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Jazz Bass...... what's it for??
- Thread starter BAG
- Start date
All Ibanez 4"s and BTB 5"s are 19mm. The $7000 nitti sig. sr6 is 18mm center to center.
Yes, my bad, I'm so much 5-string only that I forgot about the 4-string spacing.
Your original question was: "Jazz Bass...what's it for?" Answer: whatever you want. You work with acoustic players, and Jazz basses work great in that context. I occasionally play in one group that's acoustically-fronted and have had nothing but good luck anchoring that with my J. The character of the sound we get as an ensemble has been commented on by musicians and non-musicians alike as sounding very "produced," when in fact we place no reliance whatsoever on effects. I don't even use compression in that outfit.
They're played across all styles because they can be. They're tonally flexible. Once I discovered (read: could afford) a J-bass as a younger player, I never went without having at least one because they're such comfortable instruments to play. I'm not particularly big, my hands are medium-sized at best, and the neck just felt great to me. Trim and speedy without feeling the least bit flimsy, and I am partial to the string spacing. Sound considerations actually came later once I'd had a chance to play a Jazz in a number of genres, and slowly I discovered how much tonal ground the instrument can cover. I also play passive only, but I shudder to think what all could be done with an active setup. It might be more bass than I'd ever need to use...
I also like and have owned Rickenbacker, but that was entirely about tone. I got used to mine and could get around on it pretty well, but could never get past the sensation that I was playing on a Louisville Slugger. I did eventually sell it in favor of another J.
I suppose this is the requisite place to note that this is all IMO. Find a J-style bass somewhere and just give it a shot. I don't know how your pricing and whatnot works in Australia so maybe this doesn't even apply, but here in the States the MIM Jazz basses are a pretty popular option for people who don't want to drop $1000 - $1800 on a domestic model. I've looked at and tried out a number of Mexican Js, and honestly, I'd get one if I were in any way on the fence about the instrument. I tend to buy American but really haven't noticed much difference in feel or playability on the Mexican Js I've tried.
They're played across all styles because they can be. They're tonally flexible. Once I discovered (read: could afford) a J-bass as a younger player, I never went without having at least one because they're such comfortable instruments to play. I'm not particularly big, my hands are medium-sized at best, and the neck just felt great to me. Trim and speedy without feeling the least bit flimsy, and I am partial to the string spacing. Sound considerations actually came later once I'd had a chance to play a Jazz in a number of genres, and slowly I discovered how much tonal ground the instrument can cover. I also play passive only, but I shudder to think what all could be done with an active setup. It might be more bass than I'd ever need to use...
I also like and have owned Rickenbacker, but that was entirely about tone. I got used to mine and could get around on it pretty well, but could never get past the sensation that I was playing on a Louisville Slugger. I did eventually sell it in favor of another J.
I suppose this is the requisite place to note that this is all IMO. Find a J-style bass somewhere and just give it a shot. I don't know how your pricing and whatnot works in Australia so maybe this doesn't even apply, but here in the States the MIM Jazz basses are a pretty popular option for people who don't want to drop $1000 - $1800 on a domestic model. I've looked at and tried out a number of Mexican Js, and honestly, I'd get one if I were in any way on the fence about the instrument. I tend to buy American but really haven't noticed much difference in feel or playability on the Mexican Js I've tried.
The term "Jazz Bass" is somewhat misleading. It's an instrument well suited to any style of music and is only limited by the person playing it. John Paul Jones used one in Zeppelin and Geezer Butler used one at times with Black Sabbath, although he also used P-basses quite often.
It's perfect for anything. Seriously. I daresay its the most versatile bass in existence, outside of a hot-rodded precision/ PJ, cause there are so many play positions that generate different tone; whether you float the thumb near the neck to get that mellow Jimi Hendrix intonation, or you anchor near the bridge like Jaco.
And when you say you don't like jazz, that's a strong statement, because the term jazz is so broad. I don't like 1930 ultra-sophisto smoky club New-Orleans jazz for tuxedo-sporters with scotch, but damn, I swear by some funky freeform swing from the 50s onward.
And when you say you don't like jazz, that's a strong statement, because the term jazz is so broad. I don't like 1930 ultra-sophisto smoky club New-Orleans jazz for tuxedo-sporters with scotch, but damn, I swear by some funky freeform swing from the 50s onward.
Jazz Bass is standard, you can play anything with it and you really don't need another bass ever, a good Fender Jazz bass will do all 
If you have money to spend you can buy any other basses to experiment or you can buy another Jazz bass to play with custom picks, pre amps and so on ....A professional bass player only need 2 basses, a Jazz Bass and a Precission Bass usually you get a 5 string JB and a 4 string P Bass so you can fit in any band from jazz to funk, hardcore metal you name it....
If you have money to spend you can buy any other basses to experiment or you can buy another Jazz bass to play with custom picks, pre amps and so on ....A professional bass player only need 2 basses, a Jazz Bass and a Precission Bass usually you get a 5 string JB and a 4 string P Bass so you can fit in any band from jazz to funk, hardcore metal you name it....
Jazz was the most popular music at the time Leo Fender designed the bass, so he called it a "Jazz" bass in hopes that it would help it sell. You can play any style of music you want on it - rock, blues, country, funk, whatever.
One main thing for me about the J bass is the slim neck. More comfortable for me than wrapping my fingers around a fat P bass neck. That's a matter of personal preference. Of course, there are P basses out there with J necks.
The other thing is tonal flexibility. You've got two pickups to blend together in different combinations. The reason you probably didn't like the J pickup on your PJ was not that it was a J pickup, but its location near the bridge. The string doesn't vibrate as freely there, close to where it's anchored, so you get more high and middle frequencies and less fundamental bass frequencies. There are some styles of music where that's desirable soloed, but usually not. In combination with a neck pickup, though (which will have more bass in it due to the location), it gives you the option to blend in more of those upper frequencies, which gives your tone more "growl" or "bite" compared to the "thump" or "roar" of a P bass. A P/J does the same thing, but the "growl" is more pronounced when both pickups are single-coils.
