Bandmates prefer Jazz Basses...

[StraffordMike]

I played a G&L tribute before discovering the joys of passive electronics. Played a jazz for awhile, then wifey bought me an Am Std P - bass now I see the light!! Now at rehearsal the Jazz just seems to get eaten up by the two guitars. Seems so thin compared to the p. I must concur, if you're playing rock, especially if there's a second guitar the P is the be all end all. Play it their way and let them hear their folly for themselves.

 

[AlienLanes]

That reasoning sounds ass backwards. If a split coil is too bright, the absolute last thing I would do to fix that is switch to single coils.

Yes but a Precision pickup is a lot more mid-focused.

 

[hrodbert696]

I would actually need proof that he can tell the difference. Because I'd bet he's listening with his eyes, and assuming his gear is better than yours.

This. No reason NOT to try the guy's bass. Do a recording with each and do the blind test, see which he prefers when he doesn't know which is which.

"I think that jazz bass has us off a bit, blue4"
"No I think the problem is your capo is still on from last song Jim."

He he he. Not choice-of-bass related, but after my new band's first outing, the the guitarist sent around an email to "debrief." Among other things he said he thought my singing was a bit flat on Wagon Wheel. I wrote back to suggest it may have had something to do with his putting his capo on the wrong fret.

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.

Good version of the blind test.

fresh D'addario Rounds on both basses. I think it's just more of a pickup issue, he wants me to cut through a little more.

Seems like cutting through would be an EQ issue.

I only ever had one guitarist ask me to make a particular sound. At our second rehearsal he told me to make 'the bassiest sound' I could. He basically wanted me to double the notes he was playing with his thumb.

Haven't seen him in a long time. Don't know if he's found a bass player yet.

I've noticed this. I like a tight, articulate tone, so that people can actually hear notes from the bass. But I notice a lot of guitarists seems to want BASS bass, as boomy and flabby in the low end as you can get.

In my opinion on this whole thing, it really comes down to your estimation of this guitarist. There are guys I would listen to on a subject like this, and guys I wouldn't. @JimmyM says he always would, but then I suspect he's used to playing with a higher tier of pros than most of us. Sometimes you have someone with a real producer's ear who really can hear the differences and what would work in the overall mix, maybe better than you can. Other times you have a guy who is just listening with his eyes, or is just real proud of HIS bass and wants it on the recording out of vanity, or whatever. I'm not hearing any reason not to try it with both, and try doing it blind to see which kind of guy he really is.

 

[robthebassplaye]

Very Interesting thread, T'Bassers !

There is no doubt that a P-Bass and a Jazz Bass (from any maker) sound very different. Bottom line, it's all about what the band wants to sound like. Do you want the bass to cut through the mix and stand out? Do you want pant's legs flyin in the wind? Are the Kick Drum and Bass in sync, and do you need to differentiate them from a frequency and harmonic perspective ? These are all very unique qualities of PUPs and bass guitars. And P-bass / Jazz Basses are about as far apart on the sonic spectrum as you can get with a bass.

So, I'd suggest giving his bass a shot, see what the band thinks about the overall mix, and see if you like it, and if the band likes it.

Rob

 

[BassBrass]

"Hey man, can't wait for you to lay down these tracks on my Jazz bass" Sounds familiar. Some individual basses have a reputation for recording magic and your guitarist might think His jazz is one of those. He's probably dreaming unless he can play tracks to prove his point. Every day someone posts about bandmates OPINIONS. Usually people state opinions because they think they need to say something. Forget about it unless asked directly to change, then seem willing to discuss it. The P bass's more massive neck as well as it's flat nasty (IMHO) sound helps it stay present at high sound pressure (volume). Also, "you should totally" sounds like a 16 yo rich girl talking. "Vanessa, you should totally sign up for 24 hour beeberTV then we could text about it in study class..."

 

[Chili Bo Billy]

A few years ago, I was doing recordings on two tracks for a songwriter. Songwriter was adamant that he wanted to try different basses, he brought his basses and I brought mine. (He wanted his basses to be played on the tracks, he thought they sounded great.)
He brought a copy P bass, and an Epiphone viola bass. Both basses were set up to his liking, no problem, I'll play whatever he wants, it's his dime, not mine.
I played a total 7 basses before
The producer went with my GL Jazz, the very bass the songwriter didn't care for.
Everyone thought the Jazz nailed the tone that was right for the songs.
The producer liked the bass so much, he ordered a GL Jazz for his studio.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

I don't do the whole, "you'll sound better with X gear over what you currently have" thing.

