Bandmates prefer Jazz Basses...

[Right_Butterscotch64]

He wants you to play a jazz to cut through the mix, but insists you darken your amps EQ? Something doesn't really add up.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

Really cheese 'em off and show up with a Ric......

 

[joel406]

I'd be happy to gig with his, to keep mine in good shape

I have both. An American Standard precision and an American Standard Jazz. I run it through a GK MB800 into 2 GK 410 cabs with upgraded drivers. My Precision sounds awesome. My jazz sounds a little fuller. Don't know why and I can compensate with very slight EQ'ing. Maybe you need different strings. I use flats on the jazz and half rounds on the P.

Maybe you need a better head.

But what do I know.

 

[73jbass]

Sounds like its just the guitarist that has the issue since I didnt see you mention any other band members. If the p-bass works,use it.

 

[DigitalMan]

From your story it seems that two people have said they like Jazz basses. This makes them haters.

 

[kevteop]

Don't forget to tell the guitarist how much you prefer the sound of a Gretsch to the ****bucket guitar he's swinging.

 

[stringthrough]

Before you go out and buy a J bass ask him what he'd like to change about your tone. If what he describes suggests a J bass sound then consider accommodating him. Otherwise politely tell him what he can do with his uninformed request.

 

[JesseVMT]

I play a Fender P BASS. My guitarist wants me to get a jazz. He's mentioned it a number of times. But they just aren't for me.

He likes my tone, but I think (he as a guitarist) if it doesn't say Fender Jazz on the headstock he isn't happy.
He also doesn't like my choice in pickup (EMG Geezer Butler) purely because it is an EMG.

I'll stick with my emg loaded Fender P.

 

[Spirit of Ox]

Put a Jazz pickup in the bridge position of your p bass. That will make everyone happy.

 

[Shortie]

Change the decal, put a mock pup by the bridge and add some overdrive to your P bass signal once in a while.

 

[JKB1957]

Can you borrow a RIC for your next rehearsal?

 

[Geronimo Atwater]

The obvious compromise would be a P/J setup. My guess is he wants to hear the bite of the J bridge pup. And there's nothing wrong with a P/J setup. You can dial out the J altogether, or get the J's bite with the P's balls

A G & L SB2 springs to mind.

 

[DerekW]

"Hey man, can't wait for you to lay down these tracks on my Jazz bass".

The correct reply would be,
"Yeah bro, can't wait! It'll sound great if you use a Les Paul!"

(Or whatever guitar he doesn't use)

 

[XLunacy]

This also isn't the first instance of this happening, the guitar player of my last project stated multiple times: "You should totally get a jazz bass... they're the best bass."

Proof : 100% of people here play Jazz basses.

Still, give it a try, maybe the Jazz will accommodate the music you make just fine and everybody is happy ?

 

[BrentD]

Turn off the bridge pickup and play his Jazz with only the neck pickup turned on. You get a P sound and he gets to be in charge. If he says it's not the sound he was expecting then he is actually listening, if he thinks the new bass is perfect with just the neck he's probably listening with his eyes.

I don't think this is a bad suggestion, but I have to respectfully disagree. I also disagree with other posters who say you should just play the Jazz that's his and enjoy a free jam on someone else's gear. I'm mainly a guitarist, so what do I know? But seriously, if this guy likes Jazz Basses so much then he can play one. It's not his rig and it's not even his instrument. Do you get to pick his amp? His clothes? "You need to wear sweatpants, bro. Sweatpants are, like, the best pants."

 

[pudgychef]

Is he G & L aware? I have come across several guitarists who would view that as a lesser instrument because it doesn't say Fender ...also reminds me of a guitarist who used to go on about the incredible tone of the 'Fender JazzMan' bass he once heard...also, some folks just assume extra PU and extra knob must mean a better bass...

On the other hand, he may truly prefer the sound of the J...but with its natural 'scoop' and his interest in darkening your amp tone, maybe 'cutting through' is not what he wants?

I would record tracks with both and choose the one that sounds best for each song...really can't go wrong with P or J.

 

[pudgychef]

Oh...and where do you keep your tone knob set? If less than half open, open it up...really helps a P cut/sit imho

 

[Mystic Michael]

Hey all! As you can tell from my profile picture on here, I play a G&L LB-100 P bass copy. I've played mostly P-style basses for the entirety of my bass playing and have always felt at home on them. I really do love my bass. However, we just got done rehearsal, and my guitar player/songwriter said something to me along the lines of: "Hey man, can't wait for you to lay down these tracks on my Jazz bass". So I guess my bass hasn't been providing the sound he's had in his head for the songs?? This also isn't the first instance of this happening, the guitar player of my last project stated multiple times: "You should totally get a jazz bass... they're the best bass."

What's a Precision loving guy to do with all these haters? I guess I should shop around and add a Jazz to the arsenal... (which I'm okay with)

Anyone else ever encounter this? I thought most people would prefer me to play a P since I would sit in the mix easier.

Leaving aside the eternal question of which is "the best bass" , isn't the more salient issue here the fact that Mr. Guitarist would like to micro-manage your choice of instrument? Are we in the habit of telling the guitarist, "Hey you should totally dump that vintage Les Paul, and pick up a Stratocaster! My stratocaster."? Or telling the keyboards player, "Why are you still dorking around with that Kurzweil synth? Everybody knows that Korg is where it's at!"?

MM

 

[Gaebrial]

Why would someone prefer a Jazz? I haven't heard a jazz that I positively liked. At their very best, they can sound pretty much as good as a P.

Don't mean to offend anyone; Jazz basses really do almost sound good

 

[Sav'nBass]

This kind of stuff annoys me.. I had a guy turn up his nose at my Brute because he had never heard of Brubaker and the headstock is not traditional.. Maybe it is because am not doing it for a living.. but I will play what I want.. with proper EQing you can do a lot so if they don't like my gear I won't be playing with them.. although I have toi admit.. I have a kind of wide range of gear....