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I think my jazz bass needs something
- Thread starter Jake Kinsch
- Start date
It aint the bass, the bass won't "make the strings go dead"...the player does that.
If it "sounds like crap" to you after one day, then forget the setup, forget the trip to the luthier, forget new pickups. Maybe modify your tone goals, and what sounds you can reasonably expect from a bass guitar?
And if you happen to be one of those poor b******s with Acid Hands that kill strings, then you really need to change your tone goals.
OP I cured myself of the need for that bright new string sound by using flats for a couple months. I'm not a flats guy, and I don't use them anymore, but it really made me appreciate the mid-range as far as tone goes. I'm back to using nickel rounds now, and highs certainly have their place, but I would guess you would gain a lot of perspective from trying flats. I know that isn't what you asked. And for goodness sake, ignore all the Placebo bass owners.
I love it when a person asks a question and then doesn't respond for 12 hours. No wonder 'carrots' and 'Pbass' are suggested.
I am, in no way, attempting to be disrespectful. However, I keep coming back to the point that, "I made it out of parts from a licensed store".
What is your knowledge of luthier craftsmanship and instrument construction that would lead you to expect similar results as compared to factory built instruments from renowned instrument builders?
What is your knowledge of luthier craftsmanship and instrument construction that would lead you to expect similar results as compared to factory built instruments from renowned instrument builders?
I absolutely HATE new strings. I'll change then a month before recording. That's the " sweet spot"
Just in case some people don't believe this could actually be a thing, I can present my girlfriend as "State's Exhibit A". Any time I give her silver jewelry, her body chemistry is so acidic that it starts tarnishing over a few days. Give it a month, it'll turns almost completely black.
I knew someone would call me out on that. I still say it's not a real word, and so does TB spell check.
+1. This was actually My first question And where i Will start Working on. The other replies focus on the fact that it sho lid sound good. Its just a matter of strings, PUPS height, hand position etc but forgets the question about the fact is Being made of parts. Where dos you get them? Aré a reputable seller with knowledge of good parts? The wood body is good? To me i Will start in this point. At léast to me i Will start with the wood body. It could be you got a wet, dull piece of wood. No strings, PUPS, can make it work it. Its like making a dessert with rotten eggs
This is exactly what I was going to type, minus the part about potentially needing new pickups (I doubt it personally, unless one needs a repair maybe). Try stainless steels when you restring/set it up, they don't corrode like nickel. They still get funked up though so it's still a good idea to wipe them down when you're done.
edit: Use coated strings if you must but (even new) they sounded dead on one of my jazzes and although sounded OK on another, made it really noisy... YMMV.
It's had a pro setup, I use rotosounds, but they only sound good for about 3 days. Every time I see a jazz at the store I play it, and all of them just sound miles ahead of mine. Pickups aren't the problem because they are the same type that Geddy Lee uses. I always set my amp flat. Pickups are as high as i can get them without the string dragging across the magnets and making that terrible sound. I know I may sound like a lunatic but I think it has something to do with the bass itself. It sound the same way unplugged. It's olympic white and I already switched to a tortoise guard and that didn't help a bit.
I don't have acid hands. The reason it only sounds decent immediately after new strings is because, it barley sounds decent. Once the ultra bright highs start to go away from those strings, which doesn't take long at all, you can start to hear the rest of the frequencies that sound like mud.It aint the bass, the bass won't "make the strings go dead"...the player does that.
If it "sounds like crap" to you after one day, then forget the setup, forget the trip to the luthier, forget new pickups. Maybe modify your tone goals, and what sounds you can reasonably expect from a bass guitar?
And if you happen to be one of those poor b******s with Acid Hands that kill strings, then you really need to change your tone goals.
I know how to set up an amp, I always go for the barky high mids, and kind of a grunty low mids.
I really just want some smooth highs with a punchy mids that have a little bit of a grunt to them. My dad has a warmoth 5 string jazz with active Nordstrands and preamp in it, and I think they just sound great. I have been thinking about a preamp, are they any you would suggest?
It was made by wd music, those guys that make a billion different pickguards
I hate to say it but you might be better off to sell your bass as parts. If every other jazz you play is better than yours than just buy one of them. If you can't afford it now just save and wait. Some bodies and necks are just duds.
