closest tone to jaco

jacohead · #1 04-18-2007, 03:52 PM

i just got off the phone with a guy who works with kaufman (jaco's tech) at the repair shop they have running in florida. we talked about jaco's tone and we both agreed that jacos tone came mostly from his hands but also from the pickups he had on his fender. the aged pickups had that special tone all from wear and tear etc. He also said that the closest pickups they have ever heard to come close to getting that jaco tone with the right technique, was the fender custom shop 60's pickup.

PilbaraBass · #2 04-18-2007, 04:42 PM

Something was stuck in the spindle of my washing machine, and it used to make this horrible screaching sound when it was on spin cycle...sort of reminded me of the Jaco tone...

OK...so shoot me...I never liked his tone...his playing was PHENOMINAL...but I think most of his aweful tone came from a standard Fender bridge pickup coupled with those heavy-mid "Acoustic" amps...

EADG mx · #3 04-18-2007, 10:59 PM

Wouldn't you rather sound like yourself?

rockstarbassist · #4 04-19-2007, 10:05 AM

I can fart in a tin can for ya.

Cheap too!

bacid · #5 04-20-2007, 01:56 PM

The only way to get Jaco's tone is to eat an entire bucket of fried chicken and not wash your hands.

bigd4207 · #6 04-20-2007, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bacid

The only way to get Jaco's tone is to eat an entire bucket of fried chicken and not wash your hands.

You know he really didn't do that right. It was just a joke he made.

**ExaltBass** · #7 04-20-2007, 03:46 PM

...the point???

bacid · #8 04-20-2007, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigd4207

You know he really didn't do that right. It was just a joke he made.

You know I really didn't mean that. It was just a joke I made. That's what I love about the internet, noone knows if you're serious or making a joke. Although I'm sure that it would increase sliding speed on flatwounds.

Bass Thunder · #9 04-20-2007, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bacid

You know I really didn't mean that. It was just a joke I made. That's what I love about the internet, noone knows if you're serious or making a joke. Although I'm sure that it would increase sliding speed on flatwounds.

A bucket of fried chicken is no joking matter. Eating a whole bucket can cause serious global warming!

Audiophage · #10 04-20-2007, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EADG mx

Wouldn't you rather sound like yourself?

I'd go so far to say that if you really like someone's sound, figuring out the secrets to it will only help you in your quest for your own tone.

Either that, or the complete opposite. I haven't quite figured out that one yet.

jacohead · #11 04-20-2007, 08:48 PM

i have listened to many bass players and i would have to say that most of them had the same tone.. using the same brands of equipment. nothing special or unique about them. to me, sounding like jaco would be more different, unique, and challenging. that is my ideal sound.

bird_man022 · #12 04-20-2007, 11:58 PM

Then why do u play if you think they all bass sound the same? The Beatles and the Red Hot Chili Peppers sure don't have the same sounding bass lines. Flea and Geddy Lee also have unique sounds that are totally unlike anything else. And the Alman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd also have crazy unique sounds. And the equipment is most of it. Pickups, Heads, Cabs, Preamps, Effects, PA (if used) all affect the tonal quality. All bass players develop their own sound, if you think otherwise, find a different instrument.

BellBottomBlues · #13 04-21-2007, 12:25 AM

Why don't you get youre own tone? You'll be more unique that way.

I used to be all about emulating tones, which is fine if you're in a cover band, but sucky if its youre own band.

I used to mimic Steve Harris's sound, than Jamerson's, than Jack Bruce's, and then John Entwistle.

For most songs I song like Jamerson playing on Jack Bruce's Warwick. Which is funny because I only play P-Basses. When I play some more punchier numbers, its sounds like Entwistle and Bruce.

But its my own tone, I gave up trying to cop someone else's a long time ago.

HELLonWheels187 · #14 04-21-2007, 09:18 AM

Jaco used Rotosounds too so that could help. And of course use a fretless.

jacohead · #15 04-21-2007, 03:29 PM

i was not talking about well know bass players. i was referring to the "others" like you and me. from what i see and hear.. many people want a heavy metal sound, or a funky sound blues, whatever. those are tones they look for. playing bass lines is very different, those have to be unique.if we all wanted to have our own sound then we should all be looking through garbage to search for stupid pieces of metal that we can use to hit our strings with.. that would be considered my own tone right?

BellBottomBlues · #16 04-21-2007, 04:15 PM

why would we be hitting our strings with chunks of metal?

Your tone isn't just your equipment, its how you play it.

You can play say Smoke on the Water, and then I'll play it. We'll both sound different because lets say you use a pick and I use my fingers.

Hell we could even take turns playing the same bass and it would be different. You want to cop Jaco's tone, then you'd have to do your best to approximate it. You could however try to dial in a sound that makes you happy.

Someone once told me, that even when we get higher priced rigs, we find ourselves dialing in our old tones like we had on our older amps. This is because that is the sound we identify ourselves with.

bird_man022 · #17 04-21-2007, 06:31 PM

And not only does your own sound from the equipment you use, or how you play, its also what you play. The type of music you play, and what it means to you will have the biggest affect on your sound. Put some feeling into your bass lines, and then you can find you tone. Don't try to emulate a particular bassists sound, because you can never put the same feelings and emotions into the music that they do.

ScubaSteve · #18 04-21-2007, 06:41 PM

Use only your bridge pickups and crank your mids to taste (the 500Hz knob) and add a touch of lows and low mids to round out the sound.

I did this with my MIM Fretted and while it's not exact it's pretty damn close. Thats probably why the MIM pickups are good. They are a dull set of pickups but the frequency response is very flat, so you have to use your EQ to get a good sound out of them but with the right picking technique and good EQ you can get pretty damn close to the traditional Jazz tones (60's, 70's, and modern).

For not having to jack with your EQ like crazy the CS 60's pickups will be your best bet. Don't forget the fretless neck covered in marine epoxy or the rotosound strings.

FL Knifemaker · #19 04-21-2007, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacohead

i just got off the phone with a guy who works with kaufman (jaco's tech) at the repair shop they have running in florida. we talked about jaco's tone and we both agreed that jacos tone came mostly from his hands but also from the pickups he had on his fender. the aged pickups had that special tone all from wear and tear etc. He also said that the closest pickups they have ever heard to come close to getting that jaco tone with the right technique, was the fender custom shop 60's pickup.

Just curious, where is that shop in Florida?? Contact info would be MUCH appreciated. I would be interested in getting a BC Rich worked on. I don't want to mess with the frets myself!

jacohead · #20 04-21-2007, 09:02 PM

the shop is located in lake worth florida. google his name and you will find the info. they are great people to deal with, and the prices are fair