Whats the deal with jazz basses?

[MarTONEbass]

I played Modulus basses for a long time. I loved the dual soapbar smooth tone. One day, like the flip of a switch, I fell in love with the aggressive single coil sound. My only 2 basses today are a Lull m5 j bass and a Lakland 55-02 which imitated a j bass pretty well.

 

[4andnomore]

I think what everyone has said above is very valid. About playability, simplistic but versatile design, tonal strength etc., but there is one point I've been thinking about for some time now that hasn't been mentioned.

Let's first start with another question: Why does the Philips head screw driver work so well, in so many situations? The answer is two fold, firstly it is a great design which is sturdy and useful and fulfils all the requirements of a screw driver.
The second is that since the Phillip head screwdriver was decided upon as the standard, the entire screw driver world has accommodated around the screw driver itself.

In the same way, Leo Fender did a great job designing a bass. While it's clearly not subjectively the best bass in the world for everyone, many people liked the tone and started using them in bands and studios. Here's where the game changes:
Since everyone is using the Fender Jazz Bass, bands and musicians play in a way which complements that particular bass tone. The type of drum kits, and how the drums (particularly the kick) are tuned and played in relation to the jazz bass tone. An engineer at every pro recording studio around the world needs to learn how to mix a band with a fender bass in it, taking into account the strong mid frequencies that it presents, in comparison to the P bass or the double bass used previously.

So what we end up with (sonically and aesthetically) in many many bands / genres and recordings around the world is a fender jazz bass sized whole to fill.

Thoughts?

Well, yeah, that's pretty much the story except for one minor detail: you have wrong bass! It's actually the p-bass that gained massive popularity and is heard on a vast majority of popular music recordings. It's wholly inaccurate to imply that certain players switched over to the jazz bass, or that the p ever took a backseat to the Jazz bass. Even to do this day, a majority of engineers would prefer to record with a p-bass because it makes their job so much easier. The Jazz bass and Stingray are well liked but the p bass is hands-down the deFacto standard. I don't know what genre of music you play but not "everyone" is using a jazz bass. Not even close.

 

[dbamta]

Fender Jazz Basses are able to produce a slap sound that many attempt to imitate. Take a listen to Marcus Miller, Larry Graham, and Darryl Jones. Many of their early recordings were made using the standard Fender Jazz.

 

[2cooltoolz]

If you have to ask...

 

[stringrayfour]

Im not against other brands or design of bass for they are absolutely amazing as well but Jazz Basses have that character to it that makes it a BIG deal

Well if you haven't really tried a fender jazz that means you are not lookin for the "Tone" yet, that's why most bassist who are not particular on tone are still buying bass according to "Looks"

If you understand how versatile and how beautiful sound what a J bass can deliver then it would look sexy in your own eyes

Try one first and bring it to the gig check out how you cut through the mix, and try to record also with a band and check how you sound and compare to other basses and you will understand that it is not a better bass but it has its own identity that makes it a BIG BIG Deal!

Right now i dont gig that much so i just keep one bass in case somebody call and give me a gig or somethin and that bass is a Jazz Bass

 

[peledog]

More tonal options than a single pickup or split pickup.

 

[Thrill-House]

I love this guy!

I couldn't have written better myself

I actually leanred that the hard way. After going through a bunch of modern designs, i ended up going with a couple of MIM standard P-basses. Still have a six string SR around, but i found the P-bass to sound, play, and feel better.

I think i was still stuck in my guitarist mindset, when fender guitars really didnt cut it for what i was playing. Bass ended up being much different!

 

[Suntory]

Love em! But my first was a Long horn and it was a stinker, too heavy and the body was enormous in comparison to the original. I guess Fender was trying to compete with all the boutique builders by attempting to update a classic. Glad I unloaded it.

My question is, whats the production cost of am American standard? They are mass made and pretty simple.They are over $12 or 1400 bucks.

 

[Hopkins]

I think a lot of pickup/preamps nowadays will get you that burpy tone, and then some too. More importantly, what's so great about the neck/bodies that they carry. Looks a bit monotonous, not sure how it feels. I've got a fender kingman acoustic bass with a 'jazz neck', and it's absolute rubbish.

It sounds like you are looking for reasons to hate a Jazz bass instead of reasons to like them.

 

[nukes_da_bass]

Love everything about a jazz but the noisy pickups- thats why I had someone build me an RH 5 clone with the P/J config in a jazz body- does everything I want it to do and nothing i don't want (which would be that annoying single coil hum when the volumes are not set at equal levels).

 

[phillybass101]

I suggest you look up the history of the jazz bass. They were introduced for several reasons. One was to compete with RICs. They were made to have a more mid-rangy sound and be more forward in the mix. Another reason was to try and get Upright players (Jazz) players to convert or at least have in their arsenal and electric bass thus Jazz Bass. As with any piece of gear, liking is very subjective. My personal history is that I was playing on P-Basses (I was still a teenager) and then I heard Larry Graham Slapping a Jazz Bass. I wanted that sound and I wanted to be like Larry Graham. Changed my whole bass playing life. Jazz basses are just simply a classic design that works. An industry standard is what it is. It was an affordable production line parts bass that hit the mark. And it has a classic slap tone that is just as good (subjectively) as any other slap tone out there. When someone slaps a Jazz Bass, no matter the manufacturer, you can tell that it's a Jazz that's being slapped. Just like anything else people love em, people hate em. I have two in my arsenal, A Fender MIJ Geddy Lee, and an SX 75 JB copy that I'm converting to fretless. If you're a bass player and want to know. Just do some research and of course decide for yourself. Another inportant note is that you can't judge the bass by just playing one as they are not all created equal. If you find a good one, you can tell as soon as you have it in your hands and plug it up.

