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I found out I don't like Jazz basses
- Thread starter CRONOS
- Start date
you can't judge a bass properly from playing it solo in a guitar shop... you need to play it in a band setting (YOUR band) to tell if it's any good or not
subjectively, P-basses tend to have a richer low-mid range that sounds great on its own... it also sounds great in a mix IF you have space... however, try playing a p-bass in amongst a band with lots of humbucker-laden guitars and big overdriven amps and you'll find yourselves all competing for the same frequencies... this is why modern hard rock bands tend not to use P-basses very often
conversely, Jazzes tend to have a bit of a hollow low-mid range, which can sound a bit empty when sat in a music shop, but often fits better into a REAL LIFE situation... Jazzes tend to sit in the mix by poking through underneath and above the low-mids of those soupy guitars
I suggest you try one (or any bass for that matter) in a band situation before deciding whether or not it's any good
subjectively, P-basses tend to have a richer low-mid range that sounds great on its own... it also sounds great in a mix IF you have space... however, try playing a p-bass in amongst a band with lots of humbucker-laden guitars and big overdriven amps and you'll find yourselves all competing for the same frequencies... this is why modern hard rock bands tend not to use P-basses very often
conversely, Jazzes tend to have a bit of a hollow low-mid range, which can sound a bit empty when sat in a music shop, but often fits better into a REAL LIFE situation... Jazzes tend to sit in the mix by poking through underneath and above the low-mids of those soupy guitars
I suggest you try one (or any bass for that matter) in a band situation before deciding whether or not it's any good
I had the same dislike until I found the Fender Jazz 24 which has one volume and a pickup blend knob. So much simpler. I can turn down the total volume without altering the mix. I added a switch to allow me to play with the pickups in the standard parallel arrangement or in series. It gives it more bottom end.
If I used the Guitar Center benchmark for testing basses, then I'd hate so much stuff out there.
Fact, their lack of setups and dead strings makes so much of their inventory sound like crap.
Fact, their lack of setups and dead strings makes so much of their inventory sound like crap.
"then one day I played a j bass at my local GC but it sounded like crape."
It sounded like a crape?
It sounded like a crape?
This is metal. I would agree a J would sit better in a mix for metal than a P, but I think an active bass really works best in that situation. However, in any genre where guitars are not mostly low-end drop-tuned mushy sounding pieces of ****, you'll find the P-bass sits in the mix about the same as a J. For most music, it's really personal preference, you can't claim a J is better because of mix parameters.
i like j basses but yeah they just have a different feel and sound listen to a good jazz song and see what there dealing with R.I.P Cliff Brtonlet 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.
^ ....You do realize that jazz is vastly more often played on an upright bass than a jazz bass, right?
i dunno if this is at all relevant, but the last two jazz basses i played in shops i discovered when i plugged them in that both of them had their tone nob on zero..
also, the jazz is an instrument with a lot more variation in it's tone. like everything with versatility, it can be made to sounds ratty in certain situations.
also the quality of the instrument comes into play.
was it a squire? or?
also, the jazz is an instrument with a lot more variation in it's tone. like everything with versatility, it can be made to sounds ratty in certain situations.
also the quality of the instrument comes into play.
was it a squire? or?
The Jaguar has Jazz pickups and the switches to toggle the pickups like you say. Add it does the series/parallel thing. And can be switched to active. See, you an have it all!
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.
I prefer the sound of a Jazz bass. But that's why there are so many great basses out there. Not everybody likes the same sound, feel or looks.
Exactly. I go to stores and play basses, but none of them ever feel like mine. On my basses, I know the feel, I know how to play them to get specific sounds or how to configure their settings to get certain sounds...
I suppose it's just the unfamiliarity.
As for the story of the OP...I've experienced the same thing. I love the sound of Jazz basses, listening to people like Geddy Lee, Marcus Miller, and the countless others that use Jazz basses, but whenever I try to play one at Guitar Center, it usually sounds like crap. I honestly don't think it's because of the Jazz basses though, I think it's because of the setups at the stores, the old strings (this definitely contributes, I never enjoy playing older strings as much at all and the sound just irritates me), etc.
- Dec 5, 2002
- 4,165
- 2,254
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Ernie Ball Music Man/Sterling By Music Man
I love a good Jazz bass, but words of wisdom above. In fact, I gave up on Jazz basses in the seventies and played nothing BUT a Precision for almost ten years.
(Hardly anyone suspects this about me, so - shhhhh.)
And lately, I've been through a few Precisions, thinking "Well, there must be something there, jeez." But no, I seem to be done with them, while I still love my Jazz. (And all the Js I've had over the last ten years, and lo, there have been many.)
Play what you love. And not everyone has to love it as much as you do (said the Bongo Maniac).
Jack
I go back and forth between A P-bass and a J-bass all the time.
This is why you must own one of each.
If I could only choose one? (which is hard)
It would the a P-bass.
I won't argue one bit against Ps sounding better than Js.
That being said, I prefer Jazz basses. The necks just suit me better, and I prefer the body shape.
The bridge PUP sound is nice too.
That being said, I prefer Jazz basses. The necks just suit me better, and I prefer the body shape.
The bridge PUP sound is nice too.
