If you ever get sick of the tapes give GHS Medium Pressure wounds a try on the Jazz. They really bring out the Jazz sound. They break in quickly and like tapes last almost forever.
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Jazz Bass Alternatives?
- Thread starter H13
- Start date
Actually, this is a very good idea too.
I always preferred the neck of my Squier CV P-Bass over the Jazz Neck. The CV P does not give me any ick.
The Yamaha does have a similar neck to the P (actually a bit bigger) so MAYBE it's the neck that's giving me the ick.
So a Jazz with a P neck might make me go: "YES" instead.
God. shagin' Damn.
A BB734a is my main bass right now, and I know what you mean about its solid feel. Before that, a jazz bass thing was my thing, and I've always been a Marcus fan. The Japanese Fender Marcus signature was my main, and at times only bass for decades. Mine was upgraded with a Sadowsky VTC preamp. I do regret letting that bass go. But I regret selling another great J even more - a Yamaha BB1500A. An active jazz bass, with a neck just like in the 734 (but not laminated from several pieces), without an offset body, with pickups in correct 70s positions and with a clever preamp.
A BB604/605 will not sound like a J. I've had a 605 too, it was a wonderful bass, but did not have the jazz bass sounds. Pickups are in very different positions.
A BB604/605 will not sound like a J. I've had a 605 too, it was a wonderful bass, but did not have the jazz bass sounds. Pickups are in very different positions.
I echo everything good said about Yamaha.
They simply cannot make a bad instrument.
But, if you want another recommendation, try a Schecter CV-5 or 4.
Very Fender-sounding, and very versatile.
Here's mine.
They simply cannot make a bad instrument.
But, if you want another recommendation, try a Schecter CV-5 or 4.
Very Fender-sounding, and very versatile.
Here's mine.
I could use a new/different fiver. I'm confident the BB-605 would satisfy. Slim pickins so far.
I did ask earlier, but it was buried in another post so fair shout for not noticing
Thoughts on a Warwick Corvette?
Definitely a Jazz Bass alternative. Heard some interesting demos. Not sure if Marcus Miller would rock one.
I mean I know he hasn't rocked one, but he sticks very firmly to Fender-Shaped-Objects. Going strictly by what he does play is going to limit me to a 70s Jazz or a Sire, which aren't bad ideas unto themselves, but we're playing with ideas here (such as getting lucky and finding one of those Yammys)
Thoughts on a Warwick Corvette?
Definitely a Jazz Bass alternative. Heard some interesting demos. Not sure if Marcus Miller would rock one.
I mean I know he hasn't rocked one, but he sticks very firmly to Fender-Shaped-Objects. Going strictly by what he does play is going to limit me to a 70s Jazz or a Sire, which aren't bad ideas unto themselves, but we're playing with ideas here (such as getting lucky and finding one of those Yammys)
It's a common bass configuration and there's a lot ranging from fender and fender copy to jazz bass configured other basses. I would try to look at as many as possible and see what you like. Personally I like the jazz configured Warwick streamers. Also the Warwick corvette is awesome with jazz pickups. Hard to go wrong with a Sadowsky either. Peavey makes cool basses too. Then there's plenty of others too.YO!
Just spitballing some ideas here...
However I recently did some recording with my Yamaha BB734. WAS GLORIOUS. But there was a bit where a Jazz Bass was the better option. So I switched over to my Squier CV.
...
Honestly, it felt like I was playing a floppy twig. It sounded right! But man it felt awful to play.
Which surprised me because when I got this bass in particular I thought: "Aha! I found it! I am a Jazz Bass guy!' and it seems to perhaps not be the case...
That being said, I am very aware that it says "Squier" on the headstock. Squier have been great recently! But maybe the build quality of my Yamaha has just made me hyper-aware of the shortcomings of the Squier (Or maybe I bought a turkey and didn't realise it at the time)
ANYWAYS.
The fact that the Jazz Bass tone succeeded where the P\J did not has demonstrated that it is definitely worth having a Jazz Bass laying around. Also, Marcus Miller has probably the best bass tone on the planet (IMHO) so aside from the practical perspective, I definitely like having a Jazz bass around.
