Why the Jazz Offset Body??

[chicago_mike]

Paul Reed Smith once commented on the jazz bass body. Stating he was amazed that it worked since it seemed as the craziest shape to "make it"

"They took the P-Bass and Gumby'd it" PRS.

 

[bucephylus]

Whether or not the design intended it, the offset shape "works" (at least for me) because when the bass is in playing position with the player standing and the neck at a roughly 25 - 30 degree angle to the horizontal, the upper cutout sits into the player's rib cage perfectly. With the symmetric P shape, the bass has more of the upper horn against the players chest, which isn't a big deal, but is not as desirable, IMO. One trade-off Fender made to achieve the J result is that the body is a little bigger; so, the J's tend to be a little heavier. Roger Sadowsky and some others have addressed this by reducing the overall J perimeter profile.

Of course, some of this depends on where the player straps the bass on. If you are playing metal with the bass down at your knees, then the design is not appropriate.

Anyhow, there is a useful function to the form. From a looks perspective, the offset looks more "right" when it is worn, but one gets used to the profile in pictures understanding what it is for.

IMO

 

[Kwesi]

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Recognize any similarities?

 

[MonetBass]

Ya, really! The Jazz Bass has been around way longer than this kid, I'm sure. If anything, the OP should have to explain his existence to the Jazz Bass.

A topic is a terrible thing to waste.

Winner!

/thread

 

[mattygbass]

because this picture wouldnt look right with any other bass, thats why!!

 

[Phalex]

Pffffft! She's looking at the fret board!

 

[gnome_hunter]

its sooo sexy

 

[debassr]

I like the J shape and as others have stated - it's a very comfortable bass to play. I think I remember reading somewhere that Fender did the offset bit to maintain body mass in order to reduce neck dive.

 

[jinithith2]

the off-set waist adds a depth to the tone unattainable by the straight waist, much like clay dots.
jk
i just like it cos its comfy and classy

 

[drewhrt2]

i could be wrong but i think it has alot to do with balance. it make the bass sit a certain way when u play, making it comfortable and natural feeling both sitting and standing. also alot of people like the look. i have a mim fender jazz and i love it but i can see what ur saying. if i could change any thing about it i would make the body a bit smaller.

 

[Lesfunk]

Besides the jazz style being groovier and more "liquid", It's also larger and heavier than a P, thus helping neck dive.

 

[Tony-bobs]

jazz bass's body was designed after the jazzmaster. jazzmaster's body was designed to be more comfortable for sitting down jazz guitarists who ironically didn't embrace it. instead they kept with their hollowbodies

+1 I read that somwhere and it makes sense with the way the body is shaped...

 

[JimmyM]

Why? I don't have an opinion regarding J body - in fact I think it looks good. But why would discussing its design principle be a waste?

Reread the OP. He didn't like the looks and couldn't believe anyone else could. And in typical modern young person fashion, he decided that we should have to explain ourselves to him.

The design principle, OTOH, is a whole nother story. I think it's a great design principle except for one thing...it's invariably heavier than a Precision, and too much for my poor little shoulder to take anymore.

 

[ttmnky]

I guess I should really restate myself, since we probably got off to a bad start.

The question that I really want to ask is the benefit of having that extra bump, and not for us to explain why it physically works for each person subjectively.

I appreciate all the responses about its ergonomics and such, and I apologize for miscommunicating my question. It's just that I really don't understand the physical playing benefits that the bump offers over another body shape, such as the P-shape.

It also seems that there's a divide right now, where some people say it helps with neck dive, whereas others say it doesn't do anything beyond providing a different shape to the bass to make it unique from the Precision.

 

[xaxxat]

Bigger bottom?

 

[RCCollins]

The OP is basically asking "why are there fins on a cadillac?"

 

[JimmyM]

I guess I should really restate myself, since we probably got off to a bad start.

The question that I really want to ask is the benefit of having that extra bump, and not for us to explain why it physically works for each person subjectively.

I appreciate all the responses about its ergonomics and such, and I apologize for miscommunicating my question. It's just that I really don't understand the physical playing benefits that the bump offers over another body shape, such as the P-shape.

It also seems that there's a divide right now, where some people say it helps with neck dive, whereas others say it doesn't do anything beyond providing a different shape to the bass to make it unique from the Precision.

Better.

I never had a problem with neck dive on a Precision to begin with, but it would help to have a heavier body with the weight at the bottom like a Jazz. Design aesthetics also have a lot to do with it. Bottom line, both are great and classic basses. Some like both, some like one over the other and have completely different reasons for it.

 

[scrove]

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Recognize any similarities?

Tort guard?

 

[Thrillhouse]

It's got what plants crave.

An Idiocracy reference? I love it.

 

[RexNFX79]

It's to discourage players from leaving the bass on the floor, leaning against the amp. (Doesn't work - I still do it.)

It worked on me. I never leave it leaning on anything because it always seems like it will fall over. I like the design and my p-bass feels more foreign to me I guess because I've had mostly J-Basses.