What does an authentic Jazz bass really sound like? Small rant warning.

[CaribooBass]

I do not know how to answer this question.
Is a jazz bass really just a really good platform to modify?
If so why?
Why does it seem the Jazz bass can not stand in its own anymore?
Change the pickups so you get more of a deep growl. To me just purchase a P Bass.
Just use your neck pickup and it will be the same as a P Bass. Not even close in the real world.
You know what I am going to say; just buy a P bass.
Now it’s active preamps and 3.1415926 band EQ’s.
Can’t say get a P Bass for that.

So again what does a traditional Jazz bass sound like?
What is wrong with a passive Bass.
Why does it seem that Jazz Basses are not any good any more unless they are modified to sound like something else?
I have my power basses. I do not need a Jazz to sound like my Warwick.

I do not need a modified Jazz to sound like my trucks diesel engine, Bark like my Heeler or sound like the Flute in the TCB Band.

I apologize! End of Rant. Can some one help me with this?

Thanks in advance
Clayton. Now the Unofficial Mayor of Bearville.

 

[Geri O]

I’m kinda tempted to say…

“if you have to ask the question, you might not understand the answer….”

But I know, as a part-time gentleman and scholar, that would be rude of me. So I won’t say that….

It’s like everything else. Your idea of a good Jazz bass tone may not be the same as other folks’ idea of a good Jazz bass tone.

Is that not simply okay with you? I’m sick of saying this, but it’s no less true….

“Different Strokes…” and all that….

(edited to say, no one has ever heard my Mike Lull Jazz-style bass with Lindy Fralin pups and a preamp and said “that doesn’t sound like a Jazz bass”…..

 

[Alexander]

There are plenty of us out here nice and happy with our unmodified Jazz basses.

That bass is absolutely alive and kicking out there in the real world.

 

[StereoPlayer]

I like the jazz bass, but I just wanted something different.
I gonna just drop this here…

 

[Killing Floor]

A - What?
B - That’s why bassists don’t like Rush, can’t hear the bass.
C - Jaco didn’t need to modify a Jazz bass. Ok maybe not C.

 

[superheavyfunk]

Can some one help me with this?

I’m confused… what do you need help with? You don’t like modified jazz basses but other folks do - what’s the problem here?

If you wanna know what a passive jazz sounds like, I’m sure you can play one in your local guitar shop or listen to almost any recording by 100s of different groups over the decades

 

[Jrussblues]

Well first, a p-bass is an inarticulate hammer. So if you would like to play anything melodic with any kind of speed then you can look at something that has a pup closer to the bridge. If you’re goal is nice, slow and deliberate notes or fast notes with no warmth and tone then go with that hammer.
However…if you like things that sound good and you are chasing an expressive tone…then move beyond a split single coil in the semi bridge position.

 

[moon-bass]

Why does it seem that Jazz Basses are not any good any more unless they are modified to sound like something else?

Not a true statement at all. I have a dozen or so unmodified Jazz basses, and have dozens over the years. Never modified any of them.

 

[CaribooBass]

The Question is still valid. Leo said if you read the books about the history of the Fender company “ The Jazz bass is my greatest invention” . Direct quote.

After all these years yes people are going to modify them to what they want. That is totally cool with me, you just can’t call it a Jazz bass anymore.

A Jazz Bass platform sure, but not what Leo brought fourth at all. At G&L even then Mr Fender modified the Jazz with the improvements he wanted yes, but only to the point of improving on his original concept.

Not changing it to sound and look like something else.
If the new idea brings a new sound and works very well then recognize it as a new concept/idea and celebrate the achievement.
Car manufacturers have been doing this for years. The Ford Comet had a new body put directly on its frame. It was not called a Comet.2, it was called a Mustang. New look, same good bones/platform.

 

[tb-player]

Jazz bass > Precision bass

 

[Grinderman]

So apparently the OP thinks Leo Fender was wrong or who knows what and they want someone else to change their mind like Steven Crowder.

Why ask?

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

I do not know how to answer this question.
Is a jazz bass really just a really good platform to modify?
If so why?
Why does it seem the Jazz bass can not stand in its own anymore?
Change the pickups so you get more of a deep growl. To me just purchase a P Bass.
Just use your neck pickup and it will be the same as a P Bass. Not even close in the real world.
You know what I am going to say; just buy a P bass.
Now it’s active preamps and 3.1415926 band EQ’s.
Can’t say get a P Bass for that.

So again what does a traditional Jazz bass sound like?
What is wrong with a passive Bass.
Why does it seem that Jazz Basses are not any good any more unless they are modified to sound like something else?
I have my power basses. I do not need a Jazz to sound like my Warwick.

I do not need a modified Jazz to sound like my trucks diesel engine, Bark like my Heeler or sound like the Flute in the TCB Band.

I apologize! End of Rant. Can some one help me with this?

Thanks in advance
Clayton. Now the Unofficial Mayor of Bearville.

