Why did Leo do this?

[funkinbottom]

This is a textbook example of listening with your eyes.

but I also understand that the spacing is just one of dozens of variables that goes into the sound of my bass.

Agreed. Seems everyone makes it sound like it's a night and day difference. "Oh no 60's(70's) spacing, deal breaker." It's minimally subtle. I would bet that most here would not be able to pick out a 70's spacing from a 60's spacing in a blindfold test, especially in a recorded track. And the very few who might, probably guessed. I feel the difference is no more than the slight differences that might occur between 3 or 4 basses of the same model, with same strings and materials. In my 40 + years, I've recorded with both 60's and 70's JB, (with people with picky ears) and never once did anyone stop a session and say. Don't use the 60's jazz, I need that 70's jazz pickup spacing. Or vis-a-versa. Just my thoughts.

 

[devnulljp]

Actually what you are pointing out is a lot of different riders.
I was talking about the pony, not the riders.

One trick pony implies the ability to do only one thing. The fact that people can play country, blues, rock, metal, reggae, funk, soul, and everything in between on a PBass means that it is very much not that.

Tell me this


sounds like this


sounds like this


Sounds like this


Sounds like this


etc.

 

[Liam Wald]

One trick pony implies the ability to do only one thing. The fact that people can play country, blues, rock, metal, reggae, funk, soul, and everything in between on a PBass means that it is very much not that.

Tell me this


sounds like this


sounds like this


Sounds like this


Sounds like this


etc.

Okay. I give, you win. The P-Bass is very versatile and and even though it has only one pick-up and two knobs it can do everything.

 

[tbz]

5 pages of replies.

0 of them are the OP.

Pretty sure we can be done now.

 

[micguy]

To answer your question, spacing changes the sound. Not so much the spacing as where the pickup is actually located.

The pickup spacing is more important than you think. The scoop (that makes a Jazz sound like a Jazz) comes from the pickup spacing - change the spacing, and the “voice” of the instrument changes.

 

[Jim C]

While we’re at it, maybe we can cover rosewood vs maple before the end of the year?

While this is a worthy goal, I'm hoping that at least 10 more people say the exact same thing about why the location was changed.
Always handy to reply to a thread with the same obvious answer without reading the preceding dozen same answers.

 

[micguy]

While this is a worthy goal, I'm hoping that at least 10 more people say the exact same thing about why the location was changed.

Always handy to reply to a thread with the same obvious answer without reading the preceding dozen same answers.

If you want to get picky, I’m sure you could find a dozen previous threads that cover the same topic. Talk bass is repetitive - it just is. It just is.

 

[butterfingers1]

Since his main basses were a '62 and a '60 Jazz wouldn't they have had '60's spacing?

Means nothing .

 

[Jim C]

If you want to get picky, I’m sure you could find a dozen previous threads that cover the same topic.

Another worthy goal

 

[Durham52]

Talkbass at it's finest, great entertainment for half an hour. We've had different views, guesses, an explanation video about how Leo Fender worked on pickups and placement. (ignored, or not viewed by most it would seem....)
A "debate" about P basses being a one trick pony and we're only up to page 5!

A belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all.

 

[DirkP]

No doubt that Leo Fender was a really smart guy and had a very creative mind but I can't help but think that a lot of what he came up with was the product of lucky guessing.

Fully agree. Just have a look at how Leo Fender expected us to use our plucking hand and the position of the "finger rest", later positioned above the strings and called "thumb rest". He didn't have a clue.

 

[Killing Floor]

A belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all.

+1
To all our sisters and brothers of the bottom end, may 2022 bring you the ideal spacing and also the good health to enjoy it. Happy New Year.

 

[Bob E]

Leo knew what he was doing. CBS did not.

 

[themickster]

Still, neck pickups have a specific sound. I am thinking primarily of the sound you get on a guitar with single coils, neck pickup on, play around and above the 12th fret.

I never said they didn't.

 

[bobyoung53]

Interesting that in the late 70s, the Jazz Bass bridge pickup was moved closer to the bridge to be harder to see peeking out from under the ashtray, and just a few short years later, they did away with the ashtray almost entirely... and moved the pickup back where it was before.

I would imagine the reason they did away with them was because very few people left them on, on either P or J basses. To see someone with the covers left on back then was a rare site.

 

[fretlessman71]

I would imagine the reason they did away with them was because very few people left them on, on either P or J basses. To see someone with the covers left on back then was a rare site.

I agree. A total misread on the part of CBS.

 

[Jakedog]

Well, there are many who would agree. But for many others, not so much. Personally I find the P-bass to be a one-trick-pony.

I find that a P bass is a length of lead pipe. A jazz is a quality pitching wedge. You can kill somebody with either one, but one is intended for more refined usage. That said, sometimes a lead pipe is the best way to get your point across.

 

[Jakedog]

My lifelong favorite hand trick is to fret my index and ring finger so it looks like I’m flipping someone off.

My secret is that when I do that, I *am* flipping someone off.

 

[bobyoung53]

I agree. A total misread on the part of CBS.

Were the covers gotten rid of after CBS sold the company?

 

[Jakedog]

Fully agree. Just have a look at how Leo Fender expected us to use our plucking hand and the position of the "finger rest", later positioned above the strings and called "thumb rest". He didn't have a clue.

He did not. But to be fair, he wasn’t a musician. He was a radio repairman. Leo did not play bass. Or guitar. Or drums. Or even accordion.

With this in mind, I’d say he accomplished some pretty awesome stuff.