• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

JAZZ LOVERS!

Shakin-Slim

Shakin-Slim

Jul 23, 2009
1,784
37
Tokyo, Japan
#1
Okay so I have a bit of a dilemma. I have a Warwick Corvette passive 4 string with the J/J pickup config. Next year I'm studying jazz and I've been told that the warwick probably isn't the best sound for jazz. I know the common answer to my question would be something along the lines of: "Personal opinion dude" but I want to put that aside for a while. My options are defretting my Warwick, obviously just the cost of defretting. Buying a Fender Jazz and defretting that, or really grabbing the jazz bull by the horns and getting an upright. Any thoughts would be very greatly appreciated! If someone has a Warwick like mine and can tell me that it would hold up fine in terms of getting that sound once defretted, that'd be swell :)

Also, with the Warwick, I'm having trouble getting it to still sound fat and full once I reach higher registers. It tends to get thin and cuts through like a razor blade rather than glides through like a knife in butter. Any help?

Cheers.
Shaun
 
#5
I had a Wick Streamer that I used for jazz. I would not recommend a defret as it can reduce the value of the instrument, especially if you have a wenge neck. Rolling off the highs and mids a little on the amp seemed to do the trick for me. It had good presence and was able to cut through the horn section. Mine had active electronics, but I kept them mostly flat as to not be too boomy. If you are thinking of going with the fretless option, another bass might serve you better, but there is no reason that a fretted bass can't be musical in a jazz setting. Good luck!
 
#6
I think a big part of getting a smooth mellow sound out of a bass guitar is to do with your technique approach. I have found that warwicks get quite a bit of fret and string noise, so you need to fret really firmly and accurately to get that smoother tone. When I tried fast passages on a double$$ I played, I couldn't dial out that grit and buzz, even with the highs all the way down.

So what does this mean? I say that the guy who told you a fretted warwick was not good for jazz was 100% right. If you want the versatility to play funk and other styles as well as straight ahead jazz, I would say the defretted jazz bass option is probably the best. If all you're going to be doing is jazz however, nothing can beat a good upright. The best scenario, if you could afford it, would be to keep your warwick and buy an upright too.
 
#7
Dont defrett. The Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Fretless is an incredible bang for the buck @ $300 If you've never played much Jazz thats a small investment to see if you're into it or not. Or you can get into a decent plywood bass for under a grand. But just wait till you get Accoustic BAss GAS ...OMG a nice bass can cost 30-40-50 grand and the sky is the limit.
I see Uprights on CL all the time under a grand. AS well s much more!

peace Capt Kirk
 
#8
From what the JT sez, the Warwick would be comparable to playing jazz on my ol' 4001 Rickenbacker! LOL!! I've got an '82 G&L L-1000 fretless 4 that I've had forever. I played rock & funk with it. It doesn't get much action anymore since I seem to be all about the five strings. I may part with it if that's a direction you'd like to go.
I personally think the upright is your best direction, but that really depends on what 'jazz' means to you.
 
#9
Don't mean to pop anyone's bubble, but "jazz" can be played well on nearly any bass, electric or upright. It's in the players head, heart, and fingers. There are great jazz players out there who play electric and great players who use mostly upright. Learn the music, then worry about which instrument suits you the best....
 
#12
There is no one "sound" for jazz. I play both electric and upright and play jazz on both. If I can tell you anything that I believe will help you in your search for your best jazz tone, never try and make your electric sound like an upright. At best, it will sound like a bad imitation; at worst, it will sound flat and boomy. If you want to sound like an upright bass, play an upright (they are very different instruments).

For Jazz electric, I really prefer the tone of bolt-on necks vs. the punch of something like a neck-through warwick. There are many different tones you can use that will work well. Jaco used ROUNDWOUND strings on a passive-J for a nice midrangy growl. Jeff Berlin uses active pickups on his dean bass with a markbass amp that gives him a very sustained/twangy sound that is great for the fusion stuff he plays.

From a logistical perspective, I wouldn't give up the instrument you have unless you no longer have a use for the tone it produces.

Save up until you can get whatever instrument you want next. For Jazz Electric, I absolutely love my J-Bass with Rotosounds (worn in Rotosounds, I don't like the bright sound right out of the box for Jazz). I also started to play Upright 6 months ago, and I have never been happier with a decision in my life.
 
#13
I too study jazz, and was just playing your exact bass in guitar center today, thinking how I might like to get one! I wouldn't sell it, it is the best pass you can get for the money. What works really well for me with a really bright bass like your Warwick or my Sadowsky, is to string it with TI flats. They will sound amazing on your bass, and will completely solve your problem of thin higher notes. These flats are also very flexible, and won't kill your hands like stiffer gauges will.
The 4 string set is about $50 from Juststrings.com but I would experiment with that before selling your Warwick. I think you will be pleasantly surprised. These strings still have bite and growl but add the warmth and definition, and punch you are missing.

Now, to your other question. I have a degree in upright studies, and am partial to that of course, but I would say hold off on the upright and focus on learning jazz on the electric. The upright is a huge hurdle to tackle, and you will have to spend most of your time trying to get around the instrument, and then there is the financial hurdle of getting a good upright.

Try the TI Jazz flats, you can read all about them in the strings forum. They will rock your world.
 
#15
A lot of jazz cats won't even consider letting you play with them if you aren't playing upright, no matter how good you play electric, fretless or otherwise. If you really want to learn that, then there is no time like the present to get started.
 
#16
i play jazz on a warwick corvette, unfortunately the old cats listen with their eyes so if that's who your looking to play with you need an upright - unfortunately. but watch your plucking hand position, keep it near the neck the timbre is very warm and roll that treble knob down to nothing.

- john
 
#19
TheBasicBassist said:
i play jazz on a warwick corvette, unfortunately the old cats listen with their eyes so if that's who your looking to play with you need an upright - unfortunately. but watch your plucking hand position, keep it near the neck the timbre is very warm and roll that treble knob down to nothing.

- john
Click to expand...

I guess I don't understand the point of view. If you play near the neck and roll down all the treble you take away the character and tone of the electric bass. All you get is boomy thump and no tone. You get a second class upright. Why not go the opposite route and get the tone you really like. I hate to say the name again but check out Jaco's jazz tone, it was midrangey and bright and he plucked to the right of the bridge pickup; and nobody could say that he didn't play Jazz. The guys who hate electric won't hire you, no matter what your tone; but try to name one of the truly great electric players who plays with the kind of tone setup you described. The only thing that does is make you sound like you're trying to be something you're not.
 
#20
what kind of 'jazz' do you mean? i've played a lot of electric in big band and it worked out ok...IMO it's nonsense that people expect an upright in big band because it's going to be seriously amplified anyways (and then prone to feedback/extraneous noise). with electric (especially with my fretless corvette) i found that i could EQ it just right to be heard through the band without being overly loud.

if you're talking about a small combo, an upright would be ideal...adds to the acoustic-ness of the ensemble. but then again, i've played some fusion/modern stuff in small combo and electric sounded hip.

not sure what the point of all that was, guess it's just my personal experience...i wouldn't worry too much about the actual instrument unless you really get into jazz. nor would i defret the warwick. fact is, a bass is a bass and as long as it's performing it's role, it's good enough for most of your audience.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back