I have the ultra 5 and also a American jazz deluxe 5 from 2012. The deluxe is noticeably heavier. The ultra feels light when during a show and I switch out basses. It's kinda all relative and what you get use to. I switched to leather 3 inch wide straps and that helped with the weight distribution a lot
I love your video. If you rout out the wood in the body, won't you sacrifice the tone and some of the sustain? I have a 1978 P-Bass (super light). I modified it with EMG pick ups and added a bridge pup. Maybe it might be worth getting a lighter 4 string and using your 5 string as well.
Thanks for your comment. The Luthier just routed a little bit of wood because it (the bass) needed to be balanced. It doesn’t affect the sound. I also have a 72 PBass just like yours!
Thanks for the video. I'm looking at purchasing either a 4 string Precision Ultra or a Sire P8. Do you have any comments on the battery life? Thank you
I also have a 2009 Mexican standard V5 Fender Jazz the I had converted to active with the Sadowsky preamp and quarter pounder pickups. A read beast. It also sound as good as the newest Fenders including my Deluxe
I recently got an ultra used. It's pristine and an alder body but a metallic brown color. Honestly the only thing I dislike about the bass is the pickguard. It's anodized aluminum and feels like a chalkboard.
I don't know if Fender's QC went out the window recently, but I bought one of these (4-string version) back in January (2023, it was built sometime in late 2022) and it was a mess. The action was too high, and I was never able to dial it in properly. The pickups lacked characteristic Jazz Bass tone (especially the bridge pickup). I ended up selling it - for way less than I had paid for it, since these have not had time to appreciate in value, assuming they will. I bought a Squier 40th Anniversary that I actually liked better! But now I've settled on a Sire P8. It's the first bass I've owned in years that I haven't had to mess with _at all_ to get it sounding and playing perfectly, and I've had several people comment on how much they like the looks. Anyway… weight aside I'm glad you got a good Ultra Jazz!
thanks! you are right, it needs balance. Also I had to make sluts on the bridge to make it playable. The pickups are ok, I am using a darker tone these days. But the way it comes is not great!
Yo le hice agujeros a mi bajo y perdió un poco de balance por el peso del mástil. Le recomiendo a tu Luthier, que haga los agujeros poco a poco o que le coloque el mastil a una pieza de madera del mismo peso que el cuerpo y vaya calculando cuanto puede quitarle. Se puede conseguir sonido pastorius con ese bajo?
Gracias! sí, el lutier me dijo que no se puede desbalancear. Estos pickups suenan bastante bien pero un poco oscurito, si le metes treble se oye el ground. Pero creo que el sonido del disco Jaco Pastorius si se puede.
@@eliseoborrerobass ah gracias, estoy interesado en ese sonido Pastorius, pero no quiero tener el mismo problema con el peso. Estoy pensando entre un Vintera o un Marcus Miller V5. Si se te ocurre algún otro bajo que me de ese sonido, te lo agradecería. Saludos desde Canarias.
Let us know when you reduced the weight by routing out wood from the back of the bass. I’d like to do that to mine to reduce the weight. But then wouldn’t you also be reducing the tone?
Thanks for your question. The amount of wood that he took off is irrelevant to the tone. The luthier adviced me to keep it balanced to avoid neck dive. The problem is that there are two different kinds of ash, swamp ash (lighter) and northern ash (heavier). I learned not to buy an instrument without trying it first! I still like the bass and I’m thinking about changing the bridge and taking of stuff; however, this is my “recording bass”, I use it sitting down most of the time. I also have a 3 way stand where I can hang other basses and switch between them on bigger shows!
Chambered bodies have a tone to them that changes the tone to a more hollow tone that kills the Jazz tone (IMO) that you may be use to hearing. There are lighter weight Ultra Basses out there. My Ultra is 9.6 lbs
Thanks for your comment! I kind of thought that. probably chambered bodies have less sustain, (which is not bad) but it’s different. anyway, I have adjusted and set up my bass and I like it as is. I also have my 1972 PBass which is light, about 9 lbs.
Eliseo, if weight is a concern, then you should trade this guy in on a G&L JB2 or an L2000. I talked about those in the intermediate category videos i I'm in now, and I wish I could justify owning one myself.
Hi: Not too heavy, but enough for me to send it to the luthier. He Eli luthier in Hollywood, took off about a pound by making a routing bigger in the back and it's ok now. Thanks for the comment!
