I'm About Ready to Give Up on the Jazz Bass

[Robert B]

I've been trying since around 1970 to like the Fender Jazz bass. Back around then I had one that looked just like a Geddy Lee (black with black blocks) but could never get that nice, deep, bassy sound that I heard on record albums (that's all we had back then ). Then I bought another one about 1999 that was just a gorgeous bass - translucent white ash (I think) and maple board. Couldn't get any low end out of that at all and returned it immediately.

Around 2000-2001 I came into a small inheritance and decided to get a Mike Lull M4V. Ordered it passive with aero pickups and could get no low end at all - especially on the E string. So I sent it back to be re-equipped with Fralins and a J-Retro pickup. Now it sounded wonderful, beautiful, hi-fi, like what you hear on a good recording, but somehow sterile. I just couldn't connect emotionally with the sound. For 13 years or so I tried all different kinds of setups and strings to get it where I wanted it, but was just never satisfied. So last year, I decided to remove the J-Retro and try passive and have since put GHS Pressurewounds on it. That helped, it no longer sounds sterile, and has lots low end but no matter how I vary the pickup volume controls and tone, I have highs and I have lows, but the mid presence seems to be missing complexity or something. Something is missing. I'm just not getting anything that sounds anywhere near as good to me as the rich, luscious, tones I get out of my Lakland USA Glaub.

Anyway, I'm thinking about trying one last string change to Rotosound Swing Bass and if that doesn't do it, the Lull goes on the seller's block. I mean, at some point I just have to accept that maybe they are just not for me. I've already ordered a box to ship it in. I think I'm done with the Jazz bass. Thanks for listening (figuratively speaking).

 

[High Camp]

Maybe you're a P-guy.
I myself am a J-guy, a buddy of mine is a P-guy.
We tried swopping axes, strings, amps, you name it.
Final conclusion: He's P, I'm J.
It's just how your fingers and ears are set, I guess

 

[Nickthebass]

Sounds to me like you're a P bass guy. You're entitled to your preference, even if it's wrong.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I don't see any point in trying to make yourself like a type of bass.

 

[bass12]

Could just be that particular Lull. Each bass sounds different and it can sometimes take a lot of trying stuff out to find a bass that you really click with.

 

[59Bassman]

Life's too short to hang on to an instrument that doesn't speak to you. Maybe try a P/J?

 

[Baird6869]

I don't see any point in trying to make yourself like a type of bass.

Exactly. If you don't like it, you don't like it.

I have one buddy that absolutely loves his Shortscale Gibson SG basses and my neighbor has a bunch of RICs. I can't stand either. To each their own. Mine is just one opinion/preference.

Personally, I agree with the OP that J style basses can sound scooped and thin. I own 3 Jazz basses, but I have other basses which are more versatile/different. A Jazz does some things extremely well (slap as an example) and some things not so well. A Jazz would never be my only bass.

 

[Low Class]

I've owned a slew of jazz basses and I can honestly say that you just didn't have the right jazz bass. Also, a Lull is not a Fender!! Doesn't play like one, doesn't sound like one. Not saying they are not good basses, but they are not a Fender. Same goes for Lakland, Sadowsky, you name it.

That being said, there are a lot of terrible Fenders out there. Don't give up. Do your research, play some more jazz bases til you find one that does what you're looking for, they're out there. The reward is worth the effort.

 

[Son of Wobble]

Don't consider it "quitting at J."

Reframe as "winning at P."

I just sold me Ric and my J and went all in with P basses. I am old enough to know what my preferences are, and which tools
best help me achieve my aims.

Those who argue that you never know which tool might be helpful down the line are also undoubtedly speaking from experience.

 

[raventepes]

It could be that you're just not a Jazz guy. Nothing wrong with that. It could also be that you just haven't found the right pickups. I'm a recent believer in Nordstrand's. Every pickup I've looked into from them just sound phenomenal. I'm thinking of equipping my Jazz with a set of NJ4SE's. Not entirely sure on when I can do that, but they have some nice low end growl.

 

[MovingPitchers]

It's okay, OP. I'm going through that crisis too!

