That is one of the classiest Jazz Basses that I’ve ever seen!
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Why a Jazz bass?
- Thread starter Oobly
- Start date
That is one of the classiest Jazz Basses that I’ve ever seen!
The sound growl, punchy, and how it sits in the mix. I like the versatility of two pickups, and I have two stack knobs, and I like the extra versatility of two tone controls. A passive Jazz and an active Jazz both have value in my studio.
Additionally, I have found the versatility in aftermarket pickups is huge. I have 11 Jazz basses (mostly 4s, but a 5 and 8). I think in the 9 4s I have only 2 have the same pickups. The difference I have between a stack knob with Duncan Apollo’s, and a 74 with Nordstrand big wooly blades with flats is just awesome.
Plus, I love the neck shape.
Additionally, I have found the versatility in aftermarket pickups is huge. I have 11 Jazz basses (mostly 4s, but a 5 and 8). I think in the 9 4s I have only 2 have the same pickups. The difference I have between a stack knob with Duncan Apollo’s, and a 74 with Nordstrand big wooly blades with flats is just awesome.
Plus, I love the neck shape.
Ergonomics. It's just...comfortable. And the sounds you can get out of it are familiar to almost everyone.
I've always loved jazz basses ever since seeing The Song Remains The Same as a kid. Owned many throughout the years and always have a couple on hand. Strangely enough, this Zemaitis, while not the traditional shape or build of a jazz, is my current favorite. Nails the sound I've always expected of this pickup configuration.
My first jazz bass was a Jazz Plus, dinky body, super slim neck and a Kubicki preamp. It took me about 10 minutes of playing one at the store to know i’d found what i’d been looking for in the constantly changing stack of basses at home. It took me a few more months to finally get one but after a week of owning it i sold all my other basses and only had that one bass for the better part of ten years. These days i’ve got a few other jazz basses, all standards with a mix of MIM and MIA as well as off the rack stock to modded to poopie and i like them all, but every time i pick up the Plus i wonder why i even bother with any other bass.
They are pretty versatile for such a simple design. They can sound like a P, they can do that bridge pickup Jaco thing, and with both up they have gritty highs and big full lows.
Then in terms of tone, that slightly scooped, aggressive tone when both pickups are up is pretty awesome. Unique as well. You definitely know when you hear a pure dual single coil set up.
If you like the design, there are a million to pick from, ranging from dirt cheap to ridiculously expensive. Lots of finish options are available. Tons of after market electronics are available as well.
Then in terms of tone, that slightly scooped, aggressive tone when both pickups are up is pretty awesome. Unique as well. You definitely know when you hear a pure dual single coil set up.
If you like the design, there are a million to pick from, ranging from dirt cheap to ridiculously expensive. Lots of finish options are available. Tons of after market electronics are available as well.
For some reason, as a kid, my eye was always drawn to the metal control plate. I just thought it looked awesome.
But obviously as a real player, it’s the neck, the pickups, the tone, blah blah blah.
But obviously as a real player, it’s the neck, the pickups, the tone, blah blah blah.
I'm gonna be a party pooper. Rickenbacker > Jazz Bass. Always thought the Rickenbacker did what the Jazz could do but better, IMHO.
Everything but humbucking operation. J Basses have a more plentiful low end as well.
Well, I've owned several, and they were good basses, but they simply weren't great basses.
I chose to go with better.
The two basses I usually use are a Jazz and a Precision, and they both have their pros and cons. Obviously the Jazz gives more tonal possibilities, is lighter and has a slimmer neck than a Precision. Personally I didn't really need one but I already owned a Precision and a Stingray so I was going for the Holy Trinity of Basses to complete the set.
I've tried other bases... Most recently, I went with the absolute intention to buy a Rickenbacker and I could not get over the gritty imperfections in the neck finish and the sharp edges on the frets. Another time, I went to go try a P and it just felt like the neck was a railroad tie with strings.
Both times I walked away with a Jazz. There is just something about how it "fits" both physically and sonically what I do. Maybe that's a "problem" i need to overcome, but every time I pick up a nice jazz, it's like putting on a well tailored suit, and any other bass feels like I'm wearing someone else's clothes.
Both times I walked away with a Jazz. There is just something about how it "fits" both physically and sonically what I do. Maybe that's a "problem" i need to overcome, but every time I pick up a nice jazz, it's like putting on a well tailored suit, and any other bass feels like I'm wearing someone else's clothes.
I have had Fender basses for many years and by and large trust their workmanship and playability. P's and J's have distinctly different sounds and feel. Both insturments sound great but I think sometimes one sound may be more appropriate for a tune.
