All user reviews for the Luthman Jazzette

Lower designed in France by Thierry Etienne and handmade in Poland if my sources are good.

There is not yet another copy of Jazz Bass, but a full-fledged Luthman certainly inspired by JB and output as a tribute to the 50th anniversary of Leo Fender bass. The form has been reworked, it is smaller, has been reshaped, refined. I could not compare to an authentic Jazz Bass, but a copy SX and Squier VM which should be closer to the original shape and dimensions. The Jazzette is undoubtedly the family, but smaller and it's like in stories for children: the little sister is the prettiest. The head design in particular is a total success and it is rather rare.

Features (copied from website Luthman)

pitch: 34''
Strings: 4, 5 and 6
handle: Screw, maple
Body: alder, ash, ovangkol, mahogany
key: maple, rosewood
buttons: Luthman Deluxe black or chrome
nut: ebony
Mechanical: Luthman Deluxe black or chrome
bridge: black or chrome Luthman
microphones: 2 x JB Delano single coil
Passive: 2x volume + 1x tone
active: preamp Glockenklang 2 strips (4 pots: volume, microphone balance, treble eq, eq serious)
separate 9V battery
Finish: natural matt varnish

From there it is in the craft, so all possible customizations. Mine (it was a showroom model) is active, with ebony high gloss tobaccoburst and beautiful finishing touch.

The finish is impeccable, it is a beautiful object. It makes you want to be pampered, models "relic" I respect the tastes and colors, but this is not my thing!



UTILIZATION

The neck is very thin, very nice, easy to play, very low setting, perfect.

I put some time to understand the functioning of pots: so glad to reception, I played, played, played, without trying to really explore the sonic possibilities.

Note that the neutral setting active, exactly the same sound in passive: just raise the volume knob to go from one config to another. Practice in cases of battery failure, but I always leave the active position.

I am not an experienced bass player and I do not have the experience of thousands of low to compare the sound: a vintage MIJ Vantage, another Luthman (Wave fretless), a Peavey T-40, which is the exact opposite this low, and entry level Cort Action and JB SX copy.

To play it is very close to the body, very fine, leaving the Peavey is like going from a large to a small 4x4 sports car like Porsche.

I would say that the word "elegant" is suitable for both look like the sound of this bass, I think very versatile.

SOUNDS

I do not have personal style of music. I play bass for fun, that's all ...

I can not compare with the SX that does not play in the same league, not really with her sister Wave Fretless. If I compare with the Vantage (PB-type) or the Peavey T-40 which is an instrument somewhat unconventional, the sound is sweet, delicate, elegant. Harmonics are present but the sound is never slamming or metal. Playing settings we get a nice big well rounded but not "fat", or rather a little bite but never dry. It is more versatile and subtle than the Vantage PB less "fit in" the Peavey. Each instrument is different, it has its own personality.

I play on a Hartke 3500 with 410TP cab and a Peavey TKO115s. The sound is better made and the Hartke cab. With a higher config it should be even better.


OVERALL OPINION

I already had a Wave Luthman fretless which I was (and still am) very satisfied, as well as the excellent contact with Thierry Etienne. We did not meet by email and phone but it is a very friendly and passionate guy, who had advised me very well during my first purchase.

When I had a little money for a fretted bass, I naturally turned to him again. I love the design of the Jazz Bass, which remains a historical reference, but I chose rather Jazzette for the same reasons that made me choose the Wave: for the price of a Fender U.S., there may be Luthman in a bass luthier, most original; each model is unique, contact the creator is a plus and I find it fun to make local artisans that work to fertilize a large multinational.

The Jazzette is a little share in the production Luthman, the other being a low design and original. It is nevertheless a Luthman, both in terms of differences with the model (again, this is not a copy-paste) that the quality of finish and customization options. Very very nice, very enjoyable to play, beautiful sound, I do not regret that choice rather than the "original" model and would do it again.