Jackson Basses

[amimbari]

As amimbari already knows, I prefer any pointy bass from Jackson. It's just what I think of when I hear "Jackson". Always will be. If they released a pointy bass next week I'd probably be the first in line to get one.

I thought you were already a member here rusty, but with one post, I guess not ---

well you are now.......

[Brian]

What ? Has Feign'der got such a grip on sales in the industry that it's not worth it for other co.'s to make metal basses. Metal is strong and has lasted longer than many would have liked. Honest, I only need one bass. I think if I got another it would have to be a custom or something, maybe if I got a deal I knew I could turn it for more than I payed then perhaps I'd consider it. If new and the quality was matching the price then maybe. I ramble ...

I don't know if Fender has that big of a grip. Maybe in terms of making other manufacturers shy away from producing certain things, but as far as consumers go most of the rock/metal bassists I know don't play Fender products. Mainly cause of the looks. A tobacco burst finish with chrome hardware and a white pick guard doesn't have the vibe these guys are going for .

Very few companies offer neck-thru basses with black hardware and cool finishes without having to go custom shop. I'd imagine there has to be a market out there for that type of thing. Whether or not that market is big enough to justify the cost for Jackson to produce such a model, I don't know.

[amimbari]

your absolutely correct Brian, but the FenderFreaks will STILL say " if you are playing a bass just for the looks, then your a poser not a player, because my P/J gives me everything I need"

To me it makes no difference who's brand I play as long as the neck is the same specs as my Jacksons and it sounds like my Jackson. Jackson as well as other companies would probably jump on the chance to mass produce a BC Rich crazy look-alike IronBird or black widow, but unless they know they are gonna sell 5000 of them, it won't happen.

ok, let's say you CAN get a custom for a grand with enough quality parts to make it worth it --fine, but the typical attitude of USA people is " hahaha wait 2-3-4 months for a bass, ya right- not when I can go buy one used on EBAY tomorrow".

Hence the real problem...there are too many people with old basses/guitars that are for sale, have what the buyers want, and they would not consider a "new" item when there are thousands of used pointy units out there for the choosing every week.

I wonder if a Jackson neck would fit in the pocket of a BC Rich IronBird?...lol

[Chowderboots]

Oh man...my friend saw a CS neck through '84 Ironbird at a local Gutiar Center. I don't have the heart to look. Trying to save for a Rickenbacker. I can't stand that kinda temptation.

The looks are sure a big part of it, but for me, so is the feel. I abhor neck dive. Hate it!! But with most Explorers, it isn't there...so wacky and pointy it is!

[joshulator]

I can only speak for my own experience.
I'm a guitar player. 24 years of playing. Music Major. I've got a family and a "real" job. I have no interest in being in the music biz, and have pretty much given up on being able to be in a band and balance that with the rest of my life.
So last fall I decided that I was going to start writing my own material and recording it. No timeline. No pressure. I had the guitars, mics, computer, software, and drum machine. But no bass.
So, I needed to buy one. No intent on becoming a bass player, but I still wanted something of quality (for what it's worth, my only 2 guitars are both Jackson SL1). I play old school metal in the vein of Iron Maiden, Priest, and maybe even Megadeth. I also am fond of blues based metal like AC/DC, Danzig, and Sabbath. From the beginning my heart was set on getting a USA Fender P bass, just because that seemed like the standard to me and would fit what I was playing. I was open to other options. I knew I wanted something more traditional in looks. Ibanez was out for sure. ESP had some decent looking basses, but to me they looked so close to the Fender that I figured I might as well get the Fender. I considered the MusicMan Stingrays, but that was out of my budget. I definitely considered the Jackson Concert Bass. However, I'm not a fan of active pickups (don't like having to put a battery in my guitar). Also, with Jackson's USA made guitars positioned as the top line stuff, the Concert Bass not being USA made me perceive it as being not top quality (let me just say that I've never played one, and not being a bass player I probably wouldn't know a quality bass if it bit me in the face). When my budget was in the $500 range this was when the Jackson bass stood the strongest chance of getting purchased. But once my budget expanded to $1k, I went to Guitar Center, got my Fender P bass, and brought it home.
Not sure if this post is of value, but having gone through a recent purchase of what will likely be my only bass ever, I thought perhaps my thought proccess would be of some use.

