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Post subject: A Lefty's Review of Fender's American Standard Jazz Bass
Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2012 12:12 am
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Location: Linningrad
I've wanted a Jazz bass for a very long time. My main axe has always been my much beloved '76 Precision. I bought it new, and yes that does make me something of an old bassman. I've plunked around on a few right-handed Jazzes over the years. I enjoy the versatility and wide ranging clarity of pure piano like tone for which the Jazz bass is legendry.

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I am fortunate to be left-handed because I don't have all the many mind boggling choices you right-handers do. For instance, I was not able to choose the '62 re-issue, or the hand stained ash expression of the stalwart Jazz.
I could have either an American or a Mexican Fender Standard Jazz. That’s it. Oh sure there are two lefty Squires, but no, not for me.
I am glad I made the decision to go American, and the rest of this review will tell you why.
I have had my Jazz exactly one week which is time enough to get the strings played in and for me to get to know the instrument. It is a classic three tone sunburst with a rosewood fretboard. The fit and finish is as close to perfection as I’ve seen on any instrument. It’s flawless. Really, it is.

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The set-up is awesome. I am a very precise player, and I like a very clean action not the lowest action. My Jazz showed up as if it had been perfectly adjusted to me. The neck strikes me as skinny, but I’ll get used to it. The rosewood on the fretboard is of excellent quality with very dark straight grain and very small uniform pores. The fret job is first class - smooth & lovely. The synthetic bone nut turned out to be so much better than I had thought. It is of very high quality and nothing like the cheap piece of plastic crap (now long gone) that came on my ’76 Precision. The tuning machines are leaps & bounds better than the machine heads on my old ’76 Precision. Precise adjustments are both smooth and easy.

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Fender’s high mass bridge is very nicely designed, and the bridge saddles are especially well engineered. My intonation is perfect.
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Fender puts their USA Super Bass 8250M strings on as standard issue. These are nickel plated steel roundwounds on a round core. Gauged: .045; .065, .085, and .110. The E string is taperwound. These strings are quite smooth for roundwounds, and after being played in they sound pretty good and hold their tune well. I’ll change them out for T-I’s or DR’s after they go dead.
The real magic of the 2012 American Standard Jazz is in the Custom Shop pick-ups. They are delicious! I don’t think I’ve heard a better sounding set of p’ups. They are so good that they deserve their own review. Their tone is just so full and awesome.that they are killer, just killer. They are so evenly balanced too. I’ll never change them. Never.
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I am, in a word, overjoyed with the fabulous tone; the sensuous playability of the neck and warmth of the rosewood fretboard, and the World Class craftsmanship and quality of this fine instrument.
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2012 Lefty American Standard Jazz
2017 Lefty American Professional Precision
2018 Rumble Studio 40 Combo
2016 Rumble 200 Combo
One day they shall name a GREAT city after me, and they shall call it LINNINGRAD


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Post subject: Re: A Lefty's Review of Fender's American Standard Jazz Bass
Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2012 2:57 pm
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Good review , Linnin ! Who doesn't want one ? :D ( do they come for right-handed :mrgreen: )
Glad you are happy with it. Enjoy !

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Post subject: Re: A Lefty's Review of Fender's American Standard Jazz Bass
Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2012 4:25 pm
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Thanks A-Man! Glad you enjoyed it. :D Yes, I do believe Fender makes right-handed Jazz basses. :lol:

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2012 Lefty American Standard Jazz
2017 Lefty American Professional Precision
2018 Rumble Studio 40 Combo
2016 Rumble 200 Combo
One day they shall name a GREAT city after me, and they shall call it LINNINGRAD


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Post subject: Re: A Lefty's Review of Fender's American Standard Jazz Bass
Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2012 6:37 pm
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Great photos. I second you on the pickups. I've still not set the intonation on my E string, but the rest of it is spot on. I hear a lot of bitching about Fender, but they make a fine American product at a decent price. We've gotten a lot of bass for our money.


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Post subject: Re: A Lefty's Review of Fender's American Standard Jazz Bass
Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2012 9:02 pm
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ch willie wrote:
Great photos. I second you on the pickups. I've still not set the intonation on my E string, but the rest of it is spot on. I hear a lot of bitching about Fender, but they make a fine American product at a decent price. We've gotten a lot of bass for our money.


+1 ZoomBa!

Thanks for your kind words, Willie.

I want to double quote you, "We've gotten a lot of bass for our money."

Yes, we have!

Compare build quality and prices with G&L or Lakland and you'll see. $4,500-$5,000 vs way less than two grand for a fabulous Fender.

Let me quote you again, "We've gotten a lot of bass for our money."

Yep. It's True. 8)

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2012 Lefty American Standard Jazz
2017 Lefty American Professional Precision
2018 Rumble Studio 40 Combo
2016 Rumble 200 Combo
One day they shall name a GREAT city after me, and they shall call it LINNINGRAD


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Post subject: Re: A Lefty's Review of Fender's American Standard Jazz Bass
Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2012 6:48 pm
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excellent review.. It's really hard to look for lefty versions.. but well am std sounds perfect..

