What would a beefier Jazz Bass be?

[Boneless]

I've always been very ambivalent regarding Jazz Basses. I don't like them, they feel thin, I only kind of like both pickups open all the way, and still I think it's a bit thin, I don't like the bridge pickup soloed or preponderant, the neck pickup lacks the heft of a Precision.

Still, I've found myself needing a full-on Jazz Bass-like sound sometimes, especially played with a pick. The alternatives:

- PJ combination. It sort of works but you tend to have quite a difference between the lower and the upper strings.
- double split. Very nice, very aggressive, looks a bit crap.
- double humbuckers. They don't have the pick attack you get with a Jazz Bass and they tend to sound more throaty. When it's modern sounding humbuckers, they tend to sound a bit too "hifi" in my experience.
- Stingray. It can play that kind of role (bright, tight) but it's overly mid-heavy and a bit too grindy, even boosting the bass or cutting the mids.
- jazz + humbucker (the other way round basically doesn't exist), this seems like the most viable solution, and in fact I had a look at an Ibanez ATK800 (I think) which sort of does the kind of stuff I need.

Any other ideas? And any offerings in the €500-ish range?

 

[Lobster11]

Might just be a matter of finding the right set of pickups for a standard J bass.

 

[C Stone]

Have you looked into any other pickups? Lollar, Fralins, Ultra Jazz.

 

[godofthunder59]

I have found a pre amp pedal works well. I use a 80's DOD bi-fet pre amp to beef up any of my wimpy basses, works great.

 

[ShawnG]

I describe the tone of my EBMM Caprice as that of a “fuller” Jazz bass, with both pickups on full. The secret sauce is the humbucker at the bridge (vs a standard Jazz pickup) and its better balance with the neck pickup, IMO.
@Chicken Wing has a lot more experience with the Caprice than I do and has a nice Jazz to compare it too. Maybe he can add something.
Unfortunately, it won’t be in the €500 range, but you might be able to mod/build something similar.

 

[Bass V]

the Epiphone Thunderbird Std. IV does that for me, even more so is their Explorer.
I never go there but noticed it when test driving during the honeymoon. quite nice.

 

[michael_t]

How about a simple palallel-series switch on a Jazz? That way you have options for both the traditional J-bass sound and the "beefed up" J-bass.

 

[TomB]

DiMarzio Model J - beefy!

 

[Crispus]

L-2000

 

[Chicken Wing]

I describe the tone of my EBMM Caprice as that of a “fuller” Jazz bass, with both pickups on full. The secret sauce is the humbucker at the bridge (vs a standard Jazz pickup) and its better balance with the neck pickup, IMO.
@Chicken Wing has a lot more experience with the Caprice than I do and has a nice Jazz to compare it too. Maybe he can add something.
Unfortunately, it won’t be in the €500 range, but you might be able to mod/build something similar.

What up Shawn! Caprice = more beef but maybe just a little bit less clarity than the Jazz single coils. I didn't read the thread tho

 

[arepa_funk]

I agree with comment above re preamp. My MIM J has relatively weak output, so I've got a boost/preamp (Xotic RC) first in line after the tuner. Round, full, warm, beefy. Imo, ymmv, etc.

 

[DanTheMan2112]

Try it in series mode.

 

[Lesfunk]

DiMarzio DP123 pickups add all the red meat to a jazz bass tone

 

[JimB52]

Find a Fender Roscoe Beck model

 

[TomB]

DiMarzio DP123 pickups add all the red meat to a jazz bass tone

I could be wrong but I think the Model J I mentioned and the DP 123 are the same pickup. And yes, beefy!

 

[OnTheDownLow]

Try it in series mode.

This might be an easy solution for you. Some love it and some don't, if you don't like it then it's an easily reversible mod.

 

[tyohars]

Epiphone Vintage Pro Thunderbird do that for me. I even sell my Jazz Bass (Sire V7 actually) after a year with my Epi

 

[PrimitiveMan]

I'd try one of the Ibanez SR with Nordstrand Big Singles.

 

[J Posega]

Jazz bass with the pickups wired in series instead of parallel.

Run your jazz bass through a preamp pedal.

Install a preamp in your jazz bass.

It seems like you like a double split pickup arrangement. Install some split coil jazz bass pickups (many to choose from).

 

[rmayer]

What would a beefier Jazz Bass be?
A Sadowsky.