My MOM does not like the sound of my Cirrus ...

[IotaNet]

My MOM consistently tells me that he doesn't like the sound of my Cirrus. He finally said it doesn't sound "bassy" enough. I think what doesn't like is the strong mid-focus of the Cirrus. You can try to correct for this with the onboard pre but that tone is inherent to the Cirrus. I have a tricked-out Squier V that he prefers and I think that replacing that with a very nice MIA Jazz will probably solve my problem.

Do any of you have an opinion about the American Deluxe Jazz V as a go-to bass for Baptist Music Ministry work?

This one ...

http://www.fender.com/basses/jazz-bass/american-deluxe-jazz-bass-v-five-string-maple-fingerboard-black-3-ply-bwb-pickguard/

[berbie]

Hey, the Cirrus is  not such a bad bass.   However, the American Jazz Fender is probably better.  It certainly costs more than the Peavey(when it was being sold).  I wonder if I would spend that much money just to please a MOM.  Of course, if the salary being paid warrants such a change, and the MOM was the deciding factor,  one would have to make choices.  How do you feel about the sound?  Even if I trusted his judgement about the sound,  I would suspect that I could get a suitable bass for much less.  Of course, if you wanted the Fender,  that's a different story. 

I assume that you and the MOM tried all possible adjustments to guitar and amp before deciding that the Cirrus just wouldn't do.

[berbie]

I was curious and looked at Musician's Friend for the bass in question.  It retailed for much less than the list price.  There were a number of reviews posted on the bass that might be informative in your decision making also.  They often have sales of 15% or more off.  Might be worth a check. I don't know much about Fender basses.  They must be okay, or their sales and reputation wouldn't be what they are. Good luck on your search for better sound.

[malthumb]

It comes down to how much you want to spend.  And to some degree, what else might you use this particular bass for.

In my opinion, you could

• Get the AmDlx J V.  Your MoM would love you.  You would deliver the sound he wants.  You would have a bass you could play pretty much anywhere.  You would be light about $1,200 - 1,800 depending on if you buy it used or new
• Pick up a nice MIM Jazz V or a nice Squier VM 5-string and install the J-Retro that is in your tricked out Squier.  Your MoM would like you a lot....might even love you.  He certainly would not complain.  You'd be out about $300

These would definitely play well in a church setting.

There are probably other things you could do with a SansAmp to suppress mids with your Cirrus just a bit, but that's not guaranteed to get you all the way there and could cause other complications in your signal chain, depending on what you have going on there.

The question becomes, will this be a church only bass, or is this something that you expect to bond with and hit every chance you get?  I have nothing but love for a nice AmDlx J.  But for the price, that Squier VM can't be ignored.

[IotaNet]

The question becomes, will this be a church only bass, or is this something that you expect to bond with and hit every chance you get?  I have nothing but love for a nice AmDlx J.

Truthfully, this will probably morph into my main player. I also have a few extra $$ lying around so I'm not really worried about the cost -- especially if I can find a nice used one.

[stix_clgi]

You could buy a Pope Flexcore preamp and install it in your Cirrus. I have one in mine and I love it. I think it will suppress some of that mid forward sound of the Cirrus, since much of it comes from the stock preamp. Or you could do like Malthumb said and get a MIM or Squier Active Jazz and put a U-Retro in it. It is definitely the cheaper option than buying an $1800 bass.

[berbie]

It is surprising what the Squier basses retail for.  They are more than reasonable.  I checked the reviews on the active V Deluxe Jazz five string, and was surprised also how they were praised by their owners even with stock electronics. They were going for about $350.00 give or take.  If interested,  check the reviews at Musician's Friend.

[malthumb]

Truthfully, this will probably morph into my main player. I also have a few extra $$ lying around so I'm not really worried about the cost -- especially if I can find a nice used one.

You know first hand the quality of an AmDlx Fender, since you used to have that really sweet Deluxe P5.  If that's the vibe you want in a Jazz bass, then you know what you gotta do 

I picked up an AmDlx Fender P 5 at a ridiculously low price.  Even though I could probably piece together a Squier to approach the tone, I doubt it would approach the fit, finish, and feel of this bass.  If that's what YOU want in addition to what the MoM is telling you he needs, then that's all the justification you need to go find that AmDlxJ5.  Only question left is......what color?

[browntree]

You wanna sell the Cirrus?

[SavnBass]

I just did a trade on a USA Cirrus fretless 5 and some cash for a modded up KZ6.. I should be getting it Monday.. I have heard a lot of good stuff about these basses..

[tristate04]

What up. You know it is totally true that diff setups will give totally diff results. I have a Bubinga/Walnut Cirrus 6, with the Mill Pre and always get compliments on the sound. For that particular bass I can get booming lows way easier than piercing highs.  Now on my stock Vintage Modified Jazz 5 I feel like it isn't bottomy enough but the highs are there. It's all passive so the tone knob just cuts the highs and doesn't do much for the lows, but I get that funk growl I like from it. Both basses are played through a Markbass Little Mark Tube 800 head to the house.

What I have been thinking about as I start experimenting with effects pedals, is adding either a Boss GEB-7 or MXR-108 EQ pedal to the chain to stomp on mostly for slap playing while on the VM5 or setting and forgetting to dial in some lows. The Cirrus to me can stand all on it's own without any additional outboard fiddling. The amp is set flat, bass at 75%, a slight mid bump from center (varying freq. sweep), treble about 60%, pan knob slightly bridge favored, groovin for The Lord all day baby!  The eq pedal might be just what you need and less than $100.

[6 stringer]

Remember one simple fact. Tone is generated 1st..with your hands, finger placement on the fretboard.
Try to play mainly on the B and E string.  Also consider tuning down to A. 
Also get together after service and make adjustments to your amp...to adjust to a sound he can deal with.
Friend of mine had the same problem with his MOM.  He cranked the bass freq. on his amp and cut the highs completely of on the bass. Cut the mids off completely on the bass and amp. Then of the amp..put the highs mid way.
If that is not bassy enough...He just doesn't like your bass guitar. And ask him to buy the one he likes and you will play it for him.

[IotaNet]

Update: I was able to get my "tricked out Squier" sorted out. Turns out, it needed a new nut and a fret leveling. It plays like a champ (It has Standard Jazz pickups and a J-Retro pre)  these days and it definitely delivers. I'm holding onto my Cirrus just it place so nicely but it definitely has a different tone than the Jazz.