Some people own what they own because they can't afford any better. Others have what they have because it's what they know best. And others tinker and switch gear around so often it becomes almost a challenge for them to even find a good tone because they're always chasing instead of considering how their technique plays a big part in their sound.

If he was offering it as just another option for me to consider then cool, I might try it. But personally, I play what I like because I like it, and I am fine with anyone I play with doing the same.

 

[danosix]

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.

Yeah, I wouldn't worry about what the guitarists are saying. Play what works. Of course that means listening to the mix and seeing if your band would be one that benefits from the scooped mids and distinct treble of a Jazz.
I was in a band that always wanted me to play my Jazz too - but that doesn't necessarily mean it's best - they're basing it on what sounds best on stage (or in the practice room which is even less representative of what the audience would be hearing.
Get someone with really good ears to come to a gig and play one set with one, one set with the other. Aske them which is the better with that band.
If possible repeat. Several times.
A good recoding of the FOH sound would allow you and your bandmates to decide together. It doesn't have to be studio quality - just a decent representation of what the audience is hearing.
Also, keep in mind how the guitarists would respond to you saying they should play your tele when he's playing his strat or les paul. It shouldn't be a tit for tat thing in bnds, but it is pretty equivalent - you should be working towards a BAND sound - but that should incorporate individual sounds that somewhat represent each of you.

 

[ThePresident777]

Holy crap, does anyone around here actually function in a real world? When my band members tell me something they like or dislike about what I am doing, I listen. When they do something I don't like or think is wrong, I tell them. I don't get my undies in a bunch thinking they are all idiots and I am just going to do and play whatever I want. Last time I checked, a band was a team effort and the way the band sounds as a whole is what matters, not your independent opinion that, "that gui**** has no idea what he is talking about and I am just going to do whatever I want."

Band selection of players instruments happens all the time and if you think you are above it, you are not living in the real world. But, go ahead and continue to think what you want, it's not going to hurt the open minded players at all...

Turn about is fair play. It's not like these guitarists sound like the open minded or informed type.

 

[danosix]

A few years ago, I was doing recordings on two tracks for a songwriter. Songwriter was adamant that he wanted to try different basses, he brought his basses and I brought mine. (He wanted his basses to be played on the tracks, he thought they sounded great.)
He brought a copy P bass, and an Epiphone viola bass. Both basses were set up to his liking, no problem, I'll play whatever he wants, it's his dime, not mine.
I played a total 7 basses before
The producer went with my GL Jazz, the very bass the songwriter didn't care for.
Everyone thought the Jazz nailed the tone that was right for the songs.
The producer liked the bass so much, he ordered a GL Jazz for his studio.

A lot of musicians think they have the "secret sauce" of equipment - even when they have relatively cheap stuff - nothing against cheapo stuff - I had a viola for a while and it was pretty sweet for that locomotive running downhill kind of sound, but no one should assume they have the "right thing" for another musician to play - especially if what they have is cheapo stuff (and the other person doesn't - it's just not logical).
And MOST musicians listen to instruments individually and decide they like them or don't when that really has nothing to do with what they sound like in the mix.
Any time I've done recording the soloed bass sound is AWEFUL - clanky, unsmooth, ugly. When the other instruments are there on top - sweet, smooth, beautiful.

 

[danosix]

he plays an American Standard Jazz through a newer Acoustic combo. there's never been an instance in which he preferred the sound of my P. He also doesn't have any issues with my amp tone (V4B with 212 cab)for the most part, except he prefers when I roll most of the treble "grind" out of my sound. He's just a Jazz guy through and through.

Yeah - if it's entirely personal preference, then go with yours.

 

[BrentD]

I guess it matters a lot how the guitarist is suggesting the Jazz. I'm not going to argue with Jimmy (and others) that if a songwriter or producer asks a session musician to play a certain bass they should get what they want - that's the right kind of thinking. Similarly, if this guitarist writes all original music and has a sound he's shooting for then by all means chase it. Or, on the other hand, no harm in trying out his bass just in case it's magic. One of my bands walked into a place to record and we were handed a '66 P. No questions asked, we plugged it in and the magic was there.

