• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

60's era jazz bass

Musicman1901

Musicman1901

Jun 1, 2012
2,190
2,183
Rochester, NY
#1
Hello, lately I have been really craving that vintage 60's jazz tone. However I would prefer not to spend an absurd amount of money to buy one. I was wondering if anybody had some suggestions on how to mod a fender to make it as close to an old 60's model as possible. Looks are not important to me so I don't care about having the right body shape or pickguard or finish or whatever. Strictly looking for the sound and playability. Do the custom shop 60's pickups really sound like a vintage jazz or is it just marketing bullsh*t. Basically I was curious if between maybe a new neck, new pickups, and new hardware I could get close to that 60's jazz sound. I realize some of this sound is gonna come from the wood thats aged for 50+ years. I just want to get as close as I can without spending a fortune. Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks!
 
#4
bluesblaster said:
its not the bass, its the player
Click to expand...

I don't mean to be a jerk or sound rude but i'm just so sick of hearing that haha. YES the player does in fact affect the tone and sound of the instrument but that still only a factor of the sound. Are you telling me my wal can sound like my fender because the sound is all about the player? If im playing them both then they should sound the same? Can a p-bass sound like a fodera if the same person is playing it? I don't think so
 
#5
not trying to be a jerk about this at all, I've had tube amps and solid state amps, old basses and new basses, and guess what.... it still just sounds like me, its not the damn equipment at all, its me. This has been my observation after 40 years of playing electric bass. Good luck with your search for the elusive "tone"
 
#6
I'm also not trying to be a jerk. I guess I just feel I have so many different basses. I have 4 strings, 5 strings, active, passive, fretted, fretless, fender, warwick, wal, musicman etc. And although when I play them all I get a similar "me" tone they all still sound very different. My fingers and my touch and my amp settings all amount to "my" tone but at the same time, everything I pick up sounds different. I realize my hands, my strings, my amp, and my eq settings play a large role on tone but thats still only 50% of it. A big chunk of your tone is gonna come from what bass it is, and what pickups and electronics it has. I'm not trying to be rude I just think it's silly to say any bass sounds the same in the hands of 1 player. Alot of that also has to do with your note patterns and your style etc. My playing sounds like me cuz i'm the one playing it and im the one eq'ing it but as far as overall sound goes...you cant tell me the instrument plays a lareg role
 
#10
Hey, I'm just trying to be a jerk, but...


You don't get the 60's tone from old wood. That instrument gave all those old recordings that 60's tone when it was 5 years old.

If you have strings, electrics, and pickups and pickup location equivalent to that original instrument, it's gonna sound pretty close even if they're installed in a new Squire.
 
#11
spacing of the bridge pickup is going to factor in. I forget exactly when but sometime in the 70s it was moved a little closer to the bridge.

Staying with the stock Fender bent metal bridge certainly helps and going with pickups as close to the originals in terms of impedance, magnet material, magnet size, and wire gauge will also factor in somewhat.

Stay with strings that were available back in the 60s, so stock Fenders, LaBellas and Rotosounds.

There's obviously controversy about wood's impact on tone, but stick with what was used in that era. If you're doing this from scratch try to kiln dry it to more closely mimic aging.

Stick also with the period correct finish, which is nitrocellulose-based.

Again, how much some of these things contributes or not is the subject of heated debate here, but if each one adds a couple percent, then by the time you're done you might be closer than otherwise.

Play an old one if you can side by side w/a newer one and see if you can tell the difference.
 
#13
Major Softie said:
Hey, I'm just trying to be a jerk, but...


You don't get the 60's tone from old wood. That instrument gave all those old recordings that 60's tone when it was 5 years old.

If you have strings, electrics, and pickups and pickup location equivalent to that original instrument, it's gonna sound pretty close even if they're installed in a new Squire.
Click to expand...

true. But play an old one now compared to the new ones and there is a noticeable difference. I've A/B'd a 63 P with my 75, both having the same strings roughly the same age and it was quite surprising.
 
#14
dhsierra1 said:
true. But play an old one now compared to the new ones and there is a noticeable difference. I've A/B'd a 63 P with my 75, both having the same strings roughly the same age and it was quite surprising.
Click to expand...

Not arguing, but the "60's tone" was provided by the new instrument. I suppose you could argue that you should thus be able to get closer with a new replica than a vintage instrument. :eek:
 
#15
dhsierra1 said:
true. But play an old one now compared to the new ones and there is a noticeable difference. I've A/B'd a 63 P with my 75, both having the same strings roughly the same age and it was quite surprising.
Click to expand...

the comparison isnt really fair because those two eras of fenders sound completely different. alder/rosewood isnt going to sound like a probably heavy 70s ash fender.
 
#16
Musicman1901 said:
Hello, lately I have been really craving that vintage 60's jazz tone. However I would prefer not to spend an absurd amount of money to buy one. I was wondering if anybody had some suggestions on how to mod a fender to make it as close to an old 60's model as possible. Looks are not important to me so I don't care about having the right body shape or pickguard or finish or whatever. Strictly looking for the sound and playability. Do the custom shop 60's pickups really sound like a vintage jazz or is it just marketing bullsh*t. Basically I was curious if between maybe a new neck, new pickups, and new hardware I could get close to that 60's jazz sound. I realize some of this sound is gonna come from the wood thats aged for 50+ years. I just want to get as close as I can without spending a fortune. Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks!
Click to expand...

what are you playing now and what are you not hearing? what are your examples of 60's tone?
 
#18
I built my own '66 replica. Roughly $900 invested.

66ShorelineGoldJazz004Large.jpg


66ShorelineGoldJazz008Large.jpg
 
#19
Well as of now I have 3 main basses, A 1983 Wal MKI, a Warwick Jazzman 5 string fretless, and a standard fender jazz bass. What I don't hear is that woody, natural, "thumpy" sound the old ones have. I love that old JPJ sound in the 60's and 70's!
Also, @Major softie.... that was my general point of this thread... If you can tell me how to get that tone out of a squier I am all ears!!! I dont want to spend 10K on a vintage jazz. If I can buy the right pickups,electronics,hardware,strings, etc and throw them in my fender I would be EXTREMELY satisfied. I'm after the tone and the playability. Not the looks or the cockiness of owning an original 1962 jazz. If I can turn my jazz bass into a 1960's "copy" for under 600$ I will feel accomplished!
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back