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Jaco-Tone: Do you really like it?

#82
I don't like his tone...never did...may never do...

his playing is not in question...UNREAL!


i think jaco was going for a brass like tone (trombone-ish?) to really stand out.

Given his playing style, it works...sorta

but personally...I prefer the understated, "under the music" tones of folks like Rocco Prestia...

Jaco's done a huge service to bass-dom...he brought the instrument out front...It's too bad, he couldn't have chosen something (instrument and amp) that sounds a bit "better" up there

Just my opinion...don't shoot me...:)
 
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#85
I don't really dislike his tone, but my tone is miles from it.

My tone is influenced by guys like John Wetton, Chris Squire, Juan Alderete on Frances the Mute, John Paul Jones, Justin Chancellor, and Paul D'Amour..grindy, with the ability to become round and full at times..
 
#88
Soloed bridge pickup is one of my favorite tones. In my case I know it doesn't have to lack bottom, matter of fact I prefer solid bottom to go along with the overall punch.

On my Zon I max out the bass control, I can get away with that on that particular preamp. Moves a lot of air. Hits hard but is still very articulate. No exaggerated highs.

People tend to lump all soloed bridge pickup tone as somehow the same. There are differences.
 
#90
Brad Johnson said:
Soloed bridge pickup is one of my favorite tones. In my case I know it doesn't have to lack bottom, matter of fact I prefer solid bottom to go along with the overall punch.

On my Zon I max out the bass control, I can get away with that on that particular preamp. Moves a lot of air. Hits hard but is still very articulate. No exaggerated highs.

People tend to lump all soloed bridge pickup tone as somehow the same. There are differences.
Click to expand...

Well, that's a different thing. The typical Jaco-burp is the passive sound of a soloed single coil bridge PU.

And IIRC, the Legacy models use HB pickups, right? That alone gives you more beef from the start, without the preamp factor adding in.
 
#91
I agree "Bright sized life" and the Mitchell records have GREAT tone. Some of his latter career bootleg stuff (Punk Jazz concerts) sound really bad tone-wise, but I have no idea about the rigs, basses or Jaco's mental state at the time of those recordings. As far as the Acoustic 360, compared to the SVT, ( the other big rig at the time) it was almost Hi-fi. One thing to remember about those Acoustics, is those horns didn't really open up until you were about a hundred feet away, so any mikes on stage would sound like S#*@.

I must admit I find it far easier to go back and listen to Jaco then the other "bass heros" of that era. Stanley Clark:D, The guy could play, but that tone, uuugh!
 
#92
burk48237 said:
I must admit I find it far easier to go back and listen to Jaco then the other "bass heros" of that era. Stanley Clark:D, The guy could play, but that tone, uuugh!
Click to expand...

:D
His self-titled one sounds like he's playing rubber bands. Forget about those song lyrics.....
 
#95
Jumpin' in late, and haven't read all the posts, but here's my 0.1€ :-)

Jaco's tone SUNG! It reached my soul on the deepest level, like a great vocalist, and made me believe in the power of music.
A bit pretentious, maybe....
I agree that's it's a soloistic tone, which don't fit a whole lot of styles.

The problem with most of the younger bass heroes today, who can play lightning fast, impressive, chopsy soloes, is, to me, that they've NOT found a sound that SINGS.
Therefore they don't touch me.
 
#97
jerry said:
We can do another thread on jazz cats as lyricists, unless your Mose Allison, usually not their strong point.;)
Click to expand...

Well, it wasn't that Stab's lyrics were awful, but he was no Neil Peart with lines like "Life is just a game and there are many ways to play".

Animal Logic had fantastic lyrics at times but that was because they were written by a full time singer/songwriter. Stan's bass playing on those albums though, wow!
 
#99
He was revolutionary with his tone, and that in part created the vibe that is Jaco. I love to hear his tone but rarely if ever, try to emulate it. This is mostly due to the fact that it was 'his' tone. When I play his tunes though, I try to get his tone because otherwise it just doesn't sound right.

His sound needs to be thought of in context of the times. His contemporaries were searching for a whole new sound to help break the bass out into a more defined role, and he did it (almost single-handedly).
 
#100
I agree with Ironwood; Jaco's sound was unique for the time and must be evaluated in context. It cut through the types of mixes he was working in. We don't sit around knocking Charlie Parker's sound....(which was not a particularly beautiful sound) because that isn't the important point, its more about his style and concept (and perhaps technique)- I believe the same applies to Jaco. Still, history proves that Jaco's sound has influenced generations of bassists ( Baily, Berlin, Eagan, Haslip, Manring,and 1000s of others) and still does today. Finally, if you compare his sound to the poppy/twangy sound of Victor Wooten....well, c'mon. Listen to is Jaco's playing on Word of Mouth, he plays with a large studio orchestra- more a front-pickup sound, similar to an upright- which serves the function he was fulfilling in that project. Really beautiful- JS
 

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