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6 Best Fender Jazz Basses For The Money: Groove On With Fender

best fender jazz basses

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If you’re looking for some of the best Fender Jazz Basses that you can currently find on the market, don’t worry – you’ve come to the right place! In today’s in-depth guide I’m going to highlight some of the coolest Jazz Bass guitars out there.

The truth is that choosing a brand new Jazz Bass isn’t that easy. There are just so many different models out there! Things can get really confusing, especially if you’re just an amateur player. However, there’s a few models that particularly deserve a lot of attention.

That’s why I decided to create a list of 6 best Fender Jazz Basses for the money! Fell free to check them out below. The sound demos are included as well, so you’ll be able to hear how they all sound. Hopefully, this guide will help you find your next dream bass.

6 Best Fender Jazz Basses For The Money – List

Fender Player Jazz BassCheck Price on Amazon
Squier by Fender Classic Vibe ’60s Jazz BassCheck Price on Amazon
Fender Aerodyne Jazz BassCheck Price on Amazon
Squier by Fender Affinity Jazz BassCheck Price on Amazon
Squier by Fender Paranormal Jazz Bass ’54Check Price on Amazon
Fender Vintera ’60s Jazz BassCheck Price on Amazon

1. Fender Player Jazz Bass

Fender Player Jazz Bass is one of the best and most popular Jazz Basses suitable for both amateur and more advanced guitar players. This model has everything you need from a 4-string bass – it sounds, looks and feels awesome!

The guitar features an alder body and a comfortable C-shaped maple neck with an easy-playing maple fingerboard. This is a huge advantage of that bass, because it allows you to effectively and smoothly practice for several hours without getting tired.

Additionally, Fender equipped this model with a pair of Player Series Alnico V Jazz Single-coils which give you access to the classic Jazz Bass tone. It’s really versatile, so whether you’re looking for a punchy tone for rock music or something a bit more balanced for blues and funk, it will do the job.

It is also worth mentioning that Fender Player Jazz Bass is available in a lot of different color versions, so anyone should be able to find the one that suits their own personal preferences and needs.

Undoubtedly, this Mexican-made bass is one of the best Fender Jazz Basses for the money that you can possibly add to your own collection. It’s a safe bet, so there’s a really high chance that you’ll love it.

Here’s the sound demo.

2. Squier by Fender Classic Vibe ’60s Jazz Bass

Squier by Fender Classic Vibe ’60s Jazz Bass is an another fantastic bass guitar suitable for all-level players. In comparison with the Mexican-made Player Bass, this particular model is manufactured in Indonesia.

The guitar features a poplar body and a comfortable maple neck with an Indian Laurel fingerboard. Additionally, it has a 4-saddle vintage-style bridge with threaded steel saddles which enhances the sustain and tuning stability.

The manufacturer equipped this model with a pair of Fender Alnico single-coil pickups which great. They have that classic growl and punch, but they can also sound really balanced too. Whether you’re into rock, blues, funk or grunge, you will definitely benefit from adding that bass to your own collection.

Is it better than the Player Series Jazz Bass? Well, that’s debatable. The truth is that it offers a really similar quality, so it’s definitely a great alternative option for those who can’t afford getting an original Fender.

Undoubtedly, this is one of the best Jazz Bass guitars that you can currently find under the $500. It’s a really good bass, so that’s why I highly encourage you to check it out!

Here’s the sound demo.

3. Fender Aerodyne Jazz Bass

Fender Aerodyne Jazz Bass is one of the most interesting Jazz Basses mentioned on today’s list. It’s a perfect choice for anyone who’s looking for something a bit more unique and original.

What makes it so special? Well, the guitar features a basswood body and a maple neck with an easy-playing rosewood fingerboard. What’s important, it’s manufactured in Japan. This is a big advantage, because Fender’s factories in Japan are known for their fantastic quality control.

The manufacturer decided to equip this bass with one split single-coil Precision pickup and one single-coil Jazz Bass pickup. This unique combination gives you access to an indefinite amount of bass tones. No matter what kind of music you want to play, you will definitely be able to do that with that bass.

It is also worth mentioning that the Aerodyne Bass looks absolutely amazing from the outside too. There’s something really unique about that black body with black hardware and the black matching headstock. What a beautiful guitar!