[joshulator]

I can only speak for my own experience.
I'm a guitar player. 24 years of playing. Music Major. I've got a family and a "real" job. I have no interest in being in the music biz, and have pretty much given up on being able to be in a band and balance that with the rest of my life.
So last fall I decided that I was going to start writing my own material and recording it. No timeline. No pressure. I had the guitars, mics, computer, software, and drum machine. But no bass.
So, I needed to buy one. No intent on becoming a bass player, but I still wanted something of quality (for what it's worth, my only 2 guitars are both Jackson SL1). I play old school metal in the vein of Iron Maiden, Priest, and maybe even Megadeth. I also am fond of blues based metal like AC/DC, Danzig, and Sabbath. From the beginning my heart was set on getting a USA Fender P bass, just because that seemed like the standard to me and would fit what I was playing. I was open to other options. I knew I wanted something more traditional in looks. Ibanez was out for sure. ESP had some decent looking basses, but to me they looked so close to the Fender that I figured I might as well get the Fender. I considered the MusicMan Stingrays, but that was out of my budget. I definitely considered the Jackson Concert Bass. However, I'm not a fan of active pickups (don't like having to put a battery in my guitar). Also, with Jackson's USA made guitars positioned as the top line stuff, the Concert Bass not being USA made me perceive it as being not top quality (let me just say that I've never played one, and not being a bass player I probably wouldn't know a quality bass if it bit me in the face). When my budget was in the $500 range this was when the Jackson bass stood the strongest chance of getting purchased. But once my budget expanded to $1k, I went to Guitar Center, got my Fender P bass, and brought it home.
Not sure if this post is of value, but having gone through a recent purchase of what will likely be my only bass ever, I thought perhaps my thought proccess would be of some use.

I just visted the Jackson site and I thought I should update a couple of things:
1. The Concert bass I was considering was the CMG.
2. I see now that the pickups are not active. I think at the time I just saw EMG and assumed they were. Still don't think this would have changed my decision. The eq is active, and, while I've never played them, EMG HZ does not scream quality to me. They seem to have been positioned and marketed as a less expensive alternative to "real" EMG pickups.

[amimbari]

very valid and good reason to buy what you did.


Naturally, Jackson will, was, and never will be a bass company with any clout in the world...they had their "day", but that day is long gone..the miserable selection of anything basswise led Jackson to what they always will be remembered for ---guitars.

2-3 specialty models over 1500.00 just don't work anymore in the worldwide "choice" when people are looking for pricepoint.

[leftybob]

Check

Check out this crazy bass ... this is not for sale, just found and sharing

[leftybob]

The guy who has the 600 buck 2b on C/L says it has a mohogany fretboard, this is not true, correct ?

[amimbari]

The guy who has the 600 buck 2b on C/L says it has a mohogany fretboard, this is not true, correct ?

thats right Bob, no mahogany on the fretboards unless he had a custom neck made ( NOT )!!!

[peabuddy]

Check out this crazy bass ... this is not for sale, just found and sharing

rudy sarzo signiture washburn. they were red like this one and black in the same graphic. i want one of each !

[leftybob]

But did they miss on it being pointy enough ?

[Newc]

They also made a guitar to match. The guitar played like utter crap but the bass killed.


Most people go for a Fender P in the long run because there's not as much noticeable variation in the Metal world regarding bass tones. Les Pauls, Strats, Vs, Jacksons, ESPees, Ibenhads, PRSes, everybody has a different guitar and a different tone, but you don't find the bass tone spectrum to be very wide. Granted you have identifiable tones (Geddy, Harris, etc) but for the most part, a Fender P-bass or Jazz (or one with both P and J pickups) will satisfy most players.

Since they're going for "Fender pickup layout", may as well go with Fender products.

Jackson has made great basses. I've got a late-90s C5P that's just as good IMO as my early-90s Concert V. Granted the C5 looks like a turnip and has dot inlays and a gumby headstock, but the playability is tops. The tone ain't too shabby either, considering it's got Duncan Designed pickups in it.

I've been temptted on several occasions to nab a CMG, but something keeps holding me back. Certainly not trust in the brand, but I'm not so much a bassist as guitarist. While having 20+ guitars requires no justification, I feel the need to justify owning more than 3 basses

Plus I'm waiting to stumble across the "crackhead deal" for a 70s Rick 4001/4003 like Geddy had, or that blue sparkle USA JZB to pop up, or a Bossa 5-string to turn up for cheap, or the Concert bass a friend of mine in New Orleans had back in '87 (black/blue Bengal with piezo saddles).

[amimbari]

Hey NewC...did I see the magic letters "CMG" in your post???

here's one for sale on TB for 3 bills with a case.




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[amimbari]

rudy sarzo signiture washburn. they were red like this one and black in the same graphic. i want one of each !

not pointy enough...lol

I want one of these:



this one was being sold by a friend of mine on EBAY, but this damn thing went for over 300, so I passed on it....there's another one on EBAY this week, but it's black, plain, and stupid looking without the original neck with the black headstock.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300315885738&_trkparms=tab%3DWatching

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