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Which Jazz Bass Should I buy?
Mexican 50%  50%  [ 5 ]
Japanese 20%  20%  [ 2 ]
Squire 30%  30%  [ 3 ]
Total votes : 10
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Post subject: Standard Jazz Bass (American/Mexican/Japanese)
Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2010 12:03 pm
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Hi fellow community members,
I have owned a bass for about 4 years now but I only started playing regularly the last three months. I am finally to the point where I can play cleanly and get a consistent tone. The one thing I hate is that my Ibanez GSR-200 has a sloppy tone and feels just plain clunky. After loads of research, and a few hours of messing around with a Standard Jazz Bass, I have found that I need a Fender Bass. What I am wondering now is if I should buy one of the Mexican or Japanese Standard Jazz Basses? Should I switch to a diet of Ramen noodles for a year and grab an American model? I would be buying it in a while...unless I should sell my Ibanez and grab a Squire. Thoughts?


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Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2010 1:08 pm
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Depending on your finances, anyone of those would do. BTW, it's "Squier".

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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2010 1:37 pm
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I'd either find a used E series Japan model...or a new Squier Classic Vibe.


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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2010 9:26 pm
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depends too if you're out gigging.. on a small venue a Squier or a Mex would be nice... the US versions are always left at home for me..

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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2010 11:31 am
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Location: location, location.
I have a mexican one, and I haven't put it done in about two years.

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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2010 6:06 pm
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Play all the basses you're considering owning. If they have more than one of the same model, play it. When the right one is in your hands, you'll know it.


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Post subject:
Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2010 9:17 am
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I played a Mexican made Standard Jazz yesterday for about 30 minutes hoping to convince myself that I didn't need to get one but it backfired. As soon as I can I want a Mexican made Standard Jazz in Arctic White with a Rosewood fretboard. I thought the Squier, or however it is spelled, had a bunch of fret buzz and didn't have the right feel to it. The American played much the same as the Mexican so I can't justify the cost. Mind made up! Hopefully I can grab one with tax returns :)

Thanks for the input! Whoever said when the bass is in your hands you will know was spot on. I felt like a totally different musician.


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Post subject:
Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2010 7:28 pm
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The hardest part of buying a new instrument is waiting to pick it up. The Standard sounds like a fit for you, I like a rosewood fretboard too.

Let us know when you get it.


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Post subject:
Posted: Sun Oct 31, 2010 5:17 am
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oxfan wrote:
The hardest part of buying a new instrument is waiting to pick it up. The Standard sounds like a fit for you, I like a rosewood fretboard too.

Let us know when you get it.


Will do! The waiting will be brutal!


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Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2010 4:46 am
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for me i don't see any difference in term of the feel for the american and the mex standards or even the HW1, well they're all the same neck radius, well in terms of durability issues, of course the americans would stand out.. as far as playability, they're almost the same..

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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2010 8:09 am
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oxfan wrote:
Play all the basses you're considering owning. If they have more than one of the same model, play it. When the right one is in your hands, you'll know it.

A big +1. Get your hands on as many basses as you can.

IMO basses are tools. We use these tools to perform the actions needed. If a Squier will work for you, that's great. But don't be afraid to get a "nicer" or more expensive bass because you are afraid that something will happen to it. I mean, we buy a $30,000 car and we drive it in an everchanging conditions, on horrible roads, different elements, where anything can happen to it and don't think twice about that. But if you have a $1000 bass, you're afraid to use it cause it might get dinged or scratched or stolen?


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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2010 8:14 am
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I have been pulling a Wayne Cambell and staring at the Mexican Jazz every day. The Squier has too much of a thwang sound. A new set of strings could minimize that but the whole reason I am getting a new bass is for a better, cleaner tone. Are the electrical elements of the American and Mexican basses that different? I know I want a step above the Squier for sure!


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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2010 8:52 am
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dBaklor1 wrote:
I have been pulling a Wayne Cambell and staring at the Mexican Jazz every day. The Squier has too much of a thwang sound. A new set of strings could minimize that but the whole reason I am getting a new bass is for a better, cleaner tone. Are the electrical elements of the American and Mexican basses that different? I know I want a step above the Squier for sure!

Nothing wrong with a Squier. MIMs and MIAs are not always a "step above". I've seen plenty of folks who have said they find their Squiers to be at at least equal to, and sometimes better, that their MIMs, and in some cases, their MIAs.

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'08 Fender Am. Std. Jazz bass, maple fretboard, charcoal frost metallic finish
'10 Squier VM Jazz bass, maple fretboard, natural finish
Ampeg BA115
'09 MIM standard Strat, maple fretboard, sunburst finish
Fender Super Champ XD


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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2010 12:28 pm
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Bathead wrote:
Nothing wrong with a Squier. MIMs and MIAs are not always a "step above". I've seen plenty of folks who have said they find their Squiers to be at at least equal to, and sometimes better, that their MIMs, and in some cases, their MIAs.


Chalk me up as one of those people...My VM is better in every way than my MIM except in the badge - if I can even say that.

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Post subject: mammamam
Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2010 5:12 pm
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Squiers are nice for the price, although Affinity series is terrible, I would not recommend it to anyone. All Squiers have bodies from cheaper lighter woods and even if it sounds good it won't give you the same foundation as American or even Mex standard. And you will need to upgrade Sq pickups if you plan to gig with it.

Mex are usually bearable, but I haven't seen one sounding good.

MIJ sometimes kick $@!, but not always.

American standards are not always good sounding for some reason. (better that average MIA or MIJ though) I just played many in a shop and they almost always suck. American Vintage, Deluxe and even Highway series usually sound more alive and I'd recommend them over Am. St. (yes, they're more expensive).

In any case, I'd recommend Highway or Road Worn over American Standard.

Generally, MIA is better than MIJ, MIJ is better than MIM and MIM is better that a Squier.

But some particular instruments may sound better or worse. It's all matter of woods chosen since the construction is all the same. So play it before you buy and maybe one MIJ will blow another MIA out of the water.


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