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Post subject: Select Active vs. Vintage Reissue vs. Costum built
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2014 1:35 am
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Hi,

I need a piece of advice from experts. Thank you!

I see that for my needs and financial possibilities I have three options in Jazz Bass:
1. A Select Active
2. A Vintage 74 reissue
3. Or I design my own in the fender online shop

(Yes this means that I can move within the range of $1500 to 2500.)

Is there anyone who have any pros or contras for any of these? I heard many good things about the Select Active.
And I would design my own with a 70s style.

I of course would look for a real vintage from the early '70s but those prices are in heaven. And I need a proper gig and tour bass, not a museum item.

So help me to decide if you have any advice.
Thank you!


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Post subject: Re: Select Active vs. Vintage Reissue vs. Costum built
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2014 5:05 am
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If you can afford C/S pricing and don't mind the wait then that would seem the best option because you can literally get anything your little heart desires. Of course you have to know what that is first. Comparing a Vintage and a Select suggests to me you may not yet be there.

Then again if all this is is a fishing expedition on what people think is the best you will get no consensus.

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Post subject: Re: Select Active vs. Vintage Reissue vs. Costum built
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2014 6:11 am
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Hi thank you. yes, I am surely a beginner in the world of fender.
And to disclose my amateurism more: you mean on C/S pricing the fender online shop custom built guitars?
If so, yes, at the moment this is what I think the best option is. Thanks!


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Post subject: Re: Select Active vs. Vintage Reissue vs. Costum built
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2014 7:41 am
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Great question and first post, m79a, and welcome to the Fender Forums. I am biased and much prefer passive basses. The '74 AVRI Jazz is a killer choice, and the American Standard Jazz is never a bad choice.

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Post subject: Re: Select Active vs. Vintage Reissue vs. Costum built
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2014 7:43 am
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thanks, i appreciate every opinion or suggestion


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Post subject: Re: Select Active vs. Vintage Reissue vs. Costum built
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2014 12:27 pm
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I prefer the clarity and the slight bit of compression of active basses.
In my opinion the bass is already an extremely dynamic instrument, much more so than your typical 6 string electric guitar. The dynamic range of a bass is wide enough that it is possible to overwhelm smaller and lower end amplifiers, both pre and power, particularly since the frequencies we're talking about require more power to push and the instrument generally demands a cleaner signal. Active pickups don't have the same airiness and openness to them as passive pups, generally speaking, but they (passive) are more dynamic and I think of that as being detrimental because the bass is such a dynamic instrument it needs taming. I am willing to give up a slight amount of openness for a little more clarity and control. That's my opinion. If you were to ask me what I prefer in a guitar I would answer passive every time. I've never met an active guitar pickup I liked. Never. Basses are different. In a bass I want what the active pups deliver: wider frequency response, slightly less dynamic range which requires less compression to stabilize the rig, less distortion and more clarity. A lack of clarity in a bass is my absolute biggest bass pet peeve.


I think most people have the opposite preference. We have members here who actively (no pun intended) search for muddy sounding tones. ( I don't mean linnin)

I mention this because you're looking for direction and as I said earlier you won't get a consensus but you should hear different points of view before you decide what direction you want to go.


My basses. Both American. Both active.

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Last edited by BMW-KTM on Sat Aug 30, 2014 1:03 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Select Active vs. Vintage Reissue vs. Costum built
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2014 3:04 pm
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If you keep your eyes open you can find some deals out there on Custom Shop basses, and they always seem to be pretty top notch. I just picked up a NOS 64 RI, FCS, within your price range. It is a very sweet bass for the money - but then I favor passive basses.

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Post subject: Re: Select Active vs. Vintage Reissue vs. Costum built
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2014 3:10 pm
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Thank you, BMW-KTM. Nice basses!

Yes, in general I use active basses, the main gig one is a Musicman 5 string. I thought that it is time to have a Jazz Bass and introduce new sounds into my pool, but as you could see, I am still undecided.
There is the "traditional" JB sound which may come from a vintage reissue (or a real vintage). But I also tried the Select Active and it feels good. So, anyway, I am still thinking, I have time.
I guess at the end there will be the hand of god and perhaps on ebay something may come up what I would want desperately...


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Post subject: Re: Select Active vs. Vintage Reissue vs. Costum built
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2014 3:15 pm
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thanks affprod, yes I do scan constantly and I see the available options, some of them pretty good deals. But I guess I would rather go for a 74... we will see.
I appreciate your advices.


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Post subject: Re: Select Active vs. Vintage Reissue vs. Costum built
Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2014 1:26 am
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m79a wrote:
... I thought that it is time to have a Jazz Bass and introduce new sounds into my pool, but as you could see, I am still undecided....
I have tried quite a number of different kinds and brands of basses from the venerable P-Bass to the almost guitar-like Ibanez Sound-Gear series and points in between. Played Warwick, Kramer, Gibson SG, Tobias, Smith Burner and for a very brief time a Rick. In my experience there is nothing that compares with a Fender Jazz. I think it's the most versatile bass I have ever laid hands on. Best sounding too. Others will disagree. The P-Bass has a HUGE following and the P/J offerings are quite popular as well and I've owned a few of those too. I kept coming back to the Jazz. It is the Stratocaster of basses.

Most versatile bass ever.

My 2¢.

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