It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 8:47 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 19 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
Post subject: Coming Around Full Circle With A Jazz Bass
Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2020 10:51 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2015 11:45 am
Posts: 20994
Location: On the loo, regretting that gas station burrito.
Well, in the past few days, I decided to break out the Squier Jazz Bass that we've had pretty much sitting around collecting dust, while I've been spending the majority of the time on short scales, like the Ibanez Talman, and the violin bass, which was the reason I switched to the short scale Ibanez, because I wanted to have something with a similar size, and after putting in 6 hours on it Sunday, and a few more here and there the rest of this week, I've come to a conclusion. I know I've GAS'ed and waffled around with various basses, but I seriously think I've found something that I can really musically connect to and get a lot of creativity out of. A bass which I've pretty much ignored for the most part for whatever reason (usually because I had other basses I was playing on, and this one was bought at some weird transitional time between said basses for some reason, which I forget now,) but I now see it's potential, albeit a few issues that I have to adjust to, which are it's weight and the longer scale which I haven't really played on in two years.

Yeah, it's heavier than my Ibanez Talman, and definitely the violin bass, and I had to stretch out a bit with my hand and arm, but there was something about it that just really connected with me, where I could "feel" the notes I was playing, if that makes sense. Sure, the Ibanez has a ridiculously fast, short neck, and usually sounds decent, but that's all. For some reason, I didn't really groove as well with it like I could with the Jazz, or even the violin bass. Even the last time I played the violin bass with my girlfriend on the drums, she said I sounded or played better with that than I typically did with the Ibanez, and that got me thinking about all of this more.

I have yet to plug the Jazz into the Ampeg, which will really be the final test, which oddly enough, I've never done, since I've had that amp, but have played it through the Rumble 350 combo, but just playing it unplugged, trying to get used to playing a bass that size again, I can tell there's something there. Maybe it's the effort I have to put into, which is responding back to me, I don't know, but maybe I've finally found "my sound," or something that's been in my head that I want to work with. I know that can change, but maybe it's always been there with a Jazz, since they've been a part of my music life off and on for the whole time. I pretty much started out with a Jazz as my first serious instrument, or the one that got me to where I started to become a creative player, albeit a lot of work to be done, and now I'm coming around to it again with an instrument that's been hiding in plain sight. Go figure.

Here's an old pic of it from when I modified it with a Leo Quan bridge a few years back. I've probably posted this on here back then, but I doubt you can even find that anymore since they changed the site and I had to start using Imgur.

Image

_________________
Image


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Coming Around Full Circle With A Jazz Bass
Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2020 6:05 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Mon Oct 15, 2012 7:16 pm
Posts: 18659
Location: In this country town, where the laughter sounds...
PAUL! That's a nice Jazz there buddy! I would have been playing that more. I still contend, the Jazz is the best Fender bass going. Now its ironic again, I seem to be on the short side of town, and you're on the long side. Flip flop again. Plug that Jazz into the AMPEG. Image

_________________
"Electric Lady"
Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Coming Around Full Circle With A Jazz Bass
Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2020 8:55 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2015 11:45 am
Posts: 20994
Location: On the loo, regretting that gas station burrito.
Yeah, it's pretty much have been a sidelined instrument, although I did record with it a few times, and did play it through the Rumble 350 combo, including a rehearsal, a few years ago. I guess because I was playing on other basses, like the Schecter, and even the Squier Precision, I just didn't really play on it. I should have never gotten rid of the Precision, but I'm glad this one stuck around. I also thought I was going to be full time with the short scales, but other than the violin bass, which I still want to play, I'm thinking about going back to long scales, especially with the Jazz. I never thought the Jazz would be the one bass that I'd really connect to, but it's been looking that way. The ultimate test will be when I run it through the Ampeg, then I'll know for 100% certain.

I remember you were playing a lot of Jazzes for years, so it is ironic in some ways. I suppose really the main reason you did stop was because of the weight of the Jazz. I will admit, the thing does have some heft to it. Maybe that's why they sound good, or the wood vibrates with the notes.

_________________
Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Coming Around Full Circle With A Jazz Bass
Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2020 12:25 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Mon Oct 15, 2012 7:16 pm
Posts: 18659
Location: In this country town, where the laughter sounds...
The weight of the Player Jazz was its demise. I should have kept the Adam Clayton Jazz, but I missed something in my thought process, for what to keep, and what to sell at the time. As I said before, I really didn't need to sell it as I thought I did. A Jazz is hard to beat.

_________________
"Electric Lady"
Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Coming Around Full Circle With A Jazz Bass
Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2020 2:43 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2015 11:45 am
Posts: 20994
Location: On the loo, regretting that gas station burrito.
Was the Adam Clayton a lighter bass?

_________________
Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Coming Around Full Circle With A Jazz Bass
Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2020 6:23 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Mon Oct 15, 2012 7:16 pm
Posts: 18659
Location: In this country town, where the laughter sounds...
PaulLF wrote:
Was the Adam Clayton a lighter bass?


