How do you play your J-bass?

ryanfenderbass · #1 10-22-2011, 09:29 PM

This is my first post in about 5 years and it's great to be back! Since then, I've been getting back to basics. No more fancy pedals, no more huge modern 10" cabs, no wireless, and no picks.. My goal right now is pure, unadulterated J-bass growl. Now that I've nearly recovered from the bass playing choices I made in my early twenties (where my playing was just about cutting through a wall of guitars and looking rad on stage), I'm ready to get down to business to get the most out of my new, stripped-down rig.

I don't want to focus just on me, but as a point of reference, my main axe is a Geddy with Area J pups. I can get some nice warm, yet growly tones out of it, but I still haven't found that balance of warmth and bite that solos nicely and blends with my bandmates (1 guitar, synth, drums). Although gear does play into this topic, I'm looking to talk as basic as it gets: fingers on strings and how they work best with a J bass.

How to you J-bassers play to get the most out of your tone? Do you anchor your thumb on the neck or bridge pup, or does it float freely? How hard do you pluck? Do you use one or two (or more) fingers? How do you set your volume and tone knobs to adapt to your playing style? I've been playing a J for nearly 15 years, but I never really thought about this stuff until recently.

All I ask is to keep this this J-bass specific, so myself and others can get a better understanding of what it actually takes to get "that J sound."

...sorry about the novel, I'm just excited to be back!

madmatt · #2 10-22-2011, 09:36 PM

I usually just beat the heck out of it.

smeet · #3 10-22-2011, 09:41 PM

I don't do anything special because it's a J bass. I play hard or soft depending on the tone I want. I pluck with the pad of my finger for a rounder tone or the tip for a more pointed attack. I also smack the string if I want that metal clank sound.

I generally play over or close to the pickup I am favoring - when blended to the neck pickup I play near that pickup.

I almost never play with both pickups 100% up, that sounds too scooped to me and gets lost in the mix.

But none of this is really specific to jazz basses. You have to get to know each individual instrument and your body reacts to the way the instrument responds to get the sound and feel you want.

Epidrake · #4 10-22-2011, 09:42 PM

I use multiple fingers and sometimes a home made thick leather pick. I love that I can get smooth mellow tones by playing gently by the neck and go straight into heavy growl by digging in and playing at the bridge pickup. The leather pick has no click but really lets me abuse the strings and play really fast and hard. I love my Jazz bass.

prd004 · #5 10-22-2011, 09:42 PM

I float but the sweet spot on my Jazz is midway between the neck and the pickup. I tend to play there and move if the song or part begs for something else.

I play fingerstyle and I vary my touch anywhere from aggressive to extremely delicate depending on the song or style of music. I use a lot of right hand dynamics.

In my early years I was an ardent altenate finger guy until a major injury/surgery on my index finger forced a change. My index finger works at around 75% these days, but was useless for a long period of physical therapy after the incident.
During this time I inadvertently picked up the habit of using my middle finger exclusively and to this day I use it most of the time. All my gig pics look like I'm flipping the bird! Lol.

skychief · #6 10-22-2011, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madmatt

I usually just beat the heck out of it.

+1 ^^^^^^^

You're bound to get some on you when you're playin' in the dirt" ----- Robert Cray

ryanfenderbass · #7 10-22-2011, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smeet

I don't do anything special because it's a J bass. I play hard or soft depending on the tone I want. I pluck with the pad of my finger for a rounder tone or the tip for a more pointed attack. I also smack the string if I want that metal clank sound.

I generally play over or close to the pickup I am favoring - when blended to the neck pickup I play near that pickup.

I almost never play with both pickups 100% up, that sounds too scooped to me and gets lost in the mix.

But none of this is really specific to jazz basses. You have to get to know each individual instrument and your body reacts to the way the instrument responds to get the sound and feel you want.

Well put. Actually blending my pups is a new innovation to me. I used to crank them both and think: "RAWK!" Then I would wonder why I was getting lost in the mix with no middle growl. Then I would try and compensate with eq and overdrive pedals. Youth is wasted on the young, I tell ya! Now I find myself floating in the middle more and soloing pickups completely depending on the tune, something that I thought was weird which inspired me to create this thread.

TomB · #8 10-22-2011, 10:40 PM

Each J has its own character and I mix the pickups accordingly. One passive of mine even sounds great wide open (never lost in the mix), others sound best leading with one or the other pickup. My right (picking) hand floats and my thumb moves around, resting here and there, usually picking w/2 fingers or occasionally with my thumb. The last few years I find myself perched above the neck pickup or just towards the bridge from there for most tunes, though I do move it around for varying effects. I used to play a lot closer to the neck. I also do a lot of percussive slapping, working with the drummer. I love playing P-basses and own a couple, but a J bass is home to me.

