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How do you play your Jazz bass?

madbassplaya

madbassplaya

Supporting Member
Dec 28, 2007
8,397
142
#1
Here's the deal guys, I like things really simple and straight forward. I love Jazz basses and have come to find out that the Jazz sound is definately my sound. I realize that Jazz basses are versatile instruments but I have always just turned both of the volume knobs all the way up and left the tone knob fully on or completely off. Last night at band rehearsal we were playing a more rocked out song and I felt like it needed a little more "umph" for some reason. I turned my front pickup volume all the way up and reduced my bridge pickup to about half the volume and then turned the tone knob a quarter of the way up and it fit the song so perfectly. I played around with it for a bit but ended up liking that sound a lot. It was really fat and punchy and was exactly what the song needed. Both my keyboard player and rhythm guitarist commented on the sound and how much they liked it.

This has got me thinking that I've been missing out and should have been experimenting all along. What about you guys though, how do you play your jazz and what settings do you like?
 
#6
All knobs all the way up for me if I'm using my fingers. If I need to use a pick for a song, I'll usually roll the tone back 40-50% because I use a heavy plastic pick and dont like the clickiness I get from the pick with the tone at full.

Curiously, how do you guys that roll one of the volume knobs back deal with the hum you usually get?

BnB
 
#7
bound'n'blocked said:
All knobs all the way up for me if I'm using my fingers. If I need to use a pick for a song, I'll usually roll the tone back 40-50% because I use a heavy plastic pick and dont like the clickiness I get from the pick with the tone at full.

Curiously, how do you guys that roll one of the volume knobs back deal with the hum you usually get?

BnB
Click to expand...


I have any, stock p/u, MIA Jazz ´08 here
 
#14
This has got me thinking that I've been missing out and should have been experimenting all along. What about you guys though, how do you play your jazz and what settings do you like?
Click to expand...

I play it with both PU's 100% because that's - for me - the Jazz Bass.
The settings of the tone knob may vary a little.

If you like the tone with the bridge PU rolled off...you probably should think about a Precision...:D
 
#19
Mine is a Jazz Deluxe, so it has an active EQ and a blend knob instead of two volumes. However, I usually set the blend either in the middle for both pick ups, or towards the neck pick up. I don't normally go towards the bridge, but it depends on the mood I'm in.

EQ wise, usually mids cut or in the middle, bass boosted a little, treble however I feel like it.
 
#20
If you ain't taking the time to mess around and test all of the different flavors that a good two pickup instrument with two separate volume controls, one for each pickup such as the traditional J-Bass has to offer, well you've been cheating yourself. I'm glad you have had your J-Bass epiphany. J-Basses are indeed wonderful tone machines for those willing to explore what they can do. I don't like the blend knob concept on a J-Bass after having owned a U.S. Jazz Bass Deluxe. It just seemed to be missing a few flavors tonewise, in comparison to the 63 and onward traditional style J-Bass wiring set up. That's my two cents worth of opinion. Anyways, I'm glad that your are starting to explore what your J-Bass can do.

As for how I dial my tone in on a J-Bass, it depends on what the song needs. You get a fair sized tonal crayon box with a decent J-Bass. It's up to you on how you like to mix the colors it can offer. Let your ears be the guide, and have fun!
 

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