I’m done with jazz basses

[Retroblaster]

i threw a set of bartolini humbuckers and got more punch and balls. But didnt get the tone i needed untill i put an active passive preamp in it and then my tone showed up big time. Dont know why i didnt do so in the first place. My basses are not original per say but they sound just as great if not better than any boutique basses on thr market and most of all i still get lots of compliments on how great my jazz basses sound.

 

[bass12]

Play what you like and don't worry about what other people think - unless they are the people hiring you.

 

[jamro217]

I'm with you. Lots of people have had success making great music with Jazz Basses, just not me.

 

[rogerbmiller]

It’s funny I found that my Js were a better alternative to my Ps in my classic rock band. The P is great but I can get as much beef from the J and it also cuts better. That is great for me as we are a 6 piece and once in a while you can get lost in all the sound.

I am guessing if you are at this point you have exhausted options in terms of amp EQ settings, pickup height, strings etc?

 

[bucephylus]

Here’s the ‘66 MIJ in rehearsal last night

OK, so you are using the bass in a setting where you want the old school P tone. Got to use the right tool for the job. No question a P will cover what you are doing there.

The J can do that, but will do it best with different pickups and an onboard preamp.

This bass will do it (as well as a LOT of other stuff):

Two things here. The Sadowsky onboard preamp has a thing called the Vintage Tone Control, which is a very simple high end cut that magically dials in the old school flats vibe. Second, the Delano JMVC pickups; the neck pickup is absolute magic for getting into the split P territory. So, this bass does the P thing really well when wanted, but quickly shifts gears into different zones. Very practical.

 

[Kukulkan61]

Im a P bass player myself and have been thru a few Js, I did keep the last Jazz I bought and it's the best one so it's a keeper. It's no P Bass but it's not nasally and thin like most. Maybe it had something to do with these upgrades..Squier VM. the harness is also upgraded. I bought this bass here on TB already done up...

 

[B-line]

I won't re-read all 7 pages of this very interesting thread, but I'm not sure if the main discussion was concerning FENDER Jazz basses, or the J-Bass configuration in general.

I've never owned a Fender Jazz; but have owned 2 very high-end J-Basses, one active (Sadowsky NYC); one passive (an Alleva-Coppola). Needless to say, both of them were outstanding instruments; top-rate, but I never felt that I was getting what I wanted from them.
However- I now own (3) J-Bass style instruments, 2 active- A Sago 2-band, and a Dragonfly 3-band; as well as a Sugi Nightbreeze passive.

I would NEVER let go of these instruments; they give me exactly what I want and more. In addition, I also have an exceptional Stevens Slant 4, which is essentially a J-Bass, but the pups and switching are so advanced and unique, its really a "step above" the Jazz bass build.

I'm not sure I'd bond with a Fender Jazz, even a higher-end or Custom shop model, I'd probably rather go for a G&L, Lakland, or Lull, and a Suhr is also on my"gotta try" list of Jazz basses.

There are many builders who make an exceptional J-style bass, I've been looking at Maruszczyk for example, Atelier-Z makes awesome instruments, Mayones comes to mind as well as... the list is long and tempting.

The fact that I'm loving my Japanese J-bass builds, and that the Stevens is amazing make me think that its the electronics and build elements that either make or break a Jazz-style bass.

Maybe Fender falls short in that for the OP and others, then again many players KILL with a stock Fender Jazz- I can recall a clip of Anthony Jackson playing a J-Bass (4-string; stock I believe) and its absolutely phenomenal. I've seen Christian McBride live using a Suhr I think, and needless to say- he was incredible. And Marcus Miller- 'nuff said.

 

[rllefebv]

i threw a set of bartolini humbuckers and got more punch and balls. But didnt get the tone i needed untill i put an active passive preamp in it and then my tone showed up big time. Dont know why i didnt do so in the first place. My basses are not original per say but they sound just as great if not better than any boutique basses on thr market and most of all i still get lots of compliments on how great my jazz basses sound.

I had almost the polar opposite experience... I put some barts in an old J, and they were so “polite” that every time I tried to dial in some “burp”, they’d say “Excuse me”...

I’m in the camp that loves everything about a J bass WHEN SOMEONE ELSE IS PLAYING THEM. Seriously! I’ve had several that I’ve bought after a period of lust, only to case them after a time. I’ve finally settled on a 60s Lacquer as the keeper J, not because it sounds great in my hands, but because it sounds better than any of the others I’ve owned, and it keeps the “Gotta have a J” GAS at bay...

Live recordings confirm that it sounds fine in the audience, and can carry the load. I just don’t feel a connection during the performance. For some reason, a bass with a single pickup in the sweet spot speaks to me with more immediacy when I’m in the drivers seat... Doesn’t necessarily have to be a P, (though they do check all my boxes)... I get the same hit from a couple of modded Musicmasters or a home brew medium scale with a TV Jones pickup.

