Fender American Standard Jazz Bass [1989-1994]

(Originally written by cykklop/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
- Where was it made? (USA, Japan, Mexico, France...)

Entirely made in the USA.

- How many frets, what kind of pickups and what is the pickup configuration?

22 frets. The guitar was made in 1989 and 22-fret necks were trendy. Like most Jazz Bass models it has two passive single-coil pickups.

- What about controls (volume, tone, pickup selector...)?

Two volume and one tone control

- What kind of neck?

C profile neck with rosewood fingerboard.

UTILIZATION

- Is the neck comfortable?

Wow! It's the third bass I own and I had never heard such a sound. I previously owned a Fender Precision (it was my first love... different!) and an Ibanez SR series (awful... I don't like active instruments!). This bass guitar is in a whole new level! This neck is a incredibly fast! You feel immediately comfortable with it, your hand slips smoothly allowing you to play accurately. The neck is very narrow at the nut... Perhaps it's somewhat bothersome for some people but it was one of the reasons I fell in love with this instrument... It's all a matter of taste!

- Is the access to the upper frets easy?

No problems to get to the upper frets. It's just PERFECT. Since the neck has two more frets than a standard Jazz bass, access to the upper frets is even easier and it opens new musical horizons...

- Is the instrument ergonomic (body shape, weight...)?

I think there are many reasons why this old bass is still a standard. The weight is also perfect, neither too heavy nor too light! The balance is perfect both sitting and standing.

- Is it easy to get the right sound?

It couldn't be easier... and what a sound!!! Great! You can play everything from jazz to rock, punk and funk... Everything is possible and the sound is always very good!!! I don't think it's a coincidence that it's the favorite bass of musicians like Matt Freeman (Rancid), John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin), Tim Commerford (Rage Against the Machine), Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers) and many others.

SOUNDS

There's nothing left to say about this instrument.

OVERALL OPINION

- How long have you been using it?

[Update, 12/05/08] I played this bass one and a half years. I just sold it for a P Bass which matches my style better.

- Which feature do you like the most / the least?

I like almost everything about this Jazz Bass: first of all the sound, the neck, the playability, the looks, etc. However I find it has a disadvantage: the pickguard is not a standard pickguard. The number of holes is not standard and it's too wide in the neck area. It's not a problem regarding playability and sound but there's no way to change it unless you pay for an expensive custom-made pickguard.

- How would you rate its value for money?

I bought it on ebay (the Fender case was included). It was in perfect condition and I couldn't find a better deal... it's nearly 20 years old and it's better than most modern Jazz Bass models I tried. I wouldn't buy it again only because the (very good) sound doesn't match my taste. I prefer a MusicMan, Precision or Rickenbacker sound. Then again it's only a matter of taste.

PS: I give it a 7 because 9 would be the mark for a Precision Bass with a Jazz maple neck, Gibson-type inlays and MusicMan pickup ... and 10 would be the mark of the Rickenbacker 4003!!!

U.S. Manufacturing
handle 22 frets
2 Microphones type jazz bass (bass, treble)
2 volumes and a tone

UTILIZATION

certainly one of the most enjoyable rounds we can make for a low, which facilitates the movement by his touch and finesse. It makes us want to play simply.
The sound you get is always the road to know that with only 3 pot is not unravel the brushes, and of course the amp has a say too.
After playing with my opinion of worst to best: Trace eliot, Fender, Hartke, and especially especially Markbass Ampeg!, I get a correct and its always good round and I like the settings I usually fast since put the pot bottom 3 and I puts the finishing touch on the amp.

