ok, fenders are ok i guess probably the most played bass if you really cruched the numbers. i own 2 jacksons. 1 is an old dinky body 4 string w/ 18v emg active pickups in it. the other is a cb5a (concert bass 5 string active) w/ 9v duncans. i also own my pride and joy, a gibson lespaul 4 string bass w/ passive thunderbass pickups in it. i payed big bucks for it, but it kicks ass. my next fav. is the dinky. a buddy of mine raved about the fenders, and every gig we did together, he'd have to borrow my jackson 'cuz the fender let him down.
but the thing with jackson now is that they are part of the fender musical group. couldn't tell you if the quality has fallen off or not. both my jacksons are a few years old.
i got the dinky used for $100. it was my first bass, and it kicks ass. i had a hard time getting used to the 5 string. at first, i overplayed the low b string. then it just became a thumb rest. in my current band, we drop tune to open 'd' as oppossed to open 'e'. therefore my tuning is dgcf. but i still screw around with the 5 from time to time.
if i was you, i'd check the local want advertiser mag, and see if you can find a good deal. shop the web, there's musicians fiend, ams, and a shitload of others and there prices will be within $10 of one another.