I have no hesitation in recommending the Fender Aerodyne Jazz Bass to all bassists who are looking for the best Fender Jazz Basses for the money. It’s definitely one of the coolest mid-range Jazz Basses that you can currently find on the market.

Here’s the sound demo.

4. Squier by Fender Affinity Jazz Bass

Squier Affinity Jazz Bass is one of the cheapest Jazz Basses that are currently manufactured by Squier and Fender. It’s not the best bass in the world, but it offers a surprisingly good value for the money.

The guitar features a poplar body and a maple neck with an easy-playing maple fingerboard. The neck is a huge advantage of that model, because of the satin finish. It’s not as sticky as some of the gloss necks, so it’s extremely fun and comfortable to play.

What’s important, Squier equipped that model with a pair of ceramic Jazz single-coil pickups which give you access to the classic Jazz Bass tone. Whether you’re into funk or metal, you will definitely appreciate that versatile sound!

Who is it for? Well, I’m sure that anyone who’s searching for a budget Jazz Bass will be really satisfied after choosing that model. It has everything you need – it sounds good, it looks great and it’s budget-friendly. Who needs anything else?

I had the pleasure to test out quite a few of the guitars from the Affinity Series and I was always impressed by their quality. These guitars are pretty cheap, but they don’t feel or sound cheap at all. Surely, they can easily compete with much more expensive guitars out there.

Here’s the sound demo.

5. Squier by Fender Paranormal Jazz Bass ’54

Squier by Fender Paranormal Jazz Bass ’54 is one of the most underrated Jazz Basses that are currently available on the market. It’s really unique and affordable 4-string bass, but not many people are aware of how good it actually is.

What makes it so special? Well, it features an offset-waist J Bass body with โ€™54 P Bass pickguard. Additionally, there’s also a comfortable Slim C-shaped maple neck with an easy-playing maple fingerboard which guarantees an excellent playing experience.

Squier decided to put the pair of Fender-designed alnico single-coil pickups into that bass and to be honest, it was a really good choice. Both of these pickups sound really good and they’re really versatile, so this bass should be a perfect fit for the vast majority of music genres and styles of playing.

It is also worth mentioning that this Jazz Bass looks absolutely beautiful from the outside too! There’s something really cool about that black body with the golden pickguard. It certainly looks and feels like a much more expensive bass guitar.

Undoubtedly, Squier by Fender Paranormal Jazz Bass ’54 is one of the best Jazz Basses available under $500. It exceeds all the expectations and that’s why I highly encourage you to check it out!

Here’s the sound demo.

6. Fender Vintera ’60s Jazz Bass

Fender Vintera ’60s Jazz Bass is an another high quality 4-string bass guitar suitable for the most demanding bassists out there. This is actually one of the most expensive models on today’s list, but it definitely deserves a lot of attention.

Just like any other guitar from the Vintera Series, this Jazz Bass guitar features a really unique vintage vibe. The guitar features an alder body and a comfortable ’60s C-shaped maple neck with a Pau Ferro fingerboard. The quality of these woods is really high, so it guarantees a superb playing experience.

Additionally, Fender equipped that model with a pair of vintage-style ’60s single-coils which give you access to a really wide range of tonal possibilities. Surely, this bass will be perfect for lovers of the ’60s and the ’70s music, but it can also be used for more modern genres too.

Overall, Fender Vintera ’60s Jazz Bass is definitely one of the best Jazz Basses for the money. In my opinion, this Mexican-made bass can easily compete with a bit more expensive American-made Fenders. That’s why I love it!

Here’s the sound demo.

Summary

As you can see, there are a lot of fantastic Jazz Basses out there! I’m sure that no matter which one you decide to choose, you will be really satisfied with your choice. All of the basses mentioned above offer a fantastic value for the money and they’re suitable for both amateur and intermediate players.

Which bass would you grab for yourself and why? Leave a comment down below and let me know what you think, I’m really interested to hear your thoughts!

Thanks for checking out today’s review, hopefully it was helpful and you found what you were hoping to find. If you enjoyed this article and you’re searching for more bass recommendations, you may also like:

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