Best Jazz Bass: recommended J-Bass guitars to suit all levels, budgets and tastes

Black Fender Jazz Bass with white scratchplate
(Image credit: Future)

For many bass players it’s a simple choice; are you a J or P player? If you chose J, which stands for jazz, then you’re in the right place as we're here to round up the best jazz bass models available today.

The ‘JB’ is known for its versatile tone and comfortable playability, usually comprising two single-coil pickups that can be blended together or used independently, giving the player a wide range of sonic possibilities. The jazz also has a slimmer neck than the Precision Bass, making it easier to play for those with smaller hands. The jazz bass body is also offset, similar to a Fender Jaguar or Jazzmaster.

You can trust Guitar World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing guitar products so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

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