There are enough basses out there to find one that fits. J’s are astonishingly beautiful in the right hands... just not mine

-robert

 

[TN WOODMAN]

Factory. It's a USA Jazz. I'm not a Fender fan, but I like this one a lot.

Completely forgot about this bass. Should of bought the only one I've seen when Mars Music in Nashville was closing years ago .

 

[Spent]

Completely forgot about this bass. Should of bought the only one I've seen when Mars Music in Nashville was closing years ago .

I almost sold it a while back. Didn’t really play it much after I bought an Aerodyne. Never really bonded with the Aerodyne, ended up selling it. I just started up a prog band and figured it was time to play the basses I normally don’t (after years playing top 40 in a cover band). I brought it to rehearsal along with my 6 string Carvin LB76w. I forgot how much fun it was to play, ended up using it the whole night. A much better bass than I remembered. Won’t even consider parting with it.

 

[Baird6869]

Active and "modern" Jazz basses work better for me than passive. They just cut better IME and are more versatile.

I still love my 1972 Jazz, but I don't gig it anymore as my Valenti with Nordys blows it away in a band mix.

 

[scubaduba]

I've tried to like J basses for years. I go through the cycle of saying "I need a J bass in my stable" and then buy one only to rotate it out. I've tried multiple Fenders (active and passive) both USA and MIM. I've tried other boutique builds from the likes of Sadowsky, Valenti, and Mayones. These are in a different league but still didn't remain keepers for me. They all sound great to me at home but not live. Just some fundamental missing or something. Like others in this thread I guess I'm typically more of a humbucker guy. Then I managed to find a Bossa UJB and wow! Now I'm in love. Love the way this thing sounds in single coil mode. Preamp also allows inner coils and full humbuckers but the single coil 70's J position just flat out rocks and is the J tone in my head with big fundamental in the mix. Something about the Japanese J basses for sure.

 

[B-line]

I've tried to like J basses for years. I go through the cycle of saying "I need a J bass in my stable" and then buy one only to rotate it out. I've tried multiple Fenders (active and passive) both USA and MIM. I've tried other boutique builds from the likes of Sadowsky, Valenti, and Mayones. These are in a different league but still didn't remain keepers for me. They all sound great to me at home but not live. Just some fundamental missing or something. Like others in this thread I guess I'm typically more of a humbucker guy. Then I managed to find a Bossa UJB and wow! Now I'm in love. Love the way this thing sounds in single coil mode. Preamp also allows inner coils and full humbuckers but the single coil 70's J position just flat out rocks and is the J tone in my head with big fundamental in the mix. Something about the Japanese J basses for sure.

"Something about the Japanese J basses for sure."

Why,
Yes, Yes,... There is!
(Bwaahaaaahaaaaa!)

 

[SpruceApple]

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.

This is exactly what I have done, for all the reasons stated. Truly great guitars.

Recently I picked up an 80s Peavey Foundation, their answer to a Fender Jazz. Same slim neck as the Fury, but with two Super Ferrite pickups. These SF pickups have more booty than a Fender J and may give my Fury's some competition for playing time.

 

[SpruceApple]

I own 15 basses. From those, 8 are Jazz. Post pictures and clip of yours and include price, I may buy them.
One man's dream is another man's nightmare.

This one is available. 2008 Fender USA Jazz. Mint condition with the case and all candy.

 

[Toolmybass]

I always thought you could get a jazz bass to sound like a p bass but not the other way around...

Yes!
JPJ has done this for 50 years!!

 

[Toolmybass]

but mostly I play the amps at our shared rehearsal space or whatever is at the club.

THIS is at least 80% of your problem right there

 

[Toolmybass]

I have a hard time recording with instruments other than my Geddy Jazz. That thing SLAYS on recordings!

My latest jazz recording.
No effects...No editing, straight jazz through the interface!! KILLER

 

[FirewalZ]

Ive been watching this thread, so last night I brought my P and J to the gig. I played the first 2 sets with the P and the last set with the J. Our group set up last night was;1 electric guitar, 1 acoustic, drums and bass (this is important IMO). Neither guitar was low end heavy at all so there was nothing else in bottom end besides the kick. The P bass of course sounded real good and had that mid forward grind, it sounded very clear and sat up a tad closer to the guitars mix wise. The Jazz (neck=full, bridge=backed off 10%, tone=backed off 25%) by contrast was much warmer and fuller in the low and low/mids. It was equally as clear as the P but it sat down from the guitars a bit more in the mix and was noticeably fuller and warmer(quote from soundman). Whats the lesson?....It validates my approach, when something else will be stepping on the "basses toes" frequency wise, nothing will cut and sit in the mix like a P bass. When there is little or nothing else in your frequency space, a Jazz works really well to fill things out and should still be clear.

 

[vegas532]

My latest jazz recording.
No effects...No editing, straight jazz through the interface!! KILLER

Keep your door locked, sir. lol