Fender Jazz Just WON'T Cut Through!

[billinbrasil]

I'm at my wit's end with this Fender Jazz Standard, I cannot get an articulate tone out of it when playing with my band (classic rock trio, not overly loud). All of my other basses (a lot of other basses) all work, some active, some passive, some with rounds, some with flats. I run a mid heavy EQ and never have a problem cutting through, except for this particular bass. I've run it with both pickups, just bridge, just neck. Just neck is the best but it's still not what I want or expect. It's strung with round steels.

What else can I try before I sell it?

EDIT: I should say that the bass sounds fantastic by itself.

 

[rickdog]

Do you (or someone you know) have a clean boost you could try out? I'm wondering if maybe your other basses (even the passive ones) have hotter output than your Jazz and are hitting the preamp a little harder and getting a little grit where your Jazz stays clean?

 

[lomo]

With both pups up full the J is always mid-scooped, and mids are what will get you heard unless your volume is overpowering or the mix isn't very dense. I switched to a 'ray and happily fixed this.....soloing 1 or the other of your pups will also help.

 

[billinbrasil]

Do you (or someone you know) have a clean boost you could try out? I'm wondering if maybe your other basses (even the passive ones) have hotter output than your Jazz and are hitting the preamp a little harder and getting a little grit where your Jazz stays clean?

My amp has a gain adjustment on the input and I run it so the clip light "just doesn't come on" when thrashing the strings. I adjust it like this for all of my basses, so they are all hitting preamp about the same, I would think. I've even run this Jazz a little hot to see if it helps, it just gets louder but the definition still isn't there.

 

[billinbrasil]

With both pups up full the J is always mid-scooped, and mids are what will get you heard unless your volume is overpowering or the mix isn't very dense. I switched to a 'ray and happily fixed this.....soloing 1 or the other of your pups will also help.

Yes, with both pickups, it scoops a lot. The best situation I've found is to solo the neck pickup and the bass becomes "useable" but still not where I want to be.

I have two Rays, one with rounds and another with flats, both cut through with no problem. I even have a Squier VM Jazz with 15 year old flats that comes through better than this Fender Standard with new rounds.

I cannot understand this at all..

 

[Jhalb]

I’ve always leaned toward the Jazz but I was at a club last month and a Jazz was used the first set and he switched to a Precision the second set. I assume the amp settings stayed the same. Much better with the p. He switched back to the Jazz for the last 2 sets and the bass was lost again.

 

[64jazzbass]

If you are leaning towards keeping it I would try and onboard or outboard preamp like the Sadowsky. There are many out there. I love my 1973 Jazz but it gets lost in the mix. I use a Sadowsky outboard and it helps.

 

[Jefenator]

Sounds like it *might* be a good candidate for a pickup swap.
Some say that's all snake oil, but that has not been my experience!
My quest for the dopest set o' J singles ended with Lollar, so that's where I would recommend you begin. But that's just me.

 

[AK Bass Guy]

I’m going to sound like a broken record but…
Add a series parallel switch and run the pups in series. In series the pups don’t midscoop.
Series parallel switch is a cheap modification people having been using on J basses for years.

 

[godofthunder59]

I use a old DOD bi-fet pre amp to beef up my Fenders, Jazz basses need it the most.

 

[C Stone]

Pre, comp…try neck PU 90%, bridge 50%, tone to taste, then bump mid on your amp.

 

[bass12]

Sometimes a bass just won't cut through. It's not because it's a Jazz - plenty of Jazz basses, both passive and active, cut through perfectly - you just got unlucky. I got unlucky with an AVRI P several years ago. The thing would disappear in a mix and there was no saving it. If you're not opposed to relying on a preamp you could go that route.

 

[funkinbottom]

John East J-Retro preamp.

 

[Gervais Cote]

I had a similar problem with my jazz bass and got it fixed by putting some Dunlop Marcus Miller stainless steel super bright rounds.

I also noticed over time that some Fender jazz basses with graphite reinforcement rods tend to be a tad quiet. An American Performer jazz bass sounds more lively in comparison.

 

[wyleeboxer]

My jazz basses are are strung with GHS pressurewounds… for cutting through I roll the neck pickup back just about an 1/8th turn or just until your hear that mid growl come in, then I roll my tone knob back about half.. never have a problem cutting thru and each note is very articulate.

 

[carsonchilders]

Anyone giving away a vintage jazz bass because it won't cut through? My DMs are open!

A jazz bass doesn't sound like a p bass but if you are actually at your wits end something else is going on. Add some mids with an eq, compensate with volume if you need to (and you'll hear some top end too!).... Or just sell the bass. Don't go doing 20 mods and adding 7 preamps with your tech only to realize you just don't like the bass.

But there have been plenty of BA players that cut through just fine with a jazz bass.

 

[lowplaces]

I'm at my wit's end with this Fender Jazz Standard, I cannot get an articulate tone out of it when playing with my band (classic rock trio, not overly loud). All of my other basses (a lot of other basses) all work, some active, some passive, some with rounds, some with flats. I run a mid heavy EQ and never have a problem cutting through, except for this particular bass. I've run it with both pickups, just bridge, just neck. Just neck is the best but it's still not what I want or expect. It's strung with round steels.

What else can I try before I sell it?

EDIT: I should say that the bass sounds fantastic by itself.

You mean the new Standard Jazz made in Indonesia ?

 

[billinbrasil]

You mean the new Standard Jazz made in Indonesia ?

No, it's a 2012 USA Jazz.

 

[tpaul]

I also noticed over time that some Fender jazz basses with graphite reinforcement rods tend to be a tad quiet. An American Performer jazz bass sounds more lively in comparison.

American Performer basses don't have graphite reinforcement rods? I thought all American Fender basses since about 1995 have had them.

 

[billinbrasil]

Thanks for all of the replies. I'm gonna take it Saturday for a small pub gig. As required, I'll get "stupid" with the EQ just to see how far I have to go to get it to show up better in the mix.

I'll take one of my Rays as well, just in case the Jazz doesn't respond...