Learning to love rear jazz pickup

[dougjwray]

I have totally had the experience with this J of not being happy how it sounds live…then going back to the recording and feeling like it’s perfect. I’m sensing that that is part of the J thing—doesn’t sound quite right to the player but totally sounds great in a band setting.

I know exactly what you mean. I've had a history of bringing a Jazz Bass to a gig as a change of pace from my customary P-Bass, finding it anemic, if not completely buried, and later having people say, "You sounded good tonight."

 

[sean_on_bass]

But I do find that I just don't use the rear pickup and I can't tell if that's a mental thing or what? I don't "not" like the sound, but I really don't love it. If I edge up the active bass on the pre a little bit and use the rear, it does sound defined and fine, but then what's the point if I can basically get that sound with the neck pickup as well? I'm not a slapper, more of a groove/country/funk/rock player.

Has anyone else grappled with this?

It really depends on your idea of what a bass tone should be as well as the music being played. The bridge pickup is a more mid dominant tone with no muddiness and fast response. It cuts through quite a bit more than the neck pickup. If for some reason your bridge pickup sounds like your neck pickup, then something is wrong IMO. they should have a decidedly different tone, and when blended together can sound quite nice to get best of both worlds. Depending on the music, i personally use all pickup combinations.

 

[buldog5151bass]

The neck pickup is the meat. Flavor to taste with the bridge pup.

 

[deepestend]

Some things I'm taking away from this thread: rear pickup with tone turned way down is a great sound. Also, I'm learning to appreciate that the rear pickup has a much faster (perceived) response time making it feel a lot tighter.