Jazz basses besides fender ?

#44
Broccoli
Altitude said:
Lots of options but if I were to categorize:

Faithful Reproductions/Copies
These are other companies builds that look and sound essentially identical to Fender Jazz basses, except the headstocks and perhaps hardware and electronics choices. Some diverse finish options. These are close to being Fender Jazz basses built by somebody else. They may or may not be parroting design elements from certain time periods in Fender's history. Examples are the G&L JB, the Lakland 44-60, and the Sire basses on the lower end.

Modern Renditions
These are definitely Jazz-inspired designs, but are "updated" according to the company's vision. Many are slightly downsized, as the traditional Fender J body is rather large. Many have active electronics, which has become so popular that high-end Fenders have active electronics now as well. Sadowsky is probably the most obvious example (though they will make you a full-sized bass too), and the Lakland Darryl Jones is a more significantly downsized passive design.

"Jazz Basses" with varying design cues
I put "Jazz Basses" in quotes here because some may argue if they fit into the genre. These are basses with two single coil pickups in roughly the jazz bass locations, but built by companies who wanted the bass to look like their design and not necessarily like a Fender copy. Pedulla Rapture, possibly the Fodera Emperor. Very arguable category, but the two single coil pickups will sound something like a jazz bass. Sometimes it's an alternative pickup option versus a dual humbucker setup that the company offers if you want one of their basses but would rather it sound something like a Jazz bass. Zon Sonus for example.

And a zillion boutique makers who align roughly with one of those categories.
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Pretty much i just mean a bass with 2 single coils, or a bass that's thin on the neck with a lot of mid range. Need that for recording
 
#45
Got to add my 2 cents on the Bacchus! Here's mine (pic is from the guy I purchased it off of). Best feeling jazz I have ever played! Light, perfect set up, perfect balance— stupifying craftsmanship. (it's one of their custom shop basses).

And then I hotrodded it even further with Dimarzio Ultra jazz pups and a Sadowsky preamp! this bass is a straight beast!!!
 

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#47
jbhaugh said:
if you need strong mid content you want a P bass, not a J.
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Not sure I agree with that statement. Roll back the neck pickup up a little, keep the bridge pickup full on, tone all the way up and play at the bridge and your mids will cut through on any gig.

The P-Bass's mid is just a different flavor because of it's pickup placement and type of coil. Both are highly effective!
 
#49
Best value Jazz basses I’ve owned are Sire V7 and VV7 generation 2. I had a USA Lakland 44-60 which was better made than my Fender USA Standard Jazz and had a better neck but they sounded pretty much the same as both had Aguilar AG 4J-70 pickups. I had a Sadowsky Metro but I’m not keen on active basses. Best I’ve had is a passive Sandberg California but the Sire is a quarter of the price and not far off sound wise. The Sire preamp is very good but I preferred it in passive mode. I’ve now sold all my active Jazz basses.
 
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#52
Lakland Skyline Darryl Jones 4 - it's had a lot more play time over the years than my "real" Jazz Basses, and I don't worry about taking it out to gigs vs. the more vintage axes I have. I originally bought it for that purpose, to take on the road and not have to worry as much about a valuable axe getting damaged or stolen, but now I'd be very sad if that happened (there are no gigs now anyway, so not much chance of that unless I trip on my way out to the studio). It sounds amazing, plays great and has very solid build quality. They go for $800 used, ballpark.
 
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