The Ultimate Fender Jazz Bass Comparison: Professional vs Player! USA vs MIM!
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- Опубліковано 24 гру 2019
- This video is the ultimate comparison of the Fender Professional Jazz Bass and Fender Player Jazz Bass. In this video I compare the MIM Player Series Jazz Bass and the USA Professional Series Jazz Bass and give you my verdict on the age-old question of MIM vs USA Standard Jazz Bass.
Langely Guitar Centre UK:
www.langleyguitarcentre.co.uk
Player Jazz Bass:
www.langleyguitarcentre.co.uk...
Professional Jazz Bass:
www.langleyguitarcentre.co.uk...
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Two of the basses I’m using on tour with Avril Lavigne are Player Series. Used a Player Series P Bass when we performed on Late Night with Seth Meyers. I dig ‘em.
Cool bro, congratulations on your bass career. What are your thoughts on the player series?
So you are the guy with the weird "its not just a phase" haircut?
Wait you are touring with Avril??? dope dude
What a weird flex bro.
@@crapadopalese or a valuable anecdote as to the quality and sound of the mim?
BRIDGE+NECK 100%
Player 8:56
Professional 11:09
NECK 100%
Player 9:16
Professional 11:31
BRIDGE 100%
Player 9:39
Professional 11:54
BRIDGE+NECK 0%
Player 10:02
Professional 12:15
NECK 0%
Player 10:18
Professional 12:36
BRIDGE 0%
Player 10:39
Professional 12:55
amazing comparison!!!
but...If you read my list above comparing every pickup+tone setting of the MIM bass with the same p.u+tone setting of USA bass you will realize that if there are differences they are minimal...(of course we have to consider that the fingerboards are different and that the bass player often plays in a different way that same fingerstyle riff)
so I hope that there is a big playability / tone / feel difference between these basses considering that the USA one costs more than twice the MIM....
Tanks so much 🙏
Tanks so much 👏🏼🔝
you read my mind! hahaah thank you!
🙏👍
Same people make it just parts change
Good thorough review thanks a lot! I just bought the white player bass. It's very comfortable and sounds awesome.
Like your reviews! Thank you and good luck, man!
Very good and complete review! Congrats!
Very good review,Tyler I have played quite a few MIA, MIJ and MIM J-Basses. I would consider the Player to be a continuation of the pre-US Standard basses in tone and quality. For me, the country of origin is largely irrelevant and in any case much of the MIM production is done in the US and vice-versa. The MIA Pro is an all-round better bass, yes, but the Player can more than hold its own. The MIA costs two and a half times as much as the Player (incl case) but for an admittedly marginal increase in build quality, playability and sound. Sound can always be adjusted on the amp. So for a value proposition,the Player is the more practical offering from Fender
Absolutely! They are a great, reliable and classic sounding instrument. T
Thank You! Tyler, good job!
Awesome video thanks man!!!
Great comparison video 👍 very helpful 👍
Great work. Thank you
Thanx Tyler! Nice comparison.
To my ears the USA has more warmth and character. Yeah, of course, a maple fretboard always sounds different, I know. But it's that warm smack when the string hits the frets, that convinces me to choose the USA over the MIM from the first notes you played.
btw: Just looked up the specs on the Fender website: A difference you did not mention is, that they still use that thick polyester finish on the MIM models instead of polyurethane.
A few years ago when I had been doing my own JB build I did a lot of research. Almost all the USA models I listened to had that slightly more 'vivid' (don't know if it's the proper expression in this context) tone. So I chose an original Fender USA body with polyurethane finish and I'm still pretty happy with that decision. The polyester finish is about 5 times as thick as the polyurethane, so I'm pretty sure it actually has an influence on the tonal character of the instrument as it impedes the wood to vibrate.
The Mexico models aren't bad at all for the money (if you find a good one). But you instantly notice the difference in tone and feel when you pick up a USA model, I think. At least that's my experience so far. Question is: Are you willing to pay that much extra money for that extra 5% of sound and feel.
