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Getting That Ballsy Growl On a Jazz

T

two1frets

Jul 17, 2009
18
0
#1
Hey

I've been interested in getting that growl the jazz bass is known for, but have had a hard time. I've got myself a MIA Jazz, so the bass shouldnt be the problem.

An example of nice a tone:

Around 28 Seconds in at the start of the verse. Listen to the bass: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVYhhF7bRa0

I know a lot of this has to do with the amp, cab, and vintage jazz, but what are some of the ways I can get this sweet tone by technique and pickup blending? Also, should the strings be new?

If you know a thread related to this, please refer me to it, or post your knowledge in this one.

Thanks!:bassist:
 
#3
two1frets said:
Hey

I've been interested in getting that growl the jazz bass is known for, but have had a hard time. I've got myself a MIA Jazz, so the bass shouldnt be the problem.

An example of nice a tone:

Around 28 Seconds in at the start of the verse. Listen to the bass: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVYhhF7bRa0

I know a lot of this has to do with the amp, cab, and vintage jazz, but what are some of the ways I can get this sweet tone by technique and pickup blending? Also, should the strings be new?

If you know a thread related to this, please refer me to it, or post your knowledge in this one.

Thanks!:bassist:
Click to expand...

Flea is digging right in with his right hand there, thats the edge but digging in that hard means you lose some bottom, boost up the low mids to compensate and add some top, not high end hissy top but below those frequency's, mainly dig in with your first 2 fingers, a lower action helps but not too low.

The mids are an important cutting/speaking range for this kinda sound.

Strings....newish, about month old or more, both pickup's and tone right up.
 
#12
two1frets said:
Hey

I've been interested in getting that growl the jazz bass is known for, but have had a hard time. I've got myself a MIA Jazz, so the bass shouldnt be the problem.

An example of nice a tone:

Around 28 Seconds in at the start of the verse. Listen to the bass:

I know a lot of this has to do with the amp, cab, and vintage jazz, but what are some of the ways I can get this sweet tone by technique and pickup blending? Also, should the strings be new?

If you know a thread related to this, please refer me to it, or post your knowledge in this one.

Thanks!:bassist:
Click to expand...
Doesn't sound like it has anything to do with the amp or cab or vintage jazz to me. Just sounds like most any jazz-style bass with someone really digging in on it. Of course, you can't eq the tone like Marcus Miller to get there. You have to leave things kind of flat. Just sounds like a passive single coil jazz to me.
 
#16
This "sound" is the sole reason I have a jazz bass. I love that grindy, almost overdrive, metallic, border line clanky sound of a single coil right at the bridge dug in hard!

I do a cover of "No Feelings" by the sex pistols with that sound. I can't tell you how much I love it!

Nobody on here probably even heard of "tommorow's girl" by UK Subs, but I do that there too.
 

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