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Post subject: Difference between American Standard Jazz and American Delux
Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 2:32 pm
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I have compared the Jazz Bass American Deluxe vs. the American Standard - they both have the same neck length but the Deluxe has 22 frets vs. the American Standard with 20. How does that work, I mean is the spacing between the fret smaller to accomodate the 2 extra frets? Overall with the exception of the active electronics the american standard with the beefier bridge and the TSA approved case is a better product then the American Deluxe? Unless I am missing something it would seem like the deluxe should be identical with the standard except with the active electronics. What else is different?


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Post subject: Re: Difference between American Standard Jazz and American D
Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 2:46 pm
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roberthathaway wrote:
I have compared the Jazz Bass American Deluxe vs. the American Standard - they both have the same neck length but the Deluxe has 22 frets vs. the American Standard with 20. How does that work, I mean is the spacing between the fret smaller to accomodate the 2 extra frets? Overall with the exception of the active electronics the american standard with the beefier bridge and the TSA approved case is a better product then the American Deluxe? Unless I am missing something it would seem like the deluxe should be identical with the standard except with the active electronics. What else is different?


There are a few differences beyond active vs. passive. First of all, deluxe does not mean better: it is just different.

Although the scale length is the same for both instruments, the deluxe has 22 frets as you pointed out. They achieve this by extending the frettboard out further than on the Am. standard: the frets are not closer together. To account for the frettboard continuing further down the body, the deluxe has a slightly different body shape with a larger cutout. This causes the balance to feel a little different. The bridge also starts further down the body, which causes the neck to be displaced. The result is that the overal length of the bass is longer while maintaining the same scale length (distance between nut and bridge). All of those changes make the bass feel a little different.

The hardware for both instruments are different. The tuners are different, as far as I know they are functionally not so different, but aesthetically the standard looks more "fender." The bridges are different: both can string through the bridge or through the body, but the standard has a high mass bridge, which most people prefer (it gives more sustain).

The finishes are also a little different. The neck on the standard is tinted, and on the front face has a gloss rather than a satin finish (though both have satin on the back of the neck). For rosewood fingerboards this is only on the front of the headstock, but for maple fretboards it covers the whole front of the neck, which feels quite different. The deluxe has abalone inlays instead of perloid for rosewood and black for maple.

The am. standard body has a thiner undercoat which lets the body breath more and increases resonance. There are also different color options (though the deluxe line has been trimmed down... a lot).

The biggest difference is definitely the pickups and the passive vs. active, but the other small differences account for a lot. They're surprisingly different basses. I preferred the american standard, but there are some who prefer the deluxe.

If you were wondering why the american standard has some obviously better features than the deluxe, it's because the standard was updated more recently than the deluxe, and thus has some newer features.


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Post subject: Rosewood or Maple?
Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 3:03 pm
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I am about to order an American Standard Jazz and am struggling as to get a rosewood fingerboard or maple. I love the sound Chris Squire, Geddy Lee, and John Entwistle get, any thoughts?


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Post subject: Rosewood or Maple
Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 3:04 pm
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I will be using Rotosound Roundwounds on the bass.


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Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 3:33 pm
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Ooh thats a toughy, Chris squire and John entwistle both seem to prefer rosewood, but geddy lee is definitely into maple.Its more about how it feels than how it sounds so which ever you prefer the feel of.

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Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 3:50 pm
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Before you order try both out. The biggest difference is feel, and it is a dramatic difference.


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Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 6:17 am
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just a hint..
rosewood = warm

maple = bright.. im not quite sure, correct me if im wrong.. but american standard maple have gloss finish on the fingerboard then satin on the back?


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Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 12:52 pm
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fjbass wrote:
Yes, gloss on front, satin on back of neck. The bright sound is good. You can always change the sound to less bright. But if you don't have the maple it's not easy to get that bright sound maple gives you. I myself really like the sound, feel, and look of the maple. The feel of the frets on the maple fretboard on the Am. Std. J Bass is so different. Ease of fingers gliding on the neck. Smooth and quick. You really do have to try one.


I completely agree.


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Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 5:42 pm
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fjbass wrote:
Hi anubis16; Glad you agree. I don't know which is worse. Finding the right bass for yourself, or the amp that works well with the bass. I try to start with the bass and try not to drive people crazy at the local shops. I tried a J Bass and a P Bass. The neck on the J Bass won. I will say I was very lucky also, the wood grain on the J Bass that followed me home from the shop is incredible. One reason i'm partial to the 3 color sunburst.


Yeah, I think it's good to start with the bass and then worry about the amp.

I think I consistently drive the people at my local guitar shop crazy. I can't help but spend an hour trying everything I can get my hands on every time I go. I can't help myself.

Also, even though I got a black finish, because of the thinner undercoat, I can actually see where the wood pieces meet in the right lighting, which is a really nice effect.


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 8:16 am
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Vineyard basses utilize traditional Precision and Jazz bodies sporting 22 fret necks with abalone dot inlays like this American Flag Precision Bass:

Image

Usually 22 fret necks cannot fit on a standard body. I was curious why regular Fender basses use 20 fret necks compared to the Vineyard ones which use 22.


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