It's just occurred to me....

[Bilbo]

I am not 100% sure, but I don't think I have ever played a Fender Jazz or a Fender Precision. Copies, yes. Bitsas, yes. Even a Strat. But I have never got my mitts on a proper grown up Fender. I saw one at a jam session I attended yesterday and remember thinking ' I have never been this close to a Fender Jazz bass before'.

 

I may be wrong as I have a brain like a sieve.

 

[itu]

Fenders are from the 50's, and that was long ago. I don't think you have lost anything.

[bakerster135]

As above, and at the risk of inciting a hate riot, I don't believe you'll experience any form of epiphany even if you pick up a prime 50s/early 60s Fender bass. You're probably even in a minority by not being concerned with it.

 

I've been through more 60s Jazz Basses than I and my bank balance care to admit. I'm now left with two 70s JBs and one 70s Stingray that really speak to me. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Edited 18 hours ago by bakerster135

[Rosie C]

I have a Squier jazz, and it has a Fender neck and it's had a pro setup and I like it a lot. But I had a go of my teachers Fender jazz and it was just that little bit better. Hard to put my finger on what exactly, but I preferred it to my bass.

 

Now, whether that was just that I knew it was a real Fender, and whether I'd have felt the same in a blind test, who knows?

 

Edited 18 hours ago by Rosie C

[itu]

27 minutes ago, Rosie C said:

Now, whether that was just that I knew it was a real Fender, and whether I'd have felt the same in a blind test, who knows?

Do that blind test with similar strings and come back to tell us your findings.

[Grahambythesea]

I’ve owned 2 USA Fender Ps and a Jazz, all sold and currently have a Mex P. I can’t tell the difference except the neck is on the Mex  P is more like a Jazz. I like them but I don’t think they are particularly different to other basses. 

Edited 17 hours ago by Grahambythesea
Hadn’t finished typing

[Franticsmurf]

I bought a Precision a few years ago following some recommendations on here. That was my first experience of a Precision of any sort. I wasn't expecting an epiphany and (spoiler alert) I didn't get one. But I did realise how well it worked in the mix of other instruments live and later in recordings. No regrets and it's regularly played. It's my go-to bass in situations where I'm not sure what will be needed, and if my main band goes down the Motown route the Precision is front and centre. 

[pete.young]

3 hours ago, Bilbo said:

I am not 100% sure, but I don't think I have ever played a Fender Jazz or a Fender Precision. Copies, yes. Bitsas, yes. Even a Strat. But I have never got my mitts on a proper grown up Fender. I saw one at a jam session I attended yesterday and remember thinking ' I have never been this close to a Fender Jazz bass before'.

 

I may be wrong as I have a brain like a sieve.

 

You're very welcome to come round and have a noodle on mine.  Fender Japan rather than USA, but a bona fide Fender.

[Shaggy]

In 48 years of gigging and 100+ basses I've had only 3 actual Fenders (though multiple P & J bitsas); a '66 "L" series P, a USA  RI '75 J, and an all original  '57 P (last of the Tele styled). Unusually on this forum; only 2 of the 3 ex-Beedster.......

I still have the '57;  I have basses I prefer, but there's always something just a bit special that Leo had a hand in.....

[neepheid]

Owned MIM and MIC Fender basses, and I've played a few MIA Fenders at bass bashes and other junctures (such as going to someone's house to buy something), so you can trust me when I tell you with 100% certainty that they're... basses.

[JohnR]

I played a Wal for over 30 years. It was pretty much my first bass. In all that time I never played a Fender. I got a Jazz a few years ago and absolutely love it and can’t believe it took me so long to discover. Mind you I had it PLEKd, fitted a new nut, changed the pickups, electronics, bridge and machine heads to make it my perfect bass. 😂😂

[lozkerr]

My first pro instrument was a five-string MIA Fender Jazz. It's a lovely bass - plenty of bite, perfectly balanced, looks the biz and is dead easy to play. I'll never part with it, even though my current weapon of choice is a Sterling Stingray 5.

[bubinga5]

Play an MIJ non export 70,s spacing JB 75 from the 90s.  They are just superb and a proper Jazz bass.

[LITTLEWING]

I had a '74 Precision back in the day (stupidly sold it before getting married or something) and although I've been playing again for the last 20 years I've never had anything 'decent' so treated myself to a Mim Player. Loved the neck, (set it very nearly flat), weight and everything but hated the farty pickups despite moving them up and down so after reading a load of reviews I put in a set of Custom Shop '62s. There she is, the best ever near as dammit to a USA you'll ever get. Dare I say although it reminds me of the '74 I think it's actually better. Can't put it down.