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Is it possible to make a Jazz bass rock?!

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#81
I played metal for years with a fretless MIM Jazz. My tone was fine through a loud Hartke half stack. But in the studio I couldn't get the same grit because the studio jerk wouldn't let me mic up the amp. So, everyone said "get EMG's". Next time in studio, small improvement. What I didn't realize was that I was using DR's, which are naturally scooped. I switched back to Rotosound swing66's recently and found what i was missing. That and a cranked SVT helps me too.
Try a VT pedal out. Also, Geddy gets a huge amount of his sound from having very low action (and Roto's). Give that a try.
 
#82
To the OP,

Lots of good points. Focus on string type first. You have lots of options, but I've played metal for 25 years and love Rotosounds. If you drop tune, try the Billy Sheehan sigs for the extra meat on the E string since you are on a 34" sale Jazz. Of course, if you do a lot of nu-metal you may need to set up to a BEAD set up if you don't have a five string.

Next stop is your EQ (including the one on your bass!). A lot of this depends on the band you play with. I played with a mostly scooped EQ competing against a Mesa Triple Rectifer and a JCM 800 half stack, and it worked well for me. But my bass had a set of EMG's too.

That may be the $25.00 solution for you. Once you hit those two points, then it is time to examine a bit bigger pic. Look at the amp set up first and let us know that situation. many times a decent pedal designed making a less than mediocre amp sound better helps out (such as a Sansmp BDDI) and may be something you may never drop once a new amp becomes more attainable.

Pickup are are right up there. A jazz can do the trick- I would go with a set of stacked humbuckers or some EMG's as well.

Aside from this, I think we need more info before anyone can give an informed suggestion.
 
#83
All you guys talking down about Trujillo need to do some reading. I'm in no way a Metallica fan, but if it wasn't for him the Bass Of Doom would still be sitting with the jerk off who refused to give it back to the family. Trujillo gave money and time towards the legal battle, and played a big part in getting it back. He also signed a contract that gives the Pastorius family the right to buy it back from him at the price he paid for it at any time they want, and signed other warranties in the purchase agreement that completely established that he had the best interests of Jaco and of the Pastorius family in mind. In fact, Flea, Jeff Ament, and other bassists are praising Trujillo for finally ending this battle. If they wanted it back now, they'd buy it back now. But until then, he's taking care of it, and is in discussions with the family to put it in a museum. If the family didn't want him to hold on to it, he wouldn't be!

See how a Jazz bass can carve a big piece of history? I don't think the question is "Can a Jazz bass rock?"...I think it's "Can you rock a Jazz bass?" My Jazz goes from nailing the intro to Brown Eyed Girl, to breaking glass with today's Top 40. Completely stock AV Reissue 62. Don't go changing stuff because your band mates think you should. I hate when they think they know more about your instrument!
 
#89
I have an '07 American Standard Jazz that I use in a hard rock/modern rock/metal band, and I have no problem getting plenty of aggression out of it with the stock pups...

That being said, IME DiMarzio pups are pretty aggressive, and high quality pups - Ultra Jazz if you're not into a ton of mids, Model Js if you are... Either of those pups will get you there - and I'd add a series/parallel switch just to have the extra tonal options... I used to get a killer RATM sound with a Squier Vintage Modified jazz, with DiMarzio Ultra Jazz pups in series, FWIW...

The nice thing about the above options are that they're all completely reverseable, and don't cost too much... I agree that technique and the right amp and settings oughta get you there, but also think that the above might help...


- georgestrings
 
#91
Bongolation said:
Before you go crazy with pickups, at least try a set of flats.

I personally agree that the Jazz sounds gutless without them.
Click to expand...

BrandonBass said:
why?
Click to expand...
Accentuated highs, muted lows.

Same as any other bass with rounds, but more pronounced with a J compared to say a P.

Guts = big bottom, low mids -- not high end twang and clank and plink.
 
#92
SMILEYSIXX said:
Trujillo is a mediocre musician who got lucky with the Suicidal Tendencies.
Click to expand...


I dunno - I've always thought he was a pretty good bassist... I'd say it's a safe bet that a majority of people here couldn't play most of the bass lines he played on several ST discs - including yourself...

IMO, unless you're actually better than someone else at something, it's pretty dumb to call them mediocre...


- georgestrings
 
#93
The moral seems to be...basses don't actually 'rock'... great bass players, can rock on whatever you put in their hands...but hey, swap out the pickups if you don't love the tone...sounds more like an amp thing to me...AM STD should sound pretty awesome as is.
 
#94
georgestrings said:
I dunno - I've always thought he was a pretty good bassist... I'd say it's a safe bet that a majority of people here couldn't play most of the bass lines he played on several ST discs - including yourself...

IMO, unless you're actually better than someone else at something, it's pretty dumb to call them mediocre...


- georgestrings
Click to expand...

+1 Apparently SMILEYSIXX has never heard Trujillos stuff in Infectious Grooves either.
 
#98
MattyH said:
All you guys talking down about Trujillo need to do some reading. I'm in no way a Metallica fan, but if it wasn't for him the Bass Of Doom would still be sitting with the jerk off who refused to give it back to the family. Trujillo gave money and time towards the legal battle, and played a big part in getting it back. He also signed a contract that gives the Pastorius family the right to buy it back from him at the price he paid for it at any time they want, and signed other warranties in the purchase agreement that completely established that he had the best interests of Jaco and of the Pastorius family in mind. In fact, Flea, Jeff Ament, and other bassists are praising Trujillo for finally ending this battle. If they wanted it back now, they'd buy it back now. But until then, he's taking care of it, and is in discussions with the family to put it in a museum. If the family didn't want him to hold on to it, he wouldn't be!

See how a Jazz bass can carve a big piece of history? I don't think the question is "Can a Jazz bass rock?"...I think it's "Can you rock a Jazz bass?" My Jazz goes from nailing the intro to Brown Eyed Girl, to breaking glass with today's Top 40. Completely stock AV Reissue 62. Don't go changing stuff because your band mates think you should. I hate when they think they know more about your instrument!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the clarifications! Those details are important. I just don't think the bass belongs on stage with Metallica. :rollno:
 
#99
Bongolation said:
Actually, that's nonsensical.

All you have to do is have understanding and objective critical faculties. You don't even have to play, much less play well.
Click to expand...

+1

To the OP, you've seen it countless times here already, here it is again... Basses don't rock, players do. I've heard dudes make a diddley bo nailed to their front porch rock. Dudes make washtub basses rock. Chances are it's your EQ.
 
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