Fender American Deluxe Jazz Bass V FMT

Fender?? American Deluxe J Bass V Ash 5-String (2006)

I had this special ordered through Guitar Center with these
features:

1. 3-band active EQ
2. 2 samarium cobalt noiseless pickups
3. Rosewood fingerboard
4. Ash body
5. Controls: (18v)master volume, pan pot, 3-band active EQ with:
a) Treble boost/cut: ??10dB @ 8kHz, a shift in the cut frequency, and approximately a 2dB slope per octave
b) Mid boost/cut: +10dB, -15dB @ 500Hz, and a wide band slope
c) Bass boost/cut: ??12dB @ 40Hz, with a 4dB slope per octave
6. Posiflex graphite neck
7. 5-bolt neck plate
8. Deluxe chromeplated steel bridge plate
9. Contoured heel for easier access to upper frets 2 Hipshot string trees
10. Fender/Schaller Deluxe Lite-bass tuning machines
11. 4 over, one-under tuning machine array
12. 22 medium-jumbo frets
13. Abalone dot position inlays
14. Rolled fingerboard edges
15. Highly detailed nut and fret work
16. Finished with a Aged Cherry Sunburst
17. Fender molded hardshell case
18. Fender instrument cable
19. Fender Mist & Wipe kit
20. Thrust Rod Tool

Unbelievable! I have been playing for 10+ years and this bass takes the cake. I really like the Warwick growl, but this thing is just boomy! Something you just have to go play and experience yourself..breath taking!

Went with the Ash body for a softer/bigger low end sound and the rosewood fret board for even a better sound for low end (bottom end).

Would rate as a 11, but only have 10 to choose from.

Special ordered directly from factory.

Action was set WAY to high (from the Factory), but the guys from Guitar Center hooked me up. They lower the action and made it 100%.

My only complaint would be that the neck pickup touchs the lower stings from time to time, but that can be easly fixed by adjusting to the hot 18v system by playing alittle softer.

Overall, everything is to the "T"

Solid like a rock! If a there was a bass to save your life, this would be the one.

Have not had to deal with customer support. Just look at my previous category rating.

Again, been playing for 10+ years and this is the best bass I have ever owned. I can't express how much I enjoy this bass. If there was such a bass from the Heavens, this would be it.

Played a Warwick 4-String FNA, but now it is my back-up. This somewhat mades me sad/upset, because I know I'll never have to use it again. (unless I break a string)

If you are looking for the best bass....well go get one!

This bass is a 2002 American made 5-string Figured Maple Top(FMT)jazz bass. If not mistaken, this bass has 21 or 22 frets. The fretboard is not maple, rosewood or ebony, but pau?????, and has pearloid block inlaids. "The bass is gorgeous." The body is alder, and the top is figured or flamed maple. The controls are volume, blend, concentric treble/bass and midrange. The treble/bass and midrange controls all have center detents. The volume pot is surface mounted to the printed circuit board of the preamp(I'm not sure if this is a good thing or bad).The bass consists of two Noiseless jazz bass pickups, and the bass is active only with two(2) 9 volts to supply 18 volts of power. The bridge is a string-thru body type. The headstock is a "4+1" configuration which is cool because it remainds me of a Sadowsky bass. Eventhough the scale length is 34", the "B" string is a lot better because the string tension trees(provides more angle) and the headstock length make the "B" string more defined. The neck is a thick piece of wood. One of the best necks I have seen on a Fender in a long time. The bass comes with a case and the normal goodies.

The bass is very versatile. I play blues, raggae, Contemporary jazz, gospel and rock. This bass fits all of them. The small amp I use is a Nemesis 210 combo, and the large rig I use is a GT tube bass preamp,Crown Power Tech 1 power amp, with a Eden 210T and Eden 115XL cabinets.
"The sound of the bass is confusing." The reason I say this is because I understand that a stack pickup(Noiseless) isn't suppose to possess much low end, but it does. This bass sounds as good as my 1975 jazz bass in the flat mode, and totally outrageous when the preamp is engaged. Eventhough, the preamp is not as big sounding as a Aguilar, Bartolini or Sadowsky preamp. It records very well and I truly believe that's what counts.

The set-up of the bass was a little off, but that's ok because it makes me work. Sometimes I feel I need to work, you know, become more aggressive.

I feel this bass is a great improvement over the other Fender 5-strings in the past. The "B" string is very good. It remainds me of a Sadowsky 5.

I have been fortunate to not have to call Fender about this bass. On the other hand, when I first received my first Marcus Miller Signature jazz bass Fender didn't seem to take a brotha too serious. I hope Fender has gotten better.

This is really a great feeling bass. If I were to install the American Standard 5-string single-coils(only single-coils that will fit) and a different preamp, this bass would be one of the best 5-string basses in the industry today. The other thing I have noticed is that, normal 5-string single-coils will not fit(Fender kinda stuck me on this one). Anyway, because I got a really good deal on the bass I can wait to see if they can improve some more. In my book, TONE is a lot more important than output!!!