Nice review Tyler best wishes
I realize this is an old video, but I first watched it relatively recently, and it was extremely helpful. Thanks for putting it together. (I got lucky and found a Player Series used at a good price, but before that I was definitely considering both)
The only time I played a MIM it sucked, but dude, that MIM you played sounds amazing! To be honest, I could pick any of the two, they both sound really good and the difference is barely noticeable - the only thing I noticed is that the American one has a hair more mid sound, while the MIM sounds a bit more scooped. But really, it's by a fraction. If were to buy either of them by the tone itself and the price, I would easily buy the MIM one as it would be far cheaper. I don't know how they would play in my hands, however, so I can't judge by that.
Thanks for yet another awesome comparison! :-)
Great video 👍
Overall I think the players series jazz bass was the most fender sounding quality than the professional series.
There's definitely something to be said for playing a cheaper instrument. I always play more carefully and tighter on a posh bass, im just too scared to devalue it. Plus the difference between these tones is so marginal compared to the difference you can get from different strings/tone potentiometer swaps. Ive owned some rly posh basses and some great cheap basses. The things that always win you over are never the things that cost money. Neck profiles, neck radii, weight, tuning stability, tone. All of these are totally achievable and tweakable on cheap basses
I've had to move away from basses that are too art-y for the same reason. If it looks like a coffee table I'm scared to play it out! T
Go with FGN basses in that case. Made in Japan. Better quality than most Fenders at a lot cheaper price point. Hard to beat.
Love this perspective.
If you are scared you will davlue you it you never really bought it to play it. Im a huge motorhead and I love playing my bass too. But the best example of what your saying to me is this. There are 2 tyes of people who buy fast and expensive cars. Ones who realise its a piece of amazing engineering and deserves to be driven to its limits. The other who is scared about driving it because the value will drop so leaves it parked in a garage. Don't buy a bass because your mindset is its value in money, buy it because its value is something you want to enjoy and make memories from. Buy it because you want to play this high quality bass to the best of your ability and show the money you saved to get it was worth it. It's made to be played, not to be stored away in a case ready for resale.
I own a 1982 Pedulla that has been my number one since I purchased it in 1990. I have never treated it like a gem. I haven’t abused it, but the decades of gigging and sessions and traveling and moving homes have scuffed it a little here and there with one obvious chip on the end of the headstock. None of that bothers me at all. However, now that Mike Pedulla has retired and no more of these basses will be made, it has become irreplaceable.
So yeah, I enjoy my vintage boutique bass at home and some rehearsals, but I take Fender Player Precision and a Sterling by MusicMan Stingray to gigs. They sound and play great, and If anything unfortunate was to happen to either or both of those basses, I could replace them tomorrow.
Nice playing and comparison. The USA Professional sounded thin to me so I ordered the Player. It feels solid and sounds good.
I thought I was the only one. I think the USA sounds too clean and perfect. I don't like that, I need some grit. Hopefully, I can save for one soon. My savings for it is halfway through.
@@brenlouissurio2404 +1 for grit, also why I like passive over active. I don’t like the Hollywood pop perfect sound, I like unique with character.....thanks Mexico 😏
Both Basses are passive
Exactly. The MIM just sounded fuller to me as well.
Maybe the reason for that is that USA Professional has more sensitible pickups which sound better with classy tube amp such as bassman. Then the amplifier would warm up the tone into pure perfection. And then Mexican Player version has pickups that are easier to sound good everywhere, but if you really want to capture all of it, then they lack a little something. But I'm not sure. I have Mexican Player jazz bass and Mexican Player p-bass (with mexican jazzbass neck) and I really like them. Though I'm maybe more into Jaco -type of playing. Jazzbass neck pickup in general feels somehow boring and uninspirating. J-bass pickups sound good together and the bridge pickup is the thing! But p-bass neckpickup is really cool sounding as well. Specially with some foam near the bridge
My mexican j-bass do have some issue with the electricity. It buzzes when I release my hands from strings. My p-bass doesn't have that. That's not cool with brand new instrument. I know it's probably easy fix.. but even then.
Thank you for this. You made some great points about the Player series. But in the Pro model I could hear the kind of tones I've been chasing for decades. I bought a Fender Ultra Jazz V last week and I'm so glad I did. Its completely revived my love for playing.
Both sounds awesome.
Thanks - was interesting to see, and hear, the differences between the two. Not sure the USA version is worth paying double the price of the MIM one, but I’m sure some folk would say it’s a good investment. Just seems quite a price jump to me.