My AC was lighter then the Player Jazz was. I'm not sure how many were as light as the AC I had though.

_________________
"Electric Lady"
Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Coming Around Full Circle With A Jazz Bass
Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2020 3:55 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2015 11:45 am
Posts: 20994
Location: On the loo, regretting that gas station burrito.
That's interesting that it was, since they are both Jazzes, but then again, there are different woods involved, and all of that.

_________________
Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Coming Around Full Circle With A Jazz Bass
Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2020 5:14 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Mon Oct 15, 2012 7:16 pm
Posts: 18659
Location: In this country town, where the laughter sounds...
PaulLF wrote:
That's interesting that it was, since they are both Jazzes, but then again, there are different woods involved, and all of that.


Both types are Alder, but as we know, that doesn't mean beans from one piece of wood to another.

_________________
"Electric Lady"
Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Coming Around Full Circle With A Jazz Bass
Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2020 9:01 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2015 11:45 am
Posts: 20994
Location: On the loo, regretting that gas station burrito.
That's true. Wood was once a living thing from a tree, and most living things aren't identical, for the most part.

_________________
Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Coming Around Full Circle With A Jazz Bass
Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2020 5:21 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Mon Oct 15, 2012 7:16 pm
Posts: 18659
Location: In this country town, where the laughter sounds...
PaulLF wrote:
That's true. Wood was once a living thing from a tree, and most living things aren't identical, for the most part.


That's so true. Wood is a wonder of nature if you really can work with it.

_________________
"Electric Lady"
Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Coming Around Full Circle With A Jazz Bass
Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2020 6:35 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2015 11:45 am
Posts: 20994
Location: On the loo, regretting that gas station burrito.
That it is. I used to watch this show called "Woodworks," with David J. Marks, who did all kinds of stuff. He plays percussion, and built his own drum table. https://www.djmarks.com/ He's pretty much some hippy kind of dude, so you know he makes his own fancy ornate boxes to stash his weed in. No film canisters or cigar boxes there. :P

You know, the funny thing about that is the stuff they have now is several times stronger than what you had in the 60's or 70's. Especially since it's become more and more legal.

_________________
Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Coming Around Full Circle With A Jazz Bass
Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2020 7:30 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Mon Oct 15, 2012 7:16 pm
Posts: 18659
Location: In this country town, where the laughter sounds...
I loved doing my wood work when I had the power tools to do it right. But that was when I was in wood shops in school.

_________________
"Electric Lady"
Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Coming Around Full Circle With A Jazz Bass
Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2020 11:56 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2015 11:45 am
Posts: 20994
Location: On the loo, regretting that gas station burrito.
Hey, you did build your own bass cab. That's pretty cool you did that. I never was that great with woodworking, I guess. I suppose it's because I didn't really spend much or any time around that to do that. I always though it was pretty cool to do, though.

Getting back to the Jazz Bass, I've been really jamming with it and it's been coming along pretty good. I'd say I'm used to it like I would be a short scale. Maybe it's like riding a bike, or something. :P I still haven't had the chance to plug it into the Ampeg, though. I'm hoping I can today, but that's up to my girlfriend if she wants to play the drums or not. That's when I usually do that. I'm sure it should sound good through the Ampeg, since it is a Fender, albeit with a Squier name on the headstock. It sounds pretty good not plugged in. I've been really breaking it in by playing the hell out of it.

_________________
Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Coming Around Full Circle With A Jazz Bass
Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2020 12:29 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Mon Oct 15, 2012 7:16 pm
Posts: 18659
Location: In this country town, where the laughter sounds...
Yeah,....... I did build that oversized 2X12 monster cab that time. That had the Traynor head with it.

Your Jazz should do well. And as far as getting back to the long scale, I would think that shouldn't be a problem. I never thought it was that big of a deal myself switching back, and forth between the two, when I had short, and long scales at the same time. Its more in a players head, I believe. Just me though. I'm glad I have no recourse, and that I'm playing what i have. That way I don't get GAS to do something stupid. I don't have the cash anyway. Image :roll:

_________________
"Electric Lady"
Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Coming Around Full Circle With A Jazz Bass
Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2020 4:30 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2015 11:45 am
Posts: 20994
Location: On the loo, regretting that gas station burrito.
Weren't you also saying that cab and the Traynor are still around?

Really, the original issue I had was because the neck on the violin bass was a lot smaller and spaced tighter together than either the Squier Precision or Schecter I had, and it took me a while to adjust to that, because I wanted the violin bass as my main bass. Of course, the down side to that, is I got used to that, and had trouble with the necks on the bigger basses after just only playing the violin bass a long time. Luckily with the Jazz, it's been an easy transition, and I think I'd have no trouble going between the two.

I know what you mean about no cash. If I want something new, I'd have to somehow sell something old right now. :roll:

_________________
Image


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 19 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: