Dude has chops, but I think he could have gotten closer to Jaco’s sound if he played with a lighter touch.
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Jaco on a Wal
- Thread starter Dr. Cheese
- Start date
Dude has chops, but I think he could have gotten closer to Jaco’s sound if he played with a lighter touch.
thought this would be a pic of a poster of him 
And here we have Jaco on a wall 
Sounds killer. It doesn't seem like he was really trying to ape Jaco's tone so much as his phrasing and articulation. I always thought it sounded like Jaco was digging in pretty hard, especially on live recordings, but could be wrong.
Here’s what I see. This player plucks the strings vertically, like Geddy Lee but unlike him in the sense he’s playing over the back pickup here.
Jaco plucked the strings downward, towards the pickup, which he referred to as “cutting the string” according to a write up I once saw on Marcus Miller’s website.
Neither approach is more correct than the other (that I know of) but I imagine Jaco’s approach might carry a bit more motion economy and may explain why this guy sounds just the slightest bit ponderous playing that line.
Bass sure sounds good though.
Jaco plucked the strings downward, towards the pickup, which he referred to as “cutting the string” according to a write up I once saw on Marcus Miller’s website.
Neither approach is more correct than the other (that I know of) but I imagine Jaco’s approach might carry a bit more motion economy and may explain why this guy sounds just the slightest bit ponderous playing that line.
Bass sure sounds good though.
I'm interested in exploring the "cutting the string" method. Have any links to any videos teaching it or even just discussing it? I tried a quick search and came up empty. I'll keep looking.
Here’s a section of the Jaco website where he mentions it. Not much meat on the bone in terms of technique description though. It’s been years since I first read about it, no idea where it was. Marcus’ website is nothing like it used to be.
Marcus Miller on Jaco | Jaco Pastorius
<p>December, 2002 I was around 15 years old and a drummer friend of mine told me I had to check this record out. It was Jaco’s first album. The first thing I heard was “Donna Lee”. I have to admit, I didn’t quite get it. It just sounded like some cat playing whatever notes he […]</p>
jacopastorius.com
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I recently listened to Hejira for the first time. Mr. Pastorius was the perfect bass player for Ms. Mitchell. x 1000.
That certainly is the sound of late 80's & early 90's Geddy Lee with Rush. I lusted over that model bass for many years.
Good, but not the rear pup of a Jazz sound.
We have Jaco's recordings for that. I think it's interesting to hear that line with a different flavor of tone.
Smooth_bass88
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- Oct 31, 2006
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It literally sounds like a jaco bassline played on a Wal. Don’t fully understand the point of these playalongs. Am I supposed to be impressed? How about play something YOU came up with