Get the MIM.. the sound you can shape it later on with Eq's and shie...
Fender is a business. You can easily get a kickass sound with their cheaper basses. The more expensive basses add things most people would never care much about. The noisless pickups that come with the expensive ones, i swear i cant hear a difference to save my life. The bridge on the top models apparently adds sustain? I cant tell. Ive spent a decent amount of time with an ultra and a cheap mexico 5 string and there just isnt much difference.
But this is how fender keeps raking in that sweet cash. Its all marketing. Pack in a few things that make such a small difference, sell it for twice as much, even more than twice as much. And gullible consumers fall for it. Many companies do this.
That Player almost has a short scale sound when either pickup is soloed and the tone is rolled off. Both sound like solid jazz basses.
I have multiple Fender basses , I have American (performer) MIJ Boxer PJ bass and a few MIM basses . I like them all ,though they all different they are all quality instruments.
When I brought my Vintera 70s jazz bass(MIM) I compared it with a American performer j bass I went home with the Vintera
+1 Vintera 70s Jazz is the best MIM Bass by far and has American Custom Shop Equivalent Pickups what's not to love😎
How would you say the Performer compares to these two?
I've only played Player Precision basses and really enjoyed them. I think their necks are a bit thinner than the MIA Precisions, which I enjoy (as a former jazz bass player). I did notice that the action was unnecessarily high and the fret ends a bit sharp though.
For the price, they're a really good bass.
Absolutely! I’ll be comparing the Pro and Player Ps next week! T
The fret ends thing can vary a little from one example to another, but that’s also true with MIA Fenders as well. And it’s easy to fix sharp fret ends with a small fine file and about 30 minutes of gentle care. The Player P is a great bass. Not just a great bass for the money, but a really great bass.
American Pro has a fuller, warmer sound with a touch more clarity (note definition). Do not mistake clarity for thinness. Would the audience be able to tell in live setting? Probably not. Would the bass player notice in a live setting? Definitely. So props to the Pro for better sound, but there is also the rolled edges on the fretboard, better fret wire, better bridge, and significantly better tuners. I’d say that the Pro is worth the price difference if you can afford to buy one. But if not, the Player is still very capable, and the other things can be upgraded a little bit at a time later on. I say buy the best Jazz bass that you can afford.
The jazz is a staple! Having the best one you can makes sense to me. Buy cheap buy twice! Thank you for watching. T
Absolutely
Great video nice job on the comparison, I just ordered the MIM and after watching this I may order a bridge and the bone nut used on the American made but with your explanation of both so well I am not sorry at all about saving 1/2 the price . It should be here in a few days looking forward to spending time with it
Happy to have helped! Let me know how you get on with it once you get it! T
Hey so.. how did your MIM purchase turn out I’m thinking about it as well..
The vmod is a nice pick-up
I have tall narrow frets on professional p bass which I quite like
Medium and a narrower crown is all you need it wears better where the jumbo just turn to thick flat contact points and really is not giving value to the musician.
Nice
👑
I'm sorry to ask this if maybe it is obvious, are both basses using active pickups? thanks!
No need to apologise for asking! No, both have passive pickups and passive electronics/tone controls. T
Thank you very much!
liked the player series just a bit more, especially with full tone on both PU's. Pro model more trebley sounding overall. Even though I'd rather buy the pro, I'm gonna go with the player mim!
I must say, the Player has top value and even a better sound - to my ear.
I used to be a poser, wanting only "expensive" basses.
Now I'm a tone slave and see the cheaper unit presented here as superior.
Thanks, Tyler. Now I'm going to purchase a lovely yellow Player, thanks to you.
They both sound good. I like the Professional sound a little better. With tone off Player sounds a little muddy and Professional retains clarity of each note.
Professional is more expressive and better clarity clarity while still holding the low end down.
Each bass is made for a particular need
MIM for me. A good MIM is a good Bass
I think I prefer the Players series, it seems less twangy and has more thump. Deffo better for dub baselines.
You can even modify it too!
how do you get that deep thumpy tone on roots reggae from the 70s?
