Product: Fender American Deluxe Jazz V
Price Paid: UK pounds 1200
Submitted
10/16/2008
at
05:30pm
by
Martin Hammond
Features
:
10
Bought new in 2005. Alder body, graphite reinforced maple neck with maple fingerboard,22 medium frets and abalone dot markers. Two Samarium Cobalt Noiseless J pick-ups with 18v active (volume, pan, bass/mid/treble cut and boost). String through body bridge.
Sound
:
10
First of all, when I bought this bass I was shopping for an amp. I saw this beautiful black with tortoiseshell pick-guard and maple neck bass hanging on the wall and forgot that I needed an amp. It was love at first sight and I knew I was gonna leave the shop with this bass! I love Jazzes anyway, and this baby screamed "I am class" at me from it's spot on the shop wall. I tried it through a Roland combo (which I also bought, great little amp!)and was immediately struck by the fact that it didn't suffer from the same problem that previous 5 stringers I'd owned/tried had, that being that the B string altered the sound and feel of the bass. This was the first 5 I'd tried that sounded like a 4, but with a low B. The active circuit is uncomplicated and sounds lovely. I usually leave it pretty flat, maybe boost the bass a little but that's it. Want a Marcus sound? It's there! Want bridge pick-up bark? You got it!
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
Faultless. This is a top of the range U.S. Fender, and it looks and feels like one. Had to lower the action slightly but the supplied action wasn't a problem at all. Love the satin finished neck with the gloss finished headstock, pure class! Everything is beautifully finished, no nasty fret ends or loose fittings here. Oh, and a really major, and I mean major plus is, it balances on a strap perfectly. Not a hint of neck dive, which makes playing the thing a breeze.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
Gigged extensively with my baby. Is now number 1 bass. Never had a single problem. Never needed a backup.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Never needed 'em. That in itself speaks volumes.
Overall Rating
:
10
Been playing for 30 years now (Jesus!). Also own a 1986 Vigier Passion (also great) and a Warmoth Jazz (Great but has balance issues). Play through a Hartke amp and 4.5xl cabs. Never regretted buying this bass ever. Was even prepared for "wife fallout" when I walked in the house with it. If it were lost or stolen I doubt if I would find one the same as this one, but if I did, I'd buy it in an instant.