Any luthier could make you any body you want - using the wood you want which would be lighter and as Sabi suggested maybe start with Hipshot Ultra Lite tuners and a lighter bridge. As a pro playing on stage for hours I understand that weight is an issue. I would not recommend you route out the original body as you could always use it to put the bass back to stock to be able to sell it for the best price. Any luthier could build you a body.
thank you for your comment. If you notice the title, it says, “what I dislike” not that I don’t like my bass. I have a swamp ash body made by Warmoth that it’s lighter but a little bit unbalanced; hence, since I like the bass and not the weight, I sent it to a luthier in Hollywood to route out some wood, about 3/4 lbs. he did a clean job and I am using the bass! appreciate your advice!
yeah sure but it's another $5000.00 on top of the price of the Ultra.. With that being said If I wanted a super high end Jazz Bass then I would go with a Stenbeck Jazz Bass.
@@edennard1 True, they aren't cheap. $5,000 PLUS your bass is a little bit of hyperbole. Yes they can be that expensive, bit not all odf them. $-$5,000 is a reasonable range. Sandberg would be another option, they make very light basses. Their California Super Light is is less than 7 pounds, now that's light, and under $3,000. Cheers and thanks for the review and reply.
I have heard that chambering can have an effect on sustain. I like sustain, so I try to stay healthy and use my heavier bass. and, yes, don’t want to spend 5,000. my wife wouldn’t let me😉
I’m surprised, you’re a big guy, eat some more of that great Latin food and you’ll get stronger. You wouldn’t want to play my Warwick corvette 5, now that’s heavy, but solid wood and great sound.
thanks, I’ve tried them, and I think they’re fine basses; however, it’s like the bicycle, a 22lbs. aluminum one it’s 700 a 18lbs. carbon fiber, 3,000 so you pay too much for a small weight reduction. I had a luthier take of some wood from the body and it’s ok now.
@@eliseoborrerobass , personally I think he means you should have taken a 4 strings over the 5. I bought the 4 strings because of the type songs I play and I'm still at a beginner level. My jazz bass Ultra is an early birthday present for myself.
@@gohjohan Thanks for your comment. I have a P-Bass 4 string 1972, and it’s great and lightweight; however, I wanted a new J bass for recording etc. Also the new finish looks “better “ for some people. I really love the bass, just a little heavy.
I do like the bass now; however, it was a little heavy and I sent it to a luthier to take off some wood. It’s a lot better, but comparing it with my ‘72 PBass, it’s heavy.
That bass is no different than my old 2012 Maple Deluxe Fender Jazz Bass. I put a Sadowsky preamp and some Aguilar pickups in it. It'll stand next to any of the latest Fenders.
I prefer the wheel adjustment for the truss rod found on the Elite series.
I have the ultra 5 and also a American jazz deluxe 5 from 2012. The deluxe is noticeably heavier. The ultra feels light when during a show and I switch out basses. It's kinda all relative and what you get use to. I switched to leather 3 inch wide straps and that helped with the weight distribution a lot
Thanks for the honest feedback. Having someone giving the impressions after a real use is really awesome
You should replace with a lighter bridge and Hipshot ultra light tuners first. It would probably shave off around 1-1.5 pounds
That bridge alone is a giant piece of pot metal that weighs a ton
I love your video. If you rout out the wood in the body, won't you sacrifice the tone and some of the sustain? I have a 1978 P-Bass (super light). I modified it with EMG pick ups and added a bridge pup. Maybe it might be worth getting a lighter 4 string and using your 5 string as well.
Thanks for your comment. The Luthier just routed a little bit of wood because it (the bass) needed to be balanced. It doesn’t affect the sound. I also have a 72 PBass just like yours!
Please put up more video. Would like to hear more of your playing. Maybe even some salsa bass
you dont know shat heavy is until you play a musicman stingray now those are heavy
Not anymore
Thanks for the video. I'm looking at purchasing either a 4 string Precision Ultra or a Sire P8. Do you have any comments on the battery life? Thank you
the jazz bass ultra uses 2 9 volt , but I’ve been using it in passive mode😉
Thank you
Thanks for sharing your experiences! May I ask, what is the actual weight on a scale? The weight in pounds and ounces, I mean?
don’t know, about 10 to 11 lbs
@@eliseoborrerobass everyone's opinion is different, no doubt. But to me that is just TOO heavy. Ouch !!!
