F
Funkfingers
Guest
Just been "forced" to test drive the new models at my local Fender dealership. (They do like quick turnover.) :deal:
Both examples were ash body and maple neck.
P model feels superb in the hands. Weight is acceptable. Basic pickup sounds are fine. The P and N4 J balance nicely in the middle for a presentable JJ Bass "honk". I could quite happily have gone onstage and played the instrument in passive mode. Engaging active EQ mode immediately introduces a slightly annoying high frequency lift and an edginess to the overall sound. (A bit like the "sterility" accusation that some people level at EMG active pickups.) The three-band active EQ works well but I did not care for the centre frequencies.
I have no idea what frequencies Fender has chosen but I wish that they had chosen different ones.
The Jazz Bass was as you would expect. Narrower fingerboard. Gratuitous binding and block inlays. Of necessity, the active/passive switch is squeezed onto the control plate between two of the EQ stack knobs. Same annoying "sterility" with active EQ engaged. Same feeling that the EQ was to generic and not really "tuned" to the host instrument.
My number one bugbear is the Volume, Pan, EQ control layout. Being habituated to VVT, I find the modern layout slower in use than ol' faithful. So, having said that I could happily play live on the Elite P Bass, I still wouldn't necessarily buy the one that I tried.
Finally, the new generation Fender N4 noiseless J Bass pickup is pretty darned good - certainly on the Elite Precision. A pair of these installed into a Fender American Standard Jazz Bass would be an interesting proposition.
Both examples were ash body and maple neck.
P model feels superb in the hands. Weight is acceptable. Basic pickup sounds are fine. The P and N4 J balance nicely in the middle for a presentable JJ Bass "honk". I could quite happily have gone onstage and played the instrument in passive mode. Engaging active EQ mode immediately introduces a slightly annoying high frequency lift and an edginess to the overall sound. (A bit like the "sterility" accusation that some people level at EMG active pickups.) The three-band active EQ works well but I did not care for the centre frequencies.
I have no idea what frequencies Fender has chosen but I wish that they had chosen different ones.
The Jazz Bass was as you would expect. Narrower fingerboard. Gratuitous binding and block inlays. Of necessity, the active/passive switch is squeezed onto the control plate between two of the EQ stack knobs. Same annoying "sterility" with active EQ engaged. Same feeling that the EQ was to generic and not really "tuned" to the host instrument.
My number one bugbear is the Volume, Pan, EQ control layout. Being habituated to VVT, I find the modern layout slower in use than ol' faithful. So, having said that I could happily play live on the Elite P Bass, I still wouldn't necessarily buy the one that I tried.
Finally, the new generation Fender N4 noiseless J Bass pickup is pretty darned good - certainly on the Elite Precision. A pair of these installed into a Fender American Standard Jazz Bass would be an interesting proposition.
