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Post subject: American Made or not?
Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 7:32 pm
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I'm looking to get a new Fender Jazz Bass, and as I look on the site, I see three plausible options. The American Standard Jazz Bass, the 70's style Jazz Bass, and the Standard Jazz Bass. Being American-Made is a must for my choice, so are all of these products American-Made, or only the American Standard one? I would really like the 70's, but the Standard is more reasonably priced for me. I didn't know if they were priced so much lower than the American Standard because they weren't made in America. If someone could help me out, I'd really appreciate it.


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Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 8:32 pm
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All the basses you listed are made in Mexico except the one that says AMERICAN in the name.

They are all basically good instruments, but the American made ones are usually considered "better," but that is not always the case in actuality. A really good Mexican instrument is preferable to a poorly made American one...same goes for the Japanese Fenders which have incredible necks, but unfortunately also have oddball electronics like mini-pots.

I had a MIA Highway One Jazz with a neck that crapped out on me in no time, so MIA is NO GUARANTEE of a great player. The MIM 70's basses are awesome. They are very faithful to the spirit of the early 70's but lacking the covers and finger rests.

If I were you and I found one of the 70's RI basses I really liked I'd pull the trigger in a skinny minute.

MIM has come a long, long way and I've had several of them. The early MIM were rough I'll admit, but the last two were awesome. I don't have a MIM right now though as I've fallen in love with the Japanese First Generation Fender Precision bass necks and trying to figure out how to upgrade the electronics beyond the pickup.


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Post subject: Re: American Made or not?
Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 9:28 pm
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TitoTheMonkey wrote:
Being American-Made is a must for my choice...


If that is your criteria, then I think you are buying the bass for the wrong reason. I have a Mexican made 50's P-Bass.....and I love it as much as my American Fender Jazz and my two NYC Sadowsky basses.

Who care's where it is made if a bass feels and sounds right to you. By simply saying you do not want a Mexican Fender you are cutting out allot of great instruments. Like the Classic 60's Jazz. Made in Mexico and a incredible instrument. Don't get hung up on the "where's it made" thing. The stuff coming out of Fender's Mexico plant is every bit as good as the US models....period!

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1972 Fender Jazz
Fodera Monarch Standard Special Madrone
Roscoe Century Custom 5
Bacchus Craft Series 5 String Jazz
Crews Maniac Sound Jackson 5 Fretless
Delray Bass Co. Custom P-Bass
NS Design Omnibass Electric Upright
Breedlove Solo Acoustic Fretless


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Post subject: Re: American Made or not?
Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 9:38 am
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Quote:
Who care's where it is made if a bass feels and sounds right to you.


thats exactly why i got my MIM, i could have afforded a MIA, but then i would have always been worried that i hit it or that it broke, because MIAs are so expensive you dont play with as much strength (or i least i probably wouldn) because of the fear of breaking it and loosing £800 :P[/quote]

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Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 1:17 pm
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Thanks for the input guys :) Just one more question. What's so different about the 70's style than the normal Standard Jazz Bass? Is it tone quality or just looks?


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Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 2:57 pm
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i think that for the price increase, its only the looks. but maybe the looks change the tone, i mean if it is build by 70s specs :P

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Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 4:28 pm
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TitoTheMonkey wrote:
Thanks for the input guys :) Just one more question. What's so different about the 70's style than the normal Standard Jazz Bass? Is it tone quality or just looks?


The pickups are spaced different. On 70's Jazz basses the bridge pickup was placed closer to the bridge then current Jazz basses and ones from the 60's. This created a different tone. Brighter and more mids. That is the biggest difference.

I have a good example of the pickup spacing. These are my two Sadowsky basses. The bass on the left has the standard jazz pickup spacing. The bass on the right, my fretless has the pickups placed in the "70's" position. You can see the difference.

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1972 Fender Jazz
Fodera Monarch Standard Special Madrone
Roscoe Century Custom 5
Bacchus Craft Series 5 String Jazz
Crews Maniac Sound Jackson 5 Fretless
Delray Bass Co. Custom P-Bass
NS Design Omnibass Electric Upright
Breedlove Solo Acoustic Fretless


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Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 5:09 pm
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Well, I would like one with good mid tones, but I really want that very fat, jazzy tone. Does the pickup spacing affect that?


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Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 5:17 pm
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TitoTheMonkey wrote:
Well, I would like one with good mid tones, but I really want that very fat, jazzy tone. Does the pickup spacing affect that?


That is what the neck PU is for!

_________________
1972 Fender Jazz
Fodera Monarch Standard Special Madrone
Roscoe Century Custom 5
Bacchus Craft Series 5 String Jazz
Crews Maniac Sound Jackson 5 Fretless
Delray Bass Co. Custom P-Bass
NS Design Omnibass Electric Upright
Breedlove Solo Acoustic Fretless


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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 10:21 pm
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Buy American! At any rate if you buy Mexican or Japanese, the lumber still comes from United States. Alder,Ash and Maple primary woods of the United States and Canada. Rosewood is sourced form South America and Asia(India).


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Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 10:00 am
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As a general rule the American made instruments are better, better tone wood selection, better fit and finish in the assembly, better electronics and hardware, but there are exceptions. I've got some cheap instruments that still sound and play really good and I enjoy them. So don't be afraid to buy something MIM and certainly not CIJ if you like how it plays and sounds.


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Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 1:35 pm
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Play them all, you may be surprised which one feel and sounds best.

Enjoy your decision making.


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