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

[Terry M.]

39 minutes ago, kwmlondon said:

I put a bitsa together a few years ago and bought a MIM roasted maple Jazz neck from Fender and it was sublime. Everyone who has played it has commented on how slick and comfy it is. The fretwork was top-notch and it looked gorgous too. Going by that I'd have no worries getting a MIM bass in the future, but the USA hardware is very nice - the tuners and bridge on the USA Pro range feels lovely in the hand.

Ironically I really like the bridge on my aforementioned Fender as it has 19mm string spacing which is a fraction larger than the typical Fender 5 string bridge.

[kwmlondon]

10 minutes ago, Terry M. said:

Ironically I really like the bridge on my aforementioned Fender as it has 19mm string spacing which is a fraction larger than the typical Fender 5 string bridge.

Well, you see, the lovely thing about the Fender USA high-mass bridge is the saddles are cut with grooves so you can change the spacing. I KNOW!!! I've never seen the like before or since. Well. Maybe on something I don't know but I remember being very impressed indeed.

[Beedster]

On 31/08/2025 at 00:35, Jean-Luc Pickguard said:

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.

 

I’d do the same albeit with Warmoth wood and Dimarzio PUPs, and have done a few times, but it usually takes several months so probably wouldn’t meet the 1-month criteria 👍

[danbanbass]

2 minutes ago, Beedster said:

I’d do the same albeit with Warmoth wood and Dimarzio PUPs, and have done a few times, but it usually takes several months so probably wouldn’t meet the 1-month criteria 👍

I was looking to do a self build but @Beedster beat me to that limelight neck 😂 

[Beedster]

3 minutes ago, danbanbass said:

I was looking to do a self build but @Beedster beat me to that limelight neck 😂 

 

The reason self-builds take so long is you have to wait from the right parts to come along and then be quick when they do! I only rarely buy new bodies or necks, they’re getting stupidly expensive, at least at the quality end, and I prefer played-in necks, and don’t ask me about my experience of buying new Allparts, it was not good….

[Beedster]

6 minutes ago, danbanbass said:

I was looking to do a self build but @Beedster beat me to that limelight neck 😂 

PS sorry 🙂

[Terry M.]

17 minutes ago, kwmlondon said:

Well, you see, the lovely thing about the Fender USA high-mass bridge is the saddles are cut with grooves so you can change the spacing. I KNOW!!! I've never seen the like before or since. Well. Maybe on something I don't know but I remember being very impressed indeed.

Yes indeed I've had USA 5 string Fenders with those bridge types AND the Sire Vintage V7 also has them. Being the fussy git I am I found that when the 19mm spacing on them was realised, the pickup pole pieces didn't line up with the strings. First world problems eh? 😄

Edited 8 hours ago by Terry M.

[kwmlondon]

17 minutes ago, Terry M. said:

Yes indeed I've had USA 5 string Fenders with those bridge types AND the Sire Vintage V7 also has them. Being the fussy git I am I found that when the 19mm spacing on them was realised, the pickup pole pieces didn't line up with the strings. First world problems eh? 😄

No. I can relate. This would have me shaking my fist at the clouds too.

[danbanbass]

24 minutes ago, Beedster said:

PS sorry 🙂

It’s all good, I was looking to do a relic type build. If however you decide you don’t need the neck….let me know 😊 

[DF Shortscale]

3 hours ago, Terry M. said:

There is a perceived deficit between Mexican and US/MIJ that I feel is more historical. My 2021 Player Plus Jazz V tells me the gap doesn't really exist like it used to if at all-and I've owned several US made Fenders in the past 🙂

I agree the differences were huge before, and much less so now. I don't want to throw any shade at Mex or even Squier, it's all mostly good stuff these days. My personal experience is that the differences are minimal but they do come into play when it comes to fine tuning and setups. That is just personal experience though, and it also depends on what music you play and how you play.

[Stub Mandrel]

3 hours ago, Terry M. said:

There is a perceived deficit between Mexican and US/MIJ that I feel is more historical.

 

It has a lot to do with American pride and the reality is based on Fender making more 'elite' spec models in the USA, rather than better made ones.

[kodiakblair]

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

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

Peavey did plenty of PJ/jazz neck models.

 

B-90 is the blue one. Foundation S black on the right 2nd photo. 3rd photo DynaBass black on left, Unity red on the right. Zodiac DE Scorpio l & R 4th photo.

 

 

 

 

 

You could buy all 6 for under £1400 🙂

 

[miles'tone]

Fender American Performer PJ?

 

https://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Fender-American-Performer-Precision-Bass-MN-Satin-Lake-Placid-Blue/2R9X

[cetera]

I'd get one of these....... (I have one  ). Active/passive so best of both worlds....

 

https://www.gear4music.com/G4M/Fender-FSR-Deluxe-PJ-Bass-Sea-Foam-Pearl/6FEB

[kwmlondon]

I have never ever seen one of these in the flesh and I can't imagine you'd get one for less than £2k... but wow. I mean... WOW! I have drooled over these for years

https://reverb.com/p/ernie-ball-music-man-caprice-bass

[tauzero]

Apart from the maple fretboard, I think an SGC Nanyo SB300 would fit the bill unless the string spacing is rather narrower than I thought.

[HeadlessBassist]

2 hours ago, kwmlondon said:

I have never ever seen one of these in the flesh and I can't imagine you'd get one for less than £2k... but wow. I mean... WOW! I have drooled over these for years

https://reverb.com/p/ernie-ball-music-man-caprice-bass

 

Music Man Caprices are one of those mythical instruments we all know about, have heard and desire. Their relative scarcity has kept prices very high, sadly. They're like Unicorns in the mist and people seem to hang onto them for dear life.