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Let’s talk Jazz basses

#61
Bill Murray said:
I'm not looking to go nuts, I don't need anything fancy. I just want that vintage look and sound in a cheap but work worthy package.
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Jefenator said:
You might want to consider assembling from parts if you're halfway handy. My Allparts/Warmoth/Hipshot/Lollar J sounds & plays better than any authentic Fender I've ever tried thus far.
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40Hz said:
I couldn't find a Telecaster I really liked that I could afford. So I went the parts route and assembled my own. Now I've got exactly the sound, feel, and look I wanted for about a buck under a grand. But that was only because I bought all new premium parts from eight different sources. And the only reason I did that was because I didn't feel like crawling the web and waiting for the exact right used parts to come along. If I were more patient and went used, I could have easily shaved a third off the total cost. Came out pretty nice IMO. Assembly was a piece of cake, like it would be for any FSO.....I figure if I could do it, so could just about anyone else.
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i like the parts route, too. you end up with the same ax (better!) for less! and if you're not "handy" = pay someone who is (luthier/tech) to assemble it for you. choose all the parts to match your vision/ideas --- easy and fun!

gratuitous pics of my J from parts:
20201109_125325.jpg 20201109_123532.jpg 20201109_123604.jpg Capture.JPG

my vision: a black, lightweight, platform to play around with pickups and strings. i installed some cheap pickups i got from ebay and they're still there --- and i put some roto 66s on it to get started and they're still there! :D

but my point, and that of 40hz and jefenator is that you're more likely to get what you want if you "build" it yourself by assembling the parts you choose (too easy with FSOs!). ;)

good luck finding the right J-bass for yourself! :thumbsup:
 
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#62
dusterdan70 said:
I have to play Devil's Advocate to the above. To your point, I concur that most of the Motown guys used P's but boy oh boy there are some very fine exceptions out there. One of the more famous examples is David Hood from The Staple Singers, on songs such as "I'll Take You There". If that's not THE Motown sound, I don't what is....recorded on a B15 and a 60's Jazz Bass, of course:) Flats and fun with the EQ = motown! P or J isn't the defining factor, imho of course
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Oh i agree that a Jazz can sound great on Motown stuff, just want pointing out that most of that stuff was originally played on Ps. And i absolutely love Hood's work and tone on the Muscle Shoals stuff! He's one of my favorites.
 
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#64
JRA said:
View attachment 4418138



i like the parts route, too. you end up with the same ax (better!) for less! and if you're not "handy" = pay someone who is (luthier/tech) to assemble it for you. choose all the parts to match your vision/ideas --- easy and fun!

gratuitous pics of my J from parts:
View attachment 4418148 View attachment 4418152 View attachment 4418157 View attachment 4418164

my vision: a black, lightweight, platform to play around with pickups and strings. i installed some cheap pickups i got from ebay and they're still there --- and i put some roto 66s on it to get started and they're still there! :D

but my point, and that of 40hz and jefenator is that you're more likely to get what you want if you "build" it yourself by assembling the parts you choose (too easy with FSOs!). ;)

good luck finding the right J-bass for yourself! :thumbsup:
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Thanks! Your bass came out great by the way A+
 
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#72
jdaunt said:
Hard to go wrong with the Geddy, and i'd imagine they'd have fixed the neck issues on the Flea by now. But that said, wanting to use a Jazz for a vintage Motown sound is counter intuitive, since most of the Motown guys used Ps. That's not to say that you can't use a J for Motown, and having the variety of basses is always a great idea, but just don't want you to be disappointed that what you plan on using it for may not live up to your expectations.
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While I only play for fun, off/on, I played a lot since the '70s. Had Jazz basses most of that time.

Got a Sire P7 (P/J) now, and find the P sound is what I lusted after "all my life". A Jazz just won't give you that P sound. The body wood makes a difference too. Had a Fender Jazz in the '80s that was pretty light (wood unknown). Just didn't "punch" like my boat-anchor '73 Jazz dud.
 
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#73
Bill Murray said:
It would essentially serve as a back-up bass on gigs but I would also like to use it for our motown set, so I'm specifically looking for a vintage sound.
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Motown was played (almost all of it) on a P bass with old flats. A J is a different sound - a good sound, sure, but not what you hear on Motown recordings. The closest a J can come to a P sound is with the neck pickup soloed, and.....that hums in a lot of places. The quintessential J sound is both pickups full up, which sounds quite different, and doesn't hum. Both basses can be thought of as having "vintage" sounds, they're just very different sounds.
 
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#74
John Stephen said:
To the OP, have you tried a Jazz bass yet, at a store or somewhere? I'll probably be the lone voice on this, amid the many Jazz bass enthusiasts who have chimed in here -- I briefly owned a Fender Jazz, and it brought new meaning to the phrase "neck dive." The headstock was in love with the floor. In fact, it could barely stay away from the floor, even when I was playing sitting down and holding it in my lap.

