"higher end" Fender basses

[Lozz196]

4 hours ago, chris_b said:

I played a Pino Precision once. Everything about it was better than any other Fender I'd played. A fantastic bass.

 

The Custom Shop Fender Precision I played was one of those too - @Clarkys one - was simply superb.

[MacDaddy]

My Fender custom shop bass was actually a Kubicki.

I had 2 Kubick's, one made by Kubicki, the other (for some reason) made by the Fender custom shop.

The only difference was the Fender had a nicer neck (for me). A tad slimmer and faster.

[chris_b]

1 hour ago, Mrbigstuff said:

For not much more than a new US made artist series Fender bass, I purchased a handmade jazz new from Overwater. The difference in quality is undeniable.

 

I've played a couple of Overwaters and they are amazing instruments. Sadly too heavy for my back, ho hum!

[Terry M.]

On 30/06/2025 at 22:27, uncle psychosis said:

I'm definitely of the opinion that mass produced instruments with bolt on necks definitely have a quality:price ceiling where the diminishing returns get silly but I'm not sure I know at what price point that happens. 

I tried a Squier Affinity Jazz Bass V in a store once followed by a Fender American Ultra ii Jazz Bass V and for the life of me couldn't understand the price difference. I'm not saying the Fender wasn't better but they're both essentially two pieces of wood screwed together (I know I'm gonna pay for saying that 😂). So I too don't know where the price point you mentioned happens either.

[Beedster]

If you buy a car, a TV, or a washing machine, the more you pay the better the features, at least within a brand. It's simply not the case with Fender, where you can find a Squier that blows a Custom Shop out of the water. A good example for me is my Classic Vibe '51 Precision which plays, feels, and sounds as good, if not better, than my old Custom Shop relic 51 that retailed for almost 10 times more. There is variability in wood for sure, but far too much of all of this is smoke and mirrors; Fender would love you to think that a Custom Shop instrument is infinitely better than a Squier, but they know damn well the differences are often random, and that the purchase of a FCS instrument is often as much about bragging rights as about quality  

[Terry M.]

7 minutes ago, Beedster said:

If you buy a car, a TV, or a washing machine, the more you pay the better the features, at least within a brand. It's simply not the case with Fender, where you can find a Squier that blows a Custom Shop out of the water. A good example for me is my Classic Vibe '51 Precision which plays, feels, and sounds as good, if not better, than my old Custom Shop relic 51 that retailed for almost 10 times more. There is variability in wood for sure, but far too much of all of this is smoke and mirrors; Fender would love you to think that a Custom Shop instrument is infinitely better than a Squier, but they know damn well the differences are often random, and that the purchase of a FCS instrument is often as much about bragging rights as about quality  

I'm totally with you on this.

[Beedster]

On 01/07/2025 at 08:27, Steve Browning said:

For me, this. The Japanese Fenders are consistently well manufactured instruments. 

 

This has been my experience, if I needed to buy a Fender blind, I'd happily buy and MIJ/CIJ, less so a MIA, even less so an MIM, and infinitely less so a Custom Shop given the price:risk ratio

[Terry M.]

I gigged my sub £1k Mexican Player Plus Jazz V just last night and it did everything I needed it to do. Would it have done more if it was a £4k Custom Shop model? I vote no. I like my Fender but at heart I'm a Warwick fan.

[uncle psychosis]

Of course, one of the "interesting" things Fender do to muddy the waters is that the specs always tend to vary across the ranges - the neck shapes are different, different finishes, etc. so it's not that straightforward to directly compare them. 

 

I do think at some point in my future I'm going to go on a quest to try some "expensive" Fender J basses and I'm genuinely not sure what to expect. I do worry that none of them will match up the awesome cheapo Vintage (JHS) jazz bass that @mcnach stupidly sold me, then I stupidly sold back to him, then I think he stupidly sold it to someone else 😝

[Bagman]

Invercargill BassChat has Victor Bailey Jazz Bass - I have always thought they look the business 

@basshead56

[Mrbigstuff]

26 minutes ago, uncle psychosis said:

Of course, one of the "interesting" things Fender do to muddy the waters is that the specs always tend to vary across the ranges - the neck shapes are different, different finishes, etc. so it's not that straightforward to directly compare them. 

 

I do think at some point in my future I'm going to go on a quest to try some "expensive" Fender J basses and I'm genuinely not sure what to expect. I do worry that none of them will match up the awesome cheapo Vintage (JHS) jazz bass that @mcnach stupidly sold me, then I stupidly sold back to him, then I think he stupidly sold it to someone else 😝

The bass gallery have a wall full of fender basses. You’d easily find one there that suits you, and hopefully in your budget.

[basshead56]

9 hours ago, Bagman said:

Invercargill BassChat has Victor Bailey Jazz Bass - I have always thought they look the business 

@basshead56

Sure do! It is ABSOLUTELY ye olde business!!! Easily nicer than some Custom Shop stuff from the same peroid (the couple i've played). It juat feels like it has a hearbeat or a soul, or... something. Not sure how to put it, but it just sing! Every time I open the case I giggle 😁

Also, in terms of excellent build quality, I have to say the early 2000's American Deluxe QMT Jazzes are also INCREDIBLE! have an 03 and im afraid to pick it up because each tine I do, I cannot put it down for days at a time!!!!

