60's vs 70's spacing on a Jazz

[electracoyote]

I've owned both, I slap and pop a fair amount, and I think the difference is pretty slim. If I were designing my own or had a choice, I'd go 70's just to entertain the possibility that it actually matters. But I have purchased both and didn't consider it a deal maker/breaker either way.

 

[Planespotter]

I've had both. I prefer the 70s spacing on my USA Geddy over the '60s spacing my '97 American standard had, but it's not a deal breaker for me.

 

[Catbuster]

I prefer the 1970s spacing. I use steel strings and play with a low action, and that little bit of extra bite is a wonderful thing playing rock music.

 

[ric4682]

Does anyone find there to be a difference in feel while playing over the bridge pickup?

 

[DWBass]

Does anyone find there to be a difference in feel while playing over the bridge pickup?

Absolutely. String tension is extremely taut. I don't know how some folks do it!

 

[bass151]

As DBbass said, sring tension may be an issue for some. It is for me. I currently own a Fender deluxe jazz which has the 60's spacing. I do anchor my hand on the bridge pickup and there is definately more string tension there, but that is where my hand feels comfortably. I have played but not owned 70's jazz basses but not for any extended period of time. I dig in way too hard with my right hand and have constant problems with sore and blistering fingers. It may or may not be an issue for someone else. Is the string tension much greater on a 70's if anchoring your thumb on the bridge pickup?

 

[radioface]

I don't know anything about 60s J Basses but, I have a heavily modified early 70s J Bass and like the sound.

 

[nerkoids]

I have a Squier VM 70s, with 60s spacing. I like it mighty fine.

 

[lowfreqgeek]

I've got an ash/maple Warmoth with 60's spacing, and an Alder/RW Regenerate Guitar Works with 70's spacing. Identical pickups in both, but some minor differences in hardware, and the Warmoth has steel rods, while the RGW has carbon fiber rods.

Without a doubt, the RGW is far more growly, but not as bright. The Warmoth is smoother and more scooped. The bottom end is about the same, but the Warmoth has a brighter top end and scooped midrange. The RGW articulates very well and has a ton of growl, but the top is just a little tamer. Despite identical pickups, though placed differently, they are quite different sounding instruments.

For straight up rock, blues, country, etc, the RGW is the right bass. It's a thick, meaty sound that's more like a P-bass. I also love the bridge pickup solo'd for some jazz. But for R&B, Reggae, slap, fusion, etc, the Warmoth is my go-to choice.

I'm sure results will vary with different instruments, but I think the 70's spacing gives noticeably more growl, while the 60's spacing is generally smoother.

 

[Mvilmany]

My favorite sounding Fender jazz basses have always had the 60s position.

 

[DirkP]

There are lots of threads on fingerboard and body woods. I doubt you'll find a general consensus either way...but lots of opinions. My opinion is that maple boards seem to allow a LITTLE more brightness to come through in the note over the rosewood boards. The difference is very minor IMO and IME. Like DirkP mentioned, strings, setup, pickups, etc. all have a larger impact in this area. I hear a bigger difference in tone from body wood than I do from fingerboard wood.

My two cents: we associate a brighter wood with a brighter sound and a darker wood with a less brittle and warm sound. That is a kind of "synaesthesia" imo. Just think about it: your strings on a fretted neck don't even touch the thin piece of rosewood above your maple neck! The string touches a cheap piece of metal, than a cheap piece of plastic, than another cheap piece of metal (the fret) and then another cheap piece of metal (the bridge), are magnetic and vibrate above the pickups that interact with the magnetic force of the strings. How should this thin layer of a dark wood change the sound?

Regarding the pickup position:
FronTowardEnemy wrote that the bridge pickup position - used as a thumbrest - forces the player to play closer to the bridge and the different tension there definetely makes a different in sound. Never thought about it this way!

 

[pbassnut]

Having owned several jazzes with bridge pickups in both positions I would say that the 70's spacing seems to provide a little more bite and growl. The 60's position seems to have a little smoother overall sound.

I have examples of both and blmeier7's assessment pretty much covers it, IMHO.

 

[4001]

I think the 70's (wider) spacing had more of that classic snap and ballsy tone and the 60's spacing was a bit more barky and mid-range-ish with more low-mids. Just my opinion.

My Geddy Lee Jazz Bass has the 70's spacing and sounds great. I prefer the 70's spacing over the 60's.

 

[Matthew_84]

@Matthew_84 My main bass is a recent 4003 so since you're making that comparison I'll probably go for the 60's since it'll give me a little more variety. I'll have the Ric for rock and such and I plan on using the Jazz for more, well, jazzy or funk stuff.

I think you're making the right choice then.

I should point out that I made that comparison because of your profile pic. I do think there's some other basses that sound more like a Rick than a Jazz does, but I do think a 70's Jazz sounds closer to a Rick than a 60's Jazz does.

 

[crucislancer]

Having owned several jazzes with bridge pickups in both positions I would say that the 70's spacing seems to provide a little more bite and growl. The 60's position seems to have a little smoother overall sound.

Yup, totally. I like both, so I have one of each

 

[friendlybass]

Own both, love both, and honestly to me its not a huge difference. I play over the neck pickup so the bridge isn't doing all that much work, if I do play over the bridge though the tone is a lot more nasal and and angry on the 70's where the 60's has a lot more midrange punch and oomph

 

[Funkinthetrunk]

I have both too. I think I have a pretty good ear, but not to be able to hear....what is it, 3/8" closer to the bridge? But I do always play with both pickups at 10.

 

[GrooverMcTube]

I have a 2013 MIM J-Bass. Just out of curiosity, is the spacing on a standard MIM 60's or (I'm guessing) 70's?

 

[Matthew_84]

I have a 2013 MIM J-Bass. Just out of curiosity, is the spacing on a standard MIM 60's or (I'm guessing) 70's?

60's. Pretty much every Fender Jazz has 60's spacing, except the Geddy Lee and Marcus Miller signature models, and Fender 70's models and reissues... Even Squier's "70's" models have 60's spacing.

 

[kkaarrll]

I like dual jazz type (musicman) pickups with the single coil choice being in 70's position