More umph from my jazz

[deste]

DiMarzio Model J's will fatten up a Jazz nicely. More beef in the low mids for sure. But if you're looking for an "active" sound then yeah, any number of out-or-onboard pres will get you there. Alternatively, if you want still the classic J sound, but more umph and EQ control(excellent sounding EQ on it to boost the lows as you say), the Xotic RC is totally a winner. Amazing unit. Can use it on your Ray too--could be nifty (though most folks use it on passive basses).

+1 for Model J: simple, unexpensive, and still quite near to an original, non-active, J sound.

 

[LHbassist]

If you like the sound of your bass right now, with the stock pickups, then, an onboard preamp will be the way to go. A floor pedal, well- you'll still hear the difference between the larger pickup on the Music Man, and the J-bass and the difference may still be an issue.... some onboard preamps have a gain control, and if you adjust it to match the output of your MM, that could be the solution. I just installed a "Tone Monster" pre on one of my basses. It costs about 60 bucks, and sounds killer. I liked it so much, I bought another for a different bass. They sell them in many configurations. Just to be clear- I own basses with complete Alembic circuits, and full EMG EQ systems, a legendary Stars preamp like is in Marcus Miller's Jazz, and a few others. the Tone Monster sounds great.

 

[hieronymous]

I'm not looking for active sound just more beef and low end

Here's my question - how are your controls set on the Stingray? Do you have the tone controls set at 5 with no boost? Or do you have them set at 10? 10 on an active bass is not the same as 10 on a passive bass. 10 on a passive bass is like 5 on an active bass (or wherever "0" is).

So if you have the bass boosted on the Stingray, then the answer for the Jazz is some kind of preamp, either on-board or a pedal/etc. I prefer outboard preamps because then I can use them with different basses but everyone's different...

I remember a long time ago on TalkBass there was a guy who was running his Stingray with everything set to 10 because "that's how I want to do it" - no consideration of the sound, it was that 10 was the way to go. What a waste. Onboard EQ offers a lot of options and a little goes a long way!

 

[Yup]

Here's my question - how are your controls set on the Stingray? Do you have the tone controls set at 5 with no boost? Or do you have them set at 10? 10 on an active bass is not the same as 10 on a passive bass. 10 on a passive bass is like 5 on an active bass (or wherever "0" is).

So if you have the bass boosted on the Stingray, then the answer for the Jazz is some kind of preamp, either on-board or a pedal/etc. I prefer outboard preamps because then I can use them with different basses but everyone's different...

I remember a long time ago on TalkBass there was a guy who was running his Stingray with everything set to 10 because "that's how I want to do it" - no consideration of the sound, it was that 10 was the way to go. What a waste. Onboard EQ offers a lot of options and a little goes a long way!

I just boost bass and treble a tad. Even without that it has more lows than my jazz tho

 

[Kukulkan61]

My Jazz is completely stock, this amp makes it sound like it's on steroids!!

 

[fauxtoe]

I just boost bass and treble a tad. Even without that it has more lows than my jazz tho

I'm sure some will disagree, but that same punch you get with the Ray just isn't going to be quite the same flavor with a jazz. Different pickup, different placement, etc. Ray's are in their own category. It would probably help to add an active preamp either on the bass or outboard which will help shape the tone a little better, but in the end it's still a jazz. I agree about having one with a mid sweep to help dial it in. I also recall those Ray34's to be on the very hot side gain wise. To the point that whenever I've tried them out I'm reaching to turn the gain down more-so than other active basses. Punch is definitely in their DNA!

 

[Zoobiedood]

I installed Duncan Vintage '62 pups in mine years ago, but they don't make them anymore. They were a definite improvement over the stock MIM pups.

FYI, the Custom Shop can still build any pickup we used to make, but don't.

 

[bassrique]

Replace the pickups with John Benson pu's, that's what I did one my Player Series and bang, that was what I had been waiting for.

I bought a bass with those Benson PUs. Good stuff. Where did you hear about Benson Pickups? Last I checked, it's a small outfit in upstate NY.

Series mod. Technically is not more low end, but it gives a bulge to the sound it doesn't have in regular config. Since doing the mod, I think I run the bass in series 95% of the time.

