What would a beefier Jazz Bass be?

[Avezzano]

everything you want makes a jazz no longer be a jazz. maybe its just not for you. why force it?

This! Leave a perfect bass model alone and as it is. If you don't like it, it is perfectly fine. Get something else that better fits your taste.

 

[Cave Puppy]

Boost the low mids and believe it or not, high passing at about 80hz will kill a lot of the murky, which can mask the beefy.

 

[Col Pruse]

Blacktop 'jazz?'

These things were only $499 when they came out. Should've gotten one then...

 

[Kaa]

I have a home-brew that I got from a TB'er who installed DiMarzio pickups in it and has them wired in series. It sounds nice and full, to me. Obviously, that's only my ears, and yours are certainly going to be different in how you hear things. I'd vote to try the series mod.

 

[Altitude]

Are you one of those types that gets their knickers in a twist because people don't preface their opinions with silly acronyms such as IMO, YMMV, etc.? I wouldn't say that conversation and debate are your forte either, if you felt the urge to slide-tackle into the thread with such an inane contribution.

Look, I'll quote your post here for easy reference:

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?

I assume it's not a troll post because you're here talking to me now. Although we're 8 pages in and counting, so if your goal was to generate clicks you achieved it.

You wrote that post not exactly asking for help, but by establishing that you had a contrarian opinion about jazz basses. Every "alternative" you mentioned had something wrong with it according to you. It was a provocative post and it's received provocative responses.

I've posted here since 2005. This is a forum full of helpful, knowledgeable people. You might've come in saying "hey guys, here's my tone goal - what are a few ideas for me to get there? I have a personal disinclination towards jazz basses, sorry. Please avoid that recommendation." That would have pulled a certain tone of answer.

Instead you said "jazz basses suck and so does everything else. Prove me wrong by making a recommendation that will somehow get past the impenetrable wall of my prejudices." And you get responses accordingly. That's how this works.

Good luck.

 

[okabass]

Try early 60s specs. Around 8 kΩ pickups, bridge PU 60s position (ca. 1 cm closer the neck). Maybe stackpots VVTT. Heavier strings like .050 set, flats usually are thicker than RW. With these my JB sounds quite different than "normal" JB.

 

[kevmac]

the 2 I mentioned were a total surprise for any Jazz aspects and held back ever mentioning it in other context for it's surface absurdity, but if the Embassy can pull it off for the open minded purists then size wise it's a win if preferring something more compact. the PUs are different so we're talking about a critter almost as disparate as the SB-2, and to emphasize / clarify I like my pair for such deep throatiness from the bridge PUs with that Jazzy tinge but use those basses strictly for heavy Rock.

My remark on the Embassy was in regard to the poster that recommend a T-Bird since the Embassy's pups are frequently compared to the Birds.I wouldn't exactly put it in the Jazz bass category.The old SB-2 are totally different than the latest version that if I'm not mistaken have a P-J pickup combination.

 

[Chris Wilke]

I heard an interesting quote from Bobby Vega (while playing a J and while doing a promo for a pickup manufacturer). He said you are going to do what you need, in whatever situation you are in, to cop the tone in your head. This could not be more true in my opinion! Good players make it work with the tools they have.

With whatever equipment you have, you should be able to tweak it (bass, strings, amps, pedals) and use technique to get close to the sound you are after.

The reason to make mods or upgrades is to get closer to that sound, and have it easier to call up in the moment so you can focus on the music.

That said, the right strings, a good set up + a good compressor and external preamp will get you a LONG way to a BIG sound with any bass, especially a J bass type.

After many trials with other devices I am currently loving the combination of an Empress compressor and a Tech21 Q strip. YMMV
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Bass Compressor

 

[Bass V]

My remark on the Embassy was in regard to the poster that recommend a T-Bird since the Embassy's pups are frequently compared to the Birds.I wouldn't exactly put it in the Jazz bass category.

I wouldn't think so, but the point being that none of these types of basses / PUs are typically considered for Jazz Bass use, and rightfully so unless going for a radical dark change. strings are important.

 

[SkylineFiver]

practice and talent?

That and a Fender Jazz bass!

 

[dougjwray]

I know exactly what the OP is saying. The Jazz can be beefy (Family Man was a great example) but not beefy in the exact same beautifully crude way as the Precision. Jazzes are sleek, not beastly.
(BTW, I believe Family Man's formula was neck pickup only, tone off and flatwound strings.)
You will never get that exact P effect with a Jazz, but I've had luck making a Jazz *thicker than usual* with flatwounds and series wiring.

 

[StereoPlayer]

No lack of beef here…

 

[DaveParker39]

You just need to ask for a Double Jazz Bass with Cheese.

Seriously though,
I would try a well balanced P/J combo with a good preamp. Maybe like a Spector Euro 4 with EMG's/Tonepump?

 

[Doug4321]

I always wonder, how much of the Jazz bass complaints are because of the psychological effects of having small narrow looking pickups?

 

[Dr. Cheese]

What would a beefier Jazz Bass be?
A Sadowsky.

Find a used RSD JJ. New, they are probably around €825, used they might be close to what you want to spend.

 

[Mickey666]

No lack of beef here…
View attachment 4786994

That's the widest P/U spacing I think I've ever seen.
Must sound amazing

 

[StereoPlayer]

That's the widest P/U spacing I think I've ever seen.
Must sound amazing

It does sound great. It’s wired stereo. The Rickenbacker 4005 has a spacing like that….but somewhat un-affordable for me…

 

[M.R. Ogle]

I always wonder, how much of the Jazz bass complaints are because of the psychological effects of having small narrow looking pickups?

Yeah... and the reverse psycological effects of a big wide pickup seeming "beefier."

The easiest and best solution (IMHO) us to wire your Jazz Series. You'll be surprised at how much it adds thickness to the sound.

 

[ELG60]

Boost the low mids and believe it or not, high passing at about 80hz will kill a lot of the murky, which can mask the beefy.

That's pretty much what I do. My Mesa class D's have a built-in HPF & I usually tune them to cut out below 60-80hz depending upon the room. I like to boost the 500-800 hz and cut the high mids a bit.

That works well for the Jazz basses I usually bring out when playing a four banger. These are Japanese market models with stock US pickups, and believe it or not, they're hotter than some 18v preamps I've encountered:

 

[Geogio]

I would have suggested an SX jazz back in the day. Now Squier or Harley Benton as far as budget bass.

SX? Was that an Earl Slick's company bass?