DBH_Bass · #9 10-23-2011, 12:32 AM

regardless of the type of bass I play I thump pretty damn hard with my fingers, almost hammering them. I do the same with my fret hand as well. Just play agressively and you should be just fine.

smeet · #10 10-23-2011, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomB

Each J has its own character and I mix the pickups accordingly.

Very true. I had a Sadowsky, always played that over the bridge pickup, favoring the bridge in the blend. My SB5000 I play 100% on the neck pickup most of the time.

TOMINATOR · #11 10-23-2011, 02:35 AM

I usually play with my thumb on the neck pickup, but find that in faster songs, after my hand becomes tired and I get a bit lazy, the strings tend to hit down on the pickups causing a bit of a clanky sound. So I usually have the bridge pickup on 100% and the neck on 50%. Thats about the only thing i do differently on a J to other basses.

boomtisk · #12 10-23-2011, 02:43 AM

I recently got a 5 string KSD fretless, which is my first Jazz Bass ever, interestingly enough. I usually center the pickup blend, then dial in a tad more neck pickup. The bass has a 2-band EQ which I dime, as the guitar in our songs is really loud and heavy which means I need both a lot of "boom" and chime.

I usually pluck over the neck pickup and occasionally play over the bridge pickup if I want a tad less fatness. If I want the bass to "sing", I play over the end of the neck.

You know, I used to think Jazz Basses were boring, but I could get used to this. It also sounds really good picked and responds well to muting shenanigans.

Haven't really tried the "Jaco thing" yet, though, as this wouldn't provide enough low end for my band.

ryanfenderbass · #13 10-23-2011, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boomtisk

Haven't really tried the "Jaco thing" yet, though, as this wouldn't provide enough low end for my band.

As most of us in this community, I'm aware of Jaco's stylistic and tonal contributions, but I'm curious to hear what your interpretation of the "Jaco Thing" is.

Separate question: in what varying musical situations do J bass players favor soloing the bridge pickup over the neck and visa versa? I know it's personal preference, but I'm interested to hear how, why, and when y'all make those (IMO) very drastic tonal decisions. Thanks!

boomtisk · #14 10-23-2011, 11:55 AM

I meant the "roll off the treble, solo the bridge pickup, play over it" kind of thing he liked to do. You know, that middy, punchy kind of tone. It's not really suited for the band I'm in, however.

Dick Tree · #15 10-24-2011, 11:46 PM

I usually have my bridge pup solo'd, or both maxed out. Sometimes I'll have the neck pickup at 100% and my bridge at 80% or so

Nev375 · #16 10-24-2011, 11:54 PM

I usually play with my fingernails to get more of an aggressive pick-like attack.

carlthegroover · #17 10-25-2011, 12:18 AM

So far, my only huge change has been from playing anchored to the bridge pup to playing anchored to the neck pup. I'm also trying the floating thumb technique but it's a work in progress.

I personally like the way it sounds when playing next to the neck pup. Much more bassy tone. But I'm versatile and open and I do play the Jazz with a pick, and I tend to do so on the bridge area, so I actually get a radically different tone with a lot of attack (edit: plus, this way, I can palm mute way better).

It may be interesting to note that, having recently acquired a P bass (well, tele bass), this one has a lot more trebly punch than my Jazz... but it may be the strings.

bassguita079 · #18 10-25-2011, 12:25 AM

im 100% fingerstyle. i play with the pads of my fingers to get a softer tone, and the tips to get a more raw sound. i also find fingernails play a part in it, for me at least so i keep them as short as possible. as for thumb placement, i tend to rely on the neck p'up and use my first two fingers as well as the ring for quicker stuff

mpdd · #19 10-25-2011, 09:46 AM

keep my thumb on the neck pu, try to pick as close to neck as possible

maxgrant · #20 10-25-2011, 09:55 AM

I like my fretted J (a Squier VMJ, which sounds identical to the GL Jazz when I a/b'd them in the store 2 years ago), with both pickups all up, but the tone rolled off some. I roll it off to start with, then bring it back as the band kicks into gear and we find our volume levels. But I like some thud in the sound.

My fretless J, another Squier which I guess is the cheap Jaco clone, I play with the sound constantly. For some songs I like to roll the bridge pickup back for a darker tone. For others it's both pickups full-on.

I tend to view the on-board controls as a way to modify my sound during performance, so I give myself some headroom to turn various things up if I find I need to in mid-song.

And other than that I do not play my J bass any differently than my Rickenbacker or my Spector.