Why did Jaco use a Jazz Bass

[Telebass]

Yup, this^^^^

I'm the same with Precisions - works for me. Not that I wouldn't like a few more basses, but they'd probably be more Precisions! I would like a Mustang Bass tho...

[Lozz196]

Yep, I`ve tried numerous brands/models, and found out the the Precision is the bass that works best with me. If I had any amount of money to spend on any bass, it would probably be a Year Of Birth Precision, or a Pino Palladino Signature Precision. Loads of other makes with far more features, better build quality, but Fender Precisions are for me. Jaco seems to have been the same, albeit with the Jazz.

[fingerz]

Jaco's sound was amazing, why would you think another bass would've sounded better? And as long as HE loved his sound, he could be himself on his instrument. You can practically hear his fingers carving away on the bass, I think it's incredible, and admire him for turning down no doubt countless offers to play something more fancy that just wouldn't be right for him.

Re Jeff Berlin, I make no comment other than; It takes all sorts, and he's earned his opinions over the years whether I agree with them or not.

[ossie]

There you have it, on sober reflection I agree with the general concensus. When you think Stan played an SG before Alembic came along (I thing they're awful for Jazz & Fusion - Great for Rock) Probably a bit of both ie; choice and being happy with what he had. As I say, full of admiration for Berlins ability, just think he comes across bad in the interviews I've read. Not forgetting that Jaco was an arrogant sh*t at times, like telling Ron Carter he was the best, just had a little something special going on.

I remember hearing on the radio that he'd been beaten to death in Florida and thinking, well, that was inevitable having followed Weather Report then his solo escapades. What I thought was really sad was that the people who I was with didn't know who he was. If he'd have got his act together, he could have become royalty like Stan, Marcus, McLaughlin, Nathan Watts, Prestia etc. Not belittleing mental illness, bi-polar, depression etc, think it would have been a different story if he'd have been ill today, given how treatments have progressed.

Do think that there's merit in the statement that there's a fine line between true genius and being a nutter (look at Van gogh). Unfotunately, can't get a handle on the genius bit.

Enjoyed the views guys, glad I'm not too far off the mark.

[chris_b]

[quote name='BigRedX' post='1329754' date='Aug 6 2011, 11:49 AM']....In the late 60s early 70s information on guitars and basses was limited to what was published in a couple of magazines and what your local musical instrument shop stocked. In the US that essentially meant a choice of 5 basses - Fender P, Fender J, Gibson EB3, Gibson Thunderbird and Rickenbacker 4001....[/quote]
I'd add Gretsch and a few others but when Jaco bought his bass he was playing with Wayne Cochran and the CC Riders. The only bass to play in an R&B/Soul band back the (and probably now) was a Fender. So no suprises there! Once he had the Jazz why would he change?

Edited August 6, 2011 by chris_b

[Chris2112]

[quote name='Grand Wazoo' post='1329670' date='Aug 6 2011, 10:29 AM'][/quote]

Read it a couple of years ago, quite an enjoyable read too.

As for Jaco using the jazz bass, I suppose it was just the done thing at the time. By the time boutique basses were really taking off the in the early 80's Jaco was massively on the downward spiral and focused less and less on music (though still capable of some amazing performances, as Joe Zawinul testified to when discussing Weather Report's self titled 1982 album).

Just before Jaco died, when it looked like he was getting back on track he was starting to favour handmade boutique basses. He was playing a Jaydee Series II in his last days (and also ordered some jazz basses from Jaydee, though I believe he died before he got them). I believe, had he still been alive, he'd have gone the way of many players and would be playing top end gear, probably a Fodera or something else like that!

As for Jeff Berlin, he's an amazing player who can wind people up at times. I just wish he would go back to fusion and leave his dull bass led jazz album phase behind.

[louisthebass]

From what I've read, Jaco preferred the tone of a Jazz over that of the Precision. I suppose he thought it had a bit more flexibility for what he wanted to do. Combined with the Acoustic 360's & his talent for playing the instrument, that's where Jaco was. Great player, still my all time favourite - it's just a real shame that he left this life far too early.

Jeff Berlin does (IMO) talk a lot of sense in terms of learning to play the instrument, although I don't agree with his viewpoints on not using a metronome. However, he does seem to have a capacity for winding people up but I wonder if that's as a result of people trying to wind him up in the first place. The guy is a an excellent player, but as has been stated before not everyone's cup of tea.

Cheers,
louisthebass

[Grand Wazoo]

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' post='1329678' date='Aug 6 2011, 10:34 AM']To be fair, and slightly off topic, he did appear to be bipolar and not seeking treatment for most of his life. That's not really something you can "man up" out of - it requires treatment and the right meds. I have a couple of friends with the condition who manage things quite well. Then again, if you count seeking treatment as "manning up" then fair enough...[/quote]

Yes I am aware and meant no disrespect to Jaco or other bipolar sufferers, I mean it in a way that should have suggested if he ever managed to overcome those issues, today with him being alive still, who knows where his career would have taken him.

[merello]

Probably when he started it was slightly more exotic than a P-bass. I think his position in bass playing circles is safe although I don't go for the 'best in the world' in the arts as music is so subjective. Bizarre really, JJ got me into the bass, I copied Foxton and loved Genesis but one night by accident Joni Mitchell's Shadows and Light was on Ch4 and in seconds I was mesmerised. It took about another 3 months and ordering the album from Japan to discover who he was. I never aspired to be or play like him but occasionally I'd throw in Pastorisms on Stax and Tamla songs just for the thrill!

