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Awesome jazz bass tone

Simon Ferocious

Simon Ferocious

Jan 30, 2022
135
129
London
#1
I've been primarily a P bass player but have a jazz too. Since the P bass has flatwounds it doesn't really fit in the band I'm playing in, so I'm using the jazz with rounds.
I've never been too happy with the sound and don't like the bridge pickup and never use it. Im always on the neck. Last night I got one of the best sounds I ever got from the jazz bass but I think it was down to the amp EQ - completely flat and everything sounded great. I think I'm slowly converting towards the jazz. The sound was round, but mean and meaty. No overdrive but gelled really well with the distorted guitar and was a joy to play.
I'm using old swing bass rotos and my pickup is a Seymour Duncan antiquity 1 that has lost some output and is reading 7.8 instead 8.7.
After last night, I'm not changing a thing l!
Anybody else notice the Jazz bass pulling you away from a P bass for whatever reason?
 
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#3
lomo said:
The fresh side of the pillow is a beautiful thing.
Click to expand...
Yes, I imagine once I start using the P bass it will be the same thing. But the P bass with labella flatwounds is a great instrument in its own right, totally different and that's why I keep it like that. I do have an Aria for other P bass tones but it's heavier than the jazz so doesn't always get picked
 
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#4
Simon Ferocious said:
Anybody else notice the Jazz bass pulling you away from a P bass for whatever reason?
Click to expand...
i'd rather play a jazz most of the time --- two pickups --- i use the bridge pickup blended with the neck pickup.

i agree that J-basses can get great tones. ;) :thumbsup:
 
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#6
Simon Ferocious said:
I've been primarily a P bass player but have a jazz too. Since the P bass has flatwounds it doesn't really fit in the band I'm playing in, so I'm using the jazz with rounds.
I've never been too happy with the sound and don't like the bridge pickup and never use it. Im always on the neck. Last night I got one of the best sounds I ever got from the jazz bass but I think it was down to the amp EQ - completely flat and everything sounded great. I think I'm slowly converting towards the jazz. The sound was round, but mean and meaty. No overdrive but gelled really well with the distorted guitar and was a joy to play.
I'm using old swing bass rotos and my pickup is a Seymour Duncan antiquity 1 that has lost some output and is reading 7.8 instead 8.7.
After last night, I'm not changing a thing l!
Anybody else notice the Jazz bass pulling you away from a P bass for whatever reason?
Click to expand...


Amazing how a flat EQ can sound so good!! I really wonder if we convince ourselves we "MUST" tweak all the settings to make it work. Sometimes, the default works well.

Good for you!! Happy the sound works so well!!

.
 
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#7
I've been more of a p bass guy, though I have both j and p basses. Last year, after spending alot of time with my Adam Clayton Jazz, I've been l less satisfied with my p basses. I have my jazz really dialed in now and can't seem to rotate it like the rest. Maybe I am a jazz bass guy afterall.
9.jpg
 
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#8
Last rehearsal I had more of a smiley face eq and the sound was boomy and terrible, I was actually drading rehearsal because I blamed the amp but this time went totally flat and only raised the mids tiny bit. But I had the bass sound I had in my head, totally happy.
I never enjoyed anything the bridge pickup brings, I force myself to bring some of it in, because it's there, but very quickly turn it off. I'm not a lead bass player, I keep the low-end and sync with the drums. I've been thinking to convert it to series
 
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#9
Jim C said:
I'd be curious to know how a pickup can loose DC resistance.
Perhaps just a mistake with your VOM?
Click to expand...
What is VOM? I was surprised it was so much lower than spec and did try out another multimeter but it read the same. I'm surprised too and wonder if it was defective, but after last night I like it. I'm just thinking of the extra power, and low end of an hotter alnico 5 pickup, probably gets even closer to the P bass tone.
But I have noticed the character of this antiquity 1. The low end is very round and warm with a clear midrange, and the mids are good with the highs sweeter. At first it was just weaker than the p bass but the more I used it, the more I came to appreciate this warm round sound I associate this jazz bass with.
 
#11
VOM is volt/ohm meter.
Perhaps your is wound under spec but I see now way it could change on its own.
I like lower output J pickups as they are very clear sounding with decent high end.
If you are looking to get a little closer to a P sound with a Jazz, the Dimarzio Model J's work well.
 
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#12
Simon Ferocious said:
I've been primarily a P bass player but have a jazz too. Since the P bass has flatwounds it doesn't really fit in the band I'm playing in, so I'm using the jazz with rounds.
I've never been too happy with the sound and don't like the bridge pickup and never use it. Im always on the neck. Last night I got one of the best sounds I ever got from the jazz bass but I think it was down to the amp EQ - completely flat and everything sounded great. I think I'm slowly converting towards the jazz. The sound was round, but mean and meaty. No overdrive but gelled really well with the distorted guitar and was a joy to play.
I'm using old swing bass rotos and my pickup is a Seymour Duncan antiquity 1 that has lost some output and is reading 7.8 instead 8.7.
After last night, I'm not changing a thing l!
Anybody else notice the Jazz bass pulling you away from a P bass for whatever reason?
Click to expand...

IMG_5718 U - Copy.jpg


To answer your original question, yes.

And, this bass turned me away, from frets, forever.
 
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#14
I had rounds on the p bass when I 1st got it but I really wanted this bass to learn some motown tracks. I really like it for that. I had gotten some extra P basses to use with the band but always felt like I had too many basses like that and sold it off. I have an Aria rudy sarzo bass and that thing is quite like a p bass, very powerful and phat. The band love it but it's 4.3kg. With these 3 basses, i do feel Iike I'm covered but it is a shame I don't use the P bass. I might take the flatwounds and save them for later while i use rounds for a while
 
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#17
Simon Ferocious said:
I've been primarily a P bass player but have a jazz too. Since the P bass has flatwounds it doesn't really fit in the band I'm playing in, so I'm using the jazz with rounds.
I've never been too happy with the sound and don't like the bridge pickup and never use it. Im always on the neck. Last night I got one of the best sounds I ever got from the jazz bass but I think it was down to the amp EQ - completely flat and everything sounded great. I think I'm slowly converting towards the jazz. The sound was round, but mean and meaty. No overdrive but gelled really well with the distorted guitar and was a joy to play.
I'm using old swing bass rotos and my pickup is a Seymour Duncan antiquity 1 that has lost some output and is reading 7.8 instead 8.7.
After last night, I'm not changing a thing l!
Anybody else notice the Jazz bass pulling you away from a P bass for whatever reason?
Click to expand...
I love my j. But, I also love my pj. But, the p is slightly too angry for the music I'm playing at the moment. So, the j gets the play.
 
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#18
Yep. I LOVE p basses and have had several including custom shops and vintage ones but I consider the Fender Jazz to be the most versatile bass guitar ever made. You should try putting flats on your jazz. I find a nice set of labellas or ghs really mellows out the bridge pickup. I have ghs precision flats on my mjt jazz with Duncan Antiquitity 2's now.
IMG_7045.jpeg
 
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