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Why a Jazz bass?

#101
I was a hard core Precision guy. All my heroes played a P. But I always had a tough time with the tone. I can play aggressive but my fingers just play very dark, thick and bass-y. With the P's that I have owned and played I need to up the highs to get a decent tone. Not the instrument but me.

I only picked up the Jazz a few years ago. The bridge pickup got me the tone I was looking for. Then this year I got a 70's spacing and I was in heaven.

Not only did I get the tone I was after but the off set waist made it easier to play seated. And the slimmer neck felt great too.

I felt like a dumb-dumb for being so stubborn about the P-bass. The J-bass does not take away from the P, it adds options to the player. In my case it helped me find "my" sound.
 
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#102
1) The offset body; stays put better when seated than a P, or say, an L-2000.
2) The neck; I like 'em slim & fast.
3) The natural growl; I'm not a big fan of dirt, but LOVE me some grrrowl.
4) I can throw the pickguard in the garbage.
5) Two P/U's=versatility. I don't have a preference for 60's or 70's placement...actually, I do. 60's spacing=fretless, 70's spacing=fretted. YMMV
6) It's sexy
7) A unique fretless voice...can't really put my finger on it. I have discovered over the years that I prefer passive J's with single coils, though. I just can't love or haven't found the "right" active J.

8) John Francis be thy name...

My Gear John Francis.jpg
 
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#107
The only reason I want a JB is because it's a classic Leo design. There's nothing about it that makes it special to me beyond that. I like the look of it, classic mid-century design (juxtaposition of materials, e.g. wood, plastic and chrome; form follows function, e.g. offset waste; sleek lines and uncluttered by ornamentation). It would look great hanging on my wall next to my 77 P, plus my tele and strat guitars. Really would need a jazzmaster to round out that classic collection, but that's pretty far down the list.

They sound pretty good, certainly a lot more flexible than a P. But as much as I appreciate the mid-century visual aesthetic, I prefer a contemporary/modern sound. I also prefer a chunkier neck.
 
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#112
I was fortunate to start on a borrowed JB owned by my cousin back around 69-70 when I first started playing “electric” bass. Prior to that I was taking lessons (jazz) and playing a cheap but actually decent sounding upright that was rented from one of my music teachers.

My path was typical for that era. Cousin was a guitarist. Cousin had a popular and pretty busy rock band. Bass player quit. Cousin needed a bass player and knew I could play. So he asked me to join. Told him I didn’t have an electric or an amp. He said I could use his JB and Kustom K250 with matching “tuck n’ roll” 2x15. And that was it. That era’s bass sound got etched into my brain. And to this day I still love the sound of an old JB because it just sounds right to my ears. Add to that a JB is incredibly versatile for such a simple bass design, responds extremely well to various playing techniques, and is generally a joy to own and play and…what’s not to like?
 
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#113
There is nothing a Fender Jazz Bass can’t do well. A Jazz pairs well with any type of music you can think of and their extra comfortable to play. I’ve played them all over the years (started playing in 1989) every type of bass I could get my hands on from every manufacturer possible. I even had custom Basses made only to end up back in the arms of a Fender Jazz. I started out on a Harmony Precision Bass my parents bought me out of a JC Penny catalog for my 18th birthday. That thing was a boat anchor from hell and I hated it but I loved playing music more. I then moved to Peavey USA models by 1991. I loved everything Peavey USA made. I was exclusively Peavey till My prize Bass was stolen after a show in the fall of 2000. My girlfriend at the time (now wife) took me to Sam Ash and said pick out a bass you’d like. I sat in that store forever playing everything under the sun. There was a 1999 Lake Placid Blue Fender Jazz Bass with maple fingerboard up on the wall out of reach. Never liked the look or the vintage appeal of them. I’d already played everything they had and figured why not. Well the throat, growl & punchy attack wast the first thing that got me. Then I couldn’t believe how well the neck sat in my hand and how well the bass sat across my body on a strap. I took it home. Next practice it cut through but at the same time sat so well in the mix i knew for sure this was my forever bass. BTW 2 years later I sold it for a Warwick Streamer... Bad move. Between then and now I’ve again bought and played everything under the sun. I’ve sold over two dozen jazz Basses over the years just to fund buying other Basses (even other builders Jazz Basses) just to end up selling those and going right back to a Fender Jazz. Nothing in my honest opinion can do it all as well as a Fender Jazz can do it. Even the other Fender Basses I’ve owned P, P/J Dimension, etc. never held up or cut through with delight or felt so effortlessly natural to play as my Jazz Basses.
 
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#114
I have never bought anything just because a well known person uses or endorses it. When I started playing bass in the 1970s, the majority of basses in stores were Fender Precision and Jazz. I liked the way both basses play and sound and that is the only reason I use them. I also play Alembic and Spector.
 
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#115
Rodslinger said:
There is nothing a Fender Jazz Bass can’t do well. A Jazz pairs well with any type of music you can think of and their extra comfortable to play. I’ve played them all over the years (started playing in 1989) every type of bass I could get my hands on from every manufacturer possible. I even had custom Basses made only to end up back in the arms of a Fender Jazz. I started out on a Harmony Precision Bass my parents bought me out of a JC Penny catalog for my 18th birthday. That thing was a boat anchor from hell and I hated it but I loved playing music more. I then moved to Peavey USA models by 1991. I loved everything Peavey USA made. I was exclusively Peavey till My prize Bass was stolen after a show in the fall of 2000. My girlfriend at the time (now wife) took me to Sam Ash and said pick out a bass you’d like. I sat in that store forever playing everything under the sun. There was a 1999 Lake Placid Blue Fender Jazz Bass with maple fingerboard up on the wall out of reach. Never liked the look or the vintage appeal of them. I’d already played everything they had and figured why not. Well the throat, growl & punchy attack wast the first thing that got me. Then I couldn’t believe how well the neck sat in my hand and how well the bass sat across my body on a strap. I took it home. Next practice it cut through but at the same time sat so well in the mix i knew for sure this was my forever bass. BTW 2 years later I sold it for a Warwick Streamer... Bad move. Between then and now I’ve again bought and played everything under the sun. I’ve sold over two dozen jazz Basses over the years just to fund buying other Basses (even other builders Jazz Basses) just to end up selling those and going right back to a Fender Jazz. Nothing in my honest opinion can do it all as well as a Fender Jazz can do it. Even the other Fender Basses I’ve owned P, P/J Dimension, etc. never held up or cut through with delight or felt so effortlessly natural to play as my Jazz Basses.
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Awesome read - thanks for sharing that! I, too, have an affinity for the Fender Jazz. I started on a Jazz - went in several directions over the years, but nothing else was......a Jazz! My current flavor is the Geddy Lee and it's mighty tasty!
 
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#116
Oobly said:
What factors made you want a Jazz bass? Favourite artist plays one, love the looks, love the tone, etc...

I'm interested in what the appeal for you, personally, is. What inspired your "have to have one" moment? Trying to understand why others love them, but I just can't quite bring myself to, and what possible reason I could be missing...

Not trying to troll (and not looking for reasons to NOT like them, so please don't post those, let's try to keep this "positive"), just want to gain more perspective if I can, or if my tastes are simply not a good match to them.

So... Give me GAS for a Jazz (or let me live on in my ignorance if you so choose).
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I've played a Jazz bass since 1966. I like the sound of it with the controls dimed and a little boost on my amp at ~250Hz. The 60's shallow C-shape and thin neck feel right to me. So I love the way it sounds and the way it plays...By the way, not all Fender Jazz basses are equal. It took me almost 10-years to find one that felt like my '65 Jazz did after it was stolen in 1976.
 
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