Jazz Basses - clanky?

[Jackcrow]

I’ve had several different Jazz Basses and I always find the sound to be “clanky” and kind of annoying after a while. What do you think? Is it my playing style, taste, pickups, setup? Or do you prefer that clanky sound? Is that just an inherent trait of the jazz bass?

 

[tjh]

I’ve had several different Jazz Basses and I always find the sound to be “clanky” and kind of annoying after a while. What do you think? Is it my playing style, taste, pickups, setup? …

… yup …

… add strings, EQ choices and possibly hearing to the list …

 

[Jackcrow]

Yeah I’m sure it could just be a personal taste thing also. As far as strings I usually use DR Hi-Beams or Dunlop Super Brights.

 

[jd56hawk]

Plenty of Jazz bass adjectives but I don't think clanky is one of them.

 

[gln1955]

Flats will definitely take the edge off of a Jazz.

 

[mikeswals]

The old saying:
Jazz bases go clank, P basses go clunk.

 

[Jackcrow]

Plenty of Jazz bass adjectives but I don't think clanky is one of them.

Really? Interesting. Maybe I just need to turn my clank knob down.

 

[Jackcrow]

Flats will definitely take the edge off of a Jazz.

This was my thought also, so I put a set of Sadowsky blue label flats on the last Jazz that I had. It helped some, but with the tone knob all the way up it still had that clank. To me, anyway.

 

[rmayer]

This was my thought also, so I put a set of Sadowsky blue label flats on the last Jazz that I had. It helped some, but with the tone knob all the way up it still had that clank. To me, anyway.

Turn the tone knob down.

 

[Jackcrow]

Turn the tone knob down.

Sure, that works, but I’m not saying that I don’t like to have any high end in my sound, more about the character of the highs in a jazz bass (or at least in my experience).

 

[Garret Graves]

This was my thought also, so I put a set of Sadowsky blue label flats on the last Jazz that I had. It helped some, but with the tone knob all the way up it still had that clank. To me, anyway.

What rmayer said- turn that tone knob down, and maybe favor the neck pick up and your experience should be very different

 

[rmayer]

What rmayer said- turn that tone knob down, and maybe favor the neck pick up and your experience should be very different

Almost exactly my setup with Jazz Basses, or Jazz type basses.

 

[rmayer]

Sure, that works, but I’m not saying that I don’t like to have any high end in my sound, more about the character of the highs in a jazz bass (or at least in my experience).

That was my short answer. Are you favoring the bridge pickup? Maybe favoring the neck pickup would "fatten" up the sound a bit.
Never used Dunlop Super Brights, but it sounds like they might add to the "clanky" sound.

 

[Slater]

I believe it’s more playing style and setup. I can play aggressively and get some clanky Getty Lee tone, or I can lay back and sound smooth like Joe Osborn on the same Jazz Bass. (All the while wishing I had at least half the talent of either one of them ).

 

[pappabass]

I kinda agree. I started with a fender p, had to have a jazz. Sold the p, bought a beautiful fender jazz, never was happy with sound. I was a last minute fill in at a church. Played the beat up active eq ibanez church bass, next night i brought my jazz, it never could match the sound of the ibanez. So i changed to active eq basses. I am now back to a fender p

 

[Jackcrow]

That was my short answer. Are you favoring the bridge pickup? Maybe favoring the neck pickup would "fatten" up the sound a bit.
Never used Dunlop Super Brights, but it sounds like they might add to the "clanky" sound.

I usually play with both pickups on full, although I have messed around with other settings. The strings could certainly contribute to that sound. I usually play P Basses and bright rounds seem to give me a high end “grind” that I like.

 

[Jackcrow]

To clarify I don’t have a Jazz at the moment.

 

[JGbassman]

I've found jazz basses with the 60's bridge pickup placement to be warmer and more pleasant to my ears. I've fought with j basses with the 70's pickup location, where I just don't like the sound as much. Too thin in comparison.

That being said, tones with a distorted clank, such as Geddys, I like, and I set up my basses and play them completely different to get that tone. On a typical standard tone, for lack of better words, pay more attention to your technique, raise your action up, or deal with less top end. J basses are a touch more scooped, so that top end can get a little clanky if you overcompensate with highs.

I've been gigging p basses lately, but I do love the growl I get from my jazz basses with the right rig and set up.

I've found I like jazz basses with mid forward speaker cabs, such as GK rigs, and p basses with darker cabs, like Ampeg SVT cabs. That might be a thought to chase as well.

 

[Kukulkan61]

Chromes flatwounds on my jazz bass oh so sweet!!

 

[Jackcrow]

I've found jazz basses with the 60's bridge pickup placement to be warmer and more pleasant to my ears. I've fought with j basses with the 70's pickup location, where I just don't like the sound as much. Too thin in comparison.

That being said, tones with a distorted clank, such as Geddys, I like, and I set up my basses and play them completely different to get that tone. On a typical standard tone, for lack of better words, pay more attention to your technique, raise your action up, or deal with less top end. J basses are a touch more scooped, so that top end can get a little clanky if you overcompensate with highs.

I've been gigging p basses lately, but I do love the growl I get from my jazz basses with the right rig and set up.

I've found I like jazz basses with mid forward speaker cabs, such as GK rigs, and p basses with darker cabs, like Ampeg SVT cabs. That might be a thought to chase as well.

This makes sense. I would like that jazz growl on ocassion. I can always boost mids on the amp EQ to compensate for the scoop.