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I'm hoping you guys can give me some advice on Fender Jazz basses?

My sister-in-law wants to get one for my nephew for a Christmas gift. She asked if I could help her out and possibly pick up one for him. I know NOTHING about Fender basses. I had a few MIM Jazz basses that had Twister necks, as did my Fender Cowpoke & Pbass Lyte. I just never had luck with Fender necks.

He's a new player and is in his late teens.

He has his heart set on a Fender USA JAZZ BASS. She is worried he may not stick with it, as he did this with a keyboard. She blew big money on a KORG and now it just sits. She doesn't want to blow $1500 on his first bass.

There are just SO MANY freaking Fender Jazz model basses, I have no idea what's good and what may be a hidden gem.

Figure in the $800.00 +/- range.

Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated!

Thanks!

This seems to fit the bill: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass/fen ... 9000002002

That's a good choice, subject to trying it out before buying.
Used ones come a bit less expensive too.

I haven't tried any of them myself, but how about the Squier Vintage Modified series? I've heard (mostly) good things about them. They're supposed to be pretty good for the price.

Try a used CIJ Fender, they are the best IMO.

The Japanese stuff is good. If you're not married to the Fender brand, Carvin makes a great Jazz style bass. Much better than the Fender Americans IMHO.

s4001 wrote:The Japanese stuff is good. If you're not married to the Fender brand, Carvin makes a great Jazz style bass. Much better than the Fender American

I second Carvin. I built one out of a kit, and it is a very nice instrument. It's for sale to (hopefully) help finance another Rick. If I hadn't bought my Rick's, it would still be my number one, but no going back from a Rick!

Not a J bass, but I've heard good things about the MM Sterling S.U.B. Ray 4. Priced at $279 at GC (cheaper with coupon?).
If it has to be a J, I'd go with a MIC Squire for about the same price. As a parent, that keyboard experience would make me adopt a "show me" attitude for new instruments.

My guess is that most on this forum started on cheap instruments and moved up. Mine was a MIJ BlackJack violin shaped bass (just like Paul's!!!) that you could fire arrows with.

aceonbass wrote:I wouldn't buy an $800+ bass for someone who is just starting out, and has already waffled on playing one expensive instrument. The only thing worse than a kid thinking they need to start out on an $800 bass is a parent that thinks they do. I think a $300 MIM Fender is plenty good. They're nice basses, sound good and play well enough once set up properly. If he shows promise and sticks to it, then he can sell it and move up to the big leagues.

I concur; past history may be an indicator of future performance, here.

beatbyrd wrote:My guess is that most on this forum started on cheap instruments and moved up. Mine was a MIJ BlackJack violin shaped bass (just like Paul's!!!) that you could fire arrows with.

Yes indeed! My first bass was some inexpensive ($40) Japanese bass, Goya, Kingston, Greco, Teisco, I don't recall what brand, and then a few months later, when I knew I was good enough, I got a late '60s Jazz Bass, that would have been late '71 or early in '72.

I have no complaints about my MIM P-Bass, so if a J-Bass is suited more to his liking, I'm sure it would be fine. I've also heard good things about the vintage series Squiers. I'd heard someone playing one in a music store. It had a very nice sound.

aceonbass wrote:I wouldn't buy an $800+ bass for someone who is just starting out, and has already waffled on playing one expensive instrument. The only thing worse than a kid thinking they need to start out on an $800 bass is a parent that thinks they do. I think a $300 MIM Fender is plenty good. They're nice basses, sound good and play well enough once set up properly. If he shows promise and sticks to it, then he can sell it and move up to the big leagues.

This. MIMs and Squiers are perfectly fine to start out on; I could gig one and feel okay about it. The next several hundred dollars gets you anywhere from 10-30% more quality, and past a few grands I feel like that plateaus for good, at which point it really is just all about your preferences.

I learned to play on a beater guitar my granddad left us and that didn't stop me from making it sound decent. I think that is an important test of a kid's dedication.

I never got an $800 christmas gift, let alone a $1500 one.
I need different parents, really.

wim wrote: I never got an $800 christmas gift, let alone a $1500 one.
I need different parents, really.

Try here:

http://www.chooseyourparents.com/