Perfect passive Jazz bass tone….= Meshell. https://youtu.be/-x9WVIch4RE?si=BQp9PU2J5Zt6M83V
Larry Graham https://youtu.be/CwVL5RdEROM?si=za-mEVtmleljYVGT
And Jaco with Joni

 

[J Wilson]

At the fundamental level, it's how tone is made on a Precision, and how it's made on a Jazz, and while it has to do with pickups, it's the difference in using one pickup vs. two, not stock vs. aftermarket installs.

On a single pickup Precision, you can vary the tone via how close you pick towards the end of the fingerboard (it gets bassier the closer you get) or how close you pick towards the bridge (it gets thinner and brighter the closer you get). This happens on all basses, it's just more obvious with a single pickup instrument.

Of course this also happens on a Jazz Bass, but here the two pickups are 'hearing' the string at two points instead of one on a Precision. This is the fundamental difference and the mix of these two couples with the relative volume of each pickup to accomplish a similar result: Run the neck pickup full and the bridge at less volume it's bassier but you can still hear the brighter tone the bridge pickup adds in. Reverse this and the tone is brighter, but you can still hear a deeper voice from the neck pickup. Varying that blend and picking at different spots as above, and you wind up with a far bigger range of possible tones vs. a Precision.

You also hear a difference as the split Precision is a humbucking pickup, and Jazz Basses run two single coils, which are a thinner tone. Think of the difference in a Les Paul vs a Telecaster.

All of this is the same whether stock pickups or a JB that's been modified with different pickups and tone control. This is universal, whether a Sire, a Squier, or a Lull or Sadowsky.

It's the difference in design, by design, that makes them two different animals.

 

[logdrum]

The Question is still valid. Leo said if you read the books about the history of the Fender company “ The Jazz bass is my greatest invention” . Direct quote.

After all these years yes people are going to modify them to what they want. That is totally cool with me, you just can’t call it a Jazz bass anymore.

And that's why it is the greatest invention, because it became the platform for other creations to be born. Sadowsky started out modifying Jazz basses. John East sells more of his J-Tone or J-retro -- and because of the jazz plate design. And Fender did it right by not getting bent out of shape people copying the design. And the list goes on and on, other bass makers, pickup companies, pre-amp companies - they probably exist because of the ease of modding and copying or improving a jazz bass.

What makes you say that that modified J-basses are not jazz bass anymore. Fender has active Jazz basses and models with fatter pickups or even with one pickup. They own the right to what they are going to name their bass model, not you or some traditionalist. If Fender calls the Mononeon a jazz bass or the single pickup gold foil, I do not have any problems with that. Go to the Fender site and count how many Jazz bass models they have and how varied they are.

Seems like a useless rant that does not make any sense.

 

[Kevin Hailey]

I do not know how to answer this question.
Is a jazz bass really just a really good platform to modify?
Some people think so.
If so why?
Availability of a wide range of parts?
Why does it seem the Jazz bass can not stand in its own anymore?
The contoured body makes it unstable.

So again what does a traditional Jazz bass sound like?
Usually the person playing it.
What is wrong with a passive Bass.
Why does it seem that Jazz Basses are not any good any more unless they are modified to sound like something else?
That I cannot help you with.


I apologize! End of Rant. Can some one help me with this?
I hope I have been of assistance.
Thanks in advance

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I do not know how to answer this question.
Is a jazz bass really just a really good platform to modify?
If so why?
Why does it seem the Jazz bass can not stand in its own anymore?
Change the pickups so you get more of a deep growl. To me just purchase a P Bass.
Just use your neck pickup and it will be the same as a P Bass. Not even close in the real world.
You know what I am going to say; just buy a P bass.
Now it’s active preamps and 3.1415926 band EQ’s.
Can’t say get a P Bass for that.

So again what does a traditional Jazz bass sound like?
What is wrong with a passive Bass.
Why does it seem that Jazz Basses are not any good any more unless they are modified to sound like something else?
I have my power basses. I do not need a Jazz to sound like my Warwick.

I do not need a modified Jazz to sound like my trucks diesel engine, Bark like my Heeler or sound like the Flute in the TCB Band.

I apologize! End of Rant. Can some one help me with this?

Thanks in advance
Clayton. Now the Unofficial Mayor of Bearville.

I dunno, I always thought a Jazz bass sounds like an electric bass and never had a problem getting a useful sound out of them.

In general, I don’t buy basses I’m not happy with how they sound. Today, there are so many basses for sale that are not JBs there is no excuse to buy an instrument you aren’t happy with.,

 

[5StringBlues]

A jazz bass can sound like JACO, Jo Osborn, Chris squire, geddy lee, or Ashton family man Barrett. All unmodified. lts really up to you.

 

[Nashrakh]

Well first, a p-bass is an inarticulate hammer. So if you would like to play anything melodic with any kind of speed then you can look at something that has a pup closer to the bridge. If you’re goal is nice, slow and deliberate notes or fast notes with no warmth and tone then go with that hammer.
However…if you like things that sound good and you are chasing an expressive tone…then move beyond a split single coil in the semi bridge position.

Excellent reversal of the OP, though I give it a 0/10 for very obvious trollery. Or Hanlon's razor has failed me once again.

 

[Sharko]

No

 

[Flaked Beans]

This thread sucks. All basseses we love are gteat.