Obviously there are many Jazz bass fans out there, as it's one of the most popular bass guitars out there, so lots of folks love 'em and don't care about this problem or they've tamed it somehow. I thought I would mention it, just in case you haven't played one yet. Anyway, regardless of this, good luck with whatever bass you choose.
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Neck dive is not a trait of jazz basses, and they don't suffer from it any more than any other style of bass, including P basses. I have played (and owned) lots and lots of jazz basses, and while a few did have some neck dive, most did not.

@Lukasonbass , you have my permission to use a jazz bass for Motown. Most people, including many here, wouldn't be able to tell the difference. A jazz bass can sit in the mix just as well as a P bass. I've played plenty of Motown on a jazz bass and it sounds great. I've played a few of the Fender Player jazz basses that impressed me quite a bit, but if I was in the market, I'd be trying before buying. If you want something nicer, I'd be looking for a used, clean Suhr classic jazz. Suhr makes a great jazz bass, and should getting more love here than they do.
 
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#75
red_rhino said:
Neck dive is not a trait of jazz basses, and they don't suffer from it any more than any other style of bass, including P basses. I have played (and owned) lots and lots of jazz basses, and while a few did have some neck dive, most did not.
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That makes sense, given how popular they are. Jazz basses wouldn't have become such big sellers if they were all like the one I had.
 
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#76
I'm going to chime in because like the OP I have had a long relationship with a P (30 years) and an Ernie Ball (25 years with a real Sterling). I always thought a J somehow magically was the average of those two instruments and could play both roles well, but it can't. The J disappoints me. I just played 2/3 of a gig on my P, then finished off on the J. It was as if I had switched to a toy bass. The bottom end was gone. I've had some good results recording my J in the short period I've owned it, but for live work the P and Ernie Ball basses are really more my cup of tea.
 
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#77
Bill Murray said:
I'm toying with adding a Jazz bass to the line-up but kind of torn on what direction to go.

It would essentially serve as a back-up bass on gigs but I would also like to use it for our motown set, so I'm specifically looking for a vintage sound.

I love the idea of the Flea Road Worn but the truss rod adjustment is a buzzkill, I don't think they're worth the $1429 price tag they come with currently, and there's an alarming amount of complaints with necks being warped.

I've also considered going with a MIM Geddy or Squier CV and doing a pick-up and string swap.


I'm not looking to go nuts, I don't need anything fancy. I just want that vintage look and sound in a cheap but work worthy package.

Im a Stingray and P-bass guy so im in foreign territory here haha any input is appreciated!
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I have an Am Pro II Jazz Bass that is super-comfy. I upgraded it with Lindy Fralins—stock in the bridge and 5% overwind in the neck for a slightly thicker tone—and a V-B-T control plate from Hansen Audio. I really like the sounds I can get from it. (Yes, I'm selling it, but that's more because I'm thinking of jumping into the StingRay pool after years of Jazz Bass-ery.)

To your initial query, though, I really feel like the Fender MIM quality is pretty great these days—certainly a far cry from when I first started playing. So, maybe splitting the difference between a Squier and an MIM Geddy would work: a Player Series Jazz?

I had a Player P that was really nice, especially for the price.
 
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#78
Jonny Reese said:
I'm going to chime in because like the OP I have had a long relationship with a P (30 years) and an Ernie Ball (25 years with a real Sterling). I always thought a J somehow magically was the average of those two instruments and could play both roles well, but it can't. The J disappoints me. I just played 2/3 of a gig on my P, then finished off on the J. It was as if I had switched to a toy bass. The bottom end was gone. I've had some good results recording my J in the short period I've owned it, but for live work the P and Ernie Ball basses are really more my cup of tea.
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great to know! Definitely worried about that as there is already loss of low end from stingray to P-bass.

As far as feel goes, I'd have to agree as well the Jazz bass has never felt right in my hands, but I also feel like I haven't given them a fair chance either.

I could definitely sneak a J onto some recordings though, no problem
 
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#79
Surely_Bassy said:
I have an Am Pro II Jazz Bass that is super-comfy. I upgraded it with Lindy Fralins—stock in the bridge and 5% overwind in the neck for a slightly thicker tone—and a V-B-T control plate from Hansen Audio. I really like the sounds I can get from it. (Yes, I'm selling it, but that's more because I'm thinking of jumping into the StingRay pool after years of Jazz Bass-ery.)

To your initial query, though, I really feel like the Fender MIM quality is pretty great these days—certainly a far cry from when I first started playing. So, maybe splitting the difference between a Squier and an MIM Geddy would work: a Player Series Jazz?

I had a Player P that was really nice, especially for the price.
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I like the way you think!

ps. Can't imagine you'll be disappointed with a stingray, especially if you go for a special, super versatile basses both live and in the studio
 
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