Jazz bass

[megadan]

Man...

I play a P-bass, actually a P/J. I thought it sounded nice.

Then my girlfriend bought a J-bass (yes, she likes basses just as much as me... jealous? ).. man, it sounds sooooo nice... I can't believe the tone this thing puts out. I just rerecorded a bunch of my bands songs with it, and voila, no more mud! it sounds amazing, in the mix and out....

and... get this... it's a friggin' Squier! I had a squier p-bass, and it was pretty {censored}, but this one appears to have been a lucky one...

So now I'm gassing for a Jazz bass, AND a Ric!

 

Can I satisfy my urges with just the ric? Is a ric like a jazz, but even better? Please tell me it is so! Or I will have to give up my Ric dreams to search for the perfect J-bass....

[Nixon Neighbor]

Nothing talks like a Ric....

 

I have, believe it or not:

 

77 Ric 4001; 05 American Jazz; 69 Fender Telecaster Bass; 84 American Precision; two Alembic basses (whole different planet)and more....All are great...all are different...Gibson Ripper, Gibson Grabber..My 83 Aria Pro II SuperBass (Matsumoku) is as versatile as they come...

 

No brag...just addicted to the bottom end:cool:

[sunburstbasser]

A Ric doesn't feel anything like a Jazz, and they have major tonal differences. You can emulate a Ric tone using a Jazz with good pickups wired in series but it'll never quite get there.

 

You also don't need to spend $1200 to get a good Jazz. A Geddy Lee will set you back a little over half that new, and comes with good pickups and a Badass II bridge.

[lug]

NOTHING bites like a ric.

[tenyearsgone]

Originally posted by megadan I just rerecorded a bunch of my bands songs with it, and voila, no more mud! it sounds amazing, in the mix and out....

That's why I use a jazz only, I don't like muddy tone......

[tenyearsgone]

Originally posted by lug NOTHING bites like a ric.

I saw Ween's concert DVD live in chicago and thier bassist was using a ric and not to be an asshat but the tone just blew, muddy, no definition and no difference between octaves. In other words the note fatness was the same for the same note on any string if that makes sense.

Maybe it was the way he was dialed up, but to me he had crappy tone. It could be just me, but I don't see anything special about rics at all, especially in the tone department. I've never played one so I don't know how they play.

I'll stick to the jazzes'.

[megadan]

Oh, what to do!

 

 

See, I could just buy a jazz bass from Rondo and be done with that gas, and just keep saving for a ric... but I promised myself that my next bass purchase would be a QUALITY instrument, because, well, I've never played a GOOD bass before... thus the rickenbacker...

And, well, as cheap as SX basses are, they are not free, and I have very limited funds... ack...

 

Can you describe the difference between ric and jazz? If I like P

In other words, if I like the jazz, will I love the ric? I want tone that punches like mike tyson, with lots of grind and a smoooth low end... like a jazz bass.. aakcjhAWJgH@G!BU@#G!Y

[megadan]

Originally posted by tenyearsgone I saw Ween's concert DVD live in chicago and thier bassist was using a ric and not to be an asshat but the tone just blew, muddy, no definition and no difference between octaves. In other words the note fatness was the same for the same note on any string if that makes sense. Maybe it was the way he was dialed up, but to me he had crappy tone. It could be just me, but I don't see anything special about rics at all, especially in the tone department. I've never played one so I don't know how they play. I'll stick to the jazzes'.

 

It's weird that you mention it, cause I played a show with a band last week, their bass player was playing a J-bass, and he had EXACLY that tone.. no defintition, just pure mud... ack...

[beam]

I think you should get either a new or a used MIA J-bass.

 

The recent ones have the series/parallel option already in there for you(get you closer to ric'dom), or you can add it to one that doesn't have it pretty cheaply.

 

 

Solid instrument, good tone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Originally posted by megadan It's weird that you mention it, cause I played a show with a band last week, their bass player was playing a J-bass, and he had EXACLY that tone.. no defintition, just pure mud... ack...

 

 

Sounds like an eq issue

[megadan]

Originally posted by beam I think you should get either a new or a used MIA J-bass. The recent ones have the series/parallel option already in there for you(get you closer to ric'dom), or you can add it to one that doesn't have it pretty cheaply. Solid instrument, good tone.

 

 

Hrmmmmm... I wish there were a way to play good bass like rics and J's in my city...

 

 

Sounds like an eq issue

 

Yup. I asked the soundman to ease up on the bass and add mids when I played, sounded much better.

[degroove]

My evolution in basses:

 

80s 4001 Ric: Got it cause I love Paul McCartney and its what he had in Magical Mystery tour. As it turned out, I never found the Ric capable of a fat McCartney-esque bottom. I always found it more mid and treble heavy than I wanted.