But that's not what we're getting here as far as I can tell. There's no "the Jazz will sit in the mix" or "the way we layer the guitars here needs that scooped J tone" or "I've played 400 Fenders in the last two years and you gotta try my Jazz, it's smoked them all." Instead it's, "Jazz basses are the best basses." It's a shame Paul didn't play one early on. That would have been better. Apparently we know what the best bass is for metal now, too. Everybody knows that the Jazz bass is the best bass. If you're not playing a Jazz, you're nothin'.

 

[Seiki]

You should totally get a jazz bass... they're the best bass."

Bring in an upright bass, tell them it's for jazz, and make them panic with your ii-V-i fundamentals

 

[BrentD]

Bring in an upright bass, tell them it's for jazz, and make them panic with your ii-V-i fundamentals

"Hello? Police? Help! There's a guy here with a big box and he's making me panic with his fundamentals!"

 

[Rib 13]

Without reading through the whole thread and not knowing anything about you and your band:

1) If you dont tell your guitar players what guitars to play, they shouldn't tell you what bass to play. (This applies to group effort band situations only)

conversely:

2) Its possible that this isnt about playing a "Jazz" but having a bass with the addition of a bridge PU (Jazz,PJ, etc), which does accentuate definition and articulation and provides more of a "modern" tone as opposed to the "classic" tone a single mid-mounted PU gets. This is probably what your mates are thinking, and I totally get that........Even though you can change hand positions, techniques, and picking locations along the string length for different tones, a single PU P-Bass still only gives you that single voice to work with: plucking at different positions along the strings changes tone, not voice - akin to making different vowel sounds with your mouth...........

 

[Rib 13]

that if a songwriter or producer asks a session musician to play a certain bass they should get what they want - that's the right kind of thinking.

of course, but this isnt a case of hired-gun session work, is it? ....Isnt the product a "group-effort" band situation - capturing the persona of several individuals as one entity? --- Yeah, of course Id try to make the guy happy but, at the same time, if this is a "group effort" and the product is "the group", then the guitarist needs to understand that part of that group includes capturing the bass player on what hes comfortable with and what he feels is his signature sound that contributes his end of the bands audio persona....The guitarist may "suggest" a bass to play, but not force it upon him

Still, the OP should be open to the idea of trying the Jazz

 

[chris_b]

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."

I didn't read this before.

I always know best. . . . . . . until a pattern of negative comment emerges. At that point you're either great and no one understands you because you're ahead of your time or (sorry) you might not sound very good. Either way everyone in the band has to be happy with everyone else or it's not going to work.

I usually (maybe a little grudgingly) listen if more than 1 person makes the same comment.

Has it got to be a Jazz? What about a Lakland?

 

[Rib 13]

I played a G&L tribute before discovering the joys of passive electronics. Played a jazz for awhile, then wifey bought me an Am Std P - bass now I see the light!! Now at rehearsal the Jazz just seems to get eaten up by the two guitars. Seems so thin compared to the p. I must concur, if you're playing rock, especially if there's a second guitar the P is the be all end all. Play it their way and let them hear their folly for themselves.

Not everybody plays Rock

 

[mcnach]

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.

Tricky one as I haven't heard the band.

Sometimes those comments can be very valid... the band may be looking for a particular vibe/sound and one particular bass sound may not be the best for it.
Sometimes, a band member (which would often be a guitarist) may comment on how much better X bass would sound. Often what it really means is "I like the sound of bass X better". A few times it may just be that he's read somewhere about a particular bass and thinks that you should totally use that amazing bass. If that's the case, try telling him how he should totally use another guitar and see what happens.

The bottom line is... does your bass sound good with this band? I think everybody in the band has a say about what the band sounds like. It's a common enterprise. You have to have some kind of goals that are similar... and discussing the sound of the band is a good thing. Some people get very precious about their instrument, and others get very stupid about dictating to others what they should sound like.... but it's a group thing, which means that there has to be a degree of compromise, and freedom given to each member to contribute ideas and sounds. As long as the discussions are discussions, and you can be mature enough to reach an agreement about what works best *for the band as a whole* then I think it's healthy.

It was a guitarist who once told me I should totally use a Stingray.
I wasn't very receptive at first. I felt he was interfering too much, and I hated the look of those things.
But I got curious and gave them a try. Guess what I use now 90% of the time? :-D

Don't be too proud to listen to others. Don't be a doormat either Be open minded and work towards what is best for the band. That's all that matters.

 

[Charlzm]

Maybe the OP should say, "You know, that Les Paul is ok, but I have a Strat that I can't wait to hear you play on the album!"