Jazz basses.

[Louis Balfour]

One of my sons plays bass and has a Fender P bass, but is playing more jazz of late.

One of our family wants to buy him a jazz bass up to about £600 on the basis that he will keep and use it for years. Generous, I think. It may be the last present he gets from them.

I know nothing about music (despite my PH moniker), so should I just send them down to the local music shop or is there any guidance that the PH musicians can offer?

From a layperson's perspective, if he gets a Fender it will always have some value, if he wants to sell it in coming years.

Does he want a 4-string or a 5 or 6?

The main thing is, it needs to be new and boxed because it is going to be a Christmas present.

Any pointers appreciated please.

[thewarlock]

I don't think they ever made a 6 string Jazz?

Could be wrong.

Best thing to do is to ask him what he wants tbh. Might take away a bit of the surprise, but no point in spending that sort of money and getting him the wrong thing.

Ideally, take him to a decent shop and let him play some stuff.

[Mastodon2]

Just because it's called a Jazz bass doesn't meant it is necessarily a great bass for jazz, it can be great for it, but maybe he would rather have a 6 string singlecut bass.

You're better off setting a budget and asking him what he wants.

[thebraketester]

Jazz? Upright bass then... surely.

• opens can of worms

[Huff]

thewarlock said:

I don't think they ever made a 6 string Jazz?

Could be wrong.

Best thing to do is to ask him what he wants tbh. Might take away a bit of the surprise, but no point in spending that sort of money and getting him the wrong thing.

Ideally, take him to a decent shop and let him play some stuff.

This.
A Jazz is quite different to play from a Precision, the neck esp at the nut is much narrower and personally I can't get on with them. And whether your son wants to play it /feel he can learn to exploit an instrument, is much more important than 'what' it is.

And no, while its named the Jazz, its no more suited than any other bass.

[Louis Balfour]

Huff said:

thewarlock said:

I don't think they ever made a 6 string Jazz?

Could be wrong.

Best thing to do is to ask him what he wants tbh. Might take away a bit of the surprise, but no point in spending that sort of money and getting him the wrong thing.

Ideally, take him to a decent shop and let him play some stuff.

This.
A Jazz is quite different to play from a Precision, the neck esp at the nut is much narrower and personally I can't get on with them. And whether your son wants to play it /feel he can learn to exploit an instrument, is much more important than 'what' it is.

And no, while its named the Jazz, its no more suited than any other bass.

He is pretty nimble around the P bass, what I am hearing is that a jazz bass is not necessarily going to do much for him outside of him having another bass.... Which, if I understand things correctly, not altogether a bad thing, but there you go.

Perhaps a double bass might be a better idea, he can learn some rockabilly anthems over Christmas

[Louis Balfour]

Actually, another idea occurs, he plays acoustic and electric guitars too, but is using a small scale acoustic. Perhaps a full-size electro-acoustic would be more appropriate. Or just an acoustic.

The giver wants whatever it is to be something that he will not want to part with too soon.

[deckster]

Louis Balfour said:

The giver wants whatever it is to be something that he will not want to part with too soon.

In that case the answer is even more clear. Ask him what he wants and get the relative to take him along to a few shops to try a few out. There's literally no point in guessing.

[Louis Balfour]

deckster said:

In that case the answer is even more clear. Ask him what he wants and get the relative to take him along to a few shops to try a few out. There's literally no point in guessing.

Do you think that is true of an acoustic guitar? I used to play one (really badly) and am sure I'd have liked a decent one if bought for me. The acoustics of other people that I tried didn't differ massively in terms of usability.

[deckster]

Louis Balfour said:

deckster said:

In that case the answer is even more clear. Ask him what he wants and get the relative to take him along to a few shops to try a few out. There's literally no point in guessing.

Do you think that is true of an acoustic guitar? I used to play one (really badly) and am sure I'd have liked a decent one if bought for me. The acoustics of other people that I tried didn't differ massively in terms of usability.

I think it's true for pretty much anything that you want to be special and for the recipient to keep for a long time. Of course he'll like whatever he gets - but to make it really special, and particularly for something as personal as a guitar, there's no question that he should be involved in the decision.

[Louis Balfour]

deckster said:

Louis Balfour said:

deckster said:

In that case the answer is even more clear. Ask him what he wants and get the relative to take him along to a few shops to try a few out. There's literally no point in guessing.

Do you think that is true of an acoustic guitar? I used to play one (really badly) and am sure I'd have liked a decent one if bought for me. The acoustics of other people that I tried didn't differ massively in terms of usability.

I think it's true for pretty much anything that you want to be special and for the recipient to keep for a long time. Of course he'll like whatever he gets - but to make it really special, and particularly for something as personal as a guitar, there's no question that he should be involved in the decision.

I defer to your better knowledge of this. Perhaps I will take him and show him a few things and he can guide the purchase.

[thewarlock]

Louis Balfour said:

deckster said:

In that case the answer is even more clear. Ask him what he wants and get the relative to take him along to a few shops to try a few out. There's literally no point in guessing.

Do you think that is true of an acoustic guitar? I used to play one (really badly) and am sure I'd have liked a decent one if bought for me. The acoustics of other people that I tried didn't differ massively in terms of usability.

Absolutely.

I have 2 main acoustic guitars, there's a few lying about, but I mainly play an old 1989 Fender Concord, looks like this:



And an Ibanez AEW, looks like this:



There's a massive difference between them in terms of the sound the make, the volume, the width of the neck, spacing at the nut, shape of the neck etc.

