Jazz basses, what's the point?

[mcnach]

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1486542954' post='3232545']
IMO, and I've only got a Squire VM Jazz compared to a MIA P, the Jazz sounds great on it's own but in a rock band situation because it's a lot more scooped sound it doesn't cut through,the P has loads of grunt around 200Hz, which the Jazz just doesn't seem to have, unless I put the pick ups in series mode
[/quote]

You don't need to use both pickups full.
And even if you do, you can play a lot with the pickup heights (both absolute, and relative to each other) to get a 'sweet spot' that is not entirely devoid of 'meat'. But that series mod is a really cool one, I'll give you that. I should do that to mine. I had it on my first Jazz bass and it was a really good sound.

I've owned more Jazz basses than is reasonable, and the extent of that midscoop when both pickups are on is extremely variable. I used to think it was mostly the pickups, and the pickups indeed are a huge factor. But long ago I realised that you can alter dramatically the sound by bringing the pickups up or down, and also playing with the relative heights too. I may sacrifice slightly the neck pickup so it has a bit less volume but because it's fatter it really doesn't show, yet the mix is a lot clearer and sits better. But pickup balance is not the full story. Even with the same relative heights, bringing both pickups up or down changes a LOT the final sound. It seems kind of obvious when you spend a little time thinking about it... but it took me years to go at it in a systematic way, and I was very surprised with the results. It's well worth spending a morning experimenting. But don't do it in a hurry. Take measurements and notes, record clips, and then listen back. If you have a band recording without the bass (or a backing track, if you don't), even better... You may just discover your bass can sound a lot better than it already does.

[radiophonic]

I've not waded through the whole thread, but the pickup height issue is certainly something I'll be playing with in the near future. I play f/less so the front pickup is usually backed off to maximise the mwah, but I find it sounds a bit puny. I've never been a fan of the 'both pickups on full' scooped sound (I can imagine it working in trio with a horn/reed player though) and I really want that cutting rear pickup sound with some low end support. Playing style must more into it too - I'm a finger style player and I tend to inadvertantly anchor on the front pickup, which is probably costing me some definition.

[mcnach]

[quote name='radiophonic' timestamp='1486558254' post='3232730']
I've not waded through the whole thread, but the pickup height issue is certainly something I'll be playing with in the near future. I play f/less so the front pickup is usually backed off to maximise the mwah, but I find it sounds a bit puny. I've never been a fan of the 'both pickups on full' scooped sound (I can imagine it working in trio with a horn/reed player though) and I really want that cutting rear pickup sound with some low end support. Playing style must more into it too - I'm a finger style player and I tend to inadvertantly anchor on the front pickup, which is probably costing me some definition.
[/quote]

do have a play with that, it's incredible just how different the same bass can sound by tweaking both the absolute and relative pickup heights.

[Bassman108]

I think a Jazz bass sounds good when I’m playing alone but in a band setting I find the P bass just sounds so much better. Jazz bass always sound thin in comparison to a p bass. No matter what bass I buy and fall in love with once the honeymoon is over I always go back to my P bass. 

[Lozz196]

31 minutes ago, Bassman108 said:

I think a Jazz bass sounds good when I’m playing alone but in a band setting I find the P bass just sounds so much better. Jazz bass always sound thin in comparison to a p bass. No matter what bass I buy and fall in love with once the honeymoon is over I always go back to my P bass. 

This is something I’ve done repeatedly over the years. 

[Bass Direct]

There's room for both in the world

[chris_b]

54 minutes ago, Bassman108 said:

. . . .  Jazz bass always sound thin in comparison to a p bass. . . .

 

Buy a better Jazz bass.

 

I've been a P bass guy since I first saw John McVie with John Mayall in the 60's. It's always been my preference, but I also love the sound of my Jazz bass. It is different, but my Sadowsky can take on any P bass for tone.

[Lozz196]

Definitely, I think I’m just so used to Precisions in the mix that anything else both sounds wrong to me and it’s me not being able to get the best out of them that’s the problem. I mean, listen to Deon Estus on Whams Club Tropicana, awesome sound.

[HeadlessBassist]

Continuing from what the OP was saying [eight pages ago], I'm the opposite. I've owned countless Jazz basses and quite a few Precisions, from Squier Classic Vibes, MIM Standards, American Standards, American Professional to American Vintage. The only one that I took to was the American Professional with the Alnico 5 in one side of the split coil, and Alnico 2 in the other. It was the perfect blend of clear highs and thick lows. I also loved the 63 neck shape. Suited me down to the ground. Sadly, I sold it  a couple of years ago, as leaving one pro band left it parked in my music room for over a year not being played. And if it's not being played, it's not earning money and has to go. (Hard and fast personal rule.)

 

My general problem with the Precision is that it gets buried in the mix. The Jazz bass somewhat less so, as it has the rich and toneful bottom end, flat-ish mids and the clear and sparkly top end, so can still punch it's way through a little more.

 

So professionally, I mainly play Jazzes. (American Original 60s and FSR hand-stained American Standard.) They just do the job really well. 

 

Oh, and as others have said, it doesn't matter a jot what other band members think to your sound. You're the bass player, and it's you that has to be happy with your sound. When quizzed about your bass sound, most non bass players tend to say, "Yeah, it sounds like a bass." I rest my case, your honour. 

Edited 8 hours ago by HeadlessBassist

[Rosie C]

 

I only have a jazz bass. Generally I play upright, but on bad back days and public transport days I take my jazz. Sunburst tort, fretless, flat wound XL Chromes... it's about as close to the upright sound as I could reasonably get. 

 

That said, I don't play rock. Jazz and folk mainly.  Edit: and I have to be really up against it to use the bass guitar for folk!

Edited 7 hours ago by Rosie C

[Stub Mandrel]

I choose what bass I play 🙂

 

Jazz bass compared to p-bass? Just crank the gain a bit and enjoy the versatility. 

 

 

[dclaassen]

I’ve used both and now use neither. For me, it was always about playability. A really good jazz neck is perfect for me, and an active jazz can give a pretty wide tonal range. There is, however, a big difference, as many have pointed out here, between living room tone and gigging tone, and, for me, that’s almost always going to mean using an active bass. Right now, that’s a Peavey Dynabass 5…which has a wonderful jazz-like neck bur also monstrous super ferrite soap bars.