Do certain basses have Mojo?

James Jameson’s backup bass was sold at auction last year, not the funk machine, and it made me wonder. “Does that bass have mojo?”
No.

Jamerson was a great player because of his abilities, not because of his instrument. You will not play even the tiniest bit like Jamerson if you use one of his basses.

You're reacting to what is known as "contagious magic" -- e.g. "Jamerson touched it, therefore he transferred some of his abilities to it." Needless to say, the universe doesn't actually work that way.
 
James Jameson’s backup bass was sold at auction last year, not the funk machine, and it made me wonder. “Does that bass have mojo?” Or is it just wire and wood and the bass player provides the Mojo. Discuss

Did somebody say mojo?

Here's my take...

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And we're back.

I consulted my Magic 8 Ball and it said...

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Don’t listen to these nay-sayers :D

Some instruments have mojo, while others do not. Case in point, my ATK305 has some MAJOR mojo goin on. Good bass bud has wanted to buy mine for years. He spent a number of months hunting for one that felt like mine. He bought and returned 4 before he “settled” for a Stingray lol.

In the 10 years I worked at guitar center (‘04-‘14), I played a ton of identical basses month after month. Fender Jazzes, P’s, Warwick’s, Musicmans, Squiers, etc. There were always those 1 or 2 that stood out from their identical twins.​
 
Don’t listen to these nay-sayers :D

Some instruments have mojo, while others do not. Case in point, my ATK305 has some MAJOR mojo goin on. Good bass bud has wanted to buy mine for years. He spent a number of months hunting for one that felt like mine. He bought and returned 4 before he “settled” for a Stingray lol.

In the 10 years I worked at guitar center (‘04-‘14), I played a ton of identical basses month after month. Fender Jazzes, P’s, Warwick’s, Musicmans, Squiers, etc. There were always those 1 or 2 that stood out from their identical twins.​
That’s been my experience as well, some basses just have “soul” and mojo can come from some unlikely sources. I had a Mikey way mustang bass that just sizzled and had a “voice”. On the contrary, I had a couple of American standards that just had nothing in them, soulless, lifeless wood and wire. :)