 

[Son of Wobble]

I've been trying since around 1970 to like the Fender Jazz bass.

I think 44 years constitutes due diligence.

 

[lil nelson]

I fell ya brother. I'm sure you tired EQ, and boosting the knobs on your amps too? I noticed you left that out if your explanation. Sure after 44 years you've tried different amps and cabinets? I hope you find your sound, after 25 years I still swap gear out every couple of years. Searching for perfection is expensive to say the least.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

Robert, if you're willing to try just one more set of pickups in your Lull, I highly recommend DiMarzio Model-J's. Wired passive. IMO Jazz Bass-meets-Precision Bass. Meaty tone that still has definition

If not, I'm seeing MusicMan in your future.

 

[cnltb]

I'm About Ready to Give Up on the Jazz Bass
Fine.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

I think 44 years constitutes due diligence.

+1. I certainly see no problem moving on to a different bass. There's no law saying we all have to play Jazz Basses.

 

[s_wood]

Think of it this way: Nearly every bass player has played a J,but many play something else. Every time you see a picture of a pro playing something other than a J you are looking at a picture of someone who isn't a J guy. Anyway, play YOUR bass, whatever that is.

 

[Bill Whitehurst]

Nothing wrong with Js.
They have a wider pallet of sounds than a P.
The thing they don't do well is to sound like a P.
It could well be that all this time you have been a P bass guy and didn't realize it.

Personnally, I accept that each has it's own voice and each is good at some things and not so good at others.
I use a P and a J, with an A/B switch, so that I can change basses between songs in about 5 seconds.

Maybe one of each is your answer.
Maybe a PJ.
Maybe something completely different.

We can advise you on what works for us
and what we think we know,
but in the end only you know what does it for you.

I do think that most of us who started listening to music in the 50s or 60s
heard so many Ps that we locked onto the idea that THAT is what a Fender bass sounds like
and THAT is what we want to hear when we play.
Nothing wrong with that as long as it covers the music you play now.

 

[air_leech]

I used to never bond with Jazz basses either. went through one (a first generation Fender Geddy Lee sig), hated it and sold it.
a few years later I got bit by the Jazz Bass bug again, this time I went the 60's pickup spacing, Alder and Rosewood of a 62 AVRI Jazz. it was closer but still no cigar. changed pickups, strings, setup, went to VVT wiring - always making a small improvement but the tone always lacked mids and the highs were overwhelming.
I finally made it work for me two weeks ago when I changed the stock Stack knob wiring to a vintage correct wiring with two 220k resistors. I almost like it as much as my P-bass now (I'm a P and Stingray guy really) though I'm still puzzled as to how other bassists get great tone with bone stock Jazz Basses so easily.

 

[red_rhino]

Maybe you're a P-guy.

Valid point. I once had a brief phone conversation with Roger Sadowsky in which he advised me "Only you know if you're a Jazz bass guy or a P bass guy". In my heart, I'm know I'm a Jazz bass guy. That you've invested this much so far kind of says that Jazz basses resonate (no pun intended) for you. But like the man said, only you know that for sure.

I've owned a slew of jazz basses and I can honestly say that you just didn't have the right jazz bass. Also, a Lull is not a Fender!! Doesn't play like one, doesn't sound like one. Not saying they are not good basses, but they are not a Fender. Same goes for Lakland, Sadowsky, you name it.

I would have to agree with this as well. Having owned quite a few (Fender/Sadowsky/etc), some have been great, and others not so much. As you have discovered, a preamp does not change the basic nature of a bass' acoustic properties. I've tried J-Retros on a couple of basses with results similar to what you've described. Not to say I would never drop a preamp into a passive instrument again; just that my motivation and expectations will be different in the future. (i.e. I will never do it to "fix" a bass' sound again.)

At this point, I have two Jazz basses that really work for me; a Suhr Classic Jazz, and a Fender '64 CS Relic Jazz. If the Lull hasn't worked for you by now, chances are it's not going to be the Jazz you want. But if you like Jazz basses, don't give up just yet. Suhrs are in the same range as Lulls price-wise, and so far every one I've played has been impressive.

-Alan