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Post subject: Im Confused? Jazz/PBass/Custom
Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 5:24 pm
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Hey thanks everyone for taking a gander!

OK, so I have not reached Rock Star status, but I guess I am getting good enough I don't like the sound of my cheap bass. I found the sounds of the Jazz bass seem to be most appealing to me. Does that mean that I wont get a deep sound though? Trade off?

If I stuck with the Jazz bass, I definitely like the classic sounds. However, if people are using the newer Jazz basses what is the difference in sound?

Is there a benefit of going Custom? I really like that Ebony Sunburst Custom Classic on the website. What is so special other then the color?

Thanks for the help.

Matt


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Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 6:30 pm
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First things first......what kind of amp set-up do you have?


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Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 7:02 pm
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Right now my bass set up is just the Fender bassman 250.


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Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 7:20 pm
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The reason I asked was if you had a crappy/low watt amp then it wouldn't matter what bass you played with it, it would still sound crappy.
You should go down to your local Guitar Center and play as many Jazz basses and other basses as you can. I say GC because almost all that I have been in have had a Bassman 250, mainly the 15"er. Play those basses thru the same amp that you got, and find the right bass for you. Ask for a strap or bring you own so that you can play in your playing position.

Going custom is an expensive route, but if your willing to pay....


JMO


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Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 9:43 pm
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Was reading around on the forum and found something else that bothers me.

When I am out buying the basses that I decide to look at. I decide the model I like. Then I want to play a few of the same model. How do I know the one that I am getting doesn't have any manufacturing flaws and such. If I am going to pay over $1000 dollars for the bass, I want to be sure everything is O.K.

What things should I be looking at to make sure I am getting a good build.
I definitely know I am going to stick with an American made. So that narrows down the search. Also, I am ruling out the P Bass. The Jazz is definitely what I like. Still many more choices.

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My job has taken a fingertip and has fused a joint in my pinky! I am still determined to play the Bass!


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Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 6:11 pm
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MTMindsBass wrote:
When I am out buying the basses that I decide to look at. I decide the model I like. Then I want to play a few of the same model. How do I know the one that I am getting doesn't have any manufacturing flaws and such. If I am going to pay over $1000 dollars for the bass, I want to be sure everything is O.K.
.


Play it for a while -- for $1K, they should let you jam away for 1/2 hour or so at the store. Try various settings of the volume and tone controls -- high, low and in between. Change volume/tone a number of times and listen for any crackle or a pop that could indicate a bad pot. You might also want to _lightly_ shake the bass a little (while plugged in) to see if that jars any connections loose.

If it plays well, has the sound you like and no issues when you've adjusted the controls a few (maybe a dozen) times, now look at the bass itself. Think of it as a piece of fine furniture for the visual inspection. Do you see any signs of shoddy workmanship: uneven joins, poor fretwork, loose screws or other components? Is the finish uniform and even? Any rough spots when you run the back of your fingers lightly over the whole surface?

If the bass passes all these tests, you're likely in good shape. There's no way to 100% insure that a component won't fail down the road, but since you're limiting to US made, you shouldn't have to worry about wood issues (shrinking, excessive drying, etc.).

Finally: use your instinct. If the guitar doesn't feel right to you then it doesn't. Move on to the next!


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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 6:11 pm
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MTMindsBass wrote:
When I am out buying the basses that I decide to look at. I decide the model I like. Then I want to play a few of the same model. How do I know the one that I am getting doesn't have any manufacturing flaws and such. If I am going to pay over $1000 dollars for the bass, I want to be sure everything is O.K.
.


Play it for a while -- for $1K, they should let you jam away for 1/2 hour or so at the store. Try various settings of the volume and tone controls -- high, low and in between. Change volume/tone a number of times and listen for any crackle or a pop that could indicate a bad pot. You might also want to _lightly_ shake the bass a little (while plugged in) to see if that jars any connections loose.

If it plays well, has the sound you like and no issues when you've adjusted the controls a few (maybe a dozen) times, now look at the bass itself. Think of it as a piece of fine furniture for the visual inspection. Do you see any signs of shoddy workmanship: uneven joins, poor fretwork, loose screws or other components? Is the finish uniform and even? Any rough spots when you run the back of your fingers lightly over the whole surface?

If the bass passes all these tests, you're likely in good shape. There's no way to 100% insure that a component won't fail down the road, but since you're limiting to US made, you shouldn't have to worry about wood issues (shrinking, excessive drying, etc.).

Finally: use your instinct. If the guitar doesn't feel right to you then it doesn't. Move on to the next!


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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 6:14 pm
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MTMindsBass wrote:
When I am out buying the basses that I decide to look at. I decide the model I like. Then I want to play a few of the same model. How do I know the one that I am getting doesn't have any manufacturing flaws and such. If I am going to pay over $1000 dollars for the bass, I want to be sure everything is O.K.
.


