- Oct 8, 2007
- 970
- 60
- Disclosures
- Former Part-Time, Non-Commission Employee MOOG Audio
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Why Why Why (J-bass question)
- Thread starter eboe
- Start date
I discovered my love for j-basses late in the game, just a few years ago. Loved my Lakland Skyline so much I custom ordered a Mike Lull with similar specs (and a few keen improvements). Great feeling instruments, and I thought "where have you been all my life!"
Once I started recording with them, I sold them both. Completely and utterly unhappy with how they sounded in a mix. We're in the minority, but that's okay.
Once I started recording with them, I sold them both. Completely and utterly unhappy with how they sounded in a mix. We're in the minority, but that's okay.
I discovered my love for j-basses late in the game, just a few years ago. Loved my Lakland Skyline so much I custom ordered a Mike Lull with similar specs (and a few keen improvements). Great feeling instruments, and I thought "where have you been all my life!"
Once I started recording with them, I sold them both. Completely and utterly unhappy with how they sounded in a mix. We're in the minority, but that's okay.
Keep one for live and buy a P for studio!
I'm a P bass guy myself, but can totally appreciate a Jazz. I have the Squier VM fretless, and love playing it.
Hilarious. I thought the same thing.
Anyway, the jazz neck is nice. The jazz electronics are great, simple to use, and versatile enough. But why the huge honking body? I'm a small guy, and playing a jazz feels like im trying to roll a dining table.
Anyone likes the jazz except the body?
Jaco is nothing to do with me choosing a Jazz bass. I don't even listen to Jaco, I just think the Jazz is the most beautiful design. It's that offset body that does it. I happen to love the way the neck feels also.
I would never normally say an inanimate object is sexy, but the Jazz really is!
For me personally it's about emulating the tones I like best from my favorite bassists:
John Paul Jones
Jaco
Geddy Lee
John Paul Jones
Jaco
Geddy Lee
I don't know if I think Jazz basses are the ultimate bass but I do know that I don't like pbasses and don't understand why so many people here do. "What kind of bass for rock?"-pbass, "What kind of bass for hardcore?"-pbass, "What kind of bass for blues?"-pbass. Out of hundreds of basses that could be used the answer I see here is almost always pbass. Nothing against people who love em' and play em' they're just not for me. So why a J? Different strokes for different folks I guess.
I love the body but I agree it's on the large side. The American Deluxe is probably the answer to this problem.
I have two j basses, one Marcus Miller, the other is a fretless '62 ri ( Jaco style)
I resisted Fenders period for a few years, but found that Fender Jazz is the perfect relationship between tone and playability. I don't like P bass "baseball bat" necks or the single pickup in the rear of the MM. Someone once told me that Fender basses have a distinct tone that is not ever replicated accurately. I believe this to be true also. I love the two pickup configuration of the jazz bass because I can dial in my tone like Familyman Barrett for reggae or Jaco for jazz. Both play (or played) JB's.
I resisted Fenders period for a few years, but found that Fender Jazz is the perfect relationship between tone and playability. I don't like P bass "baseball bat" necks or the single pickup in the rear of the MM. Someone once told me that Fender basses have a distinct tone that is not ever replicated accurately. I believe this to be true also. I love the two pickup configuration of the jazz bass because I can dial in my tone like Familyman Barrett for reggae or Jaco for jazz. Both play (or played) JB's.
I played Js for years, because I was the lead player and the bassist had a J, so when he wanted to wank on g**tar, I got the bass.
I have owned 1 J copy, 1 J clone, and 1 "real" J (Standard fretless) and sitting next to me as I type is a borrowed Squier J.
But I seem to be regressing...first I went to a split-coil P, then a Classic '50s P, and now I'm playing a '51 P RI.
They are all useful, musical instruments.
So all you Jazz Bass players, you may continue playing them.
I have owned 1 J copy, 1 J clone, and 1 "real" J (Standard fretless) and sitting next to me as I type is a borrowed Squier J.
But I seem to be regressing...first I went to a split-coil P, then a Classic '50s P, and now I'm playing a '51 P RI.
They are all useful, musical instruments.
So all you Jazz Bass players, you may continue playing them.
Mark Wilson
Supporting Member
Did I say "why does Dee_01 like jazz basses so much?" No.
I don't deny the influence that JPJ, Larry Graham, and Marcus Miller (among others) have had on the world of bass. I'm saying, IMO, Jaco was one of the biggest.
But none the less, this isn't a thread about Jaco, now is it?
LOL.
Cool it, brother. I acknowledge why you made that comment, but I am merely stating that Jaco Pastorius isn't influential to me as a musician and wasn't a factor into my purchase of a Jazz bass, I just like how it looks and feels.
Go pick a fight with the other guys who said the same thing, why don't you.
Don't pick on a n00b like me, I'll kick your ass big time. 
Peace.Sweet!! I LOVE twin turbos Buicks!! Awesome going to the Buick Nationals and seeing those bad boys run! They do sound like jets! Sometimes I'll open up the dump and run it straight from the turbo so it sounds like a hover craft.
Leo got it right the first time- but he got it even MORE right the second time!
I prefer 2 pickup basses.
P's are great when you need that tone, but for most of what I play, I need some highs. More than I can get from a P.
I will always have a P in my arsenal, matter of fact, I have two P copies and a P/J.
But 90% of my playing is done on 2 pickup basses, most of which are at the very least Jazz inspired.
I prefer 2 pickup basses.
P's are great when you need that tone, but for most of what I play, I need some highs. More than I can get from a P.
I will always have a P in my arsenal, matter of fact, I have two P copies and a P/J.
But 90% of my playing is done on 2 pickup basses, most of which are at the very least Jazz inspired.
The Fender Jazz Bass is the definitive bass against which all other basses are compared. 'Nuf said.
with an active preamp and/or noiseless pickups it's a very flexible bass. (and most people here probably have one fitting the above description.)
on top of that it's a very ergonomic bass. i.e. it balances well and has a skinny neck. add to that the thousands of makes and models from sx to fender to lakland to ksd...a bunch.
to me though, i don't dig active pickups. it's not that much more comfortable than a p-bass is to me. not a bad bass, not a unique one either.
i prefer unique.
on top of that it's a very ergonomic bass. i.e. it balances well and has a skinny neck. add to that the thousands of makes and models from sx to fender to lakland to ksd...a bunch.
to me though, i don't dig active pickups. it's not that much more comfortable than a p-bass is to me. not a bad bass, not a unique one either.
i prefer unique.
Well, it's not unique anymore, but it certainly was when it was invented. It could be argued that it inspired a lot of people to create improved instruments based on the Jazz shape and neck dimensions. That's what keeps it from being unique.
Unless your definition of unique refers to an individual "only one quite like it" bass rather than a design. A Wishbass is unique in that regard.