 

I have had some incredibly lovely Mexican and Japanese Fender basses over the years (including my forst Fender, a white 2002 Standard Jazz) and some absolute planks too. Though not many out of Japan. My current Roadworn 60 Anniversary Jazz in Firemist Silver is a true thing of beauty. It just feels amazing. Does have a whiff of Custom Shop about it, more so the feel than the heavy relic, but amazing instrument!

The American made stuff I've experienced has been mostly great with the odd 'meh' unit and one absolute dud Jazz that could not be redeemed. Put me off Jazzes for years lol.

 

Picked up a 98 USA Jazz in March and despite being an absolute boat anchor in weight, it is easily worth that weight in solid gold. 

The boomiest, smoothest Jazz Ive ever played in terms of the low end - i use it for gigs a lot.Most of the late 90's stuff I've played has been excellent.

And my 2 American Pro 2's Jazzes are both spectacularly nice!

A very good friend had a Pro 2 P Bass and said it just felt flat and lifeless despite endless tinkering. He returned it and bought a never Japanese Hybrid thingy in a cool lava kind of colour.

 

I think there is a decent level of QC across the Fender group as a whole but hey, the odd Friday arvo builds do get through now and then. One of the concessions in large-scale production.

 

[itu]

Should the headline be something like: "overpriced" Fender basses? 

 

During the years I have played quite many P and J basses from different decades. What I have noticed, the "quality" is very similar from cheapo to expensive, varying that is.

 

Design is from the 50's and has been there since. Building methods have evolved quite a lot, thanks to CNC. Modern features like preamps and light weight are too - modern. Sadowsky, Pensa-Suhr et al. take care of those. 

 

If I go to a store, I see the same colours, shapes, mediocre setup and so mediocre build quality. Once a shop owner gave me a "reliced", ugly that is, P from Custom shop. Quite nice playability, but for that price I want a bass that looks new, is light in weight, has a preamp, and does not look Beach Boys. 

 

Fender himself wanted to go on, and built refined instruments with MM, and G&L. He wanted more and better. Why wouldn't you? 

[Terry M.]

Fender know there are many loyal fans who won't stray from the brand so it almost gives them a licence to charge what they feel like. They have a sizeable captive audience. I don't have a problem with the brand per se but I don't feel their prices are in line with their innovation. As mentioned previously you now pay a premium for an already bashed up looking "new" bass.

[BlueMoon]

39 minutes ago, itu said:

Fender himself wanted to go on, and built refined instruments with MM, and G&L. He wanted more and better. Why wouldn't you? 

Unfortunately it seems every time Fender dares to bring out a modern instrument it tends to bomb with the hard core P and J fans, and they pull it. The Dimension is a case in point. Not a bad bass, but it didn’t last long. Tweeking the existing high demand instruments and charging a huge premium for the name seems to be their philosophy.
 

I found the mid 90’s US output a notch up in terms of quality (coincides with John Suhr’s input, no doubt), as well as mid 2010’s. The Ultra is a step down from the Elite in my eyes. No longer a MM truss rod wheel adjuster and no string though body option. Onwards and upwards?

[Terry M.]

They should have kept the S-1 series/parallel switch found on passive American Series Jazz Basses. As it was so unobtrusive it would be up to the user to ignore it if they wanted it in parallel the whole time. Nothing lost there and an extra sound palette for the series switching fans. In fact have it on even the active Jazzes. Didn't see the point of it as much on P basses however.

[Stub Mandrel]

I have an AVII, a Mexican Flea Jazz and a Japanese Performer. 

 

I also have three Squiers.

 

They are all great instruments. I didn't buy the bad ones.

 

Support your local music shops so you can try before you buy.

[uncle psychosis]

23 hours ago, Mrbigstuff said:

The bass gallery have a wall full of fender basses. You’d easily find one there that suits you, and hopefully in your budget.

 

Would love to. Just got to overcome a 400 mile hurdle to get there 😀

[HeadlessBassist]

6 hours ago, BlueMoon said:

I found the mid 90’s US output a notch up in terms of quality (coincides with John Suhr’s input, no doubt), as well as mid 2010’s. The Ultra is a step down from the Elite in my eyes. No longer a MM truss rod wheel adjuster and no string though body option. Onwards and upwards?

 

Agreed. The Ultra II model's use of the top side truss rod adjuster and rear truss rod skunk stripe smacks of production streamlining/cost cutting. The Elite was a definite quality high point. Mine is sublime and one of the best Jazzes I've played. (It's up against some stiff competition in my own collection as well!)

 

I played one of the early Ultras when it was newly launched and the setup from factory was utterly unplayable. 

[HeadlessBassist]

6 hours ago, BlueMoon said:

Unfortunately it seems every time Fender dares to bring out a modern instrument it tends to bomb with the hard core P and J fans, and they pull it. The Dimension is a case in point. Not a bad bass, but it didn’t last long. Tweeking the existing high demand instruments and charging a huge premium for the name seems to be their philosophy.
 

I found the mid 90’s US output a notch up in terms of quality (coincides with John Suhr’s input, no doubt), as well as mid 2010’s. The Ultra is a step down from the Elite in my eyes. No longer a MM truss rod wheel adjuster and no string though body option. Onwards and upwards?

 

The Dimension was a serious contender. Its lack of sales was saddening, as in HH Elite spec it was a serious MusicMan crusher. I owned and played one for eight years until it sadly had to be sacrificed as a trade-in towards my KingBass Mk-II. I have a feeling it will be back at some point, as it was one of those hyper useful Swiss Army Knife basses.