When did you become a Jazz Bass guy (gal)?

[blubass]

I still haven't. Not for any specific reason, I've just always found a better deal or something has suited my needs a little bit better. Always on the lookout for one, I'd just like it to be unique as I'm a lefty and all our offerings are pretty cookie cutter under $1k

 

[Dr Earl Funkton]

My friend gave me a MIM J because I payed to have the nut fixed. Has always felt good in my hands and sounds good enough for me

 

[Lefo UK]

My only complaint about Jazz basses is that they don't stand on my stands very well. Other than that, I've always been a Jazz bass guy!

Get one of these
Fender Universal A-Frame Electric Guitar Stand
Drop the right arm down by two holes. Job done

 

[engedi1]

I played bass for over 20 years before I finally got a jazz bass. Now I'll never be without one. I love my precision but if you have a P and a J and then one other bass for modern sounds you pretty have everything you will need.

 

[MobileHolmes]

About 10 years ago. I already had a P type and a couple Carvin 6s for the more modern thing. Ended up building a Warmoth hot rodded J type (old school look, Audere Pre, Nordstrand humcancelling pickups), and it pretty much has become my number one.

 

[Midak]

When I saw Adam Clayton of U2 playing his Sherwood Green '64 Jazz with maple neck in Vertigo 2005: Live from Chicago.

 

[Gougedeye]

Get one of these
Fender Universal A-Frame Electric Guitar Stand
Drop the right arm down by two holes. Job done

Too big. It doesn't fit in my gigbag.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Too big. It doesn't fit in my gigbag.

A lot of times, I just carry my stand.

 

[BrentSimons]

I think it was when I saw Rush's video of "Show Don't Tell". Geddy's black blocked 72. I knew I had to have one (or something similar). I ended up getting MIM black Jazz which I had for several years and then picked up one of the Geddy Lee Signature Limited Editions in 2000 I think? Wow! I've had that bass for 16 years! That's crazy!
Brent

 

[Nedmundo]

After nine years off, I got back into playing in 2002, and initially tried an active Ibanez, which I soon grew to dislike. I got a DiPinto Belvedere, which was great, and I wanted a good solid body to complement it.

So I tested a bunch of basses, and eventually tried a Highway 1 Fender Jazz. I loved it, and bought a new American Series Jazz a few months later. I still have it, and still love it. I also love P-basses and G&L basses with MFD pickups, but J-basses are the "core" for me.

 

[HankHillWaluigi]

Went to GC after my 16th birthday and the guy asked me what music I liked, so I answered "Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rush, etc" and he got me a Squier Affinity Jazz bass starter pack. Played on that for a year, then bought an SX Ursa II 5 stringer. Got my first Fender Jazz last year - 1991 '62 RI MIJ. Up next? Well...

 

[Bassa Nova]

I did not pick up bass until later in life, but when I did, I picked a 2008 Fender MIM FSR Jazz (natural ash).

I loved the look of it and I knew that JPJ played a Jazz. It is easy to play and feels like home. I call it "The Natural."

I have a Precision bass (Squier CV 60s P) with flats now as well, for that Motown/Stax sound, but I always come back to the Jazz. If I ever get another bass, it will be a P/J with a Jazz body, and a Precision neck.

 

[Rip Van Dan]

Playing my Peavey Forums so much has reminded me that for most of my bass playing life, I was not a Jazz Bass player. If anything, I loved Stingrays and soap bar loaded basses the most like Modulus and Ken Smith. I think the first Jazz style bass I really bonded with was a Guild Pilot V, and later I bought a Fender Jazz Deluxe V to get more of a Marcus Miller sound.

I also think all of the Jazz talk on TB moved towards Jazzes too. In history, we talk about the "invention of tradition," where people adopt something, and soon act as if they have always done it. I guess that is me and Jazz Basses.

That would be in 1966 when I bought my 1965 Fender Jazz Bass from the bass player who was switching to playing Organ. I was asked to play bass for the group and he offered me terms on buying his Jazz Bass from him. Was one of the best decisions I've ever made. The bass was mine to play as soon as I agreed and about 6-months later, I'd paid it off. So, I've been a Jazz Bass devotee for more than a few years...

 

[winterburn69]

Ever since I heard this guy and found out what he was playing......IMO, no arsenal is complete with out a Jazz

View attachment 967677

This!

John Paul Jones, Dazed and Confused on the movie The Song Remains the Same. Had no real idea what it was, still playing alto sax in junior high school band, transitioning into drums (paid a lot more attention to Bonham's clear plastic set, his setup, style and solo with hands).

In high school when I started paying more attention to rock band's gear, and realized that Jazz bass and Stratocaster were pretty much what most of the bands I was listening to at the time played.

While TSRTS is a classic (and classic sound as well) I think How the West Was Won sounds "better" IMO.

I was first into P-basses, like many. After seeing Jaco live I felt a strong need for a Jazz.

I don't think you're alone there.

I always kind of wanted one. But once I got into Rush I really wanted one. Especially after watching Rush in Rio or Time Machine: Live in Cleveland 2011, I was drooling over Jazzes. I especially love Geddy Lee's solo in "Leave that thing alone" from the Cleveland concert - I think it's the pinnacle of the signature growly Geddy jazz sound. IMHO

That was when I finally realized I NEEDED a Geddy Lee Jazz. He had a killer tone on that one.

When I saw Adam Clayton of U2 playing his Sherwood Green '64 Jazz with maple neck in Vertigo 2005: Live from Chicago.

I forgot about this one! I was really into U2 around when How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb came out. I remember watching a gear tour with the Edge's tech and Adam and I thought that green bass was so cool.

 

[MovingPitchers]

My first ever bass was a Squier Jazz. My first ever Fender was a MIM Jazz. It's what I learned my chops and licks on.

Jazz Basses have a special place in my musical life despite me being on a P-Bass honeymoon (4 months and counting!)

 

[MovingPitchers]

This!



While TSRTS is a classic (and classic sound as well) I think How the West Was Won sounds "better" IMO.



I don't think you're alone there.



That was when I finally realized I NEEDED a Geddy Lee Jazz. He had a killer tone on that one.



I forgot about this one! I was really into U2 around when How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb came out. I remember watching a gear tour with the Edge's tech and Adam and I thought that green bass was so cool.

+100000 on Geddy Lee. His signature Jazz is by far the best signature Jazz ever made by Fender.

 

[funkinbottom]

1971. Bought a 1960 jazz for $100. Still own it and play it.

 

[ajkula66]

In the interest of full disclosure, I don't own a JB at the moment, but I've gone through many of them and would consider myself somewhat of a Jazz Bass fan.

I saw Pastorius twice in a matter of two years (1979/1981) and had no wish to ever own a Jazz Bass after seeing him for the second time. In fact, I was probably just a hair away from smashing my bass at that point. As young as I was at the time, it was painfully obvious to me that I'll never get where he was...

It was Gary Thain - may he rest in peace - whose tone as well as style got me into re-considering Jazz Bass as a viable option for myself a couple of years later, and I'm thankful to him to this very day.

 

[JMacBass65]

As soon as I played one.

 

[GroovinOnFunk]

What is your main gig?

Right now I just got off summer tour with a band called Cats Under The Stars. It's a Jerry Garcia Band tribute band. But I also do tons of stuff ranging from rock to straight-ahead jazz to pop-country to (my favorite of all) funk/soul/r&b type stuff. So it's good to have a lot of tones in the arsenal. But a jazz bass takes care of just about all of it.