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Anyone Believe in "MOJO"

Do You Believe in "MOJO"

  • Total voters
    193
  • Poll closed .
#41
Yes. It's in Johnny's fingertips.

johnny_depp_bass_by_miyukikawaii-d541esk-1.jpg
 
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#43
To me, mojo is two things: sound and feel. Feel-wise, this can almost always be narrowed down to a fretboard with generously rolled edges. One of the most-rounded edges I've played was a DC Olsen, and even though it was new, it instantly felt not just familiar, but downright intimate. Another consideration is how/where a player tends to play, in terms of anchor placement. I like to play right in front of the bridge, so a bass with Spector like bridge pup placement also just feels better than if I'm forced to anchor my thumb up near a neck pickup. Sound-wise, it's just the crapshoot of the right parts getting mated. That can happen to a $200 Ibanez or a $6000 Dingwall, or not. Best laid plans of mice and men, and all.
 
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#44
I just want to add I think that there's a difference between "mojo" and the same species wood of reacting differently to string vibration.
 
#47
For sure there are basses that feel better than the others and that might be a subjective thing or not. However, sometimes a "vintage bass" or a bass with a "custom shop" engraved on the neck, or a bass with a $4.000 price tag might cause the placebo effect for some.
 
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#50
It's all mojo. Conjuring a bass guitar out of wood and metal is sorcery. Playing it is wizardry. When the right instrument reaches the right player, it's particular mojo is revealed. Some instruments are only unlocked by one player, some radiate universal mojo that comes through no matter who plays it, and others sadly never come to that space/time juncture.
 
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#51
bearfoot said:
It's all mojo. Conjuring a bass guitar out of wood and metal is sorcery. Playing it is wizardry. When the right instrument reaches the right player, it's particular mojo is revealed. Some instruments are only unlocked by one player, some radiate universal mojo that comes through no matter who plays it, and others sadly never come to that space/time juncture.
Click to expand...
It sure felt like a lot of hard work to get to the point where I could play it. If there was wizardry involved, I sure didn't feel it. And I can't build but I know people who can, and it sure looks like a lot of hard work, too.

Mojo schmojo.

:D
 
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#54
Yes...in the sense that you can try basses out that are the same (make, model etc) and suddenly you find one that just seems to have your name on it.

There's the belief factor too...if you truly believe that that a particular bass has Mojo for you only....then in all likelyhood it will.
 
#56
Immigrant said:
If the bass belongs to you, using the term "mojo" is just another way of saying you prefer that bass to others, but don't know why.

If the bass belongs to someone else, using the term "mojo" is just a polite way of saying "Man, is that bass beat to s***."
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Have to disagree! I'm not confused, I know when a bass inherently sounds better than other basses of the same model or has superior tone.
It has nothing to do with me being the owner of the bass! Only an inexperienced bass player would play my bass and not understand that the tone is something special!
 
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#57
Rickenbottom said:
I have to agree. I think especially in older models where more hand work was required to build an instrument...Pick ups being wound by hand, different batches of woods, different tooling etc,etc... Not to say that there arent differences with today's instruments, but more so in earlier instruments...
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brianrost said:
Primary factor in mojo: the instrument was played a lot for many years.
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I agree with these aspects of "mojo". I also think the knowledge of who played that instrument or where it came from (i.e. famous talented former owner or a gift from someone very special to you) adds to the mojo. Is it something that could be scientifically measured or quantified? Probably not.

As far as mojo in general, I use the term interchangeably with karma, good thoughts, prayers, like sending you some good mojo.
 
#58
Liam Wald said:
I believe in Mojo, but I believe that Mojo is in your soul and your hands not in your instrument.
If Geddy Lee handed you his bass to play you would still sound like YOU.
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Geddy said that he owns 25 jazz basses and that he (Geddy Lee with his hands) can't get one to sound as good as his pawn shop bass.
Makes zero sense to put the bass in my hands if the great Geddy Lee can't the sound out of his 25 jazz basses.
 
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#59
Matthew_84 said:
Agreed.

When I went to buy my Fender Strat. All I knew was that I wanted a Strat and had the budget for an MIA, but I wanted to test MIA's, MIM's, and Squier's side to side to determine which one I thought was the best... I tried out every Strat the store had (about 40 of them) and settled on an MIM because it just sounded and felt right for me... Maybe it was lighter, maybe the setup was most agreeable with me, maybe the neck finish or profile was perfect for me.. Who knows, but I'm sure there's a legitimate reason for it. It wasn't just magically better.
Click to expand...

I forgot to mention that the instrument's "mojo" also doesn't transfer between different players for the instruments. Mojo knows your name and knows it's only for you.

It's still not magic.
 
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