They're very different to play.

Edited by thewarlock on Friday 4th December 14:50

[Louis Balfour]

thewarlock said:

Louis Balfour said:

deckster said:

In that case the answer is even more clear. Ask him what he wants and get the relative to take him along to a few shops to try a few out. There's literally no point in guessing.

Do you think that is true of an acoustic guitar? I used to play one (really badly) and am sure I'd have liked a decent one if bought for me. The acoustics of other people that I tried didn't differ massively in terms of usability.

Absolutely.

I have 2 main acoustic guitars, there's a few lying about, but I mainly play an old 1989 Fender Concord, looks like this:



And an Ibanez AEW, looks like this:



There's a massive difference between them in terms of the sound the make, the volume, the width of the neck, spacing at the nut, shape of the neck etc.

They're very different to play.

He has a P Bass and Strat from Fender. Being a youth I imagine he would welcome the cred and aesthetics of a Fender electro-acoustic.

Though speaking to our local guitar place they seemed to favour the Sigma on quality. Though I don't think it would appeal to a youth in the same way.

[Huff]

deckster said:

I think it's true for pretty much anything that you want to be special and for the recipient to keep for a long time. Of course he'll like whatever he gets - but to make it really special, and particularly for something as personal as a guitar, there's no question that he should be involved in the decision.

I think that is utterly spot-on.

It's a generous gift in prospect; having the giver involved with the selection - let it take time, /do not/ hurry it for Christmas Day! and & knowing that the final choice is desired, and it being a serious conversation between the two, is so much more likely to be a thing appreciated for a long time, and a gift the giver knows is appreciated.

I'd suggest this over the idea of a surprise-on-the-day every time. Perhaps frame it that 'X would like to buy you a serious instrument to a tentative budget of Y - as a really nice handwritten card/promise from the giver, say. Then let them make it a developing discussion from there. It might be a really great used instrument is 'the thing'; such choices should take a little time. Or maybe your lad has a darn good idea already



PS re: uprights: very spendy, very quickly, for a double bass you'd want to play.

I actually have an electro-acoustic upright, one of Ned Steinberger's original WAV-4s; it's a delightful thing, and a fine compromise to my taste (so much more convenient to move/house/share a flat with!); also way outside indicated budget. Only 13 years in , yet I've a such long way to go with too... :/

Edited by Huff on Friday 4th December 18:34

Edited by Huff on Friday 4th December 18:35

[languagetimothy]

It's definitely got to be his choice on what to buy, so as someone suggested, a card with a note in it to confirm the gift. You don't say how old he is and that you know little about instruments so you won't be able to advise him about the choice. Does the giver have knowledge or someone you know to chat about it and do some on line investigation with him?

Either way it would be nice to have the giver come along on the day of purchase.

I expect your son will have a good idea of what to buy but guitars and associated gear are full of choices. I've about 18 guitars including one bass and they are all a fair bit different. Even two guitars of the same model and range can sound and feel a bit different.

Acoustics you mention. Tony, feel, playability, electro acoustics, vary quite a lot. I've a cheapish Fender which is ok... I had a Taylor but didn't like the plugged in sound. Replaced with a Martin. Spot on.

Amps? Pedals?

A bit of a minefield but he will know what he likes but might need some guidance.

Lucky boy! Keep us posted.

[Louis Balfour]

languagetimothy said:

It's definitely got to be his choice on what to buy, so as someone suggested, a card with a note in it to confirm the gift. You don't say how old he is and that you know little about instruments so you won't be able to advise him about the choice. Does the giver have knowledge or someone you know to chat about it and do some on line investigation with him?

Either way it would be nice to have the giver come along on the day of purchase.

I expect your son will have a good idea of what to buy but guitars and associated gear are full of choices. I've about 18 guitars including one bass and they are all a fair bit different. Even two guitars of the same model and range can sound and feel a bit different.

Acoustics you mention. Tony, feel, playability, electro acoustics, vary quite a lot. I've a cheapish Fender which is ok... I had a Taylor but didn't like the plugged in sound. Replaced with a Martin. Spot on.

Amps? Pedals?

A bit of a minefield but he will know what he likes but might need some guidance.

Lucky boy! Keep us posted.

Thanks.

Martins get good reviews don't they. Is that true of the range, or just the upper models?

[languagetimothy]

You can get a Martin in that price range but I've tried them and wasn't keen for the sound / price ratio. You'd have to go more than twice your budget to get into their worthwhile stuff. Mine was about 1400 after trying a few. Again, it's each to their own.

[anonymous-user]

Huff said:

thewarlock said:

I don't think they ever made a 6 string Jazz?

Could be wrong.

Best thing to do is to ask him what he wants tbh. Might take away a bit of the surprise, but no point in spending that sort of money and getting him the wrong thing.

Ideally, take him to a decent shop and let him play some stuff.

This.
A Jazz is quite different to play from a Precision, the neck esp at the nut is much narrower and personally I can't get on with them. And whether your son wants to play it /feel he can learn to exploit an instrument, is much more important than 'what' it is.

And no, while its named the Jazz, its no more suited than any other bass.

Jamie Stewart, ex Cult bassist, preferred a Jazz over the Precision, said the neck was much better for him.

[GetCarter]

I was a pro bass player for decades and owner of both P and J.

Makes no difference to how happy he'll be.

Jazz sounds better. Both record well.

[Louis Balfour]

GetCarter said:

I was a pro bass player for decades and owner of both P and J.
.

Steve are those basses your P&J?

(see what I did there?)