 

[thisSNsucks]

I find it funny that a lot of people on here say Jazz Basses sound mid-rangey. I think with both pickups full on, the tone is kind of scooped in the mids.

To me P-basses have more mid range bark, while Jazz basses have more highs and lows.

In any event, Jazz basses are great, comfortable, do anything kind of basses. Get one and enjoy!

 

[khutch]

A lot of other types of basses do the job perfectly in my opinion, what about these gives them the right to this title?.

I am pretty sure the correct answer to your question is simple: US Trademark Law. Fender seems to own the trademark on the Jazz Bass moniker and that is what gives that bass the right to that title.

The Jazz Bass thrives because it is a good design that works well for a lot of people. It isn't all things to all people, no bass is. The often told legend of the P Bass is that it was designed for and marketed to jazz bassists who were struggling to play their double basses in tune. A fretted instrument allowed them to play with precision. Plus it was a lot easier to haul to gigs. So it is as much of a jazz bass as the Jazz Bass. If you are looking for something that makes it particularly suited to jazz or any other musical style you look in vain. By most accounts the double bass is a perfect jazz bass but it certainly was not made for jazz. It evolved hundreds of years before jazz for a completely different musical style. Musical instruments are not easily boxed in so don't take bass names so seriously. Jazz Bass was just a good marketing name back when the series was first released and that is all it means. The bass is what you make of it and if you prefer a different sort of bass entirely, don't worry about that either. The jazz bass was made for people like me, the bass you like was made for people like you. Life is good!

My word, you are not a troll either. People these days seem to have no concept of what a proper troll is. A troll is the essence of destruction and mayhem. Gone are the days of real trolls and flame wars, they lie dead at the feet of nannyware and moderators. I miss them, the internet is just no fun anymore.

Ken

 

[phillybass101]

I find it funny that a lot of people on here say Jazz Basses sound mid-rangey. I think with both pickups full on, the tone is kind of scooped in the mids.

To me P-basses have more mid range bark, while Jazz basses have more highs and lows.

In any event, Jazz basses are great, comfortable, do anything kind of basses. Get one and enjoy!

I would suggest to you too that you look up the history of the Jazz Bass. These are not my words, but words from doing research on the history of the JB. This is not funny, just do some homework. This is from someone who has played on both. Listen to the song Colibri by the group Incognito. Straight up low mid range JB punch. P-Basses too have some midrange. This post is about JB's, not P's. It is hard to mention one without the other I will admit.

 

[mcnach]

Another troll thread. If you don't like them, don't play them, no need to bash them here...

My thoughts too.

 

[mcnach]

This is true. I personally prefer basses with 24 frets. However am still contemplating a new bass and thought I'd ask since this is a community you know, and without getting personal it would've been nice to just get some plain old advice and notions cleared.

But 98.47% is going to be about personal preference.
We can give you advice about pickups that give a fatter bridge pickup tone... or things like that.
We cannot advice you whether a Jazz will be good for you: you try it and decide.

 

[thisSNsucks]

I would suggest to you too that you look up the history of the Jazz Bass. These are not my words, but words from doing research on the history of the JB. This is not funny, just do some homework. This is from someone who has played on both. Listen to the song Colibri by the group Incognito. Straight up low mid range JB punch. P-Basses too have some midrange. This post is about JB's, not P's. It is hard to mention one without the other I will admit.

Not doubting what you say at all, just going based on what my ears tell me, which could totally be wrong! lol

 

[Salamenster]

Not doubting what you say at all, just going based on what my ears tell me, which could totally be wrong! lol

I don't think any bass with passive electronics is able to scoop mids. Mids are naturally accuring waves coming from the strings, being picked up by the pickup.

Some pick-ups on the other hand migth be better at picking up the strength of some Frequencies (P's with low mids, J's with treble/presence), but not too actually 'scoop' out a natural frequency, without a EQ/preamp.

Just my idea, though. Not based on any evidence, pure listening and logic.

 

[GroovinOnFunk]

More important question: How can somebody who considers themselves a legitimate bassist put such high priority on the aesthetic appeal of a bass? When you record in the studio, you think a bass that looks sexier will sound better? This comparison seems irrelevant to the discussion of the benefits of a jazz bass.

I just dont understand why people think they look good either...

How can someone say this

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looks better than something like this

But.. to each his own... I have leant to accept peoples opinions, and accept I will!

And as you said, to each his own. The classic look of a jbass, pbass, telebass, etc are way better looking, IMO, than a bass that looks like it came from outter space and was crafted by aliens.


As for me, I have a similar story to everyone else. First bass I ever played was a MIM Fender Jazz, first bass I ever bought was a Squier Jazz. Then I went on to Yamaha Attitude with a split P/J configuration, Music Man SUB Stingray, and G&L L-2000 basses (not jazz style) and am now back with a MIA Fender Jazz and couldn't be happier. Tried a few others... Just really love the fender jazz.

 

[WoodyG3]

I just dont understand why people think they look good either...

How can someone say this

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looks better than something like this

But.. to each his own... I have leant to accept peoples opinions, and accept I will!

Am I the only one who thinks BOTH of these basses look great? Am I the only one who would gig EITHER one of them?

Anyway, OP, don't get too hung up on Jazz bass vs. other basses. There is plenty of variation between Jazz style basses, even within Fender's line up. Jazz basses are traditionally thought of as having two single coil pickups, but plenty of them have humbuckers. Even though we think of Jazz necks as being thin at the nut and from front to back, there is much variation in these themes through all the various basses out there. Also, there are loads of basses that look different than the traditional Jazz, but that have the same pickup placement.