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Jazz Bass...... what's it for??

#81
BAG said:
I probably should have asked people "What makes you prefer your Jazz over other basses?" That'd be more accurate than asking for reasons for me to buy or not.
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For me, it's the Three-Eee's…Ergonomics, Electronics and Esthetics.
  • Ergonomics: I prefer a slimmer neck. So, if I had to play a Precision, I'd need a Jazz-spec'd neck. This is, of course, a personal preference that works best for my hands. Your mileage may vary.
  • Electronics: I've tried single-pickup Precisions, but keep going back to two-pickups for their greater versatility. Mad Love for a Precision/Jazz pickup config, aka The Best of Both Worlds!
  • Esthetics: It may not be a factor for some folks, but I'm a former art student and illustrator. If something doesn't make me think "YUMMY!", I'm less likely to pick it up and jam with it. Although I've seen many very visually-pleasing P's over the years, they make me think "MEAT & POTATOES". When I look at a Jazz, I think "ART".
 
#82
BAG said:
The other reason [I've been pretty much avoiding Jazz Basses] is that I don't like Jazz music. I can listen to most genre's but apart from a small number of songs that may be loosely classified as "jazz" i can't get into it. I particularly dislike most live jazz I've ever listened to and find it to be too much "musical masturbation" and not enough "entertainment". (I generally think the same about 10minute blues solos as well). Hence the "Jazz Bass" name alone puts me off. Ha ha ha. Yeah..... shallow, I know.

The only reason I can think of for me to even try a Jazz is that I prefer the narrow neck to a P-bass from the quick (unplugged) play I have had of a couple. I have yet to play any through an amp yet.
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The narrow fingerboard is, in and of itself, a good reason for some folks (like me) to prefer a Jazz Bass. My hands aren't all that large, so I like it for the easier reach, easier playing. Also, I've been a guitarist for many, many years, so I'm always ready for any narrower (closer to guitar) string spacing - can't get too narrow for me! I also very much like the offset body shape of the Jazz - again, it suits me better physically than a P Bass. The Jazz "neck" pickup can give you a lot of good sounds, and is known for mixing well with acoustic guitars (listen to Mike Viscegia with Suzanne Vega).

So to me it comes down to those physical dimensions, and which suit any given person better. Some people feel more comfortable with a P Bass, and some are more comfortable with a J Bass. Both basses can be gotten with either pickup configuration (though I don't see too many P's with a Jazz neck pu), so in that sense the pickups are a less vital consideration than how the bass feels.

Thumbs down on the jazz music dis, though ... to each his own, but ... there's a ton of great jazz out there that's way more than just "masturbation" - you just have to have ears to hear it, same as any genre. Try some Paul Desmond for some of the most melodic riffing you'll ever hear!

 
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#85
DreadyDiggs said:


Flabba Holt and his Jazz Bass. He's since gone to 5 String and I believe his current bass is custom. I'm at a stage where pickup configuration doesn't seem so important. I listen to see if I can get the sound I want. And I'm confident I can find it on most any bass that I choose to put my hands on. While each bass will put it's own twist on my sound, so far I haven't heard a twist I couldn't tolerate. Of course you'll like one more than the other, but you shouldn't think you should avoid one pickup configuration or another. As bass connoisseurs we should embrace variety haha.
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Fantastic tone. I forgot about this guy. I assume those are flat wounds. Dig the sponge mute. I guess in some ways the Jazz bass with the bridge pup muted has a bigger bottom than a Precision. All the old school reggae guys seem to prefer J's.
 
#86
BAG said:
Hey folks,

I'm pretty new to bass after 30 years of guitar and really enjoy playing my Jag Short Scale but i'm now hankering for something else to play as well. I live in a small town nearly 250km from the nearest guitar shop and time to play other basses is very limited. Every time we go to the big-smoke we've got so much to do it's rare for me to get more than a couple of minutes to get anything more than necessities.

I've been pretty much avoiding Jazz Basses so far for a number of reasons. The main two are that I don't like the sound of the J bridge pickup on my Jag and, until I did the shielding of it, i hated the noisiness of it and so it never even gets turned up now. Is the neck pickup very different?

The other reason is that I don't like Jazz music. I can listen to most genre's but apart from a small number of songs that may be loosely classified as "jazz" i can't get into it. I particularly dislike most live jazz I've ever listened to and find it to be too much "musical masturbation" and not enough "entertainment". (I generally think the same about 10minute blues solos as well). Hence the "Jazz Bass" name alone puts me off. Ha ha ha. Yeah..... shallow, I know.