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Post subject: Re: A Lefty's Review of Fender's American Standard Jazz Bass
Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2012 8:09 pm
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eyecandy wrote:
excellent review.. It's really hard to look for lefty versions.. but well am std sounds perfect..


Thanks for your kind words, eyecandy. Unless I were to travel long distance to visit famous stores like The Bass Exchange or Bass Central, most music stores don't stock left-handed basses at all. I live in a small town that doesn't have a music store. I ordered my Jazz from Sweetwater. They are top notch, and I was able to view photos of my exact bass in their new guitar gallery.

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2012 Lefty American Standard Jazz
2017 Lefty American Professional Precision
2018 Rumble Studio 40 Combo
2016 Rumble 200 Combo
One day they shall name a GREAT city after me, and they shall call it LINNINGRAD


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Post subject: Re: A Lefty's Review of Fender's American Standard Jazz Bass
Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2012 8:27 pm
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Linnin Im thrilled the bass turned out even better than you expected..isnt it wonderful when you just know it is the one!!
Your review was so good I wanted a lefty bass myself..then I remembered Im right handed LOL!
Congrats!

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Post subject: Re: A Lefty's Review of Fender's American Standard Jazz Bass
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2012 4:34 am
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Three or four weeks on, I'm more and more into my lefty JB. I love the three knob controls. It's so easy to dial up different tones. It's just such a lovely instrument. I'm not a rosewood fan, and it was the only option available for lefties, but it's quite handsome.


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Post subject: Re: A Lefty's Review of Fender's American Standard Jazz Bass
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2012 8:35 am
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Monalst wrote:
Linnin Im thrilled the bass turned out even better than you expected..isnt it wonderful when you just know it is the one!!
Your review was so good I wanted a lefty bass myself..then I remembered Im right handed LOL!
Congrats!


Thanks Mona! You're too kind. :)

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2012 Lefty American Standard Jazz
2017 Lefty American Professional Precision
2018 Rumble Studio 40 Combo
2016 Rumble 200 Combo
One day they shall name a GREAT city after me, and they shall call it LINNINGRAD


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Post subject: Re: A Lefty's Review of Fender's American Standard Jazz Bass
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2012 6:18 pm
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@linnin

I was suppose to start left handed as well and it was really hard for me to switch because here in our place, it's hard to look for lefty basses. Well it's been 4 years now and am getting used to righty.. and i can play left handed to not as fast as my right though.. (lack of practice maybe) :lol:

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Post subject: Re: A Lefty's Review of Fender's American Standard Jazz Bass
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2012 6:20 pm
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now your bass reminds me of a popular anime character... american standard jazz bass strung with d'addario nickels.. :wink:

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Post subject: Re: A Lefty's Review of Fender's American Standard Jazz Bass
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2012 6:58 pm
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eyecandy wrote:
@linnin

I was suppose to start left handed as well and it was really hard for me to switch because here in our place, it's hard to look for lefty basses. Well it's been 4 years now and am getting used to righty.. and i can play left handed to not as fast as my right though.. (lack of practice maybe) :lol:


Dude,

Let me tell you, I started out righty in 1970. Went lefty in 1976. Made all the difference in the world. Don't bow down to a right-handed world. Fight Back! Left-Handed!

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2012 Lefty American Standard Jazz
2017 Lefty American Professional Precision
2018 Rumble Studio 40 Combo
2016 Rumble 200 Combo
One day they shall name a GREAT city after me, and they shall call it LINNINGRAD


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Post subject: Re: A Lefty's Review of Fender's American Standard Jazz Bass
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2012 7:14 pm
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ch willie wrote:
Three or four weeks on, I'm more and more into my lefty JB. I love the three knob controls. It's so easy to dial up different tones. It's just such a lovely instrument. I'm not a rosewood fan, and it was the only option available for lefties, but it's quite handsome.


I really like the rosewood fretboard. Nice and warm glowing tone. Easy to play. The Custom Shop pick-ups are so crazy good it will take years to find and play all the great sounding tone combinations.

This is the bass of a lifetime. My lifetime may be much shorter now than when I began playing in 1970, but I'll cherish every note and second I have left. :wink:

Yes. This is a bass of a lifetime. I am privilaged.

_________________
2012 Lefty American Standard Jazz
2017 Lefty American Professional Precision
2018 Rumble Studio 40 Combo
2016 Rumble 200 Combo
One day they shall name a GREAT city after me, and they shall call it LINNINGRAD


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Post subject: Re: A Lefty's Review of Fender's American Standard Jazz Bass
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2012 7:22 pm
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fjbass wrote:
That is a good looking bass man. Best of luck with it.


:arrow: Many Thanks fjbass. I am blessed. :)

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2012 Lefty American Standard Jazz
2017 Lefty American Professional Precision
2018 Rumble Studio 40 Combo
2016 Rumble 200 Combo
One day they shall name a GREAT city after me, and they shall call it LINNINGRAD


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