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P Bass Appeal - a Theory (Mostly Jazz Content)
- Thread starter sigmafloyd
- Start date
Me, but I usually go for the Precision. I'm using Jazzes a bit solely because of current orthopedic problems with the left hand, but aside from that, I'd probably never use a Jazz. I'm primarily using it for recording and the Precision is just less hassle in the studio for classic bass sound. Face it, DI Precision w/flats IS "classic bass sound."
There's a lot of overlap in P and J sound and a lot of non-recording, non-gigging people here always get wound up ranting about a lot imaginary differences they couldn't identify in blind tests if their lives depended on it -- but the Jazz just has a few annoyances you don't need in the studio -- noise, V/V/T artifacts, etc. Sure, you can get around them, but you're not gaining anything for classic sound with the J anyway, so why mess with it unless you need it for playing preference? And that's a perfectly good reason. Right now ergonomics are a big deal for me, anyway.
There were a few classic bass greats who used Jazzes, like Jim Fielder who used a J "with the heaviest flatwounds you can find," so don't think you have to have one or the other.
Ever put flats on a passive Jazz Bass? Here is what my 1973 J Bass sounds like with flats. First 2 songs are blues standards, 3rd song in the Clip is 'Rock With You' Michael Jackson, and on the last tune, 'Use Me' by Bill Withers, we let it fly a little bit.
‪Genz Benz Streamliner 900+Avatar TB-153 The JJ's Band‬‏ - YouTube
‪Genz Benz Streamliner 900+Avatar TB-153 The JJ's Band‬‏ - YouTube
Yeah!! I'll tell ya, when I get my Jazz bass back and when it's due for a string change I just might be tempted to try some flats on it.
Nice playing, bro!
Those are D'Addario Chromes. I can get that vintage tone to cut through just a tad more with chromes.... and believe it or not, they sound KILLER slapped.
Absolutely. I've been on the fence about Chromes because I thought they got too middy on a couple of my basses, but I think I've decided to keep them and just EQ it out when needed. But slapped flats are the way to go IMHO. That's the old school 70's funk.
Absolutely Jimmy! That is the 70's slap funk sound imo. That is what I like about chromes, the mids can be EQ's out, but they are very present and there if you need them. I think the OP should try putting flats on his J-Bass. He still has not responded to the question of whether he has or not. A Jazz with flats should be on equal footing with all the P with flats stuff you hear on TB because both offer tasty, vintage goodness. OP, the cool thing about having a pair of flats is that you can switch back and forth between a set of flats and rounds in like 10 minutes tops...best of both worlds dood!!
Here are a couple great 70's tracks that have that J-Bass with Flats slap or finger style tone (meaning I can cop these tones easily on my J Bass + Chromes):
MJ - Get On The Floor -
okcrum
in your chest
okcrum said:In a mix, you'd never be able to tell. Miss by a little and it's clank time.
Might tell. Esp if it's a. 'good mix'.
Jimmym and Faulkner, thanks for the feedback. I have read your responses on other posts and def respect your opinions. Faulkner, I think it was you that posted about your am deluxe jazz, right? I was gassing for one if those hardcore. Im on vacation and can't really send too lengthy of a response on my phone, but I'm going to order some chromes for one of my jazzes. I have a 90s mim and a squier vm jazz. What do you recommend, the mediums?
Cool! Yes...well, at least the mediums are what I play. The tension is just slightly different on the medium chromes than rounds so you will need to slightly tweak the truss rod after switching. I hope you are having a great vacation!
to the OP.. the fact that you cant pin the jazz bass tone down means that its a more versatile instrument..
I play the wuss set of Chromes...40-95. Faulkner's a lot younger than me, so he can take the heavier gauges. But I used to play heavier gauges, and thicker strings do sound a little fuller, but it's such a slight difference that it was worth it to me not to have to work so hard. Not everyone feels that way, but I do.
Slapped a pair of chromes on my mim jazz tonight. Haven't had much of a chance to try them out. On a related note, the store I bought them from just got a used 76 p bass. The thing is totally beat but I had to tear myself away from it. sounded awesome
I played a '75 in a shop once. Same thing....I couldn't stop thinking about it, I even went back to the store 3 or 4 times to play it. I still have it.
