I found out I don't like Jazz basses

[CRONOS]

let me start I have listened to all these awesome jazz basses great sound. then one day I played a j bass at my local GC but it sounded like crape. I thought it was just the bass but then I played another one to day and it was the same. But I love P basses. My friend has a cool silver squire with black hardware and it sounded awesome. what do you guys think why I don't like Jazz basses.

 

[EagleMoon]

I played a j bass at my local GC

Here's why.

 

[MisterMagician]

let me start I have listened to all these awesome jazz basses great sound. then one day I played a j bass at my local GC but it sounded like crape. I thought it was just the bass but then I played another one to day and it was the same. But I love P basses. My friend has a cool silver squire with black hardware and it sounded awesome. what do you guys think why i don't like Jazz basses.

There's your problem.

 

[CRONOS]

So it's because of guitar center?

 

[Diogenes]

So it's because of guitar center?

In a way... even thought the response was a little simplistic. GC and other such guitar stores aren't known for their instrument setup... in fact I've seen plenty if higher end basses at these types of stores that played and sounded like crap because they weren't set up properly.

But basically if you don't like the sound of a Jazz, that's cool. There's nothing wrong or even surprising about that. That's why there are so many different kinds of basses on the market... to suit the huge variety of tastes.

 

[Sorefinger]

It´s because P basses really do sound so much better. Fact.

 

[RTL]

I don't see what all the fuss is about..

I hate all basses...

 

[CRONOS]

It´s because P basses really do sound so much better. Fact.

True I love P basses.

 

[SpamBot]

I prefer the sound of Ps. It seems however most people prefer Js over Ps.

 

[FenderHotRod]

Sounds to me a Jazz Bass is just not your thing right now...

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Different strokes for different folks. True, the setup will make a huge difference in the sound and feel, but if you prefer the overall sound of a P, that's fine. The P-Bass is a fine instrument.

I happen to like both although I have been favoring the Jazz these days.

 

[Johnny Mack]

ive always played P basses. recently i got the urge to own a jazz. after much time hating the look, i began to actually like it (thanks TB). what i did was buy a nice looking SX J. the sound was good, but was definitely missing something. heres why i didnt like the sound, i was used to solid model P pickups wired in series for that nice fat sound. the jazz had two single coil pickups wired in parallel. the jazz already has a built in scoop tone, but adding weaker pickups combined with them in parallel just made it weak. what i did was replace the neck pickup with a dual coil model J and wired it in series with the bridge single coil pickup. i also wired it straight to the jack. i can still hear a slight scoop, but in general is sounds similar to my P, but with better clarity and high mid response. maybe it just isnt your thing, maybe you would like it with a different configuration.

 

[Valerus]

Your loss.

 

[4stringmangler]

the thing that bothers me about j basses is the controls. i like the cut and dry approach of flipping between neck and bridge pickup. i dislike the the blend knob for the pickups.

 

[elgecko]

Are you seriously asking us why YOU don't like jazz basses?

then one day I played a j bass at my local GC but it sounded like crape.

Question answered!

 

[CRONOS]

Are you seriously asking us why YOU don't like jazz basses?

:

Question answered!

The people above had an answer.

 

[black.rose1402]

good for you, it's as important to know what you don't like as knowing what you like.

 

[Philbiker]

It´s because P basses really do sound so much better. Fact.

Yup.

I loved Jazz basses for many years, but my tastes have changed and I no longer like them much. I sold the ones I had and now have a couple P-J basses where I almost never use the J pickup.

 

[jbassbob]

the thing that bothers me about j basses is the controls. i like the cut and dry approach of flipping between neck and bridge pickup. i dislike the the blend knob for the pickups.

Blend knob?

 

[wvbass]

Nothing wrong with not liking jazz basses. There are quite a few basses that I like to hear other people play, but I don't like the way they sound in my hands.

I've come to find that, in general, I don't like other peoples' basses. I know what to expect from all my basses and am familiar with their strengths and weaknesses. When I ever "sit it," I always feel like the other guys bass is crap. Its not, of course (ok, sometimes it is), but its just not what I'm used to hearing/feeling.