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Jazz bass tone

#121
I’ve just bought a PJ. Got a cheap Yamaha BB234, which is an extremely well made bass, and put active EMG PJAX pickups in it. I love it. I’m playing it more than my much more expensive Js. I get a great P tone and bridge J tone and with both pickups up full I get the J scooped tone which is almost the same as my Js. I can’t get a P tone on my Js. So, two basses in one! You really notice the difference between the P pickup and the scooped PJ pickups. The volume drops a little with PJ as some of the mids drop out. I love the scooped tone but am really starting to appreciate the P tone. It stands out better in the mix due to the mids. What also surprised me is the P is good for slap (Forget Me Nots) but I still prefer the PJ or JJ combinations for that scooped slap tone.
 
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#122
bassdude51 said:
Since the Jazz Bass has 2 pickups and 2 volume knobs and blending, it has quite a few "sounds". I'm not sure what is "the Jazz Bass sound".

I'm guessing the Jazz Bass sound is the neck and bridge pickups run together @ 100%, no blending.

If that is the Jazz Bass sound, I'm not fond of it.

I like the J neck pickup by itself. I like the bridge pickup full with the neck pickup rounded down about 20%. (That's that Jaco sound.)

The Jazz Bass is a great bass! (Not a fan of the little skinny neck or off-set body.)
Click to expand...

The sound of the J-bass neck pickup soloed is actually rather interesting, generally being grittier than that of a P-bass pickup IMO
 
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#124
P bass for me, thanks. Not a fan of the scooped sound. J neck pup soloed is okay, full bridge and a dash of neck is good, any combination that sounds like a bass. That is especially true of the late '70's models with the harsh sounding pickups. The prototypical "disco bass". Fretless Js are fine. The Noel Redding signature model would be my choice for a fretted J.
 
#125
butterfingers1 said:
I know this topic has come up, but when comparing precision and jazz basses most people say they prefer the p bass tone. Those who prefer j basses do so for the thin neck and so-called versatility of 2 pickups.

Does anyone prefer the jazz bass tone?
Click to expand...
I prefer to have a variety. That’s why I have a bit of everything between the basses I own. When it comes to fenders for example I like p basses for overdriven fingerstyle rock stuff but I much prefer the jazz for slapping for example.
 
#127
After 7 pages of responses, you are probably drowning in answers, opinions, and observations about the Jazz bass tone.

So I’ll keep mine simple.

The Jazz bass tone is my go-to tone. Both pups at 100%. Tone at either 100% or flat, depending on active or passive-equipped. I’ll roll the tone control down for a less-aggressive tone when needed.
 
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#128
I am not surprised this became a p vs j thing, but it’s ok, all interesting.

Someone suggested a poll question, which I then did in a new thread with the same title.

What is the main reason you have a jazz bass?
1. Thin neck
2. Versatility of 2 pickups
3. Tone

Unfortunately that thread is ignored, probably swamped by this one, same title.
 
#131
So check out this mutant I encountered today at pawnshop: 73-76 A-neck Precision that either was ruined or made awesome, depending on your tastes. Body routed, refinished, etc. Plays and sounds fantastic, though doesn't quite get the wide-open Jazz / both pickups tone, probably because it has a balance knob rather than V-V-T. A great player's bass nonetheless.

Mutant P I.jpg
Mutant P II.jpg
 
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#132
Watchootognbout said:
Although I've heard both in different contexts,I don't own either one.
Jaco,Mark Adams and Anthony Jackson both played a Fender Jazz,but don't sound the same.
And different P-bass players sound different.
I have no dog in this race.
Click to expand...

Very much agree here.

The tones of my Jazz are my own personal normal with that sort of bass, but mine is passive with a pair of DiMarzio Ultra Jazz pickups - humbuckers with their own personality. Many other J's I've tried or even brought home had different personalities that were never right for me.

Different Jazz basses in the hands of different players can produce a LOT of different sounds. The same goes for P basses. But the two instruments I have at home give me their own particular brand of wonderful, so I'm lucky to have both of them...

...along with a new Carvin (new for me) on the way :woot:
 
#135
butterfingers1 said:
I know this topic has come up, but when comparing precision and jazz basses most people say they prefer the p bass tone. Those who prefer j basses do so for the thin neck and so-called versatility of 2 pickups.

Does anyone prefer the jazz bass tone?
Click to expand...
I definitely do. All I’ve ever owned so far have been jazz basses. I know the p bass is supposed to be “the standard”, I just don’t like the tone, or the tonal range, as much as I do a jazz bass. I do have a pj on order, so I guess I’ll get to try the p pickups at home, but I have just never been much of a fan.
 
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#136
butterfingers1 said:
I know this topic has come up, but when comparing precision and jazz basses most people say they prefer the p bass tone. Those who prefer j basses do so for the thin neck and so-called versatility of 2 pickups.

Does anyone prefer the jazz bass tone?
Click to expand...
I love the Jazz tone. The bridge pickup with the tone turned down and playing near the bridge is a tone I really goto alot. I feel like the neck pickup on the jazz bass when played solo offers the same tones the P Bass offers. So that is why the Jazz is more versatile.

I love my P Basses too. Its just so simple and does so many things perfectly. Both the jazz and Precision have their place and thats why I own 2 of each :)
 
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#138
I'm not expert on anything so I try to keep it simple. What I hear is:

Jazz - focused tone, punchy, sings
Precision - thump, round, thick
Stringray/MFD - growl, modern

Plenty of cross over tones between instruments if you want... but if you don't like swimming upstream, you can emphasize the signature tones of the instrument with corresponding string choices and just have 1 of each to satisfy whatever your music demands that day. I love all three tone types - just not all at once :)
 
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#139
I own one since last week, a Texas Tea ultra Jazz bass. It's a great instrument. I immediately found my sound. I was stunned by the sustain. The growl, which for me is "Tone" is sublime.
I own a Pbass and a Rick as well. But if I had to choose, I couldn't pick one..
They all have their own sound..
I'm pretty sure, you can't go wrong with any product Fender delivers..
 
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#140
So, with me I have J, P, & JP Fenders and some might not “agree”, but at volume, which one band I’m in is in total excess. I find that at stage volume ( for most I guess ) and then groups like us at “11”... I can’t hear the difference. I walk out during sound check, and once I tweak my eq or.. to find my spot in the mix , again I can’t tell really that much difference??? Maybe standing in front of 8x10’s or for years my hearing is not up to what it should be, who knows.
But as I’ve said before , my bedroom tone is not always for sure like my needs on stage.
How about others .... does your tone change much between the two ??
 
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