Nooo,, a jazz bass?

[roccobass]

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

I know.

I acquired a beautiful ‘72 Jazz in my way back when and not so experienced days. Sadly, I was playing with others who thought it would sound better if I got something else. Even sadder, I listened to them. And no, they were not right. The cause was the amplification I was using at the time as well as my inexperience.

 

[roccobass]

"goofy shape, lacking big sound" ??

fagedaboudit, you don't deserve a Jazz bass

For some reason this “goofy shape” is the most comfortable ergonomic body next to mine. I have 3 myself.

 

[Root 5]

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??

There are reasons the J style bass is perhaps the most popular in history.

I see a third Jazz in your future!

 

[bigdaddybass12]

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

Yeah, turn up the lows! I am not a pedal person. If I buy a passive p or j, I may try a 3 band eq

 

[Tom Gallo]

"If you’ve already owned and sold 2 jazz basses then they are probably not for you."

100%

 

[Ostie]

Jazz bass isn’t goofy. It just looks like Salvatore Dali designed the P bass.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

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!

Sounds good!! If it’s still at GC I may do it! There can be a bass on the rack for 3 months, as soon as I touch it, someone else buys it!

 

[bigdaddybass12]

Do it… I was in the same boat having sold the other 2.

MY KIND OF ANSWER!

 

[bigdaddybass12]

I see a third Jazz in your future!

Sounds like a good prophesy!

 

[mauerkraut_]

Third time’s a charm! The Jazz Bass to me is all about comfort and playability. I can fly on a Jazz.

If the sound isn’t quite your flavor, consider aftermarket pickups- Duncan, Dimarzio, EMG, Delano, Nordstrand, Lollar, etc all make “non-traditional” options. There are a ton of options to revoice the bass to what you’re after.

Many use the Jazz bass route, but also options like Novak Thunderbird pickups can be top mounted over the Jazz route holes.

 

[Bar Band Bassman]

I've owned a few J's. Never quite bonded with them. A few years ago I bought a Squier Paranormal because I liked the visual aesthetic. Never loved it but kept it. Swapped out the pickups (it WAS pretty low gain) and it was better but still meh. Leveled and recrowned the frets. Played better, but still not there. Put on a set of DR Pure Blues 45-105 and wow! Not a DR endorser or anything but THOSE STRINGS with THOSE PICKUPS, on THAT BASS? Yeah, it's a keeper. Don't play it often (a bit hefty) but it's my one and only J bass. There's something about a J bass... Ask Bobby Vega.

BBB

 

[prndltech]

"If you’ve already owned and sold 2 jazz basses then they are probably not for you."

100%

Tastes change.

 

[Oddly]

"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results".

 

[bigdaddybass12]

"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results".

Yeah, I have bought & sold 4 p basses! One had 3 sets of pickups looking for a sound! So insanity is owning a p bass too? ( this is BASS HUMOR FORUM!!

 

[Swerve]

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.

That is some of the nicest tort I’ve ever seen. Is that Spitfire?

 

[dbsfgyd1]

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??

I have a JB 5 string. As a passive basses go, I can’t say the sound is anemic. The gain is somewhat lower than my PB, but my gear has enough head room to offset.

Funny, coincidence, I had mine at GC for a set up, and when it was finished. I tried it out at the store with a 25 watt Rumble and had a similar experience as yours. It sounded really good.

 

[metron]

If its a 70s jazz with binding a maple fretboard and nibs then yes. Otherwise no. But that’s just me.

 

[bassdude51]

That is some of the nicest tort I’ve ever seen. Is that Spitfire?

Got the tort guard from WD Pickguards.

 

[prndltech]

So… did you get it?

 

[Bass Viking]

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??

You might like a Jazz style bass built by another company e.g. Lakland, Suhr, Sandberg, Warmoth.