I have a Jazz bass with a series push/pull. I don't doubt what you say but I don't get it. If it adds a bulge, then it adds bass, no?

 

[Alessandro Cruz]

People recommending parts above $200+ for a MIM Jazz bass sounds a bit weird for me. Really?

There's a LOT of options, starting from a simple tune-up and setup, changing pickups ( i woudn't, frankly ) and adding a preamp. But doesn't need to be "top notch-top dollar" to get in there.

My advice? Audere offers a single Jazz Bass plate with 2, 3 or even 4 band for less than $100 and it will fit into your bass without any modifications to the wood.

There's absolutely NOTHING better for this amount of money with the same quality.

 

[Alessandro Cruz]

Other than that, you can try an "in-house" solution from Fender itself, search eBay for the Fender Deluxe 3-band preamp. I just bought one few weeks ago for less than 100 bucks.

The bad thing is, you will need to enlarge the control cavity under the pickguard and then route a cavity for the battery box, as this Fender preamp runs with 18v

 

[Aidenn7]

Wire in series, volume roles back on one pickup.. Turn up the Amp..

 

[Machiavelli]

I just got a sterling stingray 34 and I get a bunch of low end from it but it is still slapable which I love. I love the feel of and look of my old mim Jazz. What can I do to get the same amount of low end from it? Any tips, mods, etc?

There's a reason I love Stingrays and their brethren.

You can do a lot of 'almost theres', but you're not going to get that full sound with eq'ing. As has been mentioned, wiring it in series may help.

I'd say to just appreciate each bass for what they are. You have both, no reason to make one sound like the other.

 

[JRMK]

Low mids do the push. Either pre with 180-250-400 area or some preamp box i.e. Mesa Subway DI, Aguilar TH etc

 

[uwrossl]

Turn it into a Sadowsky without having to chop it up with an onboard pre.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[somebrains]

It's like we've come full circle in 20 years, back when every J or J equipped bass had a preamp.

Quick climb thru the 80's where pickups got hotter and hotter until they were hard V eqd.

My initial reaction to my J would have been pickups and preamp to suit.

Overwould J's and a Tonestyler plate are my deal now bc it's not boosting what I have, with maybr some eq presets, but being able to vary my signal that works in the mix.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

Lots of good things suggested here. This little guy will turn any bass into a thumping, tone machine (IMO):

 

[mcnach]

If you want a similar kind of adjustability and 'oomph', an onboard preamp is the obvious choice. I favour John East J-Retro (or whatever they're called these days). The Audere ones are ok, but nowhere near as good sounding (for my liking, of course, I have used both and didn't get along with the Audere).

However, you don't *need* to put an onboard preamp. You could use one in pedal form too, there's a few been suggested here.

Alternatively... you can simply use your amp, of course. Different settings for each bass. A separate preamp with EQ is probably the most versatile solution.

 

[somebrains]

The issue is getting a sound you like at home to play nice in a mix.
I'm a little fixated on this clip bc what sounds had solo works well with a band.


I'd check out 80's punk clips, it's where my love affair with Js started.

 

[krispn]

As a recent returning to a jazz player I'm really enjoying the sonic territory it occupies having not owned/played one in about ten years but it's different to my normal p bass sound.
Your Jazz and Ray will always sound different and you should enjoy the differences of both for what they offer...
In saying that presuming you're basses have been set up to play and sound their best for you so pick up heights tweaked, that you've adjusted your amp to get closer to the sound you're after, then start with an external preamp.
I currently use a Tone Hammer on my board and it's ability to sweep the mids to give some lo mid bump really supports my jazz bass as does the AGS circuit. I'm not running a 'driven' sound per se but the AGS adds in more character and again bolsters that overall sound. For many years I used a Basswitch - essentially a clean, modern pre with two adjustable mid bands of eq so plenty of tweaking available. I've used other preamps too but right now and for the last couple of years the Tone Hammer has been doing a stellar job.
Irrespective of the fix be sure and turn controls, push switches and play with the amp. Set the controls to where they sound right not by how they look etc

Good luck!

 

[eastcoasteddie]

MM bridge pickup, 2-band SD Blackout preamp, retained passive VVT controls as well.

Without going overboard with pickup routing and preamp, I'd suggest SD Quarter Pound pickups with passive controls - all the oomph you need.