SOUNDS

It's perfect for my style rock and variety and this is my seller (Ferri Grenoble) who had advised me at 94.
Oh it's been a! and she is always there, ready to play without any problem or crack pot that electronic crap, or sleeve wears out or spin, but nothing anything like that.
2 good games a year string (Elixir) and voila.
The sound is very serious and round. I do not tampered with the sound effects pedals (distortion, chorus, flanger and others ...) that are not my style.
on the other hand for some configurations (without amp and live table mix) I add a GEB7 LMB3 and to refine the sound.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 15 years and she will die with me! (Laughs)
Before that I had with Korean brands have disappeared.
What I like most is the grip: one is immediately comfortable with the stick and was quickly SOUND.
The weight is less but it quickly forgets and having fun playing. I note that for 9 / 10
Price level in 92 I bought new with the rigid body Fender Strap 2 + mechanical parts (it was included with the bass): 6000 francs instead of 6300 after negotiation: So about 1000 euros. It was a sum but still I knew it was an investment for now, as it stands, I can sell more expensive, but this is not the goal.
So the price where it is now I do not regret my purchase and it is without hesitation that I will ever be the same choice.

Born in 1960 the Jazz Bass, originally launched as the "Deluxe Model," has changed very little during his fifty years of existence.
When compared to its big sister the "Precision", this amounts to assimilate as a Jazz Bass and Precision F1 as a muscle car / We can say that the Jazz Bass is what can be a face of a Stratocaster Telecaster
my Jazz Bass is a USA model, Dated 1998 (N8. ..), which can be equated to current standards FENDER. al inverse ela photo above left, my beautiful wooded corp has a natural ash color with a white plate picture ... see Here we find a body in Ash, Alder, which is often nowadays. Question Weight (wood density) but the resonance remains substantially the same.
The handle "C" is maple and has 20 medium jumbo frets. The key is also in Maple. The Maple, brings a more "crystalline" in Slap, but the settings intervene effectively to find the roundness and depth desired. The varnish Nitrocellusosique affixed thereon in a thin layer is ideal for fast action and a total mastery of the instrument .... The two microphones "simple" incident to "JB", are simple and seem to be winding Vintage '75 Jazz Bass. Micro I am replaced by CREL JB 42 (see my review on these mics)
The bridge is adjustable to four bridges and the strings are through. The tuners are stamped with the logo FENDER SCHALLER. Settings, three in number, meet establishment JB, with a neck pickup volume, bridge volume and mic tone control coupled. All in full precision.
The fittings are chrome all styles can be considered a Jazz Bass Ave. She excels in Blues-Rock as well as in records sweeter or more "Hards".


UTILIZATION

The advantage of this bass, it is not "going anywhere". You hear it, it's life, we love and most importantly, it feels it. If the bass player's fingers are there to sustain it, the Jazz Bass is certainly what we have done better since 1960.
head stings a little nose at the game sitting .... but hey I have a jazz bass usa beautiful!
used for the game to the finger, no mediator, often in slap
the sound is pechu and sounds "serious"
with it no gas plant as the Series G & L and others active with 15 knobs.
the simplicity of play that allows the finger that it acquires a strong expressive playing finger on the handle so it's a highway. it is a perfect handle increasingly composed of a single piece of maple ... she has the soul of this JB.


SOUNDS

Everything thoroughly and Marcus Miller is playing, we lower the tone and it is the small Tal Wilkenfeld imitating sound Sadowsky (I say imitate), the acute single microphone and c is expressed Pastorius.
I shoot with these 3 different sounds and hearing I satisfied my requirements bassists ... Simple and effective, this JB satisfied purists like me minimalism!
passive use this JB has conferred the sound of his wood ash body know a low medium to generate and sustain, in the maple fretboard for a crystal clear, incisive and tender at once.
we would take even for Steve Harris (Iron Maiden bassist) so the handle of my JB issued a sound as warm and bright as he.
24/24 connected to my amp head to a 250 Markbass Little Ashdown 2x10 cabinet .. the choice of this firm 200w is not the most conducive for typed enough for my style of game I played primarily with the 'ACIDD jazz, jazz funk.



OVERALL OPINION

Before the acquisition of this wooded lady I played the bass ... now I start to tame it and I understand the philosophy that results. I technically evolved since 8 months of use.
I have changed the micro to give it a more modern and dynamic: CREL JB42.que I highly recommend .. / see my opinion on them.

I came across a case sui Gold: 860 Euros with Fender rigid box.