What's the problem ? Me or my Jazz Bass ?

[TheBigMoney]

I own two P Basses, a Fender and an early 80s Tokai (main bass) both with rosewood fingerboards and bought a Player Series Jazz Bass with a maple fingerboard a few month ago. I noticed i barely play the Jazz as it sounds anemic compared to the P. It is quite farty with far less punch and dull/thin in comparison. I've tried roundwounds, flatwounds, light, heavy but nothing seems to do the trick. It's easier for me to emulate a punchy Geddy Lee tone with my P strangely enough. Is it the nature of the beast ? Am i the only one who experienced that coming from the P ?

 

[SJan3]

They're a different beast! If you're seeking that meaty tone from a Jazz Bass, you're likely to be disappointed. The Jazz is more focused yet complex w/ 2 pups. Great highs and lows but the meat and potatoes goes to the Precision Bass. Now, you know who you are.

 

[el jeffe bass]

I hate to state the obvious but have you adjusted the height of the pickups? But that having been asked, all I can say is that I have never been able to get a P-bass tone from a J-bass, close but no cigar.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

You can get plenty of punch from a Jazz, but it won’t sound like a Precision.

 

[king_biscuit]

The 70s pickup location sounds better with better low mid punch; This is with both pickups wide open. To me the 60s location does sound sort of hollow.

 

[TheBigMoney]

Thanks for the replies. Everything is properly set up and i've spent time experimenting with pups height and such. Even unplugged it sounds far less punchy than my Precisions.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Thanks for the replies. Everything is properly set up and i've spent time experimenting with pups height and such. Even unplugged it sounds far less punchy than my Precisions.

A P-bass is all about the midrange; a Jazz is about bass and treble with fairly scooped mids. To get the most out of a Jazz, you have to accept the basic fact that it is not a Precision.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Here are examples of how Precision’s and Jazzes work. The top song was Tommy Cogbill on a Precision and the second was Jerry Jemmott on a Jazz Bass. Both sound good to me.

 

[godofthunder59]

For me to get a Jazz bass to work I only use the neck pickup and roll back the tone. In my current Hazz bass I have a Seymour Duncan Stack in the neck position, a pre amp pedal also can help with a anemic Jazz bass.

 

[Bassdirty]

... i barely play the Jazz as it sounds anemic compared to the P. It is quite farty with far less punch and dull/thin in comparison. …. Is it the nature of the beast ? Am i the only one who experienced that coming from the P ?

No, I feel the same way. I had a geddy jazz years ago. Felt good. Even sounded "pretty good", until I pluggeg in any other bass, then I realized how weak (quiet) the jazz was. (by any other bass it was the ones I owned at the time- Ibby sr405[EQ FLAT, nothin boosted] AND a Squier P/J and a BC Rich Beast -similar to P bass pickup, Yamaha BB- P pickup).

I have heard people play jazzes that sound great, and Im sure one can EQ it to sound how they like. But (to me) they seem weak when compare to other Basses.

Your mileage may vary.

T$

 

[TheBigMoney]

I was under the impression that mine lacks something in the wood itself. I should try other J Basses out of curiosity.

 

[And I]

If your jazz really lacks punch and sounds anemic, it's possible the pickups are wired out of phase. Do you get more bass with one pickup on at a time and with both on the bass disappears?

 

[BaileyMan]

Of course there's always the role that pickups and preamps (if it's active) play.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

If your jazz really lacks punch and sounds anemic, it's possible the pickups are wired out of phase. Do you get more bass with one pickup on at a time and with both on the bass disappears?

That happened once with a Peavey Foundation that that had out of phase Super Ferrite pickups. It had no punch at all.

 

[tb4sbp]

I did have a J where the pickups were just not good
I put a pair of QP's in it and it was as loud as any bass and great sounding too!
So it could be something in your elec. that is causing this

Best of luck to you

 

[TheBigMoney]

I don't think it is wired out of phase, it doesn't sound like it.

 

[Nightman]

Here are examples of how Precision’s and Jazzes work. The top song was Tommy Cogbill on a Precision and the second was Jerry Jemmott on a Jazz Bass. Both sound good to me.

I jammed on both of these tracks!! King Curtis was in my early album collection. Right On!! I can dig it!!

 

[TheBigMoney]

I hate my Jazz bass... :: Update::

I just found this, which is pretty close to my case.

 

[DoctorZee]

I think the Player Jazz pickups are good enough, but an upgrade (to Pure Vintage ‘74s) made a big difference. No complaints about punch over here.

 

[ctmullins]

How does it sound unplugged?

If it has a good unamplified tone and responsiveness, then you can try different pickups and/or electronics.

If you don’t like how it sounds unamplified, then you might as well let it go.