Growing Bored With My Jazz Bass

[cassius987]

Just looking for some advice. My current bass stable is my 4003FL, my 4003, and my USA Fender Jazz. I've hotrodded the Jazz with better pickups (Custom Shop) and a Badass III as well as wiring in the parallel-series push-pull mod (which I can't say does that much to the sound anyways). It's a sweet bass--better than most Jazzers I try out in stores these days--but lately it just hasn't inspired me much. Seems like everything I can do on it, I can do better on my 4003. (It comes out sounding better, anyways.) Even when I study unique players who don't use Rics--many who use Jazz Basses in fact, such as Marcus Miller--their stuff comes out sounding more authentic and clear from the Ric than the Jazz Bass. The Jazz really only has one thing on my 4003, which is a super thin neck; but with a Hipshot bridge's low action setup and near-zero relief, the Ric is almost as easy to play, if not more in some ways, esp. high on the fretboard.

So why do I need the Jazz Bass? Can anyone talk me into keeping it? I told Megan I might part with it and she looked shocked, because just a year ago (when I was selling my MM Stingray off) she was trying to get me to sell it too, and I was adamant that I would not. She may be kind of mad now because she liked the MM Stingray better...

One thing's for sure, as a 2003 model, I doubt it'd fetch more than $500-750, even though it's in great shape and is (seriously) among the better Jazz Basses I have touched with my hands.

On the other hand I am really lusting after a Tony Franklin fretless P Bass... ugh.

[cjj]

Well, if you like the super thin neck, all ya gotta do is get a 70's 4001, then you'll have no reason to keep the Jazz. Now, if the new 4003's with their (as JH put it) thinnest necks ever are the same or thinner than the 70's 4001, you just need a new 4003! I seem to recall something about you having one on order, right?

I like my '76 4001 neck better than my '84 4003. I've never owned a Jazz, but have played a few for a few minutes. They're nice, but I'm just too accustomed to the 4001. I'm sure hoping my new 4003 comes in with a neck as good as my old 4001...

[woodyng]

i have a put-together jazz bass clone/rosewood dot-fretboard/seymour duncan hot jazz pickups/passive,that i would not sell,as it was put together by a good friend of mine,and is a very nice playing/good sounding bass. having said that,i much prefer to play my ricks! sometimes,though,the fender just fits the situation better......

[jps]

Well, if you like the super thin neck, all ya gotta do is get a 70's 4001, then you'll have no reason to keep the Jazz. Now, if the new 4003's with their (as JH put it) thinnest necks ever are the same or thinner than the 70's 4001, you just need a new 4003! I seem to recall something about you having one on order, right?

I like my '76 4001 neck better than my '84 4003. I've never owned a Jazz, but have played a few for a few minutes. They're nice, but I'm just too accustomed to the 4001. I'm sure hoping my new 4003 comes in with a neck as good as my old 4001...

My May '08 4003 has a neck that feels just as nice as those on my two '73 4001s.

[cjj]

Well, if you like the super thin neck, all ya gotta do is get a 70's 4001, then you'll have no reason to keep the Jazz. Now, if the new 4003's with their (as JH put it) thinnest necks ever are the same or thinner than the 70's 4001, you just need a new 4003! I seem to recall something about you having one on order, right?

I like my '76 4001 neck better than my '84 4003. I've never owned a Jazz, but have played a few for a few minutes. They're nice, but I'm just too accustomed to the 4001. I'm sure hoping my new 4003 comes in with a neck as good as my old 4001...

My May '08 4003 has a neck that feels just as nice as those on my two '73 4001s.

Oh goody! Now I can hardly wait 'til mine shows up... maybe this year... 22 months and counting...

Oops! I'm getting ahead of myself. I should have said maybe NEXT year, since it's not quite 2009 yet...

[cassius987]

Well, if you like the super thin neck, all ya gotta do is get a 70's 4001, then you'll have no reason to keep the Jazz. Now, if the new 4003's with their (as JH put it) thinnest necks ever are the same or thinner than the 70's 4001, you just need a new 4003! I seem to recall something about you having one on order, right?

I like my '76 4001 neck better than my '84 4003. I've never owned a Jazz, but have played a few for a few minutes. They're nice, but I'm just too accustomed to the 4001. I'm sure hoping my new 4003 comes in with a neck as good as my old 4001...

My May '08 4003 has a neck that feels just as nice as those on my two '73 4001s.

That's exciting! Yes CJ, I do have a 4003 MG on order from Mike Parks. I ordered it in Feb. 2007. I'm "Thanks JC" on the Ric Page, at least for that month! So it'll be exciting if this bass shows up and has a neck as thin as the neck of my J Bass. My 4003FL arguably is (or at least very close) but my 4003 AFG is a touch thicker. That said, the Hipshot and the low action greatly offset this and it's still definitely a speed demon.

No one has really addressed if I should sell the Jazz for other reasons though. Certainly some people out there think that Jazz Basses have unique qualities Rickys don't possess! I have for a long time but lately I am not seeing just what good those qualities are... Maybe it's a matter of preference and in time I'll like it again, but right now it just sounds muddier and less crisp.

[jps]

Jazz Bass necks are still going to be thinner from the nut up to about mid neck.

