Jackson Spectra JS3V Review

Big Regret!!!

Jackson has some Quality issues. Yes I'm aware it's a budget bass. But things like 1) String nut Falling off. 2) Strap buttons was Stripped. 3) Volume Pot shaft is so loose I'm amazed it works. I've fixed all these issues myself I wasn't worth traveling to one of Jackson's warranty Luthier's. And last I ended up having to completely redo the frets. It's like they didn't even try… read more to finish the frets. All within 3 months of owning this. So do your self a favor. Avoid fender products. There is better products out there

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Jackson Spectra JS3V

First of all it arrived in 2 days from ordering. wow thars fast. and it sounds better than my 4 string that cost just over twice what the Jackson did. I have been playing it for 20 days and love it. I'm most impressed with the quality of the sound.

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This is the one!

The finishing details of this bass are unreal for this price. Flawless fretwork. The body looks amazing. There are no defects. The pickups sound great in active and passive mode. Humbucking and coil tap make this bass really versatile. I can get it really close to P bass,jazz bass and stingray territory all while having its own flavour. I rarely use the 3 band EQ as the preamp… read more sounds perfect flat but it's nice to have it if I chose to use. If you are a new player or a long time player looking for something different give this one a shot.

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Pretty Solid Bass

For some background on me, I am the bassist for my highschool jazz band, and I've been using school instruments and borrowing stuff from friends for the two years I've been playing bass. This was my first 5 string (although I have played a 6 before). I genuinely really enjoy playing it, it sounds great, the one complaint I have is that the neck is kinda chunky, aside from that it's… read more absolutely fantastic.

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Happy, after setup

I ordered this bass out of the need for a 35" scale 5-string bass for drop tuning the bass a whole step (tuning A D G C F). I ordered this bass from another online retailer (please forgive me, Sweetwater). The guitar box did not arrive in a shipping box - it was only the guitar box. The tape was completely cut, so the bass could have just fallen out at any given time. I ordered… read more the Satin Black, and it arrived with scratches and scuffs from what appeared to be the bass being dropped during the shipping process. Needless to say, I was displeased. The other online retailer worked with me and took care of these issues as well as they could from their end, and I was satisfied with the overall level of service I received. The setup on the bass was terrible when I received it. I tried to get the bass set up the way I liked it, but ended up taking it to a reputable luthier/tech in the area I live in. After it was set up, the bass played like butter. I like poplar as a body wood for bass, as poplar is pretty lightweight and resonant. This bass is ergonomic - very comfy to wear sitting or standing. The string spacing feels wider than my Ibanez SR basses (16.5 mm), but tighter than a typical P or J bass (19 mm). The spacing is nice for fingerstyle and slap. I was really surprised at how sophisticated the pickups/electronics package is for a bass in this price range. I have not had an opportunity to record with this bass yet. I have played the bass through a variety of PA systems and bass amp rigs. This bass sounds great! I'm not saying it sounds great for the price, I'm saying it sounds great. The pickups are "medium output," but hot enough to stand up against a mix with distorted guitars, drums, keyboards, vocalists, and several accompanying instruments in several styles of music I play. The construction is solid. The low B (or low A, in my case) doesn't fit all the way through the string guide at the base of the bridge. When I put new strings on the bass, the string is sticking out approximately 1 - 1 1/2". I will have my tech drill this string guide hole a little bigger, and that will fix the issue. The tuning machines are typical closed back tuners you would expect to find on a bass in this price range. I'm thinking about upgrading to Gotoh or Hipshot tuning machines, but the stock keys work for now. The strap buttons are HUGE!! No need for strap locks on this bass. LOL! :) All in all, I'm satisfied with this inexpensive bass. Yes, the initial quality was underwhelming, as the bass arrived in a ghetto-fab box with bruises and a horrible setup. Once the setup was done though, I'm really happy with the bass. If you're a working bassist (like me) and want a 35" scale bass on a budget, this is a solid option. If you're happy with your current 5-string, but want a cheap backup bass, or a throw around bass that sounds good, this guy might be for you. This bass has been in heavy rotation for me. I'm very impressed with this bass.

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