Fender’s Jazz Bass is one of the most recognisable instruments of all time. Offering a more versatile sound and curvier design than its Precise counterpart, it’s defined countless records and musical genres.
But which Jazz Bass is best for you? There’s plenty of choice on the market – in this guide, we’ll explore the main features and differences between models to help you make your decision!
One of the defining aspects of the Jazz bass is its offset design. Compared to the Precision Bass, it’s curvier and arguably more ergonomic.
Next up, the neck profile. Again, with the Jazz Bass being designed as a streamlined alternative, you normally get a relatively slim neck.
Finally, you’ll often see Jazz Basses with 2 single-coil pickups in the bridge and middle positions. This offers more treble response and a richer midrange, perfect if you want your bass to stand out in a mix.
The Fender Player II Series features their most affordable Jazz basses. Mexican-made instruments with a great selection of funky finishes, alnico-powered pickups and plenty of variety including 5-string and lefty options.
Built with the ‘new kind of player’ in mind, the Player II series takes everything that was successful from the original series and revamps the rest with an assortment of contemporary and vintage-inspired upgrades. From rolled fingerboard edges, the return of rosewood fingerboards, upgraded pickups, vintage-styled tuners and an array of vintage-inspired colours the new Fender Player II has something for everyone.
Fender’s Player Series models are made for performance-hungry musicians seeking affordable, advanced tools of expression. Powered by a pair of versatile 'Noiseless' pickups, the Fender Player Plus Jazz Bass is an incredibly practical instrument that can transcend a range of musical genres — thanks to its highly-tweakable 3-band active EQ and toggle switch that lets you choose between active or passive modes.
As the name suggests, the Vintera II Series channels some of Fender’s most iconic classic designs. For the Jazz Bass, these are plucked right out of the ‘60s and ‘70s with period-accurate specs to match.
This is Fender’s most affordable US-made range. With a number of upgrades (emphasis on hardware, circuitry and pickups), the Performer range is rugged and reliable enough for even the most rigorous of gigging schedules.
Squier are known for reproducing some of Fender’s most popular models for the budget/beginner market. In recent years, they’ve taken bolder steps in tweaking these classic designs. Their range spans vintage-style models to their cutting-edge Contemporary Series.
Aside from being one of the longest-in-production instruments of our time, the Jazz bass has been brandished by countless players throughout the years. Highlights include Flea, John Paul Jones, Geddy Lee, Duff McKagain, Jaco Pastorius & Marcus Miller to name a few!
There you have it - the Fender Jazz bass range broken down into edible chunks. You should be feeling a little more informed about your decision - which one will you choose?
If you've got any questions about our Fender Jazz bass selection, please don't hesitate to contact us. In the mean time, happy shopping!
