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I’m done with jazz basses

#42
Makatak said:
https://images.reverb.com/image/upl...90,w_620/v1408622699/ywj73u2wjnqgj3zrsuyq.jpg

I`ve found a Jazz needs to run through an outboard preamp to give it balls live, I run mine through either my MXR M81 or Aphex Bass Xciter and boy does it shine. Except the Sadowsky which has its own pre. I hear what you`re saying though but I just don't get the same responsiveness from a P bass and cant handle the neck width.

A good solution is a P bass special, thin neck and PJ pickup configuration. They sound great ! ( and look cool in Seafoam green :) )
Click to expand...

I agree, (outboard or inboard pre) - an active harness like an Audere adds meat to a J and delivers all that it does well more dynamically.
 
#44
I have a Am Special Honeyburst P that I love and a 06 Am Std Jazz with the S1 switch and I love the tone of both with flats. I have a Squier CV 60s Jazz with rounds that feels great but I hate the sound.

I think that there is enough variation in vintage, pickups, mass/weight, amplification, etc. between instruments that if you aren't getting the sound that you want, you can keep on searching until you find what pleases you. It may take a while, but I wouldn't write off an entire line or type of bass based on the few you've owned.

OTOH, if it is more trouble than it's worth to you, then by all means be a P guy. Ain't nothing wrong with that.
 
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#46
I find it often depends on what kind of sound the guitarist is getting. If he's using a strat or acoustic, the jazz bass is usually able to stand out. If he's using a more robust guitar and tone, the guitar and bass tend to blend in a little too much so it's often difficult to discern and make out the bassline. The P-Bass, MM or a humbucker equipped bass has enough low frequency capabilities to get "underneath" and stand out. Of course in a studio setting you can balance things somewhat and much more easily with a jazz bass but live, it can be difficult to get it just right.
 
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#47
Makatak said:
https://images.reverb.com/image/upl...90,w_620/v1408622699/ywj73u2wjnqgj3zrsuyq.jpg

I`ve found a Jazz needs to run through an outboard preamp to give it balls live, I run mine through either my MXR M81 or Aphex Bass Xciter and boy does it shine. Except the Sadowsky which has its own pre. I hear what you`re saying though but I just don't get the same responsiveness from a P bass and cant handle the neck width.

A good solution is a P bass special, thin neck and PJ pickup configuration. They sound great ! ( and look cool in Seafoam green :) )
Click to expand...
I just got a Fender Aerodyne. Similar specs to the Special but cooler looking, IMO. Black, tho', not Seafoam . . . (although there is a CAR one on Reverb!)
 
#50
I'm more of a P guy, but I like J's in certain contexts, for example I prefer them to a P in power trio settings--with a pick I like the sort of big, wide sound you can get with deep lows and some crisp highs, with a space in the middle for the guitars to sit. But it's not a punchy mid-forward sound like a P. It's almost like the difference between mono and stereo in a way, for lack of a better analogy. That said, if you tried DiMarzio Model J's in one of yours it would transform it. Put them in my Geddy and that thing sounds BEEFY now. Great mids.
 
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#51
Before you sell off your Jazz basses, try this setting. Turn both volume knobs and the tone knob on your Jazz Bass all the way up. Set your amp's EQ to flat on bass and treble and boost the low-mids to about 1:30. If you have control over where the low-mids are centered, get as close to 250Hz as you can. If you amp/speaker set is a bit "woolly" sounding, drop the bass EQ to 11 o'clock. If you want a lot of string noise and clanky fret sounds, boost the treble (please DON'T do that. It sounds really crappy;))

Now if you don't like that sound, then you probably won't like any Jazz bass If you really want a P-bass sound...buy a P-bass.
 
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#54
I'm a P guy - I've got six basses with P pickups, but have recently been entertaining getting a J. I heard one with flats and really liked it.

If you want to try a P and like the J neck I strongly recommend the old USA made Peavey Fury's. They are easy to find, very inexpensive, have the 1-1/2" nut, and are light weight. The only mods I've made to mine are to put light weight tuners on them. Peavey makes things to last forever and they put tuners on them that are very well built, but heavy.

I played a '69P with J neck for decades, so I'm very familiar with the P sound. And to be sure, there are variations. Some are vintage sounding and others are more modern (a little brighter and with more sustain). But all sit well in a mix, especially in the studio.
 
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#55
Ok - this is just to put you up to no good, but - I've always played PJ basses and wouldn't ever be without one. I really dig the beef of the P, with the bite of the J. However...

I did treat myself to a set of Delano Sbc5 He/s pickups. They're 4-wire, so you can get single/parallel/series, and independently if you want. I currently have them set up passive with push-pull tone pots that are series down, parallel up. I can make that bass sound very jazz-ish, or not if I choose. Just a thought - If you want a token jazz in your stable, but not be stuck with a one-trick pony uni-tasker, that could be a way to go for you.
 
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#56
If you do not like them, get rid of them. 90% of your sound is you feeling in tune with the band and with your gear. Some people can feel that way with anything (Macca, Jeff Beck...), I personally can´t. I play the J or P rather indifferently, but the Rick and the MM never made it with the salsa band.
 
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#57
this is a timely thread for me. i've been a pbass player for over 30 years. i had a brief dalliance with a mm stingray in the early '90s that lasted a couple years. i wanted to like the mm, but i never meshed with it. i traded it even-up for my '73 pbass. good trade (like in that kevin costner movie). i just scored a mim '70s jazz bass from a fellow tb-er that should arrive in a few days. through i've played a jazz a couple times, i've never really spent significant time with one. i'm looking forward to seeing if i can make it work for me. we had a gig last night, and the opening act was noise-rock trio. the kid on bass was playing a jazz through a gk/ampeg 810 rig and a couple pedals. he sounded good. their lead singer is a knucklehead, but i digress.

tl/dr: love passes; hope i can make my incoming jbass work.

and props to garagiste and his band! i've never seen anyone cover "miss you". bravo!
 
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#59
I have a Jazz and several P/J Fenders, I'll bring the jazz to gigs here and there but always go back to the P/J after the set. A P or P/J just has a lot of b@lls and presence that Jazz basses don't have. I even notice it at home playing through small amps, I do think they are more punchy with flat wounds on them though and may try some more flats.
 
#60
Add me to the done with Jazzes list. I've tried, but every time I've played a J at a gig, It just doesn't give me the sound I want to hear. I'm first of all a P-bass guy. I am able to warm up to my MusicMan Stingray and my G&L L2500. I keep around a Yamaha BBG5 passive just to have a Jazz-type instrument and keep a Mexican Jazz fretless just because it is fretless. After about 40 years, I no longer feel bad or apologize for not favoring a Jazz bass.
 
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