I also have a 2009 Mexican standard V5 Fender Jazz the I had converted to active with the Sadowsky preamp and quarter pounder pickups. A read beast. It also sound as good as the newest Fenders including my Deluxe
Why all the dislike?!
Thanks for the review and nice playing mate 👍
Probably the dislikes are those who don't play salsa or who disagree that the guitar is heavy.
I recently got an ultra used. It's pristine and an alder body but a metallic brown color.
Honestly the only thing I dislike about the bass is the pickguard. It's anodized aluminum and feels like a chalkboard.
The bass is good, a bit overpriced. I changed my pickguard!
That P bass sounds really nice!!!!
I own the American elite jazz bass and absolutely live that bass
I just bought a Elite 5 strings natural wood for $1250 with hardshell case.
I have both....absolutely love my elite. Still trying to grow to like the tone of the ultra. Just not as fat and punchy as the elite tone.
@@rhoodj where did you find that? I'm considering one myself but prefer to see it in person first if I go used.
I don't know if Fender's QC went out the window recently, but I bought one of these (4-string version) back in January (2023, it was built sometime in late 2022) and it was a mess. The action was too high, and I was never able to dial it in properly. The pickups lacked characteristic Jazz Bass tone (especially the bridge pickup). I ended up selling it - for way less than I had paid for it, since these have not had time to appreciate in value, assuming they will. I bought a Squier 40th Anniversary that I actually liked better! But now I've settled on a Sire P8. It's the first bass I've owned in years that I haven't had to mess with _at all_ to get it sounding and playing perfectly, and I've had several people comment on how much they like the looks. Anyway… weight aside I'm glad you got a good Ultra Jazz!
Thanks for your comment! I couldn’t bring the action down, and one day it dawned on me to make sluts in the bridge, it worked!
thanks! you are right, it needs balance. Also I had to make sluts on the bridge to make it playable. The pickups are ok, I am using a darker tone these days. But the way it comes is not great!
I also have an ultra jazz. Check the key for the height of the strings if the measure is correct. Ciao.
I own this bass. To me the weight is light.
Is a bad one like the one I got? th-cam.com/video/4qIiC4qon8o/w-d-xo.html
Yo le hice agujeros a mi bajo y perdió un poco de balance por el peso del mástil. Le recomiendo a tu Luthier, que haga los agujeros poco a poco o que le coloque el mastil a una pieza de madera del mismo peso que el cuerpo y vaya calculando cuanto puede quitarle. Se puede conseguir sonido pastorius con ese bajo?
Gracias! sí, el lutier me dijo que no se puede desbalancear. Estos pickups suenan bastante bien pero un poco oscurito, si le metes treble se oye el ground. Pero creo que el sonido del disco Jaco Pastorius si se puede.
@@eliseoborrerobass ah gracias, estoy interesado en ese sonido Pastorius, pero no quiero tener el mismo problema con el peso. Estoy pensando entre un Vintera o un Marcus Miller V5. Si se te ocurre algún otro bajo que me de ese sonido, te lo agradecería. Saludos desde Canarias.
Let us know when you reduced the weight by routing out wood from the back of the bass. I’d like to do that to mine to reduce the weight. But then wouldn’t you also be reducing the tone?
Thanks for your question. The amount of wood that he took off is irrelevant to the tone. The luthier adviced me to keep it balanced to avoid neck dive. The problem is that there are two different kinds of ash, swamp ash (lighter) and northern ash (heavier). I learned not to buy an instrument without trying it first! I still like the bass and I’m thinking about changing the bridge and taking of stuff; however, this is my “recording bass”, I use it sitting down most of the time. I also have a 3 way stand where I can hang other basses and switch between them on bigger shows!
Chambered bodies have a tone to them that changes the tone to a more hollow tone that kills the Jazz tone (IMO) that you may be use to hearing. There are lighter weight Ultra Basses out there. My Ultra is 9.6 lbs
Thanks for your comment! I kind of thought that. probably chambered bodies have less sustain, (which is not bad) but it’s different. anyway, I have adjusted and set up my bass and I like it as is. I also have my 1972 PBass which is light, about 9 lbs.
Eliseo, if weight is a concern, then you should trade this guy in on a G&L JB2 or an L2000. I talked about those in the intermediate category videos i
I'm in now, and I wish I could justify owning one myself.
