Nooo,, a jazz bass?

[bigdaddybass12]

I have been having some GAS lately. I was looking thru our local GC at basses. I generally don’t like jazz basses. Goofy shape, lacking big sound. GC had a used jazz on the wall. So I took it down. Plugged into a rumble 500, tones set at 12. It sounded good. I have already owned and sold 2 jazz basses. Do I go for a 3rd one??

 

[smogg]

I have no issue with spending your money. Buy it!

 

[Flooksy]

Once you play a J, the P gets sold away!

 

[pfschim]

"goofy shape, lacking big sound" ??

fagedaboudit, you don't deserve a Jazz bass

 

[MHensleyJr]

Go for it. You only live once.

 

[MtManiac]

I mostly play P’s, but have owned a few J’s here and there. Until recently they just have not lasted in my ownership, I’ve always sold them off. Mostly MIM Standards and a few Squier CVs and VMs.

A few months back though, I decided I wanted to add some Rush to our band’s mix of songs, and would need a Jazz to get there. *That* didn’t last, we had to replace our drummer and the new guy is not up on his Peart. However I did spend some time in stores playing jazz basses, and came away with ordering a Player II Limited Edition, the sparkle sunburst finish. Same neck and pickups as any other Player II. On all of the Player II’s I tried the build quality was really good, and the pickups sounded solid.

Anyway, I played it with the band the other night, it sounded very good. I’ll be keeping it and playing it out for sure.

I’d also bought a beautiful natural ash body/maple fretboard American Pro, and I’m finding the VMod pickups to be pretty weak sounding, both in terms of output as well as tone. I plan to replace the pickups to see if I get a better result from them, as it looks fantastic and I want to play it out, but not like this.

The modern B-width P neck and split coil will always be home for me though.

 

[Baker69]

If you’ve already owned and sold 2 jazz basses then they are probably not for you. I assume they were all Fender Jazz’s, if so and you still have GAS for a Jazz then why not try a different manufacturer eg Sire, their V7’s are really good and very popular.

 

[wncBass]

The only time a jazz lacks big sound is if the operator has no idea what they are doing.

 

[dmt]

I’ve been down a similar road with Jazzes myself (except I think they’re cool looking). Ultimately, I’ve always ended up selling them. I like the way they look, feel and play, I like the heritage/history, and they’ve got lots of good sounds, but ultimately it doesn’t have my sound and they’re kinda big and a little odd-shaped for casually putting down how one should never rest an instrument but yet I sometimes do… Anyway, I end up not playing them that much (every now and then though, I go on a Jazz stretch, but overall they’ve largely sat un-played). And I have a number of basses largely sitting unplayed that I really should sell, so, like that, I’ve figured out, for me, that I don’t need a Jazz. I had fun having the ones I’ve had though, so no regrets

 

[tpaul]

I have a small herd of Ps and one J. That one J is very, very good. But I feel like it covers the J territory and I don't GAS for more Js. One is all I need.

Ps, on the other hand... for some reason I feel like they all have different personalities. I could easily add more Ps (and probably will).

Not sure why that is?

 

[Five or Six]

I'll spend your money, hell ya, you need a ""jazz" bass. Buy the amp to. Honestly, if you like what you heard, why not?!

 

[bigdaddybass12]

I mostly play P’s, but have owned a few J’s here and there. Until recently they just have not lasted in my ownership, I’ve always sold them off. Mostly MIM Standards and a few Squier CVs and VMs.

A few months back though, I decided I wanted to add some Rush to our band’s mix of songs, and would need a Jazz to get there. *That* didn’t last, we had to replace our drummer and the new guy is not up on his Peart. However I did spend some time in stores playing jazz basses, and came away with ordering a Player II Limited Edition, the sparkle sunburst finish. Same neck and pickups as any other Player II. On all of the Player II’s I tried the build quality was really good, and the pickups sounded solid.

Anyway, I played it with the band the other night, it sounded very good. I’ll be keeping it and playing it out for sure.

I’d also bought a beautiful natural ash body/maple fretboard American Pro, and I’m finding the VMod pickups to be pretty weak sounding, both in terms of output as well as tone. I plan to replace the pickups to see if I get a better result from them, as it looks fantastic and I want to play it out, but not like this.

The modern B-width P neck and split coil will always be home for me though.

I just can’t keep a bass long. Last year I bought a USA EBMM SUB, this bass is great. Even being the SUB it is noticeably better than my pre Covid Sterling ray4. Most people who previously owned them wish they had it back. It does have a sound of its own. About p basses, bought 3, sold 3. Everybody plays them. It’s a little muddy sounding, jazz is weak, MM you (well I do) have to calm the sound down.
Talking about the jazz bass tone. The used one was a 2004? I also played a new one. Used one sounded better. Pickups? One of my p basses had 3 different sets of pickups. Couldn’t get a sound i like. I still sold it.

 

[J-Bass RMR]

I have already owned and sold 2 jazz basses. Do I go for a 3rd one??

No 2 basses are alike.
Maybe you found "the one".

 

[bassdude51]

I have been having some GAS lately. I was looking thru our local GC at basses. I generally don’t like jazz basses. Goofy shape, lacking big sound. GC had a used jazz on the wall. So I took it down. Plugged into a rumble 500, tones set at 12. It sounded good. I have already owned and sold 2 jazz basses. Do I go for a 3rd one??

If you have already owned 2 Js and got rid of them, I'm guessing a good chance that in the long run, you'll not be happy with #3.

For bigger J sound, you can go humbucker J pickups. For dislike of the J body, you can convert a P Bass to a J Bass.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

If you have already owned 2 Js and got rid of them, I'm guessing a good chance that in the long run, you'll not be happy with #3.

For bigger J sound, you can go humbucker J pickups. For dislike of the J body, you can convert a P Bass to a J Bass.

Is this your work?

 

[bigdaddybass12]

If you have already owned 2 Js and got rid of them, I'm guessing a good chance that in the long run, you'll not be happy with #3.

I’ve owned 3 p basses. One I wish I kept! Sold it to get my Musicman!

 

[bassdude51]

Is this your work?

Yeah, it's my work. A "parts bass".

 

[SuperTheBass]

Sounds like you have some biases against Js. They're actually very versatile. If your sound isn't "big" enough your Amp might not be turned up

 

[el murdoque]

I agree on the goofy shape.
On a P bass, you can take off the neck and hit a few homeruns, but I don't play ball games.
On a J bass, you can take off the neck and use it to pick your teeth. Very convenient!

But complaining that the J does not sound big? I have to strongly disagree.

 

[prndltech]

Do it… I was in the same boat having sold the other 2. So I just bought the third jazz bass I’ve ever owned, at least this one only weighs 7.5 lbs.

I usually roll the bridge pickup off a lil bit, you’ll hear it fatten up instantly, doesn’t take much!