Still popular with me ... bought a 2016 American Pro Jazz in black just yesterday 
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Are Jazz Basses becoming less popular?
- Thread starter Warpeg
- Start date
They're not totally wrong though... everyone knows tort really enhances the tone of any bassShhhh... Not out loud man! Duck and cover before the black-P-bass-with-flats-and-tort mob get the pitchforks out
"Are Jazz Basses becoming less popular?"
Geez, I hope not! They're too awesome to fade away!
Geez, I hope not! They're too awesome to fade away!
Still popular with me. I still love my P bass, but it's hard to beat a Jazz bass with both pickups full on. Can't get that sound with any P.
I’m also of the impression that the fad in favor of P basses since Voodoo came out is now going mainstream.
The fact that people still see jazzes a lot in gigs and jams may serve to prove the point that in the past two decades people used to buy more jazzes than Ps, which is something we all know (of course there’s every other bass model, but you get the point, Fenders sort of dominate). After all, not everybody can simply get a new Bass whenever they feel inclined to because of a general feeling of favoriteness in favor of a certain model.
Getting back to the matter, I think it’s cyclical and the P bass cycle is going mainstream. Those who were still left tied to the 80s and 90s “modern” tone are starting themselves to act as ‘nonchalantly says “I’m a vintage guy”’. Now those who got first in the P bass bandwagon will start to look elsewhere, as they’ll start to feel they can’t stand to see every guy in town “wearing” a P bass with flats and posing as a true vintage admirer.
A clear indication is that the more hipster-ish players, those who were sporting Ps when everybody frowned at the dead tone of their flatwounds, are starting to be seen with other old school-looking basses like Yamaha BBs, Gibsons etc.
The fact that people still see jazzes a lot in gigs and jams may serve to prove the point that in the past two decades people used to buy more jazzes than Ps, which is something we all know (of course there’s every other bass model, but you get the point, Fenders sort of dominate). After all, not everybody can simply get a new Bass whenever they feel inclined to because of a general feeling of favoriteness in favor of a certain model.
Getting back to the matter, I think it’s cyclical and the P bass cycle is going mainstream. Those who were still left tied to the 80s and 90s “modern” tone are starting themselves to act as ‘nonchalantly says “I’m a vintage guy”’. Now those who got first in the P bass bandwagon will start to look elsewhere, as they’ll start to feel they can’t stand to see every guy in town “wearing” a P bass with flats and posing as a true vintage admirer.
A clear indication is that the more hipster-ish players, those who were sporting Ps when everybody frowned at the dead tone of their flatwounds, are starting to be seen with other old school-looking basses like Yamaha BBs, Gibsons etc.
Good! I have two and love them. I hope they become less popular so I will become more unique again.
I have to agree. I put flats on my SUHR Classic J bass and I love the tone. But still have nickel rounds on my other two J Basses.This is so weird this is coming up now because just lately I’ve grown a real big love of p bass with flats.
However I put flats on my jazz bass and now I’m cured. Flatwounds work just as well for a jazz bass as they do for a p bass in my opinion.
The jazz bass needs that warmth, that booty. Forget all this twangy, zingy rubbish.
Bass needs to be bassy... not a flippin’ downtuned guitar! People don’t seem to get it. And then they wonder why they can’t be heard in the mix.
I’m never going back to rounds, (except for GHS balanced nickels, those rock!)
I feel that it’s how a jazz bass should sound. Meaty and warm. To me, the jazz bass is a compliment, or an extension, to the p bass. I wouldn’t buy a jazz bass now unless I swap some custom shop 60s in it and string it with fender 9050 flats. That’s how a jazz bass supposed to sound folks.
And that’s why so many people are selling their jazz basses. Because they simply haven’t discovered this nugget of wisdom yet. They have scooped, bright jazz basses as they come from the factory, and they don’t do anything to fix it!
Also have flats on my Precision Bass.
I always thought a Jazz Bass was for guitar players forced by bandmates to play Bass[thin skinny neck, brighter]
I have seen many Jazz Basses in action recently and sounding good; I am a P bass [with rounds] guy but on my recent purchase I was thinking of a J but ended up with a PJ active/passive and enjoying the Heresy.
I have seen many Jazz Basses in action recently and sounding good; I am a P bass [with rounds] guy but on my recent purchase I was thinking of a J but ended up with a PJ active/passive and enjoying the Heresy.
This may be overkill but I have a jbass with flats and a jbass with rounds ready to go. I have a p bass with flats and a p bass with rounds ready play.
What can I say, sometimes I just need a different tool....
What can I say, sometimes I just need a different tool....
I have flat head and Philips screwdrivers.
Sae and metric Allen's.
Just tools, and no one here wants one thing that does it all.
Sae and metric Allen's.
Just tools, and no one here wants one thing that does it all.
Haven't you heard, a P with flats is all you need. It sits in the mix so well.
You might as well sell all your other basses.
Currently in the process of doing exactly that.
As long as you have the great Jazz Bass players, like Victor Wooten, Marcus Miller and Stanley Clarke just to name a few, that are out there influencing the younger generation of Jazz Players, the Jazz Bass isn't going anywhere soon! The Jazz Bass sound is so unique and versatile. I am definitely keeping mine. They would have to take it out of my "cold, dead hands"!!!
Just saw this.....I'm definitely living in a bubble but didn't realize the popularity for P-basses was on the rise. Although I always owned a P-bass or two, I've always gravitated toward using my jazz basses. However, for whatever reason, since the beginning of this year, I've been playing one of my P-basses almost exclusively. It wasn't a conscious decision....I upgraded one of my P-basses and it just sounds awesome so I've been using it as my #1.
Well, still popular enough to be Today's "Stupid Deal Of The Day" for 7/21/20 till midnight.
ONLY $299 in Turquoise Mist.
https://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass/gl-tribute-jb-electric-bass/l66472000001000
ONLY $299 in Turquoise Mist.
https://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass/gl-tribute-jb-electric-bass/l66472000001000
