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If you were starting college to study jazz....
- Thread starter two fingers
- Start date
Then even more reason to get a little bit of debt. But seriously, if this is his chosen avocation, I'd not skimp. Especially when basses are wicked cheap compared to most instruments.
I suppose Yamaha can also be considered because it is a well known and respected brand for all instruments traditionally played in Jazz.
I really don't think the bass matters that much as long as it doesn't look like it was designed for death metal.
Then there's the whole "show up at the studio with a P and bask in the engineer's smile" thing.
Dude, I am a music prof at a university, if you can play, it doesn't matter.
I would make sure the jazz student gets a minor in computer science or accounting, so he/she might be able to make a living.
When we talk about "traditional jazz" and "electric bass guitar" the name Monk Montgomery should be in the conversation. He played Fender Precision and Jazz basses over the course of his career, mostly plucking with his thumb for a fat, warm sound.
Montgomery's 1953 session with Art Farmer might be the first pro studio recording to feature the Fender bass. Given the date, it would have to be a '51 style Precision bass. Montgomery is on tracks 1-4, and then Percy Heath takes over on upright.
tl;dr both Jazz and Precision basses have an extensive pedigree, and either is an acceptable choice for a student of jazz.
Montgomery's 1953 session with Art Farmer might be the first pro studio recording to feature the Fender bass. Given the date, it would have to be a '51 style Precision bass. Montgomery is on tracks 1-4, and then Percy Heath takes over on upright.
tl;dr both Jazz and Precision basses have an extensive pedigree, and either is an acceptable choice for a student of jazz.
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It matters - to a point. And by that, I mean no point. As in, nothing pointy. 
But besides what bass (and AMP!!!) he brings, that decision should also go along with knowing what his instrument storage situation. Is he living on campus in a dorm? Off campus apartment? Live at home and drive in daily? Sharing a dorm room?
A DB might be tougher to "easily" steal, due to its size (someone would probably notice...) whereas a Jazz Bass can be thrown in an empty gig bag and mostly obscured from view while walking.
I know some schools you can rent lockers for your instrument and also reserve a practice room. He might want to be able to practice for hours daily within his room without walking across campus and waiting for a room to be available.
Btw - I voted Skyline, just because their instruments are such high quality without being crazy expensive. You can still get a Jazz Bass body style.
But besides what bass (and AMP!!!) he brings, that decision should also go along with knowing what his instrument storage situation. Is he living on campus in a dorm? Off campus apartment? Live at home and drive in daily? Sharing a dorm room?
A DB might be tougher to "easily" steal, due to its size (someone would probably notice...) whereas a Jazz Bass can be thrown in an empty gig bag and mostly obscured from view while walking.
I know some schools you can rent lockers for your instrument and also reserve a practice room. He might want to be able to practice for hours daily within his room without walking across campus and waiting for a room to be available.
Btw - I voted Skyline, just because their instruments are such high quality without being crazy expensive. You can still get a Jazz Bass body style.
I vote a good Fender, very versatile, J, P, maybe even a P/J bass which has been my personal choice for a while now, 5 string? Active, maybe La Bella flats? If the kid got a scholarship he must be good, I wish I had a good instrument and amp and parents who backed my choice when I was a kid.
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Great stuff and that Fender sounds great, especially the little solo in the second song, love this essentially live 50's jazz.
Not sure why folks are so stuck on "traditional." Pretty sure they are teaching everything from traditional to modern jazz and some styles in between these days at music school. I've gone to see many faculty recitals at a local university and there was nothing "traditional" about it. They were playing modern jazz compositions with modern gear.
Apologies if this got shared already!
Bachelor of Music in Performance: Bass | Berklee College of Music
Promo video there for the bass dept. I definately saw a couple "F's" but lots of others too.
(I still voted Fender Jazz. It's my 2nd favorite bass after all )
Bachelor of Music in Performance: Bass | Berklee College of Music
Promo video there for the bass dept. I definately saw a couple "F's" but lots of others too.
(I still voted Fender Jazz. It's my 2nd favorite bass after all
)
Get a Sire V7 - a great active J at a great price.
okcrum
in your chest
You'll need one in the stable anyway as a pro, so start with a J. The OP should be able to find a used MIA J with a ding or two on it in that price range.
I know quite a few jazz majors and while they all mainly play upright, their electrics are all Fender Js. I actually prefer the sound of a P with flats for jazz, but to each his/her own.
:-\
This is one of those opinion threads on Talkbass that will go on for 20 pages. Pointless.
@mikeswals is correct. @lowplaces is correct. You know what you need to do. You just need to go do it.
I should have read through it better. Good thread starter!