Thank you everyone! Looks like I can add ergonomics / comfort to the list. This is something I have given some thought to since I find the top back edge of the P bass to sit just a little too far back for me, so the offset body of a Jazz may let that point be in the "Goldilocks" zone, something similar to where it is with my Strat (even though the Strat is not offset, the size difference allows it to sit just right compared to my P).
This is part of my reluctance, I haven't yet heard one that sounds like a P. I think the two biggest detractors for me, personally, are the size of the body (it ain't small) and that the tone just hasn't ever grabbed me when I listen online or in most recordings, but maybe I should get myself one to give it a proper tryout before dismissing it. I started out with more "modern" basses, before realising that most of my favourite basslines and favourite songs were played with a P bass. So I've jumped on that bandwagon, but the Jazz was never really on my radar.
I like the sound of single coil pickups on "treble" guitar for a number of reasons (dynamics, organic reaction to picking changes, etc) which you don't get with humbuckers, so I don't get why it should be any different with bass...
This is part of my reluctance, I haven't yet heard one that sounds like a P. I think the two biggest detractors for me, personally, are the size of the body (it ain't small) and that the tone just hasn't ever grabbed me when I listen online or in most recordings, but maybe I should get myself one to give it a proper tryout before dismissing it. I started out with more "modern" basses, before realising that most of my favourite basslines and favourite songs were played with a P bass. So I've jumped on that bandwagon, but the Jazz was never really on my radar.
I like the sound of single coil pickups on "treble" guitar for a number of reasons (dynamics, organic reaction to picking changes, etc) which you don't get with humbuckers, so I don't get why it should be any different with bass...
Here’s my TL;DR:
When I was MUCH younger, I basically traded basses as my bass heroes changed. The progression went something like Precision Bass (Larry Taylor), Ampeg Dan Armstrong (Geezer Butler (naively thought he played NIB on the DA)), Rickenbacker 4001 (Chris Squire), Alembic Series I (Stanley Clarke). By the time I got to the Alembic, for which I sold my car, I finally realized I was never going to play like Stanley Clarke. Took a while, and I certainly tried; LOL. I then kept the Alembic for a long time as my only bass.
But, while I had the Rick, I happened to check out a used Jazz Bass in the local shop. Never forgot it. Black with a mirror pickguard, and strung with Roto 66’s. That thing really spoke to me. Tons of growl, very resonant; and just a GREAT bass. Problem was that no bass hero was playing one, with the exception of Mel Schacher. So, I just passed on it.
But, that bass stayed with me in my mind. So, after a decade or so gigging with the Alembic, and having a straight job that paid a little more than just adequate, I found this ‘62 J in the local classified for $275.
I gigged that bass for another 5 or 6 years; and then became interested in the active versions after playing an early Sadowsky at Elderly Instruments.
Fast forward, and these two parts basses are now in my regular rotation; one a 4, the other a 5.
For my purposes, the Sadowsky preamp and Delano JMVC pickups produce pretty much any Fender bass tone I need, P or J. Very versatile. Both of my parts basses are light and resonant, and growl like that Black Jazz that stuck in my mind all those years ago. My ‘62 is doing just fine in its restored passive state, and gets out from time to time as well.
Why do I like Jazz Basses? Beats me. They just sound great.
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My first bass was a jazz. I don't very large hands and I was told it'd be a better instrument to start on for me. I was happy with it, and in fact I upgraded after a few years from my original MIM bass to a Corona California Jazz. I thought I was good until I borrowed a P-bass and played it in my hard rock band. Fell in love with the tone of the P-bass and never went back. However, I've always preferred the jazz neck so I've had many non-fender and custom p-basses with 1.5" nuts. Lately I've found myself wanting a little more tonal versatility for certain things, so I picked up a jazz "like" bass, but this one has a MM style bucker in the bridge 
Anyway, my answer is the neck; prefer the jazz necks, generally speaking.
Anyway, my answer is the neck; prefer the jazz necks, generally speaking.
I like everything about a Jazz bass - the ergonomics, the sounds you can get from them, and mostly, I've discovered that it's easier to play softly on them, to have a super light touch when you want gentleness.
That's not to say it isn't possible on other bass guitar types, but I find the J-bass configurations don't fight me at all. I just think of all the flourishes that Joe Osborn played in the bridge section of Simon and Garfunkel's 'America'. Granted, he played with a pick, but he played it with such agility and grace, like it was a dueling woodwind to the main instrument of that section.
Also, Jazz basses look sexy as all get out.
That's not to say it isn't possible on other bass guitar types, but I find the J-bass configurations don't fight me at all. I just think of all the flourishes that Joe Osborn played in the bridge section of Simon and Garfunkel's 'America'. Granted, he played with a pick, but he played it with such agility and grace, like it was a dueling woodwind to the main instrument of that section.
Also, Jazz basses look sexy as all get out.