Play it for a while -- for $1K, they should let you jam away for 1/2 hour or so at the store. Try various settings of the volume and tone controls -- high, low and in between. Change volume/tone a number of times and listen for any crackle or a pop that could indicate a bad pot. You might also want to _lightly_ shake the bass a little (while plugged in) to see if that jars any connections loose.

If it plays well, has the sound you like and no issues when you've adjusted the controls a few (maybe a dozen) times, now look at the bass itself. Think of it as a piece of fine furniture for the visual inspection. Do you see any signs of shoddy workmanship: uneven joins, poor fretwork, loose screws or other components? Is the finish uniform and even? Any rough spots when you run the back of your fingers lightly over the whole surface?

If the bass passes all these tests, you're likely in good shape. There's no way to 100% insure that a component won't fail down the road, but since you're limiting to US made, you shouldn't have to worry about wood issues (shrinking, excessive drying, etc.).

Finally: use your instinct. If the guitar doesn't feel right to you then it doesn't. Move on to the next!


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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 6:17 pm
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MTMindsBass wrote:
When I am out buying the basses that I decide to look at. I decide the model I like. Then I want to play a few of the same model. How do I know the one that I am getting doesn't have any manufacturing flaws and such. If I am going to pay over $1000 dollars for the bass, I want to be sure everything is O.K.
.


Play it for a while -- for $1K, they should let you jam away for 1/2 hour or so at the store. Try various settings of the volume and tone controls -- high, low and in between. Change volume/tone a number of times and listen for any crackle or a pop that could indicate a bad pot. You might also want to _lightly_ shake the bass a little (while plugged in) to see if that jars any connections loose.

If it plays well, has the sound you like and no issues when you've adjusted the controls a few (maybe a dozen) times, now look at the bass itself. Think of it as a piece of fine furniture for the visual inspection. Do you see any signs of shoddy workmanship: uneven joins, poor fretwork, loose screws or other components? Is the finish uniform and even? Any rough spots when you run the back of your fingers lightly over the whole surface?

If the bass passes all these tests, you're likely in good shape. There's no way to 100% insure that a component won't fail down the road, but since you're limiting to US made, you shouldn't have to worry about wood issues (shrinking, excessive drying, etc.).

Finally: use your instinct. If the guitar doesn't feel right to you then it doesn't. Move on to the next!


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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 6:19 pm
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MTMindsBass wrote:
When I am out buying the basses that I decide to look at. I decide the model I like. Then I want to play a few of the same model. How do I know the one that I am getting doesn't have any manufacturing flaws and such. If I am going to pay over $1000 dollars for the bass, I want to be sure everything is O.K.
.


Play it for a while -- for $1K, they should let you jam away for 1/2 hour or so at the store. Try various settings of the volume and tone controls -- high, low and in between. Change volume/tone a number of times and listen for any crackle or a pop that could indicate a bad pot. You might also want to _lightly_ shake the bass a little (while plugged in) to see if that jars any connections loose.

If it plays well, has the sound you like and no issues when you've adjusted the controls a few (maybe a dozen) times, now look at the bass itself. Think of it as a piece of fine furniture for the visual inspection. Do you see any signs of shoddy workmanship: uneven joins, poor fretwork, loose screws or other components? Is the finish uniform and even? Any rough spots when you run the back of your fingers lightly over the whole surface?

If the bass passes all these tests, you're likely in good shape. There's no way to 100% insure that a component won't fail down the road, but since you're limiting to US made, you shouldn't have to worry about wood issues (shrinking, excessive drying, etc.).

Finally: use your instinct. If the guitar doesn't feel right to you then it doesn't. Move on to the next!


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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 6:20 pm
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MTMindsBass wrote:
When I am out buying the basses that I decide to look at. I decide the model I like. Then I want to play a few of the same model. How do I know the one that I am getting doesn't have any manufacturing flaws and such. If I am going to pay over $1000 dollars for the bass, I want to be sure everything is O.K.
.


Play it for a while -- for $1K, they should let you jam away for 1/2 hour or so at the store. Try various settings of the volume and tone controls -- high, low and in between. Change volume/tone a number of times and listen for any crackle or a pop that could indicate a bad pot. You might also want to _lightly_ shake the bass a little (while plugged in) to see if that jars any connections loose.

If it plays well, has the sound you like and no issues when you've adjusted the controls a few (maybe a dozen) times, now look at the bass itself. Think of it as a piece of fine furniture for the visual inspection. Do you see any signs of shoddy workmanship: uneven joins, poor fretwork, loose screws or other components? Is the finish uniform and even? Any rough spots when you run the back of your fingers lightly over the whole surface?

If the bass passes all these tests, you're likely in good shape. There's no way to 100% insure that a component won't fail down the road, but since you're limiting to US made, you shouldn't have to worry about wood issues (shrinking, excessive drying, etc.).

Finally: use your instinct. If the guitar doesn't feel right to you then it doesn't. Move on to the next!


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