Hi: Not too heavy, but enough for me to send it to the luthier. He Eli luthier in Hollywood, took off about a pound by making a routing bigger in the back and it's ok now. Thanks for the comment!
Nice bass!!
Any luthier could make you any body you want - using the wood you want which would be lighter and as Sabi suggested maybe start with Hipshot Ultra Lite tuners and a lighter bridge. As a pro playing on stage for hours I understand that weight is an issue. I would not recommend you route out the original body as you could always use it to put the bass back to stock to be able to sell it for the best price. Any luthier could build you a body.
thank you for your comment. If you notice the title, it says, “what I dislike” not that I don’t like my bass. I have a swamp ash body made by Warmoth that it’s lighter but a little bit unbalanced; hence, since I like the bass and not the weight, I sent it to a luthier in Hollywood to route out some wood, about 3/4 lbs. he did a clean job and I am using the bass! appreciate your advice!
All that can be adjusted
Go for the Fender Elite, they are more light weight.
not in my case.. I have both The Elite is 10 lbs and The Ultra is 9.88 . I don't favor one over the other they both sound great..
Hardly feel mine even in the bag! It's lightweight to me... much lighter than my Schecter
If you don't like heavy basses I have one word: SADOWSKY! The NYC basses are chambered so you don't have to remove wood from your ax.
yeah sure but it's another $5000.00 on top of the price of the Ultra.. With that being said If I wanted a super high end Jazz Bass then I would go with a Stenbeck Jazz Bass.
@@edennard1 True, they aren't cheap. $5,000 PLUS your bass is a little bit of hyperbole. Yes they can be that expensive, bit not all odf them. $-$5,000 is a reasonable range. Sandberg would be another option, they make very light basses. Their California Super Light is is less than 7 pounds, now that's light, and under $3,000. Cheers and thanks for the review and reply.
I have heard that chambering can have an effect on sustain. I like sustain, so I try to stay healthy and use my heavier bass. and, yes, don’t want to spend 5,000. my wife wouldn’t let me😉
That sustain that you like so much will be gone if you take off some wood in the back. just saying
I’m surprised, you’re a big guy, eat some more of that great Latin food and you’ll get stronger. You wouldn’t want to play my Warwick corvette 5, now that’s heavy, but solid wood and great sound.
I’m trying to eat less, because I was getting fat and heavy like the bass!😀
Get a Sadowsky, they have chambered bodies, and better build quality than Fender...My 5 string weights in at 7.8 lbs!!!
thanks, I’ve tried them, and I think they’re fine basses; however, it’s like the bicycle, a 22lbs. aluminum one it’s 700 a 18lbs. carbon fiber, 3,000 so you pay too much for a small weight reduction. I had a luthier take of some wood from the body and it’s ok now.
LOL thee dead spot used to kill me. Just ordered mine can't wait for delivery.
It’s nice, and the preamp works great!
Sounds like you' bought the wrong bass for yourself...
Thanks for your comment; however, I love the bass, it's just a heavy bass, but it's nice!
@@eliseoborrerobass , personally I think he means you should have taken a 4 strings over the 5. I bought the 4 strings because of the type songs I play and I'm still at a beginner level. My jazz bass Ultra is an early birthday present for myself.
@@gohjohan Thanks for your comment. I have a P-Bass 4 string 1972, and it’s great and lightweight; however, I wanted a new J bass for recording etc. Also the new finish looks “better “ for some people. I really love the bass, just a little heavy.
@@eliseoborrerobass Mine's the white version and the finish, is indeed really awesome. I now wished that I did a video of the unboxing.
Ridiculous ! just sell it and get something you like.
Sorry it was a mixed message, I love the bass!
Sell the Bass, Don't destroy it, Such a drawn out video.
Thanks for your comment, but that’s just a click bait, I love the bass and modification by a qualified luthier is not destroying.
Don’t know what he is talking about!
I do like the bass now; however, it was a little heavy and I sent it to a luthier to take off some wood. It’s a lot better, but comparing it with my ‘72 PBass, it’s heavy.
go to the gym and eat more Steak
That bass is no different than my old 2012 Maple Deluxe Fender Jazz Bass. I put a Sadowsky preamp and some Aguilar pickups in it. It'll stand next to any of the latest Fenders.