Jaco-Tone: Do you really like it?

[thumpbass1]

Hell yeah I like Jaco's tone!

 

[bassic_element]

not to crazy about it.

 

[SFjonstarr]

I love Jaco's tone on most of his stuff with a couple of key exeptions. His Donna Lee tone was so unclear that it's hard to listen to on most stereos without adjustment. That and some of his distorted stuff sounded TERRIBLE. On Word Of Mouth all that distorted stuff after "Blackbird"... Jimi Hendrix would be rolling over in his grave. Painful tone. Don't get me wrong, Jaco was a genius. It's just that his tone wasn't always 100%. I do love the distorted stuff at the end of Madagascar concluding Night Passage. It sounds like an ocean sinking into the sea or whales mating or something.

 

[Red Wonder]

I'm not certain, but didn't Jaco keep his strings on for quite a substantial amount of time. So much of tone is dictated by the length of time you play with the same set of strings.

Didn't Jamerson use the same set for something like 8 years? If that doesn't contribute to tone I don't know what does. I know I have the same strings going on over a year now and I'm really pleased with the warm, upright response I get out of them.

 

[fretless Bob]

Red Wonder, Jaco changed his strings for every gig and recording session, he says it himself in the Modern electric bass dvd


Dave

 

[Red Wonder]

Oh okay, I wasn't sure. I never hear anything about his strings or how frequently he switched them.

 

[Dbassmon]

I think a careful review of his records reveals he alters his tone plenty. Kuru/Speak Like a Child on the self titled debut sounds very upright like.The first time I heard I wasn't sure what he was playing... upright- electric?.

The 8:30 album he plays "a remark you made". If you have never heard this, this is truely one of the most beautiful, expressive performances of any Jaco recording. That sound is round and full and will make you cry. The sound has the quality of a human voice.

Alot of his tone was his playing style. He had a very sticatto attack and regardless of pickup selection, it had a real "bap" to the attack.

Jaco came to my gig one night and sat in on my bass. My bass sounded like it had a Jaco tone.

I think the high end on the Acoustic 360 was a bit brittle and fatiquing to listen to live. I agree his overdrive sound was pretty aweful but IMO. His studio sound was terrific.

 

[fullrangebass]

A friend of mine says that in a battle only a trumpet will be heard on the battlefield, and in this aspect Jaco's sound is spot on. He had a unique voice on the instrument and made a statement with it. On the other hand I do not dig that sound myself

 

[MMiller28]

his tone was incredible

 

[dblbassmike]

I love Jaco's sound. I don't know about playing through an Acoustic Amp. But hey, Jaco Rules!

 

[peterpalmieri]

Jaco-Tone: Do you really like it? YES

 

[Anonymous 98765]

If you can listen to Joni Mitchell's "talk to me" from DJ's reckless daughter without absolutely crapping yourself from the beautiful high overdubs of Jaco's bass, then you don't like his tone.

Also, the chorus to "Come On, Come Over" is just purely amazing.

I can get that exact tone by playing a Fender Precision light, soloed on the bridge singlecoil, playing through a Marshall Valvestate guitar amp w/ 8" speaker!!!

 

[musicman5string]

In respect to the original poster's request, instead of me saying how I feel about all the negative comments on Jaco's tone, most likely from a bunch of 14 year old Flea fans, I'll go outside and beat the side of a dumpster with an iron pole.

 

[omnivore]

jaco's tone in the studio, when he was going direct, was amazing. his live tone going through the amp was not so good. the way he sounds on joni mitchell's "hejira" is just gorgeous imo.

 

[Readymade]

i enjoy how he made his guitar sort of "sing." like how b.b. king makes lucille scream and cry and such, jaco could make his guitar speak volumes and change the mood of a song. i don't know if from a bass tone perspective it's my favorite, but i do like ho his tone opened up the speaking possibilities.

 

[JimmyM]

In respect to the original poster's request, instead of me saying how I feel about all the negative comments on Jaco's tone, most likely from a bunch of 14 year old Flea fans, I'll go outside and beat the side of a dumpster with an iron pole.

Why the hell does it have to come down to 14 year old Flea fans because someone says they don't like the sound of your hero? What a completely asinine thing to say. I'm 45, played bass for 32 of those years, and I don't like Jaco's usual tone. How ya like me now?

 

[Bruce Lindfield]

I'm 45, played bass for 32 of those years, and I don't like Jaco's usual tone.

How about his unusual tones!!

 

[All_¥our_Bass]

Yes. Although I'm not trying to emulate Jaco, I too use the bridge J solo'ed with mostly mids and highs. I use a lot of chords in my playing, and chords sound like crap if there's too much bass. Plus it's a great way to cut through scooped guitars that have their gain at 11, and are probably making enough bass frequencies already. I'm mainly a pick guy, but do use fingers on ocassion, and I like to experiment with two hand tapping at times. I haven't used it in a band context yet though, but I will someday. I'm not that great at it either, right now. Plus I play a fretted, I couldn't sound like him even if I wanted to.

 

[Lazylion]

Didn't Jamerson use the same set for something like 8 years?

I heard it was 14 years.

 

[ppal]

Have you ever listened to the LP "Invitation" cranked up....lts FULL of bass tone, but very articulate. Jaco's styled lended itself to a horn player, hence the mids to cut through with articulation, but i know he used some 18'' speakers with his rig....and i did have the priviledge to see him live at a small club in Phoenix, Az. in the early eightys, his Word of Mouth band...truly awesome...his style, tone, technique, all goes beyond that stuff into pure artistry...thats why he is so great, he was a true american original.