[cjj]

Yeah, that's what I've always thought when I've played 'em. Almost too thin. But then again, I'm 6'5" so my big hands probably make 'em feel even thinner.

As for addressing the subject of selling the jazz for other reasons, what reasons do you need? If you're "bored" with it, if you can get all the sounds you want with a Rick, if the Rick (especially the new one) has a neck that fits/feels as good or better than the Jazz, what more reason do you need? Unless, of course you just like it and want to keep it, but it sounds like you're tending towards selling it. If the jazz isn't "doing it" for you, why keep it?

[cassius987]

Well, I just feel like it's weird to only own Rics. Although I do intend to pick up a fretless P Bass someday, I feel like a sycophant to be selling off all brands but Ric--after all, I've already gotten rid of my first two basses, a Spector starter bass (it sucked anyways, too dark) and an MM Stingray (it was awfully good but not my style, too muscular, and I don't like that active EQ sound much). If I sell my Jazz, I'll just have two Rics, which seems like a "limited" or "biased" arsenal.

I think it's just circumstantial though. Like you say, I'm not getting what I want/need out of the Jazz. It's a little too muddy--the Ricky can do everything it can and just sound better at it. Cleaner, cutting through the mix much better. But I think some people would really call this move into question. There are a lot of people on other forums who would probably crucify me just for preferring my two Rics to my Jazz of course, but I do. I don't know. I think part of this is just me sweating over the culture that bass players set up for themselves. A lot of guilt has gotten thrown at me before because of the righteous indignation people have when you want anything more than a P Bass--unless it's an Alembic, Warwick, or something else that is more "respectable" somehow. I don't know. I kind of think Ric players have it rough when talking to other, non-Ric players, because there really seems to be some kind of disgust there sometimes.

Also, it just seems dumb to sell the commonest bass ever in an economic recession period. Nobody's looking to buy anyways and the market is already oversupplied...

[cjj]

Well, I only own Ricks, but then again, there are a lot of people who think I'm kinda weird...

Anyway, as you get older, you're going to start to realize that putting a lot of thought and effort into what other people think about you is a total waste of time. In reality, most people far too worried about what everyone thinks of them to really think about you at all. All of that "righteous indignation" is mostly an attempt to make themselves feel better by putting you down for being different.

Do what works for you and makes you happy. If you don't need the money, hang on to the Jazz, who knows, you may decide you like it again some day. Then again, there will always be another Jazz Bass out there, so if you sell yours and decide you want another, you can always get one.

[cassius987]

Anyway, as you get older, you're going to start to realize that putting a lot of thought and effort into what other people think about you is a total waste of time. In reality, most people far too worried about what everyone thinks of them to really think about you at all. All of that "righteous indignation" is mostly an attempt to make themselves feel better by putting you down for being different.

I think I took the mantra of being a self-actuated individual too far in high school (to the point that it wasn't actually self-actuating, more like self-defeating). I was kind've like those goth kids of South Park who are constantly obsessed with non-conformity. Then I hit college and started thinking about "growing up", and even got fired from a job because I didn't look the part! (Some customers complained because my hair was too long and I got the ax--didn't even get a "Cut your hair and we'll keep you," it was just, "Get out, you're scaring off business!") Going through all of that I think I became a lot more socially conservative, although in my head I'm still pretty much the same indignant kid.

The ultimate truth is in your message, though, that any concern I have for what people think is largely wasted energy. I am starting to relearn this through reading a lot of Daniel Quinn as well and restructure my view of "positive reputation". Thanks for the reminder and reinforcement.

The Jazz Bass will probably be sold.

[cjj]

Ah yes, there is a fine line you have to walk in the "do what you want" arena. I was talking about guitars, where fitting in really doesn't matter. Obviously, there are places where you have to conform if you want to succeed, most things in life actually. In reality, you can succeed being a total nonconformist, but it takes a LOT more work and effort and is usually not worth it.

[cassius987]

Ah yes, there is a fine line you have to walk in the "do what you want" arena. I was talking about guitars, where fitting in really doesn't matter. Obviously, there are places where you have to conform if you want to succeed, most things in life actually. In reality, you can succeed being a total nonconformist, but it takes a LOT more work and effort and is usually not worth it.

+1. Thanks again for the advice.

[wints]

Any bassist who really has a broad ear, and, more importantly, an open mind, should have at least a J or P in their collection. Personally, I think you need both. They both retain a certain fundamental that is a cornerstone of many a classic recording, and are an integral part of the low end sound. The Ric has it's own place, but it's never going to sound like a maple neck P bass, especially with certain styles of playing.

The key, as with Ric basses, is simply to find a good one. They vary greatly, and good ones are hard to find these days. My 64 Jazz is simply a joy to play, as is my 64 RM1999. They are different, no question, like apples and oranges, but both do the job intended. My pre EB Stingray Fretless is simply a tone monster, and again, is totally different from my 73 FL. Both are gr8 basses, but the Stingray spectrum of sound, with it's ebony board, is magnificent.

Now, a Series 1 long scale Alembic, and pre CBS Precision and I may be done for sometime...

[antipodean]

Now, a Series 1 long scale Alembic, and pre CBS Precision and I may be done for sometime...

Nah... you really need a '61 Jazz stack-knob as well, preferably in a custom colour. Those '64s just don't cut it...