Who else cannot stand jazz basses?!

[JollySpudd]

Only limited experience, but had to use a rented 5-string Jazz w/ active electronics - didn't much care for it at all. The Schecter 5 that replaced it was far superior for my hands and sound preferences. It just felt all around better to me.

 

[JSandbloom]

 

[PJ Muzikmansky]

Hopefully I am not the only one, but I CANNOT stand the feel of a jazz. I love the sound, but the neck always feels a bit funny to me, I have never played one with low action, and I cannot stand playing on the pickups. Who else is with me?

Not me. Most comfortable basses I've ever played...bar none.

 

[Marko 1]

I play fivers, so I think the Jazz and P necks are the same, and I like how they feel. A four-string would probably give my hands cramps.

What I don't like about the Jazz is the scooped sound with the the two pups up,

but mine have those quarter-pounders on there and I can solo (or strongly-favor) either and avoid that issue.

 

[neal davis]

I have both J's and P's and other types of basses for the sounds they deliver but I'm sort of with the OP, I much prefer p's and other basses as I come from an background of playing a lot of Upright bass and the necks sometime feel too small if I have a 4 string jazz on a doubling gig.

I really like the in between jazz nut sizes like 1.55, 1.58 compared to the 1.5.

I've never really had a problem playing between the pick ups or not getting a good sound with one though

 

[Jonathan Blair]

Back during the 17th century in the US, if you said that you can't stand jazz basses -- you would have been chased out of town by an angry mob of colonists armed with torches and pitchforks. Just a heads up.

 

[Lownote38]

I like Jazz Basses, but only if they're fretless with no lines and the neck coated with epoxy. (Did you hear me Fender???)

 

[JPkstms]

I find if you coat them in honey, and then roll them in push pins, they can be very uncomfortable to play. Otherwise, I enjoy them, for the most part.

Is that why most squires suck so badly?

 

[Dave W]

Lubs me some J basses

 

[JPkstms]

I think the correct spelling is wubs.

 

[AnalogKid4003]

What's not to like?

 

[bass12]

Hopefully I am not the only one, but I CANNOT stand the feel of a jazz. I love the sound, but the neck always feels a bit funny to me, I have never played one with low action, and I cannot stand playing on the pickups. Who else is with me?

You don't specify "Fender" so I'll point out that not all Jazz style basses have the same necks - especially once you get into 5 string models. Having said that, I've always preferred the necks on Fender Jazzes to the necks on Fender Precisions - even if they do look like toothpicks up by the nut.

 

[DD Gunz]

I might be a little late to the party but I am with the OP. The P neck is just right for me. The Jazz feels frail in comparison. I own one, but it has been in its case for 3 years. To me, anything but both pickups all the way up on a jazz just sounds weak and lacks the meat that makes the P oh so delicious.

 

[bass12]

I might be a little late to the party but I am with the OP. The P neck is just right for me. The Jazz feels frail in comparison. I own one, but it has been in its case for 3 years. To me, anything but both pickups all the way up on a jazz just sounds weak and lacks the meat that makes the P oh so delicious.

I've always played my Jazzes with both pickups on full. I can get as much tonal variation as I need by moving my plucking hand.

 

[Howlin' Hanson]

Perhaps it depends on your hands.

When I first started playing my P, I kept catching my wedding band on the edge of the neck. So I got a Jazz. Now when I play my P, the ring no longer catches. Must be magic.

Or, maybe my playing has merely improved.

 

[Nev375]

Trolls have big hands and funny ears. Of course they hate thin narrow jazz necks and their ears dont have the correct frequency response to appreciate the sound.

 

[DD Gunz]

I've always played my Jazzes with both pickups on full. I can get as much tonal variation as I need by moving my plucking hand.

I agree. I feel the same way about the P. I get all I want and more out of it by making small changes. I recently (over the last 3 years) settled on a P. I am getting old so maybe the inherent simplicity of the P is appealing. All I know is that I prefer a P bass and there is nothing I can do about it.

 

[Shaunpski]

I couldn't decide which I disliked more--the Jazz or P. So I procured one of each.

 

[bass12]

I agree. I feel the same way about the P. I get all I want and more out of it by making small changes. I recently (over the last 3 years) settled on a P. I am getting old so maybe the inherent simplicity of the P is appealing. All I know is that I prefer a P bass and there is nothing I can do about it.

Whatever works for the individual. Different players, different hands and different ears. We're lucky to have so many great basses to choose from.

 

[DD Gunz]

Whatever works for the individual. Different players, different hands and different ears. We're lucky to have so many great basses to choose from.

I couldn't agree more. Plus it makes for good conversation.