Is it possible to make a Jazz bass rock?!

[NortyFiner]

I recently joined an agressive rock band. I came in with my jazz bass which doesn't have the b@lls to hang with them. They are suggesting that I change pickups. I am all for that. It was then suggested that I route in a P/J setup. I have an American Standard Jazz that I don't really want to mess with. Are there some pickups out there that can give me a more aggressive sound without sacrificing my bass?

The guy that was in the band before me was using Bartolini's.

Any suggestions?

You want an aggressive rock sound? I'll do better than suggestions; I'll do links.

Seymour Duncan STK-J2 Hot Stacks.

Hot Stack for Jazz Bass® STK-J2 - Seymour Duncan Cutting Edge

EMG: A bunch of options, with soundclips.

Invalid Link Removed

 

[tdub0199]

Buy a P Bass.....

 

[Duke21]

Can a Jazz bass Rock?......Two words: Geddy & Lee

Yes, Geddy! Also Squire use a a Jazz here and there. Now, Squire and Lee ARE prog rock.

 

[Duke21]

Buy a P Bass.....

I've never felt like that a P is more rock than a J.

 

[line6man]

Nope, can't be done. You can only play Jazz on a Jazz Bass.

 

[SMILEYSIXX]

Robert Trujillo & The Bass of Doom!

That picture makes me cringe.

 

[5StringBlues]

Nope, can't be done. You can only play Jazz on a Jazz Bass.

What's the best Jazz bass for jazz?

 

[Rebop]

That picture makes me cringe.

My heart literally sank. This is the first time I heard of Trujillo acquiring the bass of doom and I am truly depressed over it.

 

[Sterrrling]

I rock with my jazz...but if you don't believe me, we could always play Rock, Paper, Jazz to see who's right; its just an option

 

[Ben Noblit]

My heart literally sank. This is the first time I heard of Trujillo acquiring the bass of doom and I am truly depressed over it.

Why? I'm not a big fan of Trujillo but it seems he did a very classy thing there.

 

[SMILEYSIXX]

Why? I'm not a big fan of Trujillo but it seems he did a very classy thing there.

I thought he bought it and donated it to the family, not used it at a ****ing Metallica show! How would you feel if Mike Dirnt bought and began using the funk machine for green day? :scowl:

 

[SDMFJay]

James Lomenzo and Eric Avery are 2 more that have a jazz bass/rock music connection.

 

[DanRJBrasil]

put some lo riders on it and you have it , my jazz is my rock bass

 

[Kael]

No it can't. You are going to need a really pointy bass like a warlock. Otherwise everyone in the audience will see how much you do not rock. You will be laughed at and spit upon causing severe long term emotional trauma.

Just go get a SABDDI or VT. Done.

 

[michael_atw]

Maybe it was your amp?

 

[SMILEYSIXX]

The mothman is the only bass that can rock. You might think your bass rocks, but you are only delusional.

 

[LDonnie]

Add some mids, alot of treble and some overdrive. Voila! If you are not satisfied with the sound shaping abilities of your passive J, you can always make it active, which is better than changing the pickups IMO! I have a Audere preamp in my Jazz which I am very, VERY pleased with.

 

[Thor]

Besides a basic EQ exploration in the band context, go back to the basics, try a string change. New strings can have more aggressive tone.

Btw, what strings ARE you using?

PS, I own 2 jazzes. They can hang with any rock band with minor tweaks only.

 

[calebbarton]

Dirk Lemmenes of Stavesacre. His sound is off the charts good.

Uses a jazz bass through an SVT classic.

 

[chuck3]

to the OP - you don't say what your amp and pre-amp (if any) are. My '62 reissue Jazz definitely rocks, but it helps that I'm going through an EBS Valvedrive which adds grit, power and tubi-ness. I've never used the VT but I know from people here that it's great too. And amps are a whole other topic.