Great player, great innovator and his best feature was the way he put impressionist colour into Mitchell's songs where others could only scribble.

[risingson]

[quote name='ossie' post='1329412' date='Aug 6 2011, 12:01 AM']I often wonder why Jaco used a Jazz Bass when he could probably have had anything he wanted. At the top of his game, I would imagine that any manufacturer would have given anything for him to be seen with their gear.[/quote]

They tried to give him all sorts, he was the biggest bass player on the planet. He had two Jaydees made for him shortly before his death as well. But Jaco carved out a sound for himself, which love it or hate it was definitely a distinct sound and that sound had a lot to do with his Jazz basses. You've got to hand it to him, he was a man who knew what worked for him and never got caught up taking on every endorsement deal under the sun.

As for Jeff Berlin, technically brilliant but that's it as far as I'm concerned. He just loves riding the waves of controversy and has a big chip on his shoulder. My guess is that he's always felt that he's been in the shadow of bigger players, and the way he talks about music is just stupid, almost like he's got no clue at times what point he's trying to make.

[Sonic_Groove]

It's a wonder no one else has commented yet. But Jaco had a JayDee deal just before his demise. (He played a Supernatural & Jazz type copy). There is one of the jazz types in the JayDee porn thread somewhere.



B

[stingrayPete1977]

Please forgive me but I can't enjoy Jaco I have tried but it's just not happening

[Blademan_98]

to answer the OP, because he liked it

[Linus27]

I never knew Jaco died from beating beaten up. I thought he was stabbed. Can someone explain how he died.

Back on track, I would not be surprised if Jaco was alive today that he would had dabbled with a Warwick Streamer of some sort. Always felt that from the limited listening I have had of his work. I always felt that would suit his tone.

[Green Alsatian]

On the subject of the JD Jazzes made for Jaco, I've scanned in the 'My Bass Is...' feature from the July 1998 issue of Bassist.

[url="http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/143/jacojd1.jpg/"][/url]

[url="http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/688/jacojd2.jpg/"][/url]

[stingrayPete1977]

Not exactly a massive change from his regular bass is it?

[Chris2112]

[quote name='Sonic_Groove' post='1330234' date='Aug 6 2011, 07:25 PM']It's a wonder no one else has commented yet. But Jaco had a JayDee deal just before his demise. (He played a Supernatural & Jazz type copy). There is one of the jazz types in the JayDee porn thread somewhere.



B[/quote]

Thanks for posting the video (one of my favourites). If you look at my post above, you'll see I mentioned both the Series II and the Jaydee Jazz basses above. That Series II sounds great.

[RhysP]

[quote name='Linus27' post='1330296' date='Aug 6 2011, 08:18 PM']I never knew Jaco died from beating beaten up. I thought he was stabbed. Can someone explain how he died.[/quote]
He was trying to get into a late bar in Fort Lauderdale & was beaten into a coma by the bouncer. He was pronounced dead nine days later.

[Linus27]

[quote name='RhysP' post='1330364' date='Aug 6 2011, 09:25 PM']He was trying to get into a late bar in Fort Lauderdale & was beaten into a coma by the bouncer. He was pronounced dead nine days later.[/quote]

Geez, thanks, I never knew that.

[Conan]

Jaco Pastorius = Mark King shocker!!!!

Is it just me, or did JP just look kinda "wrong" with that JD? Strangely though (or maybe not that strangely), it still sounds like Jaco. Close your eyes and he could be playing his Jazz.

It's all in the fingers dudes...

[Vibrating G String]

[quote name='Bilbo' post='1329738' date='Aug 6 2011, 03:32 AM']Jeff can play pretty too.

[/quote]
The first thing I transcribed at BIT was Jeff's solo melody in this tune. Since he was teaching there I brought it in to him to read and he sight read it. I asked him if her remembered it and he said something like no but it's very good, it sounds like me.

[Sonic_Groove]

[quote name='Chris2112' post='1330347' date='Aug 6 2011, 09:00 PM']Thanks for posting the video (one of my favourites). If you look at my post above, you'll see I mentioned both the Series II and the Jaydee Jazz basses above. That Series II sounds great.[/quote]

Sorry Chris I didn't see you had already mentioned the JD's

That my bass article is great I would love to try that Calibas 6 never mind the "Jaco"!

Brendan

[Vibrating G String]

[quote name='fingerz' post='1329914' date='Aug 6 2011, 06:11 AM']I think it's incredible, and admire him for turning down no doubt countless offers to play something more fancy that just wouldn't be right for him.[/quote]
To be historically accurate he did sell out to Guild, put the Jazz away and endorsed & played the Pilot bass. So he seemed to care less than his fans did about the Jazz.

[Vibrating G String]

[quote name='Sonic_Groove' post='1330234' date='Aug 6 2011, 11:25 AM']It's a wonder no one else has commented yet. But Jaco had a JayDee deal just before his demise. (He played a Supernatural & Jazz type copy). There is one of the jazz types in the JayDee porn thread somewhere.
B[/quote]
I was there that day, that's not Jaco's bass it was a students. He'd never seen the bass before that day and was playing it because he couldn't stand the jazz bass a Jaco clone loaned him. You can see the Jazz he didn't want to play anymore with the Corn Flakes pickguard in the Jeff & Jaco video.

[Grand Wazoo]

sadly this is what Jaco had become in his last year or so.