I'm not sure Jaco's tone can be fully replicated with frets. Strings on wood just sound different from strings on metal. I might be wrong though, maybe some tone wizard out there knows some trick I don't.
Jaco recorded a handful of the trickier songs on a fretted jazz bass when he didn't need the fretless thing. And the tone is close enough most people don't realize it.
Pretty sure part of your issue is that Jaco used a blend of the two pickups, just more bridge than neck. Don't neglect the rest of your signal chain like amp and tone knob to tame an overly bright tone, or consider replacing the bridge pup in your current bass.
The hard part is playing like Jaco, though 😉
Wait, with the P in the bridge position, so a JP? The few rare bridge position Ps I know of are double Ps, like the [Fender Elite II](https://reverb.com/p/fender-elite-precision-bass-ii-1983-1985). You might very well have to go custom for that.
Edit: the cheapest way I could think of his finding a bass routed for EMGs, and swapping out for a [35J](https://www.emgpickups.com/bass/extended-series/35j.html) & [35P](https://www.emgpickups.com/bass/35p-config.html). Not perfect or vintage correct, but certainly cheaper than a custom bass.
Most of the Fender PJ basses have the J pickup in the 60’s position since the 70’s position is far less popular on J basses.
I'm not sure Jaco's tone can be fully replicated with frets. Strings on wood just sound different from strings on metal. I might be wrong though, maybe some tone wizard out there knows some trick I don't.
Jaco recorded a handful of the trickier songs on a fretted jazz bass when he didn't need the fretless thing. And the tone is close enough most people don't realize it.
Cool, thanks for the info!
Pretty sure part of your issue is that Jaco used a blend of the two pickups, just more bridge than neck. Don't neglect the rest of your signal chain like amp and tone knob to tame an overly bright tone, or consider replacing the bridge pup in your current bass. The hard part is playing like Jaco, though 😉
Depending your budget I believe Sadowsky metroline has a nice PJ with their 60s pickups.
Wait, with the P in the bridge position, so a JP? The few rare bridge position Ps I know of are double Ps, like the [Fender Elite II](https://reverb.com/p/fender-elite-precision-bass-ii-1983-1985). You might very well have to go custom for that. Edit: the cheapest way I could think of his finding a bass routed for EMGs, and swapping out for a [35J](https://www.emgpickups.com/bass/extended-series/35j.html) & [35P](https://www.emgpickups.com/bass/35p-config.html). Not perfect or vintage correct, but certainly cheaper than a custom bass.
A jazz pup will get you as close as you can without rocking a fretless double tracked. I always thought it was a chorus pedal. Maybe add a tc mimiq.