What Would Be The Equivalent ? ? ?

[NYCBass]

Hi All,

I have a Fender Custom Shop Jaco Pastorius Bass that I love. Now that I am looking to get a fretted Bass as well, what Bass would be the closest in tone and feel to to that Bass?

 

[Remus_Redbone]

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[two fingers]

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Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand there you have it.

 

[chris_b]

I'd rather get a different sounding bass than have two that sound similar.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Is there anything special about the pups or electronics on the Jaco fretless? I thought his bass was pretty much stock except the fingerboard epoxy. In that case any decent fretted jazz should be fine. I'll tempt a fiery death by suggesting a Squire VM or CV series, great sounding and playing Jazz for short coin, but I agree with others, why not branch out to different sounds? If you like a Jazz neck, try an Ibanez SR series, very thin, light, fast player with a more modern sound.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

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Yeah.... no. The Artist series is great but it is nothing compared to the Relic. I have owned both. @Gilmourisgod I don't know what is in them but I have yet to play a stock Fender that even remotely compared. Mind you, we don't get many CS examples in this neck of the woods so I really only have factory instruments to compare it to. A stock Squier will not bring you anywhere near the Jaco Relic in terms of tone or playability.

Are you after just a fretted jazz OP? I would just find a similar Fender CS offering and go from there. Just find a similar neck and radius and ensure that it is oiled, that will get you the feel you're after, and swap pickups as needed. If you want something slightly different I would suggest the Pino Palladino P-Bass. The Jaco Relic is the premier Fender fretless Jazz while the Pino is the premier fretted P-bass.

 

[NYCBass]

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Thanks for the link. I have played The non-custom shop Jaco fretless and there's really no comparison to the custom shop Bass.

 

[NYCBass]

A lot has to do with the feel of the Bass, the neck is fantastic. I'm also not looking for something different, I'm a Jazz Bass guy through and through. What I want is more or less what Jaco had, two killer Jazz Basses. If you give a listen to Birdland on 8:30 you can hear his fretted Bass.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

A lot has to do with the feel of the Bass, the neck is fantastic. I'm also not looking for something different, I'm a Jazz Bass guy through and through. What I want is more or less what Jaco had, two killer Jazz Basses. If you give a listen to Birdland on 8:30 you can hear his fretted Bass.

Not specifically this bass but this is essentially what you're looking for. Your bass, for all intents and purposes, is a '62 Jazz so just find another FCS '62.

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[NYCBass]

Yes I just contacted Fender and they gave the same recommendation. So looks like it's going to be a CS62.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

Is there anything special about the pups or electronics on the Jaco fretless? I thought his bass was pretty much stock except the fingerboard epoxy. In that case any decent fretted jazz should be fine. I'll tempt a fiery death by suggesting a Squire VM or CV series, great sounding and playing Jazz for short coin, but I agree with others, why not branch out to different sounds? If you like a Jazz neck, try an Ibanez SR series, very thin, light, fast player with a more modern sound.

Each bass has its individual characteristics. In a same model year, most have average tone, some have ho-hum tone, and some are just off the charts. Each wood blank is a bit different. When Robert Trujillo played Jaco's Bass Of Doom, even though it was restored and veneered, here's what he said "It’s amazing. The neck plays like butter. After nearly 50 years with all its trials and tribulations, the on-and off-stage adventures, it still speaks. It actually growls when you play it — the neck growls. It’s got a lot of kick to it, too, for a fretless. I’ve played it onstage already and it didn’t disappoint. It’s just such an amazing instrument.”

When Geddy Lee found his pawn shop Jazz Bass is Michigan, he said it had a tone not quite like any other bass he'd played. Same with Chris Squire's Ric. These things just cannot be reproduced in limited edition models, so the name on a signature model is just a name.

 

[JimmyM]

When Geddy Lee found his pawn shop Jazz Bass is Michigan, he said it had a tone not quite like any other bass he'd played. Same with Chris Squire's Ric. These things just cannot be reproduced in limited edition models, so the name on a signature model is just a name.

And Geddy Lee sold a bass he didn't like to a guy who loved it

You are right, of course, but there's no question that certain things can be duplicated. All depends on how seriously you take the duplication process. And Jaco played more than one bass all his life and still sounded like Jaco.

 

[bearhart74]

I'd rather get a different sounding bass than have two that sound similar.

Where in the original post did they ask for something different?

 

[tedsalt]

Geddy's got a tribute ...
Fender Jaco Pastorius Tribute Custom Fretted.jpg

Although I expect you'd be happy with a CS62

Everyone has their own sonic goals!

 

[DigitalMan]

To me the Geddy limited edition CS Jazz is the fretted yin to the fretless yang of the Jaco CS tribute. I would see if you can find a way to play one and see if it provides a dose of complimentary mojo.