I can't remember who it was offhand, but I remember one bassist doing a rig rundown for Premier Guitar where he talked about his J basses, and insisted that they were the best for his effects chain; a lot of the effects worked mainly with upper frequencies and really came out better on a J signal than a P.
One main thing for me about the J bass is the slim neck. More comfortable for me than wrapping my fingers around a fat P bass neck. That's a matter of personal preference. Of course, there are P basses out there with J necks.
The other thing is tonal flexibility. You've got two pickups to blend together in different combinations. The reason you probably didn't like the J pickup on your PJ was not that it was a J pickup, but its location near the bridge. The string doesn't vibrate as freely there, close to where it's anchored, so you get more high and middle frequencies and less fundamental bass frequencies. There are some styles of music where that's desirable soloed, but usually not. In combination with a neck pickup, though (which will have more bass in it due to the location), it gives you the option to blend in more of those upper frequencies, which gives your tone more "growl" or "bite" compared to the "thump" or "roar" of a P bass. A P/J does the same thing, but the "growl" is more pronounced when both pickups are single-coils.
I can't remember who it was offhand, but I remember one bassist doing a rig rundown for Premier Guitar where he talked about his J basses, and insisted that they were the best for his effects chain; a lot of the effects worked mainly with upper frequencies and really came out better on a J signal than a P.
Jazz basses are the best bass for metal
Fender Super 55 pickups.That's got some great bass tone, and it's very prominant in the mix, particularly for a live gig in the early 80's.
Is that a part of it, Jazz for growl, P for thump?? Up till now i've felt (on my cheapo Jag at least) that the bridge J sounds very nasal. Is that the J pup itself or just the fact it's at the bridge? Or just cheap
Split coils in a jazz pickup housing.
Dare to be different.
The Jazz is NOT a short scale Jaguar at all. Don't let that influence you at all. I don't like any short scale bass, but that's me. I know guys that love them and some that play them for physical reasons.
The Jazz is kind of an icon in electric bassdom; perhaps, only second to the Precision.
There was a thread recently, and may still be going, about what two basses you would have if you could only have two. The majority of responders included a Jazz as one of their choices.
I use a P and a J. The P is my go to, mainly because I have been playing Ps since 1967. My J I have only had for 7 years.
I use the J on a lot of things, but when I want the punch and growl, I use the P. The true P sound is about the only thing a J won't do. I know a lot will say to roll off the tone and the bridge pip, and it is close, but not quite.
Over all, I would say the only ways to go wrong with buying a J are to over pay, or get a bad one.
The Jazz is kind of an icon in electric bassdom; perhaps, only second to the Precision.
There was a thread recently, and may still be going, about what two basses you would have if you could only have two. The majority of responders included a Jazz as one of their choices.
I use a P and a J. The P is my go to, mainly because I have been playing Ps since 1967. My J I have only had for 7 years.
I use the J on a lot of things, but when I want the punch and growl, I use the P. The true P sound is about the only thing a J won't do. I know a lot will say to roll off the tone and the bridge pip, and it is close, but not quite.
Over all, I would say the only ways to go wrong with buying a J are to over pay, or get a bad one.
I used to never be able to decide between my P or J. The J had a growl tone I liked through my amp but my hands just liked the P better. Once I put 1/4 pounders and a hipshot bridge on the P, it sounded so close to the jazz that I almost never ended up playing the Jazz bass again. Sold it about 2 years later and still have the P
If what they called it was important, nobody with a precision would ever screw up lol
Hi BAG!
Well, JB is practically for almost everything, any style. If you manage to put aside prejudice against name, shape etc., it turns out that these basses are pretty handy (I kind of had the same issue, I wasn't a particular jazz fan until I started playing bass). For me personally, the main reasons behind owning one, are 1) simplicity of construction and tone adjustments 2) abundance of them on the market which simplifies maintenance significantly (those who ever had their basses cracked will agree), especially if you live in a remote area 3) filling any mix with a solid bass sound.
Cheers!
Well, JB is practically for almost everything, any style. If you manage to put aside prejudice against name, shape etc., it turns out that these basses are pretty handy (I kind of had the same issue, I wasn't a particular jazz fan until I started playing bass
). For me personally, the main reasons behind owning one, are 1) simplicity of construction and tone adjustments 2) abundance of them on the market which simplifies maintenance significantly (those who ever had their basses cracked will agree), especially if you live in a remote area 3) filling any mix with a solid bass sound. Cheers!
Jazz bass to play jazz music.
Precision bass to play with precision.
Music Man to play music, man.
Double bass to play with natural delay.
Ibañez to play bass in spanish.
Dingwall Combustion to play in fire.
Jaguar bass to play in the jungle.
String bass to play at the beach.
Peavey Millennium to play after 2000.
Katana bass to play oriental music.
Gene Simmons Axe to play lumberjack music.
Schecter Hellraiser to play death metal.
Epiphone Viola bass to play anything if you keep on typing "viola" instead of "voilà".
We could go on for days.
Precision bass to play with precision.
Music Man to play music, man.
Double bass to play with natural delay.
Ibañez to play bass in spanish.
Dingwall Combustion to play in fire.
Jaguar bass to play in the jungle.
String bass to play at the beach.
Peavey Millennium to play after 2000.
Katana bass to play oriental music.
Gene Simmons Axe to play lumberjack music.
Schecter Hellraiser to play death metal.
Epiphone Viola bass to play anything if you keep on typing "viola" instead of "voilà".
We could go on for days.
