Surfabilly
Joined: Apr 21, 2006
Posts: 852
Connersville, Indiana, USA
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Posted on Jun 01 2006 07:53 PM
Or both? I've already got a Fender Standard Precision Bass, but I've noticed that the Jazz Bass tends to be used a lot, in the surf music. I'll eventually also get me a Fender Jaguar Bass, but after I get a Fender Standard Jazz Bass. Between the Precision and Jazz, however, which one is best suited to the surf guitar sound? Not that I won't have uses for my Precision, but as I'm gearing up toward my future home recording efforts, I'm also trying to get a handle on putting certain guitars to certain soundscapes...like Jazzmaster/Jaguar/Stratocaster for surf, my Ibanez Artcore AG75 (and soon to be added Ibanez Artcore AFS75) for rockabilly, and my Fender So-Cal Speed Shop Strat, Ibanez Jet King and (soon to be upgraded) Squier Bullet Special for hot rod rock.
Maybe it's a bit of the perfectionist in me (being a Virgo), but I kinda want to make sure I get just the right kind of thump, for whichever style of music I happen to be creating.
Matt
— Fast Cars & Loud Guitars!
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on Jun 01 2006 08:22 PM
I put a lot of importance in aesthetics and I feel the Jazz bass looks 100 times better. Also I find the Jaguar basses fugly.
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Anonymous
Joined: Nov 10, 2000
Posts: -180
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Posted on Jun 01 2006 08:27 PM
I have always been partial to the Jazz Bass in both looks and preformance, but I am a guitar player so don't take my word for it. Let someone like DP chime in, he is a bass enthusiast.
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dp
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3546
mojave desert, california
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Posted on Jun 01 2006 08:49 PM
Wow...this is a really difficult post to answer.
Both the Precision and Jazz basses have been utilized extensively in the surf realm. The old-time '51 Precision single-pickup style is my choice because I believe that its versatility and subtle complexity of its tone complements surf in all its many forms. The '51 style pickup produces nice trebly overtones on top of a fat full sounding bass register.
That said, there are many who use the split pickup post '57 style Precision. It's full round tone can be heard on many many classic and contemporary surf cuts: like the Blue Hawaiians. Likewise, the top-of-the-line double pickup tone of the Jazz bass can also be heard across the spectrum of surf. In particular, I am especially fond of Katherine's Jazz Bass tone from the Space Cossacks. Also, many of Motown's hits feature James Jamerson on the Fender Jazz bass (admitedly, not surf, but a great example of vitage Jazz bass tone).
Additionally, many fine surf cuts have been produced using Mosrite and Danelectro basses. The Lively Ones and Ventures sport the Mosrite bass tones. Many first wave tunes sport the signature Danelectro thump-and-twang. Perhaps the Danelectro might be more appropriate for the psychobilly type of tone.
So I guess maybe the answer is simpler than I originally thought: either bass will produce an effective surf style bass tone.
Ultimately, just as in surf guitar, your amplifier/recording setup will be a greater factor in your overall tone than the type of instrument you choose.
With bass, a huge part of the tone you seek resides in the amplifier or amp-emulation you choose.
Common surf amplifiers: Fender Bassman (duh), Ampeg B-15, Fender Showman, as well as many solid state/tube pre-amp combinations.
good luck,
-dp
ps: I haven't tried Fender's new Jaguar Bass...perhaps one who has will chime in...I'm curious to know how that thing performs.
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Surfabilly
Joined: Apr 21, 2006
Posts: 852
Connersville, Indiana, USA
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Posted on Jun 01 2006 10:13 PM
So when I do get a Jazz bass, and am set up to start recording, it'd come down to recording a track of each...Precision then Jazz, and "see" which track sounds the best of the two? Sounds like a good plan, there. Thanks! 
Matt
— Fast Cars & Loud Guitars!
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Anonymous
Joined: Nov 10, 2000
Posts: -180
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Posted on Jun 01 2006 10:16 PM
let us know how that goes ^^
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holikujak
Joined: Apr 03, 2006
Posts: 107
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Posted on Jun 01 2006 10:40 PM
get a jazz but replace the neck pup with a split coil jazz pup, which may give you more of a p bass sound, though i dont know much about basses so i may be wrong
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dp
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3546
mojave desert, california
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Posted on Jun 02 2006 01:36 AM
holikujak
get a jazz but replace the neck pup with a split coil jazz pup, which may give you more of a p bass sound, though i dont know much about basses so i may be wrong
Many have utilized a Jazz Bass with a split Precision-style pickup in the neck position and the original Jazz single coil in the bridge position. Those usually sound real nice...a versatile compromise and combination of both bass tones in one instrument. With this setup, one can get some of the "fat" Precision tone while still getting the skinny Jazz neck and sleeker Jazz body design. Additionally, the brighter and thinner Jazz bridge pickup tone can be blended with the somewhat darker and more robust P-Bass tone.
