looking for lighter 'burpier' Fender Jazz

[smeet]

After 30 years of exclusively playing Rickenbacker basses I am now a Fender Jazz convert. I have been playing Jazz Basses for about three years and I can’t see me changing.

I have two basses a MIA 62 Reissue and a MIA natural ash with maple neck. The 62 rocks and growls and the natural is funky and great for fusion. What I’m looking for is a Jazz that has a bit more of the Jaco ‘burp’ and is a touch lighter in weight. The ‘62 is about 9 ¾ lbs and the ash one about 10 lbs.

Would a standard Jazz give more of the Jaco tone and should I just wait till I find one that is lighter? Also if I find one with the S1 switch; does the S1 switch in anyway effect the normal jazz tone compared to one without the S1 switch?

Thanks, Bob

Lots of opinions here about the relative importance of the bass. I'll say that the 2000 MIA 62 RI that I had could NAIL that Jaco sound(s), except that it was fretted. The tone control(s) on that one did a lot. Going 100% bridge and rolling the tone off gave a nice organic hollow mid-boosted sound that I haven't been able to get on other basses. Played hard with the tips of the fingers close to the bridge, it achieved a tone that I hear all over Jaco's first album.

That said, you can get a tone that's pretty close on most basses with a 60's position bridge pickup, especially if it's single-coil. For me the difference was that the response and warmth of that particular bass helped me "channel" Jaco a bit more. The way you phrase has a lot to do with the perceived tone.

One more thought... Part of what gave Jaco his sound was the lack of super-long sustain, a characteristic shared by my 62 RI. This give a poppier attack and a more organic envelope to the sound. More modern instruments tend to have more sustain, which de-emphasizes the attack.

 

[IronLung1986]

Fender basses and passive basses in general are SUPER sensitive to pickup height adjustment. I am surprised more people don't talk about this. For a burpier more aggressive jazz sound, raise the back (bridge) pickup a whole turn of the pickup screws. You'll be amazed at the result.

so true. there really is a sweet spot in pickup height that can turn a good sounding bass into a killer beast. and it seems to change from time to time. every so often I notice that my P bass isn't sounding as meaty and aggressive as it used to, and I have to spend some time messing with the string and pickup height. when I find that sweet spot I can tell immediately because the notes just come to life and suddenly the bass is back to its awesome self again.

 

[Malak the Mad]

In my, to be honest, limited experience, I've found strings have a hell of an impact on tone. My first bass had flats (D'Addario Chromes, to be specific) on it…very mellow with only a little "zing" when I'd play more aggressively. But, "burpy"? I can't say for sure.

On the subject of weight though, I'll always give props to that first bass…a Fender Aerodyne. Eight-and-a-half pounds and very well balanced. In other words, far from the "boat anchor" category, but substantial enough to feel like you actually holding onto "something".

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

Yeah, I can get my Aerodyne to burp if necessary. It's not a sound I need or even prefer, but to each his own. I installed Seymour Duncan Basslines, including the STK-J2 Hot Stack J pickup on the bridge side. The STK-J2 is a dual-coil humbucker so you can dial whatever combination of volume you want off of either or both pickups without hearing any hum feedback as happens with the stock pickups.

Mine's available BTW. 8.68lbs including lots of upgrades: