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This. If you love the P, and this is what I found after buying a superb RW J bass, you will always find the J lacking. I really loved the bridge PU soloed but I couldnt play everything sounding like Jaco and both PU's together always sounded lacking compared to the P.
This is for the folks that missed some facts and or didn't read the entire thread. If your dissing the "Squier " bass it's an early Made in Japan and those were some of the best Squiers ever made. There's nothing wrong with the pickups, the wiring was messed up. Also he's found the problem and rectified it. Enjoy your new friend wraub, I'm out.
A jas
A jazz bass sounds like a jazz, a Fender P sounds like a fender P, so forth and so on, I would not go down the road of different pick ups, maybe try a parametric eq, I did that to a Ric once, really came alive. AND, if you can get a another bass, and go back the to that Jazz, after a while, you might fall into n love, all over again. For me, I get to the point where I dislike my tone, then, it all comes back to being content. I have MM, I use to love the sound, not so much any more, then got a Smith, a Smith, sounds like a Smith, I think very limited in tonal options, but I love the way it plays, I am certain you love the way your Jazz plays too. I think we all get burned out on out tone, that's why a lot of us, are always searching for that elusive sound?
Just like guitars, I have to have several basses to keep from getting bored and burned out.
Otoh, AMPLIFIERS are very important, as are speakers....especially when you introduce EQ options into the equation.
The amp needs to be capable of delivering enough power with J basses and a wide EQ range and very good speakers help a lot imo.
I think a P bass is easier overall to get the desired tone and certainly adjusting or swapping the single PU is far easier than a J bass!
Otoh, AMPLIFIERS are very important, as are speakers....especially when you introduce EQ options into the equation.
The amp needs to be capable of delivering enough power with J basses and a wide EQ range and very good speakers help a lot imo.
I think a P bass is easier overall to get the desired tone and certainly adjusting or swapping the single PU is far easier than a J bass!
Hi Kirk. Well there's a rare one. Probably they were David's meticulously crafted dual coil pickups that looked just like this:
Wow man is that your Minnieweather? I'd love to see a full frontal shot. I've never taken the wood covers off of mine, he built it in the mid to late nineties. It's a great sounding bass. I got it from the guys at Bass Northwest a few years ago mainly because I needed a lightweight 5 because of ongoing Back issues.
Hi Kirk. Well there's a rare one. Probably they were David's meticulously crafted dual coil pickups that looked just like this:
(OP, I'm sorry for derailing your thread momentarily.)
It was mine for a while, Kirk, but I sold it. Probably it was the last instrument that David Minnieweather made, which he delivered new to its original owner in 2009.
Pbassmanca
In the pocket n' thumpy. So woody, so greasy...
Have you tried raising the pickups closer to the strings? Check out Delano pickups, they have passive J bass pickups without exposed pole pieces.
Pbassmanca
In the pocket n' thumpy. So woody, so greasy...
Pbassmanca
In the pocket n' thumpy. So woody, so greasy...
Haha, okay I just read ahead in the thread and apparently it's all worked out congrats brother glad your jazz bass is working goodHello again, all. First, please let me reiterate... I am an idiot. I am a giant, flaming bag of poo idiot.
As mentioned, the inside of the bass was a mess, which I would have likely noticed if I had paid attention to the cavity when last I was in there... which, admittedly, was several years ago, and I have learned lots since then... But, still, I am an idiot.
In comparing the guts to the many, many online diagrams available, I discovered many irregularities, which I set right. (the odd wire mentioned above was actually for the tip of the output jack...) And...
Holy Flurking Schnit! It is loud, punchy, clicky, meaty, reedy and insistent... all of that. It sounds like a Jazz bass now.
I threw some electrical tape over the poles, and all is now right and good with the world. You may all rest easy.
I may, possibly, still part with this bass someday, or at least upgrade the PUs, but, for now, I'm gonna attempt to learn this Jazz bass with it's various oddball quirks.
I do wish it was as easy as a P bass...
My seriously sincere thanks to all who chimed in here- all of your advice led me to a solution (for now), and, for that, I am very appreciative. You all deserve a cookie. Or several cookies. I'll leave that up to you. Basically, all of you should go get some cookies.
Thank you.
Happy New Year, Brian. It goes okay, thanks! You as well, I hope. If you find the time, please add your impressions to your Klein Epic 1962 P bass pickup thread.
So...
I have now had a chance to play the bass in home, recording, and band situations.
The report..: I still don't like the way it sounds in a band setting. It still has a... Thin-ness, a lack of meat, a lack of warmth, a lack of punch- it's louder than it was, and the controls seem to work as expected, but there's just no "there" there.
It's good for recording though, as ever, and sounds great there imo.
I suppose this is a single coil thing to some extent, and involves a "lower scale" pickup as well, but really, it just disappoints. Especially because it plays so well. Maddening.
So... My quest continues, in a loop to the beginning. Disregard that whole "no exposed pole piece" thing.
Question for thems who know- Do Jazz shaped humbuckers still sound like typical Jazz pickups? Are there the same tonal variances and flavors found in single coil PUs?
I have now had a chance to play the bass in home, recording, and band situations.
The report..: I still don't like the way it sounds in a band setting. It still has a... Thin-ness, a lack of meat, a lack of warmth, a lack of punch- it's louder than it was, and the controls seem to work as expected, but there's just no "there" there.
It's good for recording though, as ever, and sounds great there imo.I suppose this is a single coil thing to some extent, and involves a "lower scale" pickup as well, but really, it just disappoints. Especially because it plays so well. Maddening.
So... My quest continues, in a loop to the beginning. Disregard that whole "no exposed pole piece" thing.
Question for thems who know- Do Jazz shaped humbuckers still sound like typical Jazz pickups? Are there the same tonal variances and flavors found in single coil PUs?
I would consider some type of preamp or boost or OD pedal if the bass records well as is.
But hey, Search out a Peavey Foundation from the 80's with the Super Ferrites....there will be plenty of "there"...J bass on steroids!
But hey, Search out a Peavey Foundation from the 80's with the Super Ferrites....there will be plenty of "there"...J bass on steroids!
Pbassmanca
In the pocket n' thumpy. So woody, so greasy...
So...
I have now had a chance to play the bass in home, recording, and band situations.
The report..: I still don't like the way it sounds in a band setting. It still has a... Thin-ness, a lack of meat, a lack of warmth, a lack of punch- it's louder than it was, and the controls seem to work as expected, but there's just no "there" there.
I suppose this is a single coil thing to some extent, and involves a "lower scale" pickup as well, but really, it just disappoints. Especially because it plays so well. Maddening.
So... My quest continues, in a loop to the beginning. Disregard that whole "no exposed pole piece" thing.
Question for thems who know- Do Jazz shaped humbuckers still sound like typical Jazz pickups? Are there the same tonal variances and flavors found in single coil PUs?
I was there with ya a few years back. Am del jazz bass, stunning instrument, played really great. Tone was always hit or miss to my ears. Some nights great, some nights, it wouldn't dial in. I determined I'm just not a dual single coil guy. PJ is the way for me.