The only reason I can think of for me to even try a Jazz is that I prefer the narrow neck to a P-bass from the quick (unplugged) play I have had of a couple. I have yet to play any through an amp yet.

So is there any auditory reason at all I should try the Jazz bass or should I just save some time keep looking at other styles??
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The Fender Jazz bass wasn't named with the intent of being a bass for playing Jazz music.
It was called that for it's "Jazzy styling"

Especially since Jazz purists,at that time, did not look with favor on the electric bass.
 
#92
Another, Aussie! G'day.
I am taking you to mean you have a short scale PJ. I am guessing from what you said you currently prefer the sound of the P pickup soloed and just leave the bridge pickup off, because it is noisy and sounds thin. You also indicate a preference for the slimmer Jazz neck, over a traditionally wider P neck. (BTW There have been a number of P Bass neck profiles and widths as well)
Not sure what the switching options are in your PJ. PJs are different to Jazzes and short scales are different to "full scales", so I don't think you can draw too useful a line from your experience with your current instrument to a what a Jazz Bass is really like. Keep in mind there are many options with the world of Jazz Basses- pickup choice and wiring as well as active / passive make huge differences. Bridge pickup position makes a difference.
In answer to your question about whether there is a sound based reason for bothering to try out a Jazz Bass, given you don't like the bridge pickup in your current bass.
I would say "Yes", because there is more to a Jazz than the bridge pickup and not all Jazz Bass pickups are the same or even in the same position.

I am basically a P Bass guy. I like the simplicity and the tone. I gig P Basses, Teles, TBirds and Asats because they suit the band I play in better. I have some nice Jazz Basses, but they haven't quite had the sound I am looking for in standard parallel pickup configuration. Sound great at home but not quite full enough in the mix for mine. Just personal preference. Love the growl though. that's why I continue to tinker with Jazzes. Currently, pretty happy with the series/ parallel mod.

There are lots of options. You can put a Jazz neck on a P Bass body if you prefer a narrower neck. You can go for an active Jazz.You can wire a Jazz with the pickups in series and that will give you a stronger, fuller signal. I think this is a great mod with a push/ pull pot. There are basses out there other than Fenders.Try as many as you can. You might find you like Stingrays or TBirds. G & L basses are well made and sound great. I know they are hard to find to try out in Australia. The Australian importer (with whom I am in no way connected) has a store in Newcastle and carries a good range, worth a look, if you find yourself in Newcastle.

Anyway, here is vid showing the difference with a series/ parallel switching mod on a Jazz.



 
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#94
Back in the 1980s, I auditioned for a (shudder) Disco band, and I brought my Carvin LB50 and Fender Jazz Bass (CBS vintage, w/ 3 screw neck plate).
At first, played the Carvin.
Their reaction : Meh.
When I plugged in the Jazz, both pickups on full, their faces lit up.
"THAT'S THE SOUND!"
Was hired.
 
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#98
Rio Haride said:
I play Jazz Bass for death metal or deathcore. 'Oops, but it says "Jazz Bass". Why you so brave man?'

J Bass (Fender, Sad, Lull, or whatever) cut through easily. That's the first thing people will answered.

Especially in 'metal situation', you want to have a big low mid (around 400 hz, less or more) that J Bass have to accommodate 'the wall sound' and chuggy metal guitar (palm mute ya know). I play guitar too.

Ya, J Bass will work in any situation.

In fact, any solid body bass will work in any situation. That's why there is a EQ knobs on your amp.
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Metallica's bass player plays a jazz, too.
 
#100
Jazz bass is for bass and, IMO, for:

1) Comfortable neck(similar to Ibanez SRX and Peavey Foundations here)
2) VERY flexible tone
3) Ability to cut through a mix
4) Sound exactly like Geddy Lee in "The Pass" on the Live in RIO dvd

Never wanted or got one since Ibanez and Peaveys here had the "feel" covered but then I got the RUSH R40 set as a gift and that pretty much did it. Very glad it was got before price increases.

PS: After much experience, a humbucker-equipped bass ALWAYS comes with me to venues we've never done. Been in more than one EMF-buzzing venue-from-heck that only a shielded humbucker worked.
 

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