So I've been learning on and playing a friend's Fender Jazz bass for a while now, but I'm looking at buying a bass of my own. I'm not looking at spending too much, and I've narrowed it down to a few. I'm either looking at a used Ibanez TMB100, A new Squier Affinity Jazz, or a used Squier Standard Jazz. The Ibanez is in excellent condition and the Squier is in good condition. I would be using it for playing jazz and rock, but mostly jazz. Thanks in advance.
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Buying a first bass
- Thread starter gverdi
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Welcome to TalkBass!!!
Any of those would serve you well. Honestly it's a tough choice. But if you are used to the neck on the Jazz, the standard Squire would feel right at home.
Any of those would serve you well. Honestly it's a tough choice. But if you are used to the neck on the Jazz, the standard Squire would feel right at home.
While looks aren't everything, you might raise a few eyebrows showing up to play jazz with the TMB. 
The others not so much.
The others not so much.
Pick the one you like the best and factor in some cash to get it set up properly and then play the heck out of it. Seriously.
I would say the Ibanez. Since this is a "first bass," chances are you will be selling it down the road. While Squires can be fine instruments, they can be tough to sell on the local used market. A lot of people (outside of TB) still equate Squire with inferior instruments. I think Ibanez has stronger sticker appeal.
godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
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Both are good choices but I am leaning towards the Squier Jazz. I still have my first bass and am so very glad I kept it these 40 plus years later. Welcome to TB !
"I met three girls at a party last night. Who should I ask out?"
I got a TMB 310 not long ago and I really like it. It is proving to be good for blues/rock, why not jazz?While looks aren't everything, you might raise a few eyebrows showing up to play jazz with the TMB.
The others not so much.
Yeah, I always forget.
I should remember simply because the number is short one 0!
I've played the 310 and 600.
Just wish the 600 came in that hot red.
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I hate the strings that came on it, I've just been too lazy to change them yet. Lol. Think I'll try some Dunlop rounds. I have a set lying around.
Any of what you mentioned would work for just starting out. I'd say whatever you like in your hands and with your ears and you can afford is the best course of action to follow when making a selection.
I got a TMB 310 not long ago and I really like it. It is proving to be good for blues/rock, why not jazz?
It would work just fine. Hell, I play a semi-hollow in a hard rock band.
It's just that trying to fit in as a noob in Jazz circles the TMB would be out of place, as would many other basses.
For example my Squier Strat is now so cool since I put a Fender decal on the headstock. Before that it was ewwww!
Imagine SRV showing up with a Warlock...see what I mean.
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wintremute
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All will be solid. Get the one that feels the most comfortable to you when you play it. Get the one that makes you want to pick it up and play.
I've got a couple of the used Squier Standard Jazz basses. You really can't go wrong with those, they are great. And dirt cheap. And much, much better than the Affinity series.
honestly...I think it would fit in just as well as the "Jazz" basses. Most jazz cats I know either play uprights or crazy expensive boutique basses. Esperanza plays a Jaco sig (but that's partially because of Jaco...and because it's fretless...and because she could play anything she wants on a rubber band if she felt like it and still sound better than 99.9% of any bassist who've ever lived). Jazz is in the mind/hand connection. If you've got the chops and the tone, nobody is going to care what your bass looks like.
...metal on the other hand.
If you're digging the one you learned on, get the good " Squier Standard Jazz". Nothing wrong with a used instrument in good shape. One thing to be sure to check out is that on a couple of Squiers I checked out a few months ago, is that on the high frets, say in the 16th-ish range, there's a bit of a leveling issue. Good local shop. Guy there said that Squiers tend to do that. Called it the "ski ramp" effect... My go-to reaction would to have thought that was just salesman talk. Turned out that a short while after that I found a 5-string Jag. Same deal. so... maybe there's something to that...
Short version of the story, I bought the Jag and had it set up. I called a repair shop that I trust and asked what they would want to fix the issue on top of a regular setup, and they gave me a worst case scenario over the phone, which the guy selling the Jag split with me as a discount.
So, there you go...
Short version of the story, I bought the Jag and had it set up. I called a repair shop that I trust and asked what they would want to fix the issue on top of a regular setup, and they gave me a worst case scenario over the phone, which the guy selling the Jag split with me as a discount.
So, there you go...