Check out this Fender Jazz Bass for example:
image
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ToddF
Joined: Mar 21, 2006
Posts: 8
Indiana
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Posted on Jun 02 2006 02:45 AM
I have both a '62 RI Precision and a '62 RI Jazz. I recorded our CD 'Sandstorm' using the Precision for all the songs. It's strung with TI Flats. I would say for all-around 'surf tone' I probably prefer the Precision, especially for the recorded sound.
For live playing, I favor the Jazz. I love the looks, and it has the added benefit of being able to 'cut through' a little better. You have the flexibility of favoring the bridge pickup if needed. My '67 Dual Showman amp sounds really good, but it puts out less volume than I'm used to from other high power amps. I find the Jazz is a better match with the Dual Showman, I was having a difficult time hearing myself on stage when I played the Precision (it could also be related to Ivan's new amp  )
If you're going to be playing them with the covers on, the Jazz has a more narrow space between the pickup and bridge cover than the P bass.
You can't go wrong either way, and hopefully with time you can end up with both. The MIJ versions of the Jazz and P '62 RI basses are excellent.
I've heard very good things about the new Jaguar bass, but I've also heard the electronics can be on the noisy side (it's an active/passive bass).
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on Jun 02 2006 03:52 AM
Here is a big warning about the Jaguar bass. The neck has block inlays but the neck isn't bound. In my opinion this looks terrible and pretty cheap. Why do bassists need a Jag/Jazz shaped body. You guys already have the Jazz bass and Bass VI as awesome offsets.
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Surfabilly
Joined: Apr 21, 2006
Posts: 852
Connersville, Indiana, USA
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Posted on Jun 03 2006 06:19 AM
Nice pic there, dp! Basically you're telling me I should get a PJ Bass...best of both worlds, with that. I will, eventually, but I'll still get a Jazz Bass, first, and some time after that a Jazz Bass V, for those silly "ran out of low notes" situations, with a 4-string bass. Who knows, maybe the bass bug'll bite me real good, sometime in the future, and I'll end up with a 6-string bass 'cause I keep running out of low notes on a 5-string. 
Matt
— Fast Cars & Loud Guitars!
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Richard
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 1683
Georgia
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Posted on Jun 08 2006 09:12 AM
James Jamerson played a '62 Precision Bass, not a Jazz Bass. He had it strung with humongous Labella flatwounds that were probably as old as the bass was. Incidentally, that article on surf bass that was floating around recommended just such a setup (Precision with Labella flats) for surf with the bridge and pickup covers on as "funk preventers." Funny, since that was Jamerson's exact setup and it's known as "The Funk Machine."
DP's right about the single coil P-bass sound being so great for it's high end thump combined with a nice bottom. Our bass player, Mitch, brought his MIJ '51 reissue SC P-bass to practice last night and played through a Showman head with a 15" tone ring cab and sounded excellent.
I personally favor the look, sound, and feel of the Precision over the Jazz.
— The Mystery Men?
El Capitan and The Reluctant Sadists
SSS Agent #31
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dp
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3546
mojave desert, california
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Posted on Jun 08 2006 10:30 AM
well...lookie there...St. James is playing a Precision!
all this time I thought he was playing the Jazz!
man, you learn something new everyday...
Last edited: Jun 08, 2006 10:34:14
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dp
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3546
mojave desert, california
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Posted on Jun 08 2006 10:31 AM
a cool bass player/ James Jamerson site:
http://www.bassland.net/jamerson.html
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kanekila
Joined: Jun 23, 2006
Posts: 28
Safety Harbor, Florida
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Posted on Jun 23 2006 09:31 AM
Wow -- cool pic of JJ....
IMO, there's also nothing like the classic color combo of sunburst and tortoise pickguard. Either on a P or J bass. When I'm not on steel, I play bass with my band, Wholly Cats!!! When we're doing Hawaiian/surf stuff, we're Haole (pronounced HOW-lee) Kats!!! I have a beautiful sunburst Azola Bugbass Upright for the Hawaiian and swing stuff, but really would love to pick up an old Jazz bass with that same color combo.
I've heard the 60's Jazz RI basses are good, but I've never played one. I think they're MIM, if I'm not mistaken. I do dig the color scheme, though. Anyone try these 60's Jazz basses, or use one currently? I'll look in the search engine, too.
image
Too cool...
— Aloha,
Kanekila
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Mojito
Joined: Aug 08, 2006
Posts: 39
Washington DC
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Posted on Aug 08 2006 09:55 PM
Ok so I'm jumping in on this a little late, but wanted to defend the Jag bass. It was good out of the box Nice fin, opted for the Red w/matching headstock. Sound-wise it's a Jazz, with a few more knobs to twist. I really wanted to mod the hell out of it, but settled for new flats til' I got used to it. Good tone, nice slim neck (think Jazz, again), balance was good. It has a lot options tone-wise. Downsides were: the hardware, bridge could definitely benefit from more mass, tuners are so-so. I had a lose input jack but was easily fixed. It would be cool if it had a trem, too...
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