The frets alone would send me to the player series. I'm not a fan of the new ubiquitous fender narrow tall frets, not sure why they are using these but I surmise it's to appeal to the overused glissando playing. It seemed to me Fender did the same when they were using huge nuts for the slapping fest when that was all the rage.
hey on the professional, do you have to remove the neck to access the truss nut?
raymondsayo2177 hey! No, you don’t, thankfully! T
@@TylerSpicer oh so is it similar to the elite? im confused as my dealer told me the neck has to come off.
raymondsayo2177 not quite. The elite has the wheel at the bass of the neck - all basses should have this really but that’s another matter! On the Pro and Performer you just need a right angle hex key/Allen key and you adjust it from the base of the neck. I’m not sure where your dealer got that idea from, vintage modelled Fenders are typically the instruments that you have to remove the neck on. The pro and previously the standard are more modern instruments with modern conveniences, and improvements, this being one of them. T
@@TylerSpicer good news to me. thanks for you time buddy.
I would recomend to whoever reads this to check out the new player Plus series, I tested one of those and the jazz bass is really good and complete, active/passive switch and good eq
Dude call your channel Spicy T that'd be awesome 🤘
Strangely (because it seems that there’s not much love for the V-mod pickups) I liked the MIA more .. the pickups seem thumpier!
What's the colour of the blue one?
Sonic Gray! Looks very nice with the maple fretboard.
I have both a Player series Precision bass and an American Pro Precision but changed the v mod pickup to a Dimarzio Model P.....DONE!
Model P 💪🏻 T
Have a 2008 MIM P bass, installed the Billy S Dimarzio pickups. This will be my go to till the end, Love it....
now we are waiting for your comparison review Professional vs Professional II ;-)
that is: V-MOD vs V-MOD2 pickups...
Oh yes!
I might be misunderstanding you, but it seems like you're suggesting that the Player series only comes with Pau Ferro fretbaords. In fact, you can buy them with maple as well. Again, probably a misunderstanding on my part but just wanted to clarify. Great video!
wish they came with rosewood! not the biggest fan of the pau ferro personally
I am gonna build a partcaster instead of a player... Its gonna be cheaper than the american and I can have all colours I wana have plus gotoh gold lightweight tuners.
The sound will be sooo good, building in an active glockenklang preamp and boutique pick ups.... I calculated ot and its gonna clock in at about 1.2 to 1.4 k which is quite okay..
I'd say price is the defining factor for the majority of people
Why do these comparison videos of the MIM basses and the American Professionals always use a bass with a rosewood fretboard for the MIM's and a maple fretboard on the Americans? I have a feeling that if they used an MIM bass with a maple fretboard you would hear an even less difference in the tones of the two basses.
Hey man! Just stock that the store has in at the time. Often they’ll order an MIM in one colour and an MIA in another, I would definitely prefer if I had access to both the same, but just making the best with what I’ve got! Totally agree that fretboard material has a decent effect on tone. T
Hmmm...
If, and when, I decide to get a new affordable professional full-scale Bass, will be a Player Series Jazz, or Precision, or Yamaha 434, or 734...?
💕🤣🤯🎸🎵
It’s a great choice to have! T
@@TylerSpicer
But Scary!
I need to go and pick up my new Player Series PJ Mustang Bass from the shop.
Then, I might stop thinking about buying more basses and guitars.
As if.....!
😂😂😂
Tyler, I just put a Yamaha BB 434 on lay-by.
Lovely, comfortable neck. ❤️😊
Yeah, so many nice choices around now 😉
Dude that 434 is a compelling choice, good looking too!
USA pups sound amazing.
Honestly, I can't really notice the difference and it was sound to close. I love the comparison.
Thank you for the support! Glad you liked it! T
I think the biggest difference between these two basses is their resale value - unlike the US model, the MIM has no resale value! I own a MIM Strat and I can't *give* it away, even though it's probably just as good as the US Standard!!
That’s where I stand on this one too! I own higher end instruments because they’re assets that I can recoup money from (especially 2nd hand)! T
But that’s also positive. I bought a MIM Jazz Bass today in mint condition with a big price cut.
Fender doesn't make "cheap" instruments. I like the different sounds so much, I bought one MIM and one MIA also. I have a Vintera 60's J-Bass and an Ultra J-Bass. It's my favorite model of all my basses.
The Professional Series is my choice. Better build quality and sound. It's a lifetime investment and worth the cost difference.
