Jackson Spectra JS3QV Bass Guitar - Alien Burst Reviews
The Jackson JS Series Spectra Bass JS3QV packs plenty of punch with its poplar body, maple neck, humbucking pickups, and active EQ. And that gorgeous quilt maple veneer top looks amazing under stage lights! Upgraded with a HiMass bridge, two beefy Jackson humbuckers, and coil-split circuitry, the Spectra Bass JS3QV makes it easy to dial in the perfect tone for any gig or recording session. And for a commanding feel, the Jackson Speed Neck is topped with a smooth compound-radius laurel fingerboard and jumbo frets for effortless playability. If you’re looking for a seriously gigable bass at a great price, look no further than the Jackson JS Series Spectra Bass JS3QV.
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Highest Rated Reviews
Very Happy!
So I purchased this Jackson , 5 string bass guitar , based on pictures , video and descriptions. I have never owned a Jackson. I've been playing bass in local bands since 1981. I have been practicing with it since I received it 2 weeks ago and I played my first gig with it on Saturday. It has performed above my expectations. I had to make some intonation adjustments , but other than that it has been awesome, right out of the box!
Amazing Bass!!!
This bass is absolutely amazing in every aspect, plays like a dream and comes with a full 55 point inspection and it shows. Highly recommend this bass to any level of player.
My first 5 string
Before I chose this, I was considering getting an ibanez. Love ibanez but the Jackson js series won me over instantly. Plays smooth, gives great tone, and feels extremely comfortable.
Alien Burst of Stellar Features
This bass is so much fun to play. Easy fretting (that sounds like an oxymoron) and the notes ring clear. The setup came with a low action, which makes playability a breeze but has some fret buzz. Do not be alarmed! The fret buzz isn't prominent in the amplified output and actually produces a great feel for downtuned metal, with fingers or pick. The tones from the humbuckers range from thick and growling to deep and clean to punchy and thin. The coil split hasn't been particularly useful to me yet, but I like the option. The push/pull pot for active/passive modes is a great feature that ensures you never get stuck with a dead 9v and no sound. Passive mode does sound much more weak, but that's the point, right? At the end of the day, this bass is a fantastic value, looks insane, and deserves a home in your arsenal.
First bass, pretty satisfied
It's pretty much everything I needed. Awesome bass. Love the EQ.
mixed impressions
I got this bass for the sound of it as evidenced in several demo videos. In that respect it does not disappoint. This thing sounds like a 5-string Precision with an attitude. If you want an aggressive bass sound this really fits the bill. It has capabilities to switch between passive and active, and to split the coils, lending some range to the tone, but I would not use this for jazz or mellow ballads. It's really a good bass for the money overall.
Now for the bad news. This bass is big. A 35-inch scale and a relatively broad neck especially towards the top. So it is not an easy bass to play compared to others. On top of that it came with the action very high. The neck is very straight so I figured I could lower the bridge saddles. I did not receive a manual in the box so I had to contact the manufacturer (fender musical instruments) to learn the hex size on the saddle screws, which is 1.5mm. My hex doesn't seem to fit all of the screws, though I could adjust some. Not sure if the problem is my tool or the screws. Then I checked the intonation and found it a half step off at the top of the neck. Yikes!
The previous bass I got from Sweetwater (fender jazz) came perfectly set up and ready to play out of the box, which gave me confidence ordering instruments from them unseen. I'm not sure what happened in this case; ie I don't know if the Sweetwater inspection includes the setup or if that one is on the manufacturer, but somebody missed the boat this time. I will have to take it to my local setup guy to see if he can get it more playable.
