Most versatile type of Jazz bass

[B String]

I don't recall seeing this discussed before, so here goes.

Which type of Jazz bass is the most versatile for a wide
variety of Pop, Jazz, R&B, Rock, etc.
60's or 70's? Alder/Rosewood, Maple/Ash? Maybe some
combination of all the above? Can you make it work just by
having a good eq, or does it have to come from the bass?
(and of course the hands)

 

[butchblack]

I don't recall seeing this discussed before, so here goes.

Which type of Jazz bass is the most versatile for a wide
variety of Pop, Jazz, R&B, Rock, etc.
60's or 70's? Alder/Rosewood, Maple/Ash? Maybe some
combination of all the above? Can you make it work just by
having a good eq, or does it have to come from the bass?
(and of course the hands)

IMHO the differences listed above while making some difference would not make one combo more versatile then another. Any sound difference would fall under personal preference. You should add pickup choice to the fray, but again it would fall more into personal preference then versatility. That's one of the beauties of a Jazz (style) bass, it's an extremely versatile instrument appealing to a large number of bassists.

 

[B String]

Really? No other opinions from a group like this?

 

[Don Sibley]

I'm still searching for a P/J setup for this reason. Bought a P Lyte, swapped out the pups for SDs, but still thinking of building a Warmoth.

 

[yellofury]

I think you answered your own question

you can change the personality of the Jazz bass
simply by hand/finger placement
increasing/decreasing volume of one/both of your pickups
increasing/decreasing tone knob
adding compression to your effects
flats/rounds/half rounds
stock pup vs aftermarket

adding an active preamp

the Jazz bass itself is versatile
from the run of the mill Mexican Fender or Squier CV Jazz to your uber Jazzes from Alleva-Coppolo and Sadowksy

 

[SteveC]

The most versatile would be a jazz bass with an active preamp you can bypass with a passive tone control. Noiseless pickups are a must. 5 string for newer country, pop and contemporaty jazz would be useful.

 

[Marton]

I'm pretty happy with my own jazz, I can dial any tone I want. It's a American Jazz Deluxe, alder body, rosewood fretboard, 3 band Audere preamp with passive tone control, Barts pickups, and stainless roundwounds strings.

 

[slyderhodge]

+1 on the audere

I prefer one with z mode switching

 

[Sam Evans]

I dig my Fender Aerodyne Jazz bass. One P-pickup, one J-pickup. Nice and versatile.

 

[B String]

It just seems like there's such a distinction made between the
60's style Jazz bass and the 70's style and the different woods
and pickup placement etc, etc. Just wondering if there's a
general consensus on the "most popular" or "best sounding".

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Really? No other opinions from a group like this?

A good J-bass is pretty much a good J-bass... Alder/Ash, maple/rosewood - how you play it amplify it is more important.

 

[Broadbent]

A good J-bass is pretty much a good J-bass... Alder/Ash, maple/rosewood - how you play it amplify it is more important.

You'd be surprised what you can do with those 3 knobs! This guy's right though, it's all about how you play it. Bbviously for R&B you want to play closer to the neck. for faster tighter lines play closer to the bridge. You can use a pick, slap, palm mute etc. Although all J basses are not made equal, they are all pretty versatile.

 

[Hassouni]

I don't recall seeing this discussed before, so here goes.

Which type of Jazz bass is the most versatile for a wide
variety of Pop, Jazz, R&B, Rock, etc.
60's or 70's? Alder/Rosewood, Maple/Ash? Maybe some
combination of all the above? Can you make it work just by
having a good eq, or does it have to come from the bass?
(and of course the hands)

Jag

 

[jkramer5]

I own 4 Jazz bass's from 3 different mfg's. 2 active and 2 passive. The one that does all the above well is the one i pick up that day.

 

[Number27]

hah, that's like asking which type of elephant is the most gray

 

[DougD]

It just seems like there's such a distinction made between the
60's style Jazz bass and the 70's style and the different woods
and pickup placement etc, etc. Just wondering if there's a
general consensus on the "most popular" or "best sounding".

Most popular these days would be the 70's (ash maple) combo but IMHO a 60's alder J bass would be more versatile because it will sit in the mix better than a 70's ash. Ash has a more biting tone and combined with the bridge pickup thats closer to the bridge (70's spacing) and a maple finger board, it will have more punch and thus will make you stand out more (cut through). It can be hard to tame a 70's Jazz. A 60's Jazz with a rosewood board can sometimes disappear in the mix (if your amp is not eq'd right) and thats not always a bad thing. It depends on your needs. YMMV. But everybody wants 70's style these days. I've had a few of them and they are what thay are. I just got a 62 reissue and I'm digging the way It mixes well with the band. And with a little eq, I can be more up front when I want to be

 

[dabbler]

Having a pre adds flexibility (and I like the Audere). But next to that is a J with a series/parallel switch (which I put on all of my passive J's).

 

[Lincoln]

The most versatile would be a jazz bass with an active preamp you can bypass with a passive tone control. Noiseless pickups are a must. 5 string for newer country, pop and contemporaty jazz would be useful.

+1

Though I might add, a transparent preamp will be necessary as well. And though I'm a sucker for the Ash/maple combo. You may want to go Alder body, Maple neck, Pau Ferro fretboard to get that versatile sound thing...

 

[funkmangriff]

I own 4 Jazz bass's from 3 different mfg's. 2 active and 2 passive. The one that does all the above well is the one i pick up that day.

+1

 

[chump stain]

I play a Geddy Lee Jazz, a replica of a modified '72. And it's real versitle. Just like already stated. Backing off the tone knob, backing off a pickup, moving your plucking hand or using palm muting, all makes a big difference in sound. I can go from aggressive, bright, and punchy. To a fat dub thump. All done on my Jazz. Of course the slap tone is second to none IMO.

Great bass!