I got to play the Professional Series and it sounded tremendous, but I gotta tell ya the Player series was damn'er right there with it as far as tone is concerned.. What attracted me to the Professional series was the way the Low mids just jumped out at you..
Don’t be fooled- the Player Series is miles better than the older Mexican Standard, especially the ones from the 90s and 00s. After owning a lot of Fenders (from high end MIM to MIA including an Am Pro), I would say the Player Series is the absolute best bang for your buck if you want a straight-up no-bells-and-whistles Jazz or P bass.
Having played a few now - I totally agree. I think they’re closed to the old US standard than the old MIMs! T
@@TylerSpicer the pickups are killer too! IMO better than the Yosemites and V-Mods. The only upgrade I’m doing on my Player Jazz is a John East J-Tone preamp.
Wonder if the pau ferro will get rosewood again ?
I read or heard somewhere that apparently whatever ban was in effect has been lifted, but don't quote me on that...
I’m surprised how good the Player jazz pickups sound. I’ve read they increased the output on a them. The American Professional jazz sounds more scooped.
The performers are definitely punchy. I don’t like the tone control, but they’re solid basses! T
molta mota differenza...
I prefer the player cause don't have the ugly strings through body, actually I have bought one myself
synthetic nut on a price range of 900 euros??? GODDAMIT FENDER what r u doing....
I tested the player p against a sire p5 and my am orig 50s p bass and just was vey disappointed regarding sound compared to my p....
I dunno how the player is worth that much, the sire stuff is very well made but costs half.... FEEENDER CMON
Liked the tone of the Player much more than the Pro......why can't the fret ends of the Player be finished properly ..it's not difficult..
Exactly! It won’t be the same on every bass, but consistency is what we’re all looking for. T
Nothing a file and about 30 minutes won't take care of.
Stew Mac get yourself a few fret end and crown dressing files and adhesive sanding paper on wood block to soften the wood edge. The be sure to touch finish the neck edge. Viola
I can't really tell the difference in sound between the two. they sound just alike. I've had both of them. the pro is not worth that much more money than the players.
professional sounds more detailed
Fender might have shot themselves in the foot here. The quality of the Player Jazz begs the question; Why bother with any of the other up spec American basses? Especially given the big price difference. Actually you could also argue against the MEXICAN made Vintera series too!
I agree in many respects. I would just get out and play every fender I could regardless of what was written on the headstock and take home the one I fell in love with. You’ve gotta hunt when it comes to Fender IME! T
At least in guitars the vintera are better made and sound better than the player series and the difference in price is not that abysmal
What if you buy a bass that was built in America by a guy who is Mexican?
that will be "Fender made by a Mexican in America" 😆
gady polintan I’ve toured the Fender plant in Corona CA. Most of the folks working there are Mexicans.
Hey no Race Bass here!
useless test. Both different necks
And you definitely can hear that the maple neck is slightly brighter....but I do prefer the Pau Ferro neck, cause to me it sounds better
The player is terrible sounding cant belive a lot of people are liking it. Scary stuff !!!
What's so bad about it?
STOP REVIEWING WITH NEW STRINGS. That sound is 1. wayyyyy too bright; 2. not really representing how the inst would sound if you actually owned it and didn't change strings every 1 week.
Honestly. There is no comparison. The Professional is a $1,000 USA Dollars more then the Player! It got be better regardless!
Well demo'd..I have an American Special '11 Jazz, a Player Series FSR PJ Jaguar '21 ,black, with an ebony fretboard & matching black headstock & a Mexican 75th Anniverary Jazz with matching colour headstock with a maple fretboard fitted with SD Apollo linear dual coil noiseless pickups...i luv them all but if i had to use only 1 it would have to be the Player Series PJ Jaguar with Epic Custom 1/4" AlNiCo V polepiece pickups with reverse P pickup, brass nut & saddles, pro sheilded & rewired with the best CTS 250K 8% linear pots, 5% polypropylene caps & 1% resistor (Greasebucket tone set up)
Fender Bass's take a bit of time to set them up properly with no noise but i still only use passive Fender bass's live & a couple of active Ibanez's for studio work...the Player Series has got better & better built quality but needs a good setup like you say... a 5 string American Proffesional Series PJ fitted with noiseless pickups would do me fine, very nice...