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

[CletusMarley]

I don't know what to say. I really dig my jazz basses. I get lots of different sounds by using different techniques and twisting those knobs. I think they are more versatile than the OP would lead us to believe. I play all kinds of stuff from poppy alternative riffs to Sabbath. With stock pickups.

 

[Alexander]

Nice Bass!!

Yeah - just need the guys over at Mike Lull’s Guitarworks to do their magic on it and it will be freakin’ incredible. (Just got back from there).

Not only do they make some of the best basses on the planet, they make my vintage Fenders play just as well as their own basses do.

 

[edot3021]

Well first, a p-bass is an inarticulate hammer.

 

[Dust2Dust]

The sound mix for Rush In Rio concert was awful anyway, even Ged, Neil and Alex said they had no proper time to do a sound check that day because of rain and thunder storms that's why the bass sounds so "un-mixed" and the rest of the band.

That sounded pretty darn GOOD to me

 

[BostonJazz72]

Love my Js…Not one is modded and all sound incredible.

 

[Jeff Scott]

I don't know what to say. I really dig my jazz basses. I get lots of different sounds by using different techniques and twisting those knobs. I think they are more versatile than the OP would lead us to believe. I play all kinds of stuff from poppy alternative riffs to Sabbath. With stock pickups.

But, just think of all the extra possibilities that'd be available to you if you just change out the pickups for (fill-in-the-blank) model...

 

[Major Seven]

Yo!

This guy has if figured out:
P vs J comparison starts in middle of the video.

 

[Dust2Dust]

This guy has if figured out:
P vs J comparison starts in middle of the video.

That guy is fun to listen to

I watched the whole video

 

[21Pastorius12]

View attachment 5184677

Love my Js…Not one is modded and all sound incredible.

Please tell me that that middle bass is an original 60s it certainly looks like it ???

 

[21Pastorius12]

That sounded pretty darn GOOD to me

Yes I know what you mean..... I think my brain (perhaps incorrectly) was trying to compare it to other tours like Snakes and Arrows, R30 et cetera, Test For Echo and using them as a guide.... haha.

 

[21Pastorius12]

Thanks, it was a lot of fun to do.

I can ask Marilyn if she would donate it to a good cause (tax write-off and all). I better get my 501(c)(3) going!



Not very heavy at all, as I recall. It's pretty compact in real life.

IIRC, there are different kinds of pickup interactions going on with the two different control layouts. I think most people actually prefer the 3-knob harness for that reason. What's interesting to me is that CLF originally used a 3-knob harness design for the prototype Jazz Bass, then went to the concentric pots for production in the beginning.

Apologies for the delay to my reply..... that's actually really interesting about the prototype Jazz Bass and I genuinely did not know that! The 3 knobs are great yes, is there more sound shaping possibilities with the 3-knobs than the concentric stacks though I am not certain ?

The Mustang bass that I bought a few months ago only has two volumes controls for each pickup though.... I am not certain whether or not I miss the tone control knob, but it does have a rocker switch to select the pickups. The tone out of it is unreal.

 

[Jeff Scott]

The Mustang bass that I bought a few months ago only has two volumes controls for each pickup though.... I am not certain whether or not I miss the tone control knob, but it does have a rocker switch to select the pickups. The tone out of it is unreal.

If you have no real need to roll off the highs then there is no need for a tone control. The Mustang Bass I had a few years ago was a CIJ one pickup model:

As to having two volume controls and a pickup selector, that is what is on this bass:

(Sorry for the non 7ender bass. )

 

[21Pastorius12]

If you have no real need to roll off the highs then there is no need for a tone control. The Mustang Bass I had a few years ago was a CIJ one pickup model:
View attachment 5184955

As to having two volume controls and a pickup selector, that is what is on this bass:
View attachment 5184956

(Sorry for the non 7ender bass. )

That's a beauty what made you get rid of it, mine has a JB pickup and a precision pickup? And the Rick just WOW...... so in a way my Mustang is a Rick hahah just kidding!

 

[Jeff Scott]

That's a beauty what made you get rid of it, mine has a JB pickup and a precision pickup?...

I found the narrowness of the neck up by the headstock too thin for me to play comfortably (the money notes, right? ). If it had a neck like those on '60s Mustang Basses I'd probably still have it.

 

[tvbop]

"Well first, a p-bass is an inarticulate hammer"
Pretty sure the vid playbacks of myself and the packed dance floors I play too may well take issue with that statement. I even surprise myself sometimes at the gnarly low mid range tone I get using dead flats and a light touch on my Squire P bass. Punches outta the pa like a demon.

 

[21Pastorius12]

I found the narrowness of the neck up by the headstock too thin for me to play comfortably (the money notes, right? ). If it had a neck like those on '60s Mustang Basses I'd probably still have it.

haha absolutely yes !! I am a sucker for ultra thin necks though but my Fender AO series JB has a neck that is comfortable.... the only thing I would change about it is the fact that the neck gets thicker up to the twelfth fret. Even though it might sound like nothing, its really noticeable when playing.

 

[Jeff Scott]

...my Fender AO series JB has a neck that is comfortable.... the only thing I would change about it is the fact that the neck gets thicker up to the twelfth fret. Even though it might sound like nothing, its really noticeable when playing.

That is one of the great things about basses like Alembics and Rickenbackers, IMO; their necks don't taper so drastically.

 

[BostonJazz72]

Please tell me that that middle bass is an original 60s it certainly looks like it ???

You guessed it! It is a

Please tell me that that middle bass is an original 60s it certainly looks like it ???

Good eye! Yes, that is a 1965 Fender Jazz bass that I purchase from Cody Wright. He said the bass was originally by a NYC bassist that took lessons from Jaco. He said Jaco borrowed this bass on some gigs in NYC in the mid 80's.

 

[21Pastorius12]

Thought it looked familiar, I am sure I have seen that bass in some photos exactly in the mid 80s! what was the action and pickup configuration like when you received it if you don't mind me asking, would it have been in the configuration that Jaco would have played it in when you received it? You are a lucky guy to won that especially with its provenance! I would bite your hand off for that as my profile image may give away.

Did you ever get to see or meet Jaco yourself? I never have due to my age.
Its interesting also that you know Wright how did that one happen !!

The bass caught my eye in that photo you uploaded .....just something about it.
Its my holy grail bass that would be a dream to own one day when I can afford 16,000+.

 

[BostonJazz72]

Thought it looked familiar, I am sure I have seen that bass in some photos exactly in the mid 80s! what was the action and pickup configuration like when you received it if you don't mind me asking, would it have been in the configuration that Jaco would have played it in when you received it? You are a lucky guy to won that especially with its provenance! I would bite your hand off for that as my profile image may give away.

Did you ever get to see or meet Jaco yourself? I never have due to my age.
Its interesting also that you know Wright how did that one happen !!

The bass caught my eye in that photo you uploaded .....just something about it.
Its my holy grail bass that would be a dream to own one day when I can afford 16,000+.

It is an amazing bass and was well played! Cody Wright said it was the best bass he played and I can understand why. I am in correspondance with the original owner of the bass who took lessons with Jaco. But as most know, the 80's was a tough time for Jaco and it is sad that such genious was lost upon his early death. I never met Jaco but I would I have loved to if giving the chance.

I pickups are in the original positions and the action is set not super low but no too high either. I guess the height is set up to give the bass some bite. It is amazing instrument and I am grateful to be able to play it.