Of course, we are not addressing the 60s pick up spacing versus the 70s pick up spacing. I'm much preferred D. 60s spacing. It may not make much difference to some people but it does to me.
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What does an authentic Jazz bass really sound like? Small rant warning.
- Thread starter CaribooBass
- Start date
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What is the "Jazz Bass Mid Scoop"?
A Jazz Bass sounds like it's mid scoop (both pickups on). You can't just recreate that with an EQ setting, because that mid scoop moves around depending on where you are playing on the neck and what note you're playing. You either like or don't like the sound.
What is the "Jazz Bass Mid Scoop"?
A Jazz Bass sounds like it's mid scoop (both pickups on). You can't just recreate that with an EQ setting, because that mid scoop moves around depending on where you are playing on the neck and what note you're playing. You either like or don't like the sound.
I can’t quite answer the question. But I have owned 2 beautiful Fender jazz basses. Sold them both. Last one I bought used from GC. Perfect cond. took it to my gig, after the 1st set I had to swap back to my Sterling Ray4. Guitar player looked at me and said “I like that one (ray4) better. So the jazz went back to GC. Needless to say I bought a Fender p. Staying stock. My past p had 3 different types of pu in it. Sold it.
To kinda answer your question, jazz is cleaner but lacks the big lows to compete with a drummer. Bridge pu just sounds nasally, thin and cheap. Bass is supposed to be big, powerful, hold the bottom. Not necessarily a solo instrument.
(This one should get some negative remarks)
To kinda answer your question, jazz is cleaner but lacks the big lows to compete with a drummer. Bridge pu just sounds nasally, thin and cheap. Bass is supposed to be big, powerful, hold the bottom. Not necessarily a solo instrument.
(This one should get some negative remarks)
I think John Paul Jones might disagree with you on this point. Good thing his drummer wasn't heavy handed, I suppose.
For me an authentic Jazz Bass is what the little voice in my head is telling me to look after, tone wise. That said I have 2 beautiful JBs modded to recreate the tone I'm after on each of them. Got both of them cheap, so they were a great modding platform.
#1 is my version of a 60's JB. Born as a MIM Standard and upgraded with Hipshot HB1 reverse tuners and new electronics. The result is an authoritative tone with a pretty mid scooped dark voice thanks to Dimarzio's Model J pickups, but with a beautiful snap thanks to it's maple neck. Also went with a 920D concentric wiring to have a bit more of control over those pickups. This one is strung with Markbass Energy strings.
#2 is my version of a "modern" JB. Born as a MIM Deluxe and upgraded with Hipshot Ultralite tuners and Kicka$$ bridge, Fender SCN pickups and Lusithand 800TS active/passive preamp. Much more open voicing with a pretty mid presence, and lots of warmth thanks to the rosewood fretboard. Beware because that bridge pickup can really bark. Actually strung with Chromes due to an experiment I'm doing, and let me tell you it sounds amazing.
#1 is my version of a 60's JB. Born as a MIM Standard and upgraded with Hipshot HB1 reverse tuners and new electronics. The result is an authoritative tone with a pretty mid scooped dark voice thanks to Dimarzio's Model J pickups, but with a beautiful snap thanks to it's maple neck. Also went with a 920D concentric wiring to have a bit more of control over those pickups. This one is strung with Markbass Energy strings.
#2 is my version of a "modern" JB. Born as a MIM Deluxe and upgraded with Hipshot Ultralite tuners and Kicka$$ bridge, Fender SCN pickups and Lusithand 800TS active/passive preamp. Much more open voicing with a pretty mid presence, and lots of warmth thanks to the rosewood fretboard. Beware because that bridge pickup can really bark. Actually strung with Chromes due to an experiment I'm doing, and let me tell you it sounds amazing.
Yes I really don't get this line of reasoning. In a trio with guitar I will use a P. base because of the way the mids fill in the space when the guitar player takes a solo. When playing with a B3 player and will say jazz base it leaves in the mids for the B3. need more bottom? turn up the volume. again, 60s spacing , not 70s.
You're simply looking at the thing from the wrong angle.
There's nothing wrong with Jazz basses. In fact, there are so many of them that some people feel the need to stand out from the crowd by adding a little something. For every Jazz bass modder you will find at least a dozen of happy stock players.
However, nobody is interested in those. They don't run all over the place and yell "I play a stock Jazz and I'm happy with it" on the top of their lungs.
I like Jazz and Precision equally. Different character with for different moods. Sometimes I inherently want more mids and others I was more scoop. Each excell in their own rights so I have both. I also have a Modulus Q5 sweet spot so I cover my HI-FI needs with some stringrayesque vibes because it's a sweet spot single pickup bass. Heck my Jazz is a G&L JB2 that wears an L2000 neck because the bass is a fire recovery and the neck was toast, if G&L ever releases the Jazz MFD pickups it will get a pair. My P is a Squire CV 60's as for the cash it plays and sounds wonderful. No plans to mod it. Do what you want. All fit a niche and some niches are just larger than others.
JazznFunk
Supporting Member
What does an 'authentic' Jazz Bass sound like? Find a YouTube video of someone playing (solo) an original 60s Jazz Bass, and maybe a '75 Jazz for reference. Listen. Both pickups on. Tone control closed, mid, and open. That's your 'starting point.' It's about pickup spacing and body shape at its origin. From there, it's open season in terms of Fender-inspired axes by Sadowsky and many others. Personally, I like a stock instrument through an outboard preamp if it's passive by default. I have a Squier Classic Vibe 60's Jazz Bass and a SX '75 Jazz with the proper '70s spacing. Engineers in the studio and live love the sound of both... quintessential 'Jazz Bass' sounds. No modding. Sadowsky outboard preamp is my choice, especially for a Jazz Bass. All other hand-wringing is really over shades of colors, as opposed to a radical new tonal palette. It's all good.
I think you’re generalizing a little more than you probably should. In the end though it comes down to taste & opinion. I only own one Fender Jazz bass and it’s from the late 70s. The previous owner swapped the pickups & harness for god knows what and the infamous BadAss bridge swap.
Bass sounded good but one day, perusing the classifieds here I stumbled upon some Alleva Coppolo pickups for a 4 string. I swapped them out & it made a huge difference. If the bass had been all original I would not have touched it but in the end decided to do the mod at least this way I’d know what was in there.
To me, this is the quintessential Jazz sound and I’m sure the jazz bass on this recording had been modified too:
CosmicRay
Supporting Member
CosmicRay
Supporting Member
edot3021 - Perhaps give this a listen...
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I'm very intrigued where this frustration might come from. And I wonder as to with what exactly you need help.
Since the questions you ask and the examples you give are quite farfetched, often untrue, and - I cannot say it different - rather silly, I can't help thinking this may be a very latenight post or a joke or something must have upset you, but I will try to take this seriously and can only advise you to find your own answers to your own questions. Where to start? I see a pattern in your rant: the fact that you cannot grab the essence of the Jazz Bass, that a Jazz Bass has a lot of possibilities whereas the other examples you mention are all simple and have one clear sound. Possibly this has more to do with your state of mind than with bassguitars. So talk to yourself, and talk to your basses, and listen well what you and they have to tell you about yourself.
It always has done and always will do.
CosmicRay
Supporting Member
