P bass in Jazz?

[BWileyTally]

What exact purpose do those scallops serve?
I've asked this a few times but nobody seems to really know.

Best answer so far is that it's just a speed thing.

My own personal thought was that maybe it allows him to further bend the string on certain notes.

Anyone know for sure what his intentions were there?

I saw an interview once where he says it allows his fingers to "bite" more into the string giving him more meat around the string to better control his bends.

 

[Flaked Beans]

Isn't it jazzy :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOIhUpVzEFE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEG-tjkARnc&feature=related

That's fusion /funk jazz, very nice indeed but one evening in the mid '90s Bob Berg played a "real" jazz gig (i don't remember the location exactly) with Adam Nussbaum, Dave Kikoski and Lincoln Goines on doublebass. Bob killed!(as he usually did ) and Lincoln sounded like a "real" jazz bass player that night and I have to admit, he played excellent!

 

[David Jayne]

Anthony Jackson. His Fodera is essentially a big P bass.

 

[phillybass101]

I just don't get P-basses. To me they are the ugly older sister or plain jane bass. I have owned three of them so don't start hatin on me. I will pick a Jazz over a P-Bass any day. If I want to sound like James Jamerson I'll just let my strings get old and run the front pickup.

 

[Flaked Beans]

Anthony Jackson. His Fodera is essentially a big P bass.

No, his Fodera sounds completely different than any precision bass I've ever heard. That bass in his hands has the best electric bass tone ever (to me )

 

[keytthom]

check out this guy on the bass, (he also writes it all)



the solo at about 4.40 should demonstrate its capabilities enough.... Just depends what you class as Jazz really

 

[David Jayne]

No, his Fodera sounds completely different than any precision bass I've ever heard. That bass in his hands has the best electric bass tone ever (to me )

Perhaps. But it is essentially a big P bass, no matter what you may think.

 

[Flaked Beans]

Perhaps. But it is essentially a big P bass, no matter what you may think.

Is it? Cool, his big P bass doesn't sound like a P bass to me.


PS. I have a '77 P bass and I love it!

here it is:

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[MtManiac]

I suppose, but since I am a music theory D+ student at best, my "jazz" sounds just as good played on chickenwire. With all that random galavanting arund the fretboard, I am afraid the precision of a P bass would ruin the natural flow of jazz music.

Precisions are best for more precise music, you're right. Like Bluegrass and classical. Speaking of chickenwire, there's a new Modern Player series coming out that ship with chickenwire!!

You make D+ sound like its a low mark...? But you're studying jazz. Huh. You don't need to know any theory for jazz man, if a note sounds bad just move up or down one half step! Bam! Resolved! You can tell your theory "teacher" that Wooten said so. Just drop that course!

 

[lousybassplayer]

Yeah, thats what I was getting at, though. For jazz, you just use every note available at any time in any place. Seems like precision is just not in the cards. That must be the true genius of these guys who play them in jazz music.

 

[jsbarber]

Perhaps. But it is essentially a big P bass, no matter what you may think.

I agree with Flaked Beans - while it may have a single pickup and no active electronics, Mr Jackson's bass does not sound, to my ears, so much like a Precision. It sounds like a Fodera Anthony Jackson Presentation, and nothing else sounds like that. It is simply majestic.

 

[odin70]

I agree with Flaked Beans - while it may have a single pickup and no active electronics, Mr Jackson's bass does not sound, to my ears, so much like a Precision. It sounds like a Fodera Anthony Jackson Presentation, and nothing else sounds like that. It is simply majestic.

Am i the only one who thinks AJs sound was better when he used his Fender?

 

[KJung]

Am i the only one who thinks AJs sound was better when he used his Fender?

You are not the only one

 

[Russell L]

The best bass for jazz is---a bass.

Why, you can even play an Ibanez for jazz. (Did I say that?).

 

[cnltb]

Am i the only one who thinks AJs sound was better when he used his Fender?

It's real good on the new mike stern record.
That however is no doubt partly due to able sound guys as well.

 

[Espresto]

I play a P-bass in a jazz setting. The great thing about P-basses is that, with a little tweaking, they can blend with just about anything. You're never going to sound like an upright, but you can still play jazz and sound great. Though I may not be one, a good bassist can do anything with a p-bass.

 

[JZQuantum]

No...jazz basses only play jazz music and pbasses only play p music.

Let's get it together,ok?

 

[cnltb]

I play a P-bass in a jazz setting. The great thing about P-basses is that, with a little tweaking, they can blend with just about anything. You're never going to sound like an upright, but you can still play jazz and sound great. Though I may not be one, a good bassist can do anything with a p-bass.

Didn't steve swallow play one on john scofield's shinola and out like a light?

 

[P Town]

I have the new American Deluxe P, and with two pickups, and the capability to run active, or passive, it is a very versatile instrument, that produces a wide range of tones.

 

[Ross Kratter]

Didn't steve swallow play one on john scofield's shinola and out like a light?

Yes, WITH A PICK.
You can do whatever you want, seriously.
I'm someone who gigs regularly on both string bass and electric bass. I have a P and a J. Both sound great, it's really just about what suits the music of the day better and if I want to bring a 4 (P) or a 5 (J).