![Fender American Standard Jazz Bass [1989-1994]](https://medias.audiofanzine.com/img/pictures/normal/4/7/472964.jpg?fm=pjpg&w=378&h=326&fit=fill&s=8a55f1330189b7cf65ff55bb64f2ca67)
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Audiofanzine FR
Published on 12/05/08 at 06:38
(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!!!
- 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!!!