Fender Jazz Bass: Player vs Performer vs Professional vs Ultra - What are the Differences?

I must have been living on another planet, I just discovered that Nathan is actually the guitarist from Level 42 and Mark King's brother 😳🤯

Love the J and P comparison videos. When you play like you guys can, they all sound great. I noticed in both videos that the Performer line was distinguished by having “jumbo” frets, but I think they are medium jumbo, same as on many of the other Fenders.

Good job guys

Love how the English are racist

I got the player series jazz bass, and it's just not that great. You really need an USA made one

Both pickups are on the front of my bass, thankfully! Quit with this "front/back" pickup referencing.... It can be confusing.

Sorry I'm late to the party. Great demo you guys put together. I think the best sounding bass without enhancement is the professional II. The ultra in passive mode was on par with the performer. Thanks and keep up the great work.

What kind of strings were you running for this demo? The sound is really clean and mostly free of fret noise, but still bright with the tone on. Great video, as always. Thanks!

the 3 tone sunburst finish is so beautiful

It’s a lot of needless talking to skip through but the recording sounds are very clean. Good work

I enjoy your videos and this one is also a nice one with lots of useful and interesting info, but just to let you note Mexico is located in North America, not Central America...

These guys are a hoot. Drink everytime you hear “nice!”

Best comparison I have seen. The differences are very obvious.
I would have loved to have seen the American Vintage II in the comparison mix.

Gareth Keenan vibes haha

For the record, Mexico is not in Central American; it's in North America.

Fender only ever offers their cool colors on their cheap guitars. That pisses me off.

Just FYI.... Mexico is part of North America, Central America starts after Mexico!

I actually liked the Performer tone best. 🤷🏻‍♀️

MiM literally "walk" across the border to the Fender factory to pick up parts ⁉️🤓

I bought a Pro II 5 instead of a Sadowsky because it played and sounded great and was a cheap price to boot!

I miss these guys

The MIM basses sound like vintage Fenders bc they’re made that way.

Mexico is North America.

I was told to buy American made because of better re sale value.

Nice video! Would a slight increase in volume and treble on the amp make the Player series 'sound' closer to the American version? Also, would the Player version then 'feel' closer to the playability and brightness and of the American bass?
I haven't tried this in a back to back comparison. I remember enjoying how an American jazz bass played in the store; I have a made in Mexico version.

.. you guys are great!!!! please do not stop this!

Mexico is NOT Central America

I strongly advise against buying Ultra Jazz Bass model.
I am writing from my own experience. Although this instrument has everything very well, at a high level, the wood, its treatment, finish, original color of the pickguard, etc., has one terrible problem that completely removes it from any more advanced playing - very high action of the strings.
On the HiMass bridge, when the saddles are lowered to the minimum, we have the distance to the neck from the strings, as in the cheapest instrument from the 80s.
It is catastrophically high, disqualifying from any faster technical playing. The only way out is to give a new (!) instrument to a luthier to mill a recess for the bridge, but that's probably not why we buy a new instrument of this class....
I anticipate questions - I have Jazz Bass fretless on a regular Fender bridge, there is no problem in setting the low technical action of the strings. The HiMass just has a terribly thick foot, a base that adds a few millimeters to the level of string suspension.
100% failure.

Professional II for 1900$ or Ultra for 2150??

Hey, fellas, I am a new subscriber to the channel. It was an awesome and thorough review! I'm looking to get back into playing bass after a 10-year sabbatical, and I am thinking about getting an American Performer (I've always preferred passive Jazz Basses to active). The Yosemite Pups are a little tinny, so I want to replace them with Fender Pure Vintage '74 jazz Pups and also throw a Badass Bass II on there. How do you think that would work vs. getting a stock Pro II? I'd get a USA Geddy Lee, but I'd rather save $800, and I'm also a little apprehensive about the thick neck.

The guy on the right may have taken too much speed.

That’s really cool

Blaming on the boogie

Very enjoyable video as I bide my time waiting for that white Ultra to arrive from the Fender factory next week. All great basses but each is surprisingly distinct from the others.

These guys are hella stimmed up

Just call them Mexican and American. They are not North American and Central American, both Mexico and USA are in North America actually... Love your videos btw!

i've got a Fender American performer precision jazz few days ago and i love it, the precision it's a killer machine sound. I didn't wait to upload my first cover with this bass. The sounds it's great :P

Don't get any of them. Buy a sire...made by humans

Mexican or American made fender is cheaper or even free you purchase one today sell it in Ten years you get more than you spent $$$ so go on get one today and enjoy playing bass

I really dislike active pickups on a bass... It's a never-ending trap.

when Lee play that american pro ii at bridge position, me immediately "aaahh that's the TONE.."

Its sad that i bought a brand new made in mexico p bass for $450 in the mid 90s..not they are $700-$800 ? Rip off...wow.

The Ultra sounded like it had a compressor in the path. I thought the APII sounded better.

México is also North America boys hahah besides that, this is a great video

Guy on the right. Your fingers are super long where mine are short. With the narrow neck, would this be one of the better bass choices for guys with shorted fingers or are there better options for smaller handed guys??

Mexico is part of North America....

Sunshine. Moonlight. Good times. Boogie.