ChunkyMunky Posted May 21, 2015 Posted May 21, 2015 ...I'd love to be proven wrong. Most of the times I've tried a Jazz bass out of some variety, I've always hit a wall with their tone. What would you say are the iconic tones of this bass in particular? Jaco is the only one that comes to mind for me, unfortunately. Quote
ambient Posted May 21, 2015 Posted May 21, 2015 (edited) Marcus Miller ? Gotta be honest with you, but I agree. I've never gotten along with them. I had a 5 string USA and a 5 string USA Marcus Miller, thought both were pretty badly made, and very uninspiring soundwise and to play. But, they seem to be very popular with musicians in most genres of music. Edited May 22, 2015 by ambient Quote
Twincam Posted May 21, 2015 Posted May 21, 2015 Ive always found j basses to be rather versatile. Not as much as a good active bass. What may i ask do you find lacking in them?. Quote
ChunkyMunky Posted May 21, 2015 Author Posted May 21, 2015 There's something a bit 'quacky' about the tones. I know that's rich coming from a guy whose exclusively plays a Musicman and all... Quote
chris_b Posted May 21, 2015 Posted May 21, 2015 Chuck Rainey, Larry Graham, Bobby Vega and Anthony Jackson have all been Jazz bass players at one time or another. Quote
bubinga5 Posted May 21, 2015 Posted May 21, 2015 [quote name='ChunkyMunky' timestamp='1432249989' post='2779803'] There's something a bit 'quacky' about the tones. I know that's rich coming from a guy whose exclusively plays a Musicman and all... [/quote]Quacky.? what like a duck. thats a new one I've not heard before. Quote
gjones Posted May 22, 2015 Posted May 22, 2015 You can get a lot of different tones from a jazz bass. From mellow to very nasal, depending on which pickups you select and how you use the tone control. Quote
discreet Posted May 22, 2015 Posted May 22, 2015 I love the sound of Jazz Basses. I just don't get on with the necks. John Paul Jones, anyone..? TIm Commerford? Quote
Chiliwailer Posted May 22, 2015 Posted May 22, 2015 Two guys from my user name... Flea, on later recordings like Stadium Arcadium and I'm With You. Aston Barrett with Bob Marley and the Wailers Quote
Happy Jack Posted May 22, 2015 Posted May 22, 2015 [quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1432252046' post='2779815'] Quacky.? what like a duck. thats a new one I've not heard before. [/quote] Quacky is the new Burpy. Do try to keep up. Quote
BobVbass Posted May 22, 2015 Posted May 22, 2015 I've tried loads over the years and always sold them on - love the looks but the sound is just weedy and not smooth enough to my ear - doesn't sit in the mix anywhere near as nicely as a Precision. Quote
ead Posted May 22, 2015 Posted May 22, 2015 It's OK not to like Js, there's no shame in it. Personally I'm a fan. Quote
BobVbass Posted May 22, 2015 Posted May 22, 2015 The annoying thing is I really do like them - I just can't get on with how they sound. Maybe I should just get one with P bass pickups. Quote
Conan Posted May 22, 2015 Posted May 22, 2015 (edited) I find them very versatile, and I just love the necks! I even have big hands, whereas a lot of people who dislike the slimness of the necks think it's because of the size of their hands... Great rock basses too(and not just Geddy Lee!). Two examples off the top of my head... [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lhyJVEtiN4[/media] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfXL2aOu9ME[/media] And this is just tonal heaven for me - as demonstrated by one of the best... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFSPXbyA8go Edited May 22, 2015 by Conan Quote
Highfox Posted May 22, 2015 Posted May 22, 2015 Aston Family man Barrett's choice of weapon (you don't get more un -quacky than that) Sting in the early days.. Good old Norman Watt Roy as well. It's a very responsive bass imo, As has been said pup blending and tone control mixed with where you attack from make it very versatile. Quote
Bassnut62 Posted May 22, 2015 Posted May 22, 2015 Bootsy used a Jazz when he first joined James Brown's band....all those funky-ass groove monster tunes from JB's heyday in the late 60s / early 70s were probably played on a Jazz Bass. Quote
ChunkyMunky Posted May 22, 2015 Author Posted May 22, 2015 [quote name='Highfox' timestamp='1432278213' post='2779875'] [u][b]Aston Family man Barrett's choice of weapon (you don't get more un -quacky than that)[/b][/u] Sting in the early days.. Good old Norman Watt Roy as well. It's a very responsive bass imo, As has been said pup blending and tone control mixed with where you attack from make it very versatile. [/quote] Alright, I'm floored. I always assumed that the reggae weapon of choice was a P-bass. Quote
discreet Posted May 22, 2015 Posted May 22, 2015 Don't understand where this 'thin sound' criticism is coming from! A Jazz can be hefty as feck if you want it to be. Quote
Conan Posted May 22, 2015 Posted May 22, 2015 (edited) [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1432280101' post='2779895'] Don't understand where this 'thin sound' criticism is coming from! A Jazz can be hefty as feck if you want it to be. [/quote] Indeed! There is a lot of bollox talked about J basses (IMO) A J can (pretty much) do what a P can do (sound-wise), but the reverse is certainly not true. I get the ergonomics thing though. Some players just prefer the shape/size/feel of a P. Horses for courses! Edited May 22, 2015 by Conan Quote
Chiliwailer Posted May 22, 2015 Posted May 22, 2015 [quote name='ChunkyMunky' timestamp='1432279767' post='2779890'] Alright, I'm floored. I always assumed that the reggae weapon of choice was a P-bass. [/quote] Yup, neck pickup, tone rolled off, flat wounds and a little amo adjustment and you're off! The 'quacky' sound you mentioned is how people describe two single coils wired in parallel, not so good for reggae, and for my taste dead annoying on Stratocasters in the wrong hands! Quote
No lust in Jazz Posted May 22, 2015 Posted May 22, 2015 I have an Xotic 5 as a gigging bass, its ace. I wouldn't say that there are iconic tones - its just very flexble and works with a lot of music, its well made and easy to play. If you want another flava of the Jazz Bass sound... [url="http://youtu.be/0Cif5i1rlzw"]http://youtu.be/0Cif5i1rlzw[/url] Quote
KevB Posted May 22, 2015 Posted May 22, 2015 Also if you get one of the S1 types you can switch between series and parallel on the pickups, an extra tonal variation right there. Quote
TheGreek Posted May 22, 2015 Posted May 22, 2015 I prefer a J to a P - I had a custom Overwater J which I stupidly sold - did virtually everything you could ask of a bass.. Quote
ahpook Posted May 22, 2015 Posted May 22, 2015 (edited) My top tip is to ignore the back pickup - the quacky, nasal 'Jaco' tone to me is one of the worst sounds you can get out of a jazz bass. Front pickup all the way - I almost never use the bridge pickup. YMMV Edited May 22, 2015 by ahpook Quote
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