Fender(ish) PJ with Jazz neck for £2k max - what would you go for?

[DF Shortscale]

If your budget was £2K max (preferably closer to £1.5K) with the following criteria, what would you go for?

 

• Fender(ish) looks and feel, traditional 4 string

• Passive

• PJ configuration

• Precision or v similar body, not offset / Jazz (too big and bulky for my short arse)

• Jazz neck, maple board, 38mm at nut

• Very high quality neck and fretwork, ridiculously low action achievable

• Adjustable string spacing (somewhere between 18/19mm would be good)

• Light-ish

• Relatively readily available, let’s say 1 month wait max

 

TLDR

What are my options for a high quality PJ with a J neck?

[chris_b]

I'd look in the Basschat classifieds for a good used Sadowsky, and other FSO's.

[DF Shortscale]

Hmm no suggestions other than the classifieds, is £2K not going to get me there? I’ve seen a few nice used Sandbergs that are close to my specs, maybe that’s an option..

[Beedster]

3 minutes ago, DF Shortscale said:

Hmm no suggestions other than the classifieds, is £2K not going to get me there? I’ve seen a few nice used Sandbergs that are close to my specs, maybe that’s an option..

I’d look at a premium Yamaha, head and shoulders above the rest in that price range 👍

[Beedster]

There’s a 4024 at Bass Bros, not my ideal finish but you’d be hard pressed to find a better bass at £1500

 

https://bassbros.co.uk/product/yamaha-bb2024/

[Beedster]

More pricey but better finish https://thebassgallery.com/products/yamaha-bb2024-1

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

To fit the specs given, I'd build my own using:

 

Swamp ash PJ body from guitarbuild.co.uk - order one with nice looking grain and get the control cavity extended. Wipe on some Danish oil for a natural finish.

Fender Precision to Jazz bass conversion neck - I was knocked sideways with how one of these necks has transformed a previously ignored bass into one of my favourites

Schaller 3D bridge

EMG GZR PJ Pickups

£10 aliexpress pickguard

Hipshot HB7 lollipop tuners

gotoh bass string tree & strap buttons

callaghan heavy knurl knobs

Fender F neckplate

Fender pickguard screws

Ernie Ball 2815 cobalt flatwound strings

self-adhesive copper anti-slug tape

 

The parts should come to under £1000. If you don't want to assemble it yourself, take the bits to a luthier (or possibly an experienced basschatter) to put together.

 

[DF Shortscale]

8 hours ago, Beedster said:

More pricey but better finish https://thebassgallery.com/products/yamaha-bb2024-1

That’s a nice bass, I definitely prefer that finish to the other one. I’m after a maple board ideally but I should definitely give the higher end Yamahas a try, I know they’re great basses. 

[kwmlondon]

9 hours ago, DF Shortscale said:

Hmm no suggestions other than the classifieds, is £2K not going to get me there? I’ve seen a few nice used Sandbergs that are close to my specs, maybe that’s an option..

I’d definitely be shortlisting Sandberg. Any G&L P-J basses fit the bill? 

[DF Shortscale]

1 hour ago, kwmlondon said:

I’d definitely be shortlisting Sandberg. Any G&L P-J basses fit the bill? 

Yes, they definitely do, the Fullerton Deluxe SB2 would be good, but only the newest version comes with a tone control, previous iterations came without that. Sunburst comes with rosewood, black comes with maple, I prefer the sunburst (I have 2 black P's already..) but I'd rather have a maple board on it. 

[Terry M.]

On 30/08/2025 at 11:52, DF Shortscale said:

If your budget was £2K max (preferably closer to £1.5K) with the following criteria, what would you go for?

 

• Fender(ish) looks and feel, traditional 4 string

• Passive

• PJ configuration

• Precision or v similar body, not offset / Jazz (too big and bulky for my short arse)

• Jazz neck, maple board, 38mm at nut

• Very high quality neck and fretwork, ridiculously low action achievable

• Adjustable string spacing (somewhere between 18/19mm would be good)

• Light-ish

• Relatively readily available, let’s say 1 month wait max

 

TLDR

What are my options for a high quality PJ with a J neck?

I would see what Alan Cringean at ACG Guitars could do for you first. That will probably violate your 1 month max wait criteria though so maybe not...

[Lozz196]

15 hours ago, DF Shortscale said:

Hmm no suggestions other than the classifieds, is £2K not going to get me there? I’ve seen a few nice used Sandbergs that are close to my specs, maybe that’s an option..

Having recently bought a Sandberg I’d happily recommend them, very good instruments, only thing is their necks are 39.5mm so slightly bigger than Jazz width.

[NancyJohnson]

I find it amazing when people list a ton of stuff that shouts, 'I really want a Fender, but it's not got to be a Fender.'

 

I have no real solution for you here but the open options a plentiful.

 

 

[Misdee]

I've got a USA Lakland passive PJ with a Jazz Bass neck on it and it's a superb instrument in every way. Sounds great, plays great, feels great. The neck profile is sublime. If you trawl the internet you might find a used one within your budget. 

[Sean]

16 hours ago, Beedster said:

There’s a 4024 at Bass Bros, not my ideal finish but you’d be hard pressed to find a better bass at £1500

 

https://bassbros.co.uk/product/yamaha-bb2024/

What happened to that BB2024MX you had? 

[danbanbass]

Not affiliated with this but it’s on my watchlist, seems to tick most boxes.

 

https://ebay.us/m/VI4bK2

[DF Shortscale]

4 hours ago, NancyJohnson said:

I find it amazing when people list a ton of stuff that shouts, 'I really want a Fender, but it's not got to be a Fender.'

 

I have no real solution for you here but the open options a plentiful.

 

 

I would happily go for a Fender, in fact that would be my preferred choice, but I’d like USA / MIJ quality if at all possible. (No judgement on Mex / Squier etc, just my preference).

[jonno1981]

Sadowsky, sandberg or lakland for me. 
 

I’d get the sadowsky as I love the feel, electronics and build quality.