I'm a novice guitar player and I decided to buy a bass for the very first time. This is for two reasons. No, wait, three. 1: I'd like to record a bass part and play guitar along the recording. 2: I think my guitar playing will improve when I also learn some bass. 3: I'm just dead curious and wonder if bass fits me even better than guitar.
So, I decided to look for a very affordable J-bass. I know a P-bass 'fits better in the mix' but I don't play in a band, I'm a bedroom player. The sounds of a J-bass are more variable and to my ears less dull. And, well, John Paul Jones. ;-) I've picked the JB-62 over the JB-20. It had slightly better reviews, it was direct available instead of having to wait for some weeks, and my guitar teacher said: for that money I'd go for the better spec'd one.
When it arrived I took a careful look at it using the checklist from Dan Erlewine's book. And I can't find fault with it. The roasted maple neck is straight and the matte finish feels very smooth. No frets sticking out or being too high, also checked with a fret rocker. The neck joint is tight and straight, all strings are dead center above the pickup poles. The tuners respond nicely without hickups and they hold the strings in tune well. Detuning it to drop-D and retuning it to standard is easy. The knobs feel sturdy and change the sound as expected. It is noticeable lighter in weight than my teachers J-bass. The metallic LPB finish is gorgeous and spotless.
The only downside is that it's a little neckdivey, as some others have said already. I find it manageable in a seated position with my picking hand/arm however, and when hanging on a strap in standing position it is in balance.
The setup could use a little adjustment. The action measured at the 17th fret is 7/64" at the E string and 6/64" at the G. Comparing it to the Fender recommended values for a 12" radius neck, the action could be lowered by 1/64". (Even though I'm a beginner I've got feeler gauges and a fret rocker. I know, I'm a nerd.) The truss rod could use a little twist. The relief at the 8th fret is less than 0.006"; Fender recommends 0.012". Maybe it will help to lessen the strings buzzing when picking harder. The intonation is nearly spot-on.
The bass sounds good, at least to my ears. I'm sure there are better pickups and electronics in the world. But I will likely hear the differences only after playing for a couple of years, on several instruments. Same for the neck profile: I have nothing to compare it to (except for my sticky glossy ninetees Korean strat).
All in all, I'm very happy, no, I'm in love with my new bass. I tend to pick it up and play it more eagerly than my guitar.