But since the Squier seems to be "not the right thing" (in hindsight), I am curious about other Jazz basses, and especially Jazz Bass alternatives. Basically I'm keen on basses which have 2 single coil pickups, but after that I'm open to suggestions.
So for giggles...
If the romance between me and my Jazz bass has gone, what are some other things I should consider?
Nice bass! I don't think I've ever seen one of those before. Headstock almost like a Sire, p'ups like, unique! Looks like some interesting control options too?I echo everything good said about Yamaha.
They simply cannot make a bad instrument.
But, if you want another recommendation, try a Schecter CV-5 or 4.
Very Fender-sounding, and very versatile.
Here's mine.
View attachment 7538276
There are a million billion jazz clones and a million billion Jazz pickup orientation basses.
Personally, I'm not a fan of the jazz shape as it's a huge chunk of wood and like more ergonomic options.
You could also get anything with EMG soap bars and get "J" pick-ups installed without any soldering- I've grown pretty fond of EMG's, they are fat and smooth and plenty articulate.
There are also a bunch of nordstrand JJ equipped Basses, like newer BTB's
Personally, I'm not a fan of the jazz shape as it's a huge chunk of wood and like more ergonomic options.
You could also get anything with EMG soap bars and get "J" pick-ups installed without any soldering- I've grown pretty fond of EMG's, they are fat and smooth and plenty articulate.
There are also a bunch of nordstrand JJ equipped Basses, like newer BTB's
I see Ibanez has a new btb that's left handed and it's got my attention. I've always thought they were good looking basses.
I love how they look and sound, but don't like the flat transition from neck to FB, If I ever find one cheap enough, I'll roll the FB nice and smooth.
Controls are:
2 pickups which can separately be set for
Series
Parallel
Single coil
Add to this a 3 way switch and I think it gives you 13 options.
One review I read described it as two Jazz basses stuck together.
As you can tell from the video, it's a nice-sounding bass.
And the fit and finish are top notch.
To me, this bass is underrated and overlooked.
Mike
For the record, I once had an Ibanez Soundgear
Magnificent to play, but it was...less like "an bass" and more like "a guitar downtuned an octave"
It sounded great by itself, but it didn't really do the "job" of what you want a bass to do.
I have two. They are definitely different sounding from the FSOs but you can do a lot with them. The limiting factor is the preamp. It's hard to get a really good solid bass tone out of them, unless you switch off the preamp and play passive. They are definitely better for some types of music than for others. I wouldn't take one to a blues jam.
Attachments
Are those concrete fence rails?
That is BURLY, I've never senn anything like that....
Sorry, proceed....
I don't mind the sr at all. I have 2 of them myself. The choice of electronics are everything in these. I have a newer sr505 that is darker sounding and the tone is very different than the other one that's also a 505. I like them both and would play either in most situations. The older one with Bartolini mk1 pickups is brighter and sounds awesome for either scooped deep tones or very aggressive mid forward tones. Distorted it's great. Eq flat it is pretty well rounded. The newer one has different Bartolini pickups and has a lower mid growl that is great for clean tones. Both are deep and punchy but the newer one definitely has a different character. But also the body woods on the 2 are different. You could take a sound gear and put anything you want in it and it'll pretty much be made to do anything you want it to do which I think is pretty special.
Well that's just it.
I think I prefer a far more "Traditional" bass tone compared to a modern one. My soundgear had a mid bump switch instead of a preamp switch. It also had soapbar pickups.
Based on that, I'm not keen on soapbars, nor am I keen on Ibanez basses.
AGAIN: Killer to play, and I have heard people do cool stuff with them. I would be full of poopie if I ever claimed they are not good instruments, but they're very much not what I'm looking for.
Sounds like you had the Powerspan p'ups with always on preamp, which has a boost setting, which they call "Power p'up," or can go series or parallel. That's what's on my SR370EF fretless. It's a little noisy but I actually like it better than the fancier preamp on my SR1350B Premium.
Yeah, they are modern-sounding basses, good for the kind of metal-fusion or power pop that was coming out of the early 90's. They work well with heavy effects like fuzz and distortion, and have good clarity for things like chorus or flanger.
