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Help me get a thick Jazz bass tone!

Ampeg SVT

Ampeg SVT

Son, I am disappoint.
Sep 9, 2006
3,016
33
#1
I have been having a bit of a problem with my Jazz bass, the sound is ridiculously thin. I have tried messing with the EQ on my head and it isnt really helping me much, also the tone control helps slightly but doesn't seem to add any low end.

I need a relatively thick bass tone, its not an amp or cab problem (Mesa Buster 200 and tour 410) as my peavey sounds huge and thick through my amp.

I have been thinking of getting an Audere and using that to send a thick signal with the Z mode setting that gives the most bass or getting a set of Dimarzio Model J's and wiring it in Series.

I really can't get another bass right now, I just need to use what I have now.
 
#6
I just played my new USA Standard J bass at rehearsal for the first time last night, and had a similar problem- I managed to tame the twinky high end with the tone knob and by turning down the bridge pickup, but it left me with a subsonic rumble. I didn't have any problems getting low end, but the tone just wasn't very balanced. I certainly didn't get the J-bass "growl" everyone talks about. Glad it's not just me!
 
#8
roosterbass said:
flatwounds
Click to expand...

I have had flats on a jazz before, IMHO I dont think they work for me but the flats I had werent great.

I think they sound better on a P-bass, but I could certainly try them on a Jazz again.

I have been tweaking the EQ on my amp and I am getting relatively close to what I want, the problem is that the EQ on the Buster is a bit of a pain to work with since the knobs affect one another.

I may have to add a compressor since my low D (I am tuned to DADG) is overpowering the other strings in terms of bass response. This is just really complicated, if I get some flats I may try DR flats as those were the only ones I got a good tone with on some guy's Duck Dunn.
 
#11
A guy I just played with said he met a "big time studio guy" in L.A. that was getting a big fat tone out of a jazz, and when he was asked said the secret is he uses the biggest gauge strings he can find and tunes it BEAD-then plays normal range notes in the 7-12th fret range thereby soaking up all of that resonance the upper frets tend to give out.
 
#12
gr8fulhiker said:
Bridge pup @ 7 + Neck pup @ 7 + Tone @ 3 = Maple Syrup

Trust me. ;)
Click to expand...
+1. I would run the tone at more like 80% open, but that's me.
Unlike a P bass, or any sort of active bass, the volume controls have a major influence on tone, even when kept even with each other. Rolling them back a bit as suggested by grateful hiker really helps fatten it up.
The rest is in your hands. Takes a bit of getting used to if you're used to double buck type basses.
 
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#14
The Audere should get you in the zone ... that and a pair of Nordstrand NJ4SE pickups



That is what this one is


BlueJazz.jpg


Now if you want way BIG you might want somthing like the one below ... but most folks don't want to take it that far

76JazzDS2.jpg



:) ... Usually on the 76 I use the Audere to roll some bass off
 
#15
My Geddy Jazz has been delivering nice fat sound and really
working for me. My bandleader refuses to allow me to use
any other bass right now.

Here's my setup.

Eden WT-400 run flat, no enhancer.
Slight backoff on the bass knob.
Aggie GS112 cab.

Vol/Vol knobs flat out, back bass knob out 1/10. Tone at
zero. I roll up the tone with my pinky if I want more clank, tinkle or harmonics.

I use GHS Boomer .45 - .105 nickelwound strings.

EADG with hipshot detuner for that low D.

Passive.

And the real key is Seymour Duncan Antiquity II's. They really
rule with this bass. They run about 60 bucks each new but what beautiful sound.
 
#16
kraigo said:
What are the pickups? How far are they from the strings?

KO
Click to expand...

Stock MIA Jazz pickups, about a 1/4 away from the strings. My action is relatively low (this might be my problem).

dmusic148 said:
+1. I would run the tone at more like 80% open, but that's me.
Unlike a P bass, or any sort of active bass, the volume controls have a major influence on tone, even when kept even with each other. Rolling them back a bit as suggested by grateful hiker really helps fatten it up.
The rest is in your hands. Takes a bit of getting used to if you're used to double buck type basses.
Click to expand...

I am experimenting a bit, at practice on Monday I'll work with the tone knob and volume controls.
I am more used to playing aggressively (like Flea aggressive) so this is a bit of a change.

wetheliving said:
I'm not being facetious and I love Jazz basses but I don't think of them as sounding thick. Can you give an example?
Click to expand...

I see where you are coming from, I am not expecting the jazz bass to instantly become a p-bass.

Examples:
Ben Kenney on Dig (I prefer this sound the most),
Matt Rubano of Taking back Sunday on This Photograph is proof and MakeDamnSure,
JMJ in NIN,
 
#17
Kenny Allyn said:
The Audere should get you in the zone ... that and a pair of Nordstrand NJ4SE pickups



That is what this one is


BlueJazz.jpg


Now if you want way BIG you might want somthing like the one below ... but most folks don't want to take it that far

76JazzDS2.jpg



:) ... Usually on the 76 I use the Audere to roll some bass off
Click to expand...

I have seen and heard that DS'ed jazz on youtube and the tone is to die for, the cost for the Darkstars alone would kill me unfortunately.
 

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