Jazzyvee Gigs 2025

[jazzyvee]

I also have a standard Europa that is made from mahogany and bocate. I used this one as my main bass for reggae until I got the signature. I go a great sound reggae sound from that. Filter closed or just off closed, depending on the reggae track, blend almost all the way to the neck pickup. No Q, treble switch set to cut, then used the bass boost occasionally when doing a dub section. But that had all the bass needed.
I used a simpler head on my three gigs yesterday. Same cab, just the F-1x set with bass on full and mid at 4 and treble at 6 and Crown XLX1002 power amp. The PA got the sound from the DI on my preamp which is sent pre, which I think means it includes the tone stack but not the gain knob on the preamp. Sounded great and had so many compliments about both my playing and the sound of my bass.
I'm quite surprised with your setup that you are having problem getting a good reggae tone. Yes the bass does have a lot of brightness even without a maple body so there generally is enough coming through. There is a "lot" of bottom end available from an alembic but my understanding is that it's not enhanced by the electronics in the bass.
My question to you would be where are you finding the sound lacking, when you listen to your rig or from comments about the FOH sound. One of the reasons I started using the SF-2 is due to the sound guys at many venues not knowing how to EQ for a reggae sound and cutting the bottom end or boosting the bottom end so much that you lose definition.
These days I tend to have my rig more bassy and less bottom end in my monitor so that i can hear my pitch better on stage.

[Songdog]

My question to you would be where are you finding the sound lacking, when you listen to your rig or from comments about the FOH sound.

What I'm having trouble with is removing unwanted brightness yet not losing a defined, articulate attack; and making the lows sound deep and powerful without becoming woofy or muddy.

My situation is different from yours. I don't play a "reggae gig" where I dial in that sound and don't change it. I play (mostly) original music in two different groups and change settings and technique to get a sound that best fits each song (that's the joy of my Alembic, it saves me from having to bring four different basses to a gig ). A few of the songs call for a bass sound that would usually be associated with reggae. So I'm looking for control settings on my bass that I can reach down and change in a few seconds, rather than having to adjust EQ somewhere else. And whatever I do has to work without needing adjustments at the PA.

Your suggestions are valuable! You confirmed I'm on the right track with Q off, treble cut engaged, filter set low. I thought I had to turn the bass boost on, but seeing that you usually have it off is making me rethink that; maybe that's what turns "deep" into "woofy". I'll play around more with leaving it off, and search for exactly the right filter setting (a small change can make a really big difference).

[jazzyvee]

Another thing I pinched from Aston "Familyman" Barrett is to have my thumb resting on the top of the fretboard and actually play right at the end of the neck or just over the end. When I want a really warmer sound I use the outer edge of my first two fingers rather than the tips. For really slow parts I use the third finger as the tips are softer than the other two and gives a much more meaty bassy sound. Can I suggest using the bass boost switch and move your fingers close to the end of the neck and plays ofter. You could also choose to fret notes closer to the middle of the bass and avoid the G-string if you can as there generally isn't enough mass on that string to give you a deep enough sound that balances with the other strings.

[Songdog]

Thanks for the Familyman picture and technique tips. I have to remember to pick right up at the end of the neck (or even over the top frets) - in that picture he's plucking at about the 24th fret position. And you make a good argument for a 5-string. My reggae-sounding songs happen to both be in Bm, lowest note F#, sure would be nice to play that at the 7th fret on the B string.

You might enjoy this quote off of Talkbass - how Familyman EQs an SVT:

*THE Reggae super bass hack. !!Try at your own risk.!! With 2 810 cabs pin the bass (on an SVT this is madness), mid freq knob to 1 (250hz), mids 12 noon. Look longingly at the treble controls which should all be disengaged. Wish for a second Ultra Low. The more hair you put on this tone the better. Play with super tight articulation, dead strings, and tone knob off. Welcome to reggae town. (These settings were literally left on my SVT by THE Family Man after it was rented to the Wailers by a back line company here in WPG)

(Whole post is in Ampeg SVT4 into an HLF410, EQ advice that might help if you're ever stuck with an SVT and 8x10 as backline.)

[jazzyvee]

Playing with the Bob Marley & the Wailers tribute band at this weekend's festival.

https://nearlyfestival.com/maldon/


Should be a good one. I think that was the same festival I did my first dep gig with this band, and I think none of us had played together in this band before. So it could be the same situation again.

[sonicus]

If I were in geographic proximity, I would quite certainly attend your performance.

[jazzyvee]

Thank you kindly sir.

[jazzyvee]

Saturday's gig with a Bob Marley & the Wailers Tribute Band

[edwardofhuncote]

Looks like a good time, Jazzy. That is a long bill for a music festival too. 


I would be fascinated to see/hear what a British take on a tribute to Dolly Parton would be like.

[lbpesq]

Dusty Springfield with a twang?

hehehehe

Bill, tgo

[jazzyvee]

Tonight, headlining with another UB40 tribute band called Johnny 2 Bad.
https://bigtribfest.co.uk/

[StephenR]

Looks like a fun show tonight… enjoy!

[jazzyvee]

Looks like a good time, Jazzy. That is a long bill for a music festival too. 


I would be fascinated to see/hear what a British take on a tribute to Dolly Parton would be like.

well that's what she looks like.

[edwardofhuncote]

You had to know I was sincerely curious Jazzy, so I went looking for Blue Smoke. Fascinating... she certainly has the costumed look. Maybe I am surprised without good reason... it had just never occurred to me Dolly Parton might have international appeal. She is quite revered/beloved here in Appalachia. It must have been a challenge too, for a British lady to emulate an East Tennessee accent and Dolly's stage mannerisms. Like Sir Michael Caine (with fairly heavy Cockney accent) playing a convincing Texan, opposite Robt. Duvall in Secondhand Lions. You just have to be 100% committed to the job.

[jazzyvee]

Well there was an Elvis tribute on before us last night and musically they were superb. I'm no authority on Elvis so no idea how authentic the guy was to his accent.
James Taylor did an authentic snippet of a Birmingham (Brummie) accent when he did a concert here a few years back. Which is not an easy accent to do.
Anyway back to the thread, the gig went well last night a large marquee stage and the room was packed when we came on for the encore. The organisers rebooked the band for two festivals there next year.
Had some nice comments about my playing. I took my 5 string burl maple series I which I have to say sounded wonderful. I have another one with the same band in a couple of weeks or so. And another gig in Scotland with a different UB40 tribute band soon.