Geddy Jazz Poll - Resonance Question

[DigitalMan]

I have a Geddy Lee Jazz that I greatly enjoy playing. It's comfortable and I like the sound a whole lot.

I've noticed however that compared to my Ric 4003 and Fender P bass that the Geddy is neither as deep nor as loud as the other two basses acoustically. In other words, given the same strings and setup the Ric and P are very close in terms of their natural resonance (as tested by playing open strings while hanging from the wall), but the Geddy is very different. I thought it'd be interesting to see what people think is the main factor influencing this.

You may select more than one answer.

 

[Corevalay]

I wish i knew, this way I could solve the problem with mine as well! I really don't even know what to vote for!

I just bought Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounder PUPs to see if they can boost the output some.

 

[RCCollins]

it's the pickups. now you've played a jazz bass.

 

[4001]

My Geddy Jazz Bass was an early one from 1998 and it is way loud. Tons of output.
I have noticed that a lot of Geddy Jazz Basses I've tried recently are weak and nowhere near the sound of mine.
The pickups dont look the same as mine in terms of the pole pieces (not that the shape should really matter) The new ones I've seen have beveled edges and mine have flat ones suggesting they are different than the ones in mine..

They switched to different (worse) pickups somewhere along the line.

I have another Jazz Bass (Squier) that I wanted to swap out the pickups for a set of pickups like the ones in my Geddy Lee Jazz Bass to at least get as close to the sound as possible.
Fender told me that they are using the "Original Jazz Bass" pickups for the Geddy Lee model.
I ordered a set and they are completly weak and not at all like the ones in my CIJ Geddy Lee Jazz Bass.
The Squier still has the original pickups it came with and they sound better than those "Original Jazz Bass" pickups that Fender said were in the Geddy Lee Jazz Basses and I now have no use for.
That's what are in the Geddy Lee Jazz Basses now. Those weak, low output Fender "Original Jazz Bass" pickups.

Find an old one with the better pickups. Probably a CIJ or older MIM one.

 

[unclebass]

This is very interesting to hear. I have wanted a Geddy Lee jazz for over a year now, but may think twice before purchasing. My local music store still has a made in japan model hanging on the wall, and it is beautiful. I noticed that when I tried it out, it felt the same as my squier standard jazz, even seems to have the same profile neck. Perhaps I will simply upgrade the electronics in the squier since I like the feel of it, will come out cheaper, though it will not have any more resale value.

 

[MICKUSS]

He's not talking about how it sound plugged in.

 

[Salamenster]

He's not talking about how it sound plugged in.

YES! THIS!

 

[DigitalMan]

He's not talking about how it sound plugged in.

Correct.

 

[unclebass]

He's not talking about how it sound plugged in.

responding to 4001, not O.P.

 

[Salamenster]

I think it's the thinner neck. Less 'space' to vibrate trough? Therefore less resonance? Just some speculations, though.

 

[Grissle]

I feel many times a less resonant bass gets a tighter defined sound and the more resonant basses can have a more woody acoustic sound. Both are good, just depends on taste.

 

[nicopiano]

I tried one a few weeks ago... I juste LOVE the neck and the finish! But the sound = average.

Instead, I got a Fender American Deluxe J.

 

[kcole4001]

It's gotta be the neck.

If there's a big difference between it and your other basses unplugged, then it's a physical property of the bass, not electrical or technique related.
Presumably you play with basically the same technique while making the comparison, so it's gotta be in the hardware, body, or the neck.
The neck is easily the biggest difference, so that's likely the cause.

There are folks here who claim that a big bulky piece of lumber for a neck makes for superb tone.
The Rick abd P necks are easily more bulky than any Jazz neck, especially a Geddy Jazz neck, so logically that's a major part of the difference.

You can't completely rule out that the body wood is contributing to the issue, it well may be, and you won't know for sure unless you try your Geddy neck o nanother Jazz body.
I personally don't think the bridge and other hardware make that significant of a variable.

 

[REV]

I think it's something else that makes a Geddy unique. I think it's the best sounding Jazz bass that Fender makes. I can't really say what makes it sound so good but I like it way more than other Jazz basses that I've played.

 

[EagleMoon]

I would guess it's the neck as well. Since it's thinner it might not resonate as much.

 

[4001]

He's not talking about how it sound plugged in.

I just realised that. My bad.

My GL Jazz Bass has about the same resonance unplugged as my other two Jazz Basses.

 

[IPA]

an inch of poly all over the whole thing perhaps?

 

[z11111]

That neck is one of the thinnest I've ever played. I have small hands and even I feel like a giant playing it

 

[MICKUSS]

For what it's worth, my Geddy Jazz(CIJ 2000) seems louder than my MIA P-bass when played unplugged. It's wearing D'addario Half-rounds tuned down to C and the P has Chromes tuned to standard.

 

[stuntbass77]

I had to replace my geddy neck with an after market neck i had lying around, because even after a pup's change it still had a weak E string and moved to easily with weather. It was a beautiful neck and well made, just could not get the sound i need out of it. Now its my frankenjazz and gets played the most (funny cause its the cheapest bass i own).