Confused about modern vs vintage jazz tone

Classic Jazz Bass tone usually refers to a band you like. Modern tone for a Jazz Bass is more like Billy Joel or Taylor Swift, not denying their talent, just not my jam.

Like = Classic
Don’t Like = Modern

 

Vintage jazz bass tone usually has less highs,more mids. This is partly from the flat wound strings used.
Modern more zing,more highs and mids,usually playes with roundwounds.
70s jazz bass tone isn't considered vintage,it is more mid heavy.

 

The bridge pickup in a ‘70s Jazz bass is slightly closer to the bridge than a ‘60s jazz bass. That makes a difference and makes a ‘70s jazz bass sound a tad brighter.

 

I've always felt that what defines modern jazz bass tone often is an active preamp with the EQ set to thicken the lows and make the highs more snappy and clear. I think of players like Will Lee and Marcus Miller, and Sadowsky basses. Definitely round wounds as well.

 

Well, vintage is vintage. There's no doubt about that. But modern is like vintage, except for it's modern. Capice?

 

Lollllll

 

Vintage vs modern tone is more about the amplification at the time. Vintage is generally more mid heavy. Modern is less so. For most of us, we can just use the Mid knob on the amp to approximate Vintage/Modern tone. It gets close enough. An EQ pedal will let you get closer.

I would ask what you're trying to achieve musically. These "tonewords" are hotly debated so its easy to get distracted by the noise.

 

These words have no single meaning so they become useless for communication. If I say "the car is red" we understand each other because the words are pretty clearly defined. We know what a car is, we know what red is. There is some variability in their definitions but not a whole lot. But many of the terms like vintage and modern have such vague and fluid meanings that true communication using them is challenging.

I consider vintage sound to be what I hear from 60's and 70's recorded top-40 hits. Typical P with flats with not a lot of deep lows or crisp highs. More of a clear midbass tone. Modern is more like smooth Jazz from the 80's. Rich deep lows, some highs for clarity. Midrange is cut, if anything. On a graphic EQ vintage would be a frown and modern would be a smile.

 

Are you asking about "jazz tone" as in the tone used to play jazz music or as in "Fender Jazz bass tone"?

 

I'm hopeful that "tonewords" can supplant "tonewood" as the most hotly debated concept on TB.

 

Coming soon to a store near you:
Fender American Vintage Modern Jazz Basses!

 

I think it means what you think it means. It's the timbre that is lodged in your brain. Narrowing down what is a classic JB sound from 60 years of recordings as well as concerts is impossible. However, that is always going to be based on what you've been exposed to.

To me a classic JB sound is like ELPs Greg Lake, Dee Murry (Elton John) or Derrick Holtz of Climax Blues band. I'm sure others have their own opinion.

A lot of your bass sounds way it is how you EQ your instrument more so than the pickups. I would start there spending a good deal of time exploring. Not there?? Then try different strings, and if you find you still aren't there, then try replacing pickups.

As for replacement pickups, I installed a set of Fender 62s about 18 years ago on my Son's MIM Fender JB that made a profound difference.

 

For vintage, turn down the passive tone knob.
For modern, crank the volumes & tone and maybe also add some active bass & treble boost.
That'll get you a general idea.

 

The existence of vintage tone implies that there could also be classic and antique tones. I have yet to see those tonewords used on TB, but they could be coming to a post near you.

 

I’m not a tone aficionado, I just don’t have a fine sensibility in the area. I would’ve said that vintage sounds more like a double bass and modern more twangy. How wrong is that?

 

Modern Vintage Basses