What Fender bass to choose?

Flecktarn

Hi all,

I've been playing bass for about 2 and a half years now with my sole bass, an Epiphone Thunderbird. I now feel it's time to upgrade.

The three models I've been looking at are a Fender Standard Precision Bass, a Fender Jazz Bass and a Fender Tele Bass. I want to know would these be worthy investments and what would be the differences in sound between them?

Thanks!

novarock

Ive got a jazz and a Precision - you should start with a precision, its way more versatile and will allow you to figure out if you want any different basses later on.

Rigsby

Depends on the music you want to play. Having said that, the precision can cover almost all genres. It has a wider neck than the jazz. This can be a deciding issue with some people. Cant advise on the tele bass as I have never played one.

IMO they are all worthy investments. The best thing is to try out each one. The one that feels the best in your hands and whose tone you like most, is "your" bass.

reniwren

Try them out see what you like the whole one is more versatile than the other is complete myth, its all down to the player.

Welease

Rigsby wrote: »

Depends on the music you want to play. Having said that, the precision can cover almost all genres. It has a wider neck than the jazz. This can be a deciding issue with some people. Cant advise on the tele bass as I have never played one.

IMO they are all worthy investments. The best thing is to try out each one. The one that feels the best in your hands and whose tone you like most, is "your" bass.

This is an important point.. I find the Precisions really uncomfortable, so purchased a Jazz instead. The width of the neck was a big difference for me.

As with most instruments, you need to try it out and see what suits you best,

Celly Smunt

Buy the jazz and slap some high output PUPS in there.

Rigsby

pmcmahon wrote: »

Buy the jazz and slap some high output PUPS in there.

Rather than do that, I'd get a G&L Tribute L2000 (the "L" stands for Leo; we all know his surname ). One of the most versatile sounding basses out there, with one of the hottest pick ups. It has a wide precision type neck though.

unclebill98

Personally I find that the type of music you play should not dictate the type of bass you play.

Best bet is to try all 3 and for sure try that G&L..... You'll end up picking the G&L. I was very impressed by it for the price you can get them at.

I always found the pbass neck wide and have always gone for the jazz style.

zafo

Considering you're coming from a Tbird with humbuckers my first pick would be the modern player jazz you linked to.

Rigsby

unclebill98 wrote: »

Best bet is to try all 3 and for sure try that G&L..... You'll end up picking the G&L. I was very impressed by it for the price you can get them at.

+1. Only thing is that very few shops in Dublin stock them perhaps maybe "X Music ". I got mine on Ebay. Unfortunately this means not being able to try it out. One comes up on "Adverts" from time to time.

http://www.adverts.ie/for-sale/music-instruments-equipment/guitar-bass/basses/electric-basses/474/q_G%26L/


There are two listed above. The Trib. L2500 is the five string version. The other is a USA made L2000. The Tribs are usually made in Indonesia to USA specs. They have the same PUPS and electronics as their USA cousins.

unclebill98

Last time I seen them in Ireland was Musician Inc and a shop in Carlow. At the time the wiped the floor with the MM Sub, Fender japs and any other sub make of bass.

Honestly could not believe it was going for that cheap. For the record I don't own one but for a bass player starting out or looking to upgrade cheaply they are savage for the money.

Rigsby

unclebill98 wrote: »

Last time I seen them in Ireland was Musician Inc and a shop in Carlow. At the time the wiped the floor with the MM Sub, Fender japs and any other sub make of bass.

Honestly could not believe it was going for that cheap. For the record I don't own one but for a bass player starting out or looking to upgrade cheaply they are savage for the money.

Unfortunately that shop in Carlow has now closed down. Yet another G&L option is the Tribute SB2. This is G&L's answer to the fender precision...and what an answer. Not as versatile tone wise as the L 2000 but still has a very hot split coil pick up. IMO it beats a Fender Standard Precision, hands down. Another plus is it's jazz width neck. Definitely another option for the OP to check out.

http://www.glguitars.com/instruments/TributeSeries/basses/SB-2/index.asp

DrWu

I've got a Fender Jazz Deluxe and it's a beast. best bass I've ever had by a long shot.

http://centralpermata.com/fender-deluxe-series-jazz-bass-24.html

unclebill98

So that's both of those shops gone. Op adverts