using a jazz bass for punk rock

[Waltsdog]

I am asking about the sound and playability. Funny how people read into things...

IMHO a Jazz can be a bit thin sounding in a loud distorted setting (cue several people saying the opposite) but you can fix that with eq usually.
Playability is all down the player, if you like the sound and playability it'll work, if not get something else.
I play punk in a 2 (sometimes 3) guitar band and have never been comfortable playing a P or a J as they don't sound or feel right to me. I mainly play a Dingwall ABZ 5 and sometimes a Stingray 5 as they have both the sound and feel that I like.

 

[10cc]

Here is the P in action

 

[Wisebass]

I am asking about the sound and playability

Hi Mantis

I was sure, it was not about the right stickers on your bass

don' t

Wise

 

[EatS1stBassist]

Listen to the intro of Love Song by The Damned...P bass + SVT + 8x10...gutteral..nothing comes close.

I had the P+SVT+a 9/10 nothing like it!!

 

[pertyman]

Me:

 

[bucephylus]

Sting?

Of course, now, we’ll have to have the “what is Punk” debate.

Anyhow, if Sting wasn’t Punk enough, how about this cat?

Link Removed

OK, so the J wasn’t his primary; but, there was that shot, and I’m pretty sure he actually gigged it. Oh, and most def, that is Punk pizz right hand technique.

 

[BunchyMutt]

bassist for AFI used a jazz for most of their albums, not strictly punk

 

[Wisebass]

a Jazz can be a bit thin sounding

but you can fix that with another bassplayer usually.

Hi Waltsdog

fixed that for you

greetings

Wise

 

[PunkNerve]

You can use any bass for punk, really. The most popular punk bass, I'd say, is a P Bass. But hey, it's punk rock. Be different!

 

[descendent22]

Karl Alvarez- The Descendents. I'm all about Fender and I love and prefer P bass but Jazz bass is next on the list. Any bass could be used for any kind of music but there's certain brands or styles to whatever that take the cake. Certain ones may have a better tone for a certain kind of music. Personally I think a fender P bass or a Fender Jazz bass can do it all.

 

[sowilson]

Well, I use to play guitar ('65 Moserite Ventures model, Orange/Marshall/Hiwatt amplification through 2 4x12 cabs) in a punk band and the Bass player (who I taught how to play) use to use my Guild B302 w/Rotosounds and a pick through SVT's until we rescued a J-Bass for him (cracked body that we fixed).

 

[BigBobbyBass]

Me? Ha. I've been a MM guy for many years. This Lakland is my first jazz and I'm digging it with the neck pup favored just a tad.

 

[sgtpepper]

Not that punk... But former Weezer bassist, Matt Sharp, used a Jazz Bass primarily.

 

[Sixgunn]

The best bass for punk is the bass that you have.

(Except for an Alembic.)

I remain,
Your Obedient Servant,

The Terror.

I would totally play punk on an Alembic! Totally versatile basses. Hell, John McVie made one sound like complete garbage on "The Chain". Dead, generic and uninspired sounding.

 

[TrevorR]

Is it known what type of bass was used for this?View attachment 2819370
View attachment 2819369
Edit: Answered my own question with a little searching. It was a Fender P-Bass. It currently lives at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
View attachment 2819372
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Can you play a Jazz bass for punk... well Paul recorded large chunks of Give 'Em Enough Rope on a Wal bass (as did Flea on Blood Sugar Sex Magick - not punk per se but certainly a punky attitude). If you can play punk on a Wal bass then a Jazz bass should be no problem at all!

Don't believe me? Have a look half way down...

 

[rubendlr]

Yes, I know there's a Precision in my avatar, but I've also used a Jazz with my punk band too. I've also used Gibson EB series, an LTD Viper and a few others as well. Punk is style, and to a lesser degree, tone. I think having an Ampeg SVT will get you a rock/punk tone no matter what you plug into it.

 

[spaz21387]

I play punk on a stingray and a ric 4003. Play whatever you want. I found bands always sounded amazing with j's but when i play them they get lost in the mix.

 

[Mark Desmo]

What about Klaus?
View attachment 2819185

Is that a party size Jazz Bass, or is Klaus a Dwarf?

Who is he anyway?

 

[Mark Desmo]

Not a true punk band per se, but indisputably influenced by the genre.

indisputably cashed in on the genre more like . . .

 

[southpaw723]