow the height at 1st fret (with capo at 3rd fret) to be 0.009", and action of 5/64" at 17th fret on E string going to 4/64" on the G string. I have a pretty light touch. No buzzes anywhere. YMMV. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benebass Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 [quote name='funkle' timestamp='1337627243' post='1663132'] Brief update. I sat down and redid my setup (nickel roundwounds, 40-100). The fretwork from the factory has been good enough on my red CIJ to allow the neck to have relief of 0.005", a nut slot cut to allow the height at 1st fret (with capo at 3rd fret) to be 0.009", and action of 5/64" at 17th fret on E string going to 4/64" on the G string. I have a pretty light touch. No buzzes anywhere. YMMV. [/quote] Hi Funkle - where did you get your Jazzes from? They're available in Japan, but never seen one for sale over here. Cheers, B. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkle Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 Both from Ishibashi. Not cheap, but good service and I was able to specify lighter instruments. I wasn't willing to have a custom 32" scale made, and I thought if I didn't like the Fender I could sell it with minimal hassle. Turned out liking it well enough to buy a second as backup. My new black one will stay with single coils and a John East Deluxe J Retro; I may mod this red one to P-J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benebass Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 Glad to hear Ishibashi provide a decent service - was quite tempted by a a medium scale Aerodyne Jazz when I was looking for a medium scale. Never understand why there's so much Fender stuff limited to Japan-only distribution... Cheers, B. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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