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What Is a Good 5 String Bass For Smooth Jazz?

#2
Gee Phil said:
Hello All,

I've been listening to a lot of today's smooth jazz and I've noticed they use a lot of 5 string basses.
Does anyone have a suggestion on what would be a good 5 string bass for jazz/smooth jazz?
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Look at the bass players on the "Smooth Jazz"that you listen to.What are they playing?
 
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#6
This is a legit question and I don't know why people see the need to make fun of it.

The thing about Smooth jazz is it has some awesome bass tones, and the players are very particular about their tones - well many of them are at least.

On the Lakland DJ5 - yes and no. It's not really going to give that modern tone out of the gate since it is a passive bass. I know this since i have one. The key to that tone is a quality preamp. If you put it into an outboard sadowsky pre, you will have a very passable smooth jazz tone. The only issue there is the sadowksy sucks your mids out, and on a J bass, if you like to throw those thick pops in now and then, you will want both pickups dimed - further sucking the mids out.

This can still be ok, but a great smooth jazz tone is very versatile - in other words it sounds good when you slap and play finger style. This is not easy to pull off, but a Sadowsky will get you there. It now boils down to personal preference. My issue with the sadowsky sound is it relies on 4k to cut and replace those lost mids. To me, that can sound a little more thin and brittle in the high end then I prefer. The sadowsky can also get lost in the mix for finger style since 40-60hz is pretty boomy and a lot of engineers are going to tame 4k down.

For me, I am going with a handmade jazz style bass with hum bucking pickups and an ebony fretboard. The reason is I love the Jazz style bass, but I also want warmth and some natural midrange between 3-500hz. I prefer a Bartolini preamp too which has a midrange control. The more subtle pres like the xtct with the midrange control added are, IMO, an ideal combo for a jazz bass if you like smooth jazz. I believe the Sadowsky pre was based on this Bart, but the XTCT has more mojo to it IMO.

Listen to the pop tone here -https://'78JB Tone / Marcus Miller style tone - YouTube

Now if this jazz bass had en ebony fingerboard it would have more warmth and midrange and the finger style tone would cut a lot more in the mids. He doesnt play finger style in this clip, but I am making an educated guess. Maple is quite good though and MANY players use that.

So that is one option (J bass, custom with bart pre and ebony or maple fretboard). The other popular way to go is a dual soapbar bass. That's a whole other beast, and this post is already way too long.

I really love smooth jazz bass players. Huge influence on me, so I hope I can help with the discussion.
 
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#10
What is the OP's price range? Ibanez makes great modern sounding basses from $200-$7,000. As for used basses, I love active American Peavey basses. I love older Yamaha basses too. Lots of used Warwicks work great for Smooth Jazz too. Finally, Fender Deluxe basses really work fine, just listen to Byron Miller solo albums.
 
#14
Zon status. (Standard offshore)
Dual humbuckers Duncan bass lines, great clarity, pre amp with mid control; passive/active push pull

Narrow spacing so may not be suitable for snapping, dependent on your technique.

Prices on this can vary dependent on offshore or domestic, used or new.
 
#15
AngelCrusher said:
This is a legit question and I don't know why people see the need to make fun of it.
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+1. Some people like to deal in the subjective where anything goes; no accountability, just emotional blather. When those people see objective information or a topic requiring objective information well, that's not fun for them so they make fun. By comparison, go try to inject any sort of reason into a catty thread and see how they react. Venom.
 
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#17
A ken smith will fit perfectley, but you very well may not have the cash to burn for one and that's not a shot a you, they will run you a lot of money! I'm not sure but In my opinion a neck-thru with an ebony board will work the best, not that they are exclusively jazz instruments, my favorite basses are neck-thru with ebony fingerboards, and I play heavy fast rock music!
 
#18
Ace Of Bass said:
Everyones gonna chime in most likely with their go to bass because just about any bass should do the trick...I've used a smooth jazz gig with a P some months back...had a smooth-ish jazz gig last weekend I used my 535 for...works just fine...
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I don't know, usually when people listen to a lot of a genre, certain traits stick out. Listening to the new Andrew Gouche record now and his MTD is definitely a good candidate as well. Not my preferred sound, but really nice slap tone. pops slice through the mix and there are some nice high mids in his finger style. Lots of waahhh in the MTD tone, which I never really loved, but it works for smooth stuff.
 
#19
I think a good bass for smooth Jazz is the one that "speaks" to you. That being said, I suggest going to a music store during the day (if possible) and playing every bass you can. Find a bass that gives you a good version of the tone you are looking for without much tweaking.

I gave this a listen - not sure if it is exactly what you are going for:

A Spector Euro 5 or a Sadowsky dual humbucker or Sadowsky Jazz bass should do the trick. I think one of those basses coupled with a good finger playing technique should do it. Some sort of effect box is needed here, but I am not familiar in what you need. If I were playing on those tunes, I would just focus on a deep and thick bass tone. Not much high end needed here.
 
#20
AngelCrusher said:
I don't know, usually when people listen to a lot of a genre, certain traits stick out. Listening to the new Andrew Gouche record now and his MTD is definitely a good candidate as well. Not my preferred sound, but really nice slap tone. pops slice through the mix and there are some nice high mids in his finger style. Lots of waahhh in the MTD tone, which I never really loved, but it works for smooth stuff.
Click to expand...

I guess specs play a huge role as well...I have never been a big fan of Gouche's tone (blasphemy, I know)...I very much like his style, but not his tone...The wood combo on my 535 gives me a much fuller and considerably darker tone to my ears...not quite what my jazz could do in a smooth jazz setting, but I think it works OK...Norm Stockton sounded great on the "Sushi" album and that's totally a smooth jazz album to me...
 
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