 

So, My next bass was:

 

97 MIA P-Bass. I even put flats on it, and it had much more booty than than the Ric which made me happy. I still have it and from time to time like the P-Bass tone.

 

So, My next bass was:

 

USA Lakland Joe Osbourne Jazz: I already had a P, so I wanted a Jazz. Originally, I thought I wasn't going to much like the Jazz tone cause I was liking the booming bottom of the P, but once I started playing with the J, I realized it cut much better than the P and the neck was thinner which made it easire to play.

 

So, to Me, I would rather have a Jazz than a Ric. I know Ric people will flame me for such heresy, but I just never really liked that bass...Even with the psychedlic glow in the dark paint I put on the knobs

 

So, I no longer have the Ric, but I do have the P and a J...

[tenyearsgone]

 

Originally posted by beam I think you should get either a new or a used MIA J-bass. The recent ones have the series/parallel option already in there for you(get you closer to ric'dom), or you can add it to one that doesn't have it pretty cheaply. Solid instrument, good tone. Sounds like an eq issue

 

Hmmm...that's what I'm thinking..

My jazz (warwick) has all the definition in the world. Incredible at times I tells ya. I CAN dial in a muddy tone, but what bass can't?

You might want to look into some used warwicks....

[shaffle]

I currently have a 2001 American Series Jazz (pre-S1 switch) and its my main player. I've also owned/played the American Standard, Geddy, MIM Standard and an 80s reissue.

 

All played well, some better than others and one or two were perfect (like the one I have now).

 

I've read many detractors to Fender basses on this very forum and am convinced that most just repeat what they hear others say or they were playing basses that were not properly setup. Still others take the opportunity to knock Fender basses to better promote their favorite.

 

Tone? On a Fender J bass? I've played enough of them to know that those critical of that aspect of the instrument are just blowing wind, for whatever reason. I have alot of experience with Jazz basses (Fender Jazz basses) and none were anything less than crisp, gritty and well defined with tons of low end thump to go along with it.

[John S. Shinal]

Do yourself a favor and play the Fender Standard Fretless J Bass. It's a MIM bass, but plays and resonates very nicely, no workmanship complaints on the 3 I've played (own one).

 

They have the new American Vintage Noiseless pickups ( ), and marker lines on the fretboard, so it's easy to learn to play fretless.

 

I've been kicking myself in the butt for not getting a fretless J years ago - it's been a blast to play.

[sunburstbasser]

If you go for the MIA Fender, PLEASE try it out first. When I last played one, I thought the pickups were a lot weaker than the pickups in my Reverend. The series mode was about as hot as my Rev in parallel. It may have been bad pickups or the amp, or just the room, but make sure you try it first.

 

If you can't do that, a parts J may be good. Lindy Fralin pickps are excellent.

 

As for what you'll like more, well...

 

A Ric is midway in width between a P and J at the nut. But, it doesn't spread out hardly at all. They are fairly parallel. You'll just have to find one to play to see if it feels good to you.

[Caroway]

Gerry Reno (www.ghreno.com) and me have been talking about him building me a custom Jazz bass.

 

It would look something really similar to this:

 

[SpaceGhost]

To solve your problems. Get them both.

[megadan]

Originally posted by SpaceGhost To solve your problems. Get them both.

 

So when can I expect your cheque in the mail?

[GrooveMonkey]

Quite possibly the best Jazz bass I'll ever have:

 

 

2004 MIA Jazz Deluxe

 

This bass does almost EVERYTHING!!!

[SpaceGhost]

Originally posted by megadan So when can I expect your cheque in the mail?

If I ever hit the lottery, I'll donate a Ric to everyone on the board, you'll be first on the list.

[BoundandBlocked]

Originally posted by SpaceGhost If I ever hit the lottery, I'll donate a Ric to everyone on the board, you'll be first on the list.

 

Second!

 

[sunburstbasser]

Originally posted by SpaceGhost If I ever hit the lottery, I'll donate a Ric to everyone on the board, you'll be first on the list.

 

Make mine either just like yours, or a black one with an aftermarket black pickguard.

 

Please?

[Narcosynthesis]

I got my first bass a few months ago, and went for a mim fender jazz

it has a lot more options soundwise than a p bass, and (in my eyes anyway) looks much nicer, the one i got plays really nicely (much much better than the cheapy yamaha i had on loan from a friend) and is a solid instrument (i am a guitarist, so not a complete n00b to bass/guitar)

 

well worth my pennies

 

thinking about adding a series/parrallel switch, which i probablt wont actually get round to

 

you will all be glad to hear i definately have the bass bug now, similar yet completely different to guitar and great fun to play

 

David

[lug]

If I ever hit the lottery, I'll donate a pic of my Ric to everyone on the board.