I have a similar post up about making a decision on a bass but it wouldn’t let me edit it, so instead I am making a new one.
My first bass was a mid scale (32 inch), Squier Affinity Jaguar H, followed in 2 weeks by a Fender Players P Bass, and then a Squier Classic Vibe 60’s Jazz.
I recently was at my local shop and they had a Sterling by Music Man Ray4 that was really nice and played like butter. There’s also a new Fender Player II Jazz that I have my eye one that’s really gorgeous, rolled fret, and very tight and smooth on tone.
The problem is, I can’t afford to buy another bass. So would need to trade in my Jag and the Vibe 60’s for the Fender Player II Jazz, or just the Jaguar for the Sterling.
My music style is a mix. I like rock, punk, ska, blues.
Any thoughts or experiences with either the Fender Player II Jazz, or the SMM Ray4? Both have different sounds and I already have a Fender Player Precision, so I am leaning towards the Player II J to compliment the P.
I am a beginner at 58 years old and some arthritis. I’ve only started playing a couple months back and had to take a break for the last month as I hurt my fretting hand doing ‘strength’ exercises (which inflamed my tendons), not gonna do that again.
The concept of trade in really scares me,
In general you won’t get anywhere near what you paid for, you’ll be lucky if you get half. Selling them off and buy your next bass would always be the best deal for you.
If you are considering the player II take the time to check out Sire V7 2nd generation. For the money that’s the best Jazz bass you can get.
I play rock, punk and blues, and I and my band really love the tone I now get on my new Fender Jazz Player II vs when I used to play on my 5 string String Ray. I’m still intermediate, so not sure technically why the tone is better/different, but the Player II definitely plays faster and easier, and sounds fuller and fits better with what we play. The band has commented that the Jazz is deep and rich but not muddy, vs the Sting Ray that had more mid tones coming out. Hope that helps.
I can point to rock, punk, and blues bands that play a Jazz, P, or Music Man. They all do the job. So what’s the most comfortable to you? Sounds like the Jazz if I get you right.
I have some similar basses to the ones you have and the ones you are looking at. I also have relatively small pre-mangled hands. No arthritis, but have a broken set of pinky fingers, had seven stitches in my left index finger, scar tissue from a steel nail that poked into my left middle finger, previous mallet finger in my left ring finger, along with plenty of thumb sprains. I agree with you about not doing strength/stretching exercises on your fretting hand. Microshifting and pivoting are much kinder techniques to utilize.
Back to the basses and your bass dilemma.
Which of the basses you have played feel the best in your hands and on your hands?
You already mentioned that Music Man Ray4 was nice and played like butter.
How about the other basses?
On to a bit about my similar basses.
My first bass is a MIM Fender Player Jazz Bass with D’Addario NYXL rounds on it. I bought it new on sale after trying many basses and this one just felt the best in my absolute beginner hands two years ago. It is comfortable, bright, and versatile. I’m not sure how it compares to the new Player II basses, but I would imagine that it is similar.
My second bass was a B2B graduation present to myself, a Squier Classic Vibe 60s Fretless Jazz Bass with D’Addario Chrome flatwounds. This bass feels smooth, warm, and inviting. I love playing it. The quaiity meets or exceeds my Fender Player.
My latest bass is a Sterling by Music Man StingRay Ray4HH with D’Addario Half Rounds. The neck feels similar to my Jazz basses. The output and sustain on this bass amaze me. The variety of possible/available tones impresses me. Using the bridge pickup only has that familiar unique StingRay sound that you would get from a Ray4H.
I hope that at least some of my rambling on has been helpful in choosing the bass (or more likely basses) that feel and sound the best to you.
This reminds me of one of the band I sub for a few gigs, they were a bunch of nice and polite guys. They love my jazz tone and the flat string p bass tone. I was pretty slow, I didn’t really catch on till our last gig that on a 4 piece band we have to fight to be heard. Crisps, clean and punchy Stingray tone usually stands out,
I wound up getting the new Player II Jazz in hileah yellow. She’s very nice, just sending her off for a set up and then ready to play.
I’ve decided to send my 2 month old P bass for a set up too.
The dealer I use gives a free set up with new purchases within the year, so I’ll let the pro take care of that. The action is a touch high on the P but playable and the new J is very high so not comfortable at all.
I traded in my Squier Jaguar and Squier Classic Vibe 60’s jazz for the Player II Jazz. Since I recently bought them this year from the same dealer, it was a straight across exchange minus a small restocking fee.
Congrats on the new Jazz! I’m wondering how it compares to the Classic Vibe? I’ve got my eye on some Player IIs as well (love the coral red color!) I have the same fretless Classic Vibe as @StevFargan and absolutely love this bass. So there’s a part of me that wants to save a few dollars and get a fretted version of Classic Vibe, but…then I can’t get that amazing color.
You sound best when we’re louder than you!