It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 7:28 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 22 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
Post subject:
Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 1:50 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
When played through a vintage tube amp (say, a Sunn 200S with D140s) the Precision Bass always impressed me with its low "growl", while the Jazz Bass seemed to have a more "woody" and "articulate" tone.

Bear in mind, I am NOT a bass player (I don't even play a bassist on TV). Thus my remarks should be tempered by that stipulation.

FWIW

Arjay


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject:
Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 2:52 pm
Offline
Amateur
Amateur

Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2010 10:19 pm
Posts: 110
I play passive basses with 2 Jazz p/ups, or with P-J p/ups, but I have used other people's passive Precision bass a few times in the past.

IMO, if the amp EQ and bass tone settings are close, there is a distinct difference in sound between P and J basses. More so in finger style with bridge J p/up emphasized on a J.

With J bass bridge p/up volume reduced or out, I still hear a difference between the J neck p/up and a P p/up.

If I emphasize bridge p/up on my P/J, I can get fairly close sound to my J/J with similar EQ/tone when playing finger style.

Slap playing between a P and J bass usually sounds different to me.

Even slap playing on my P/J sounds different than my J/J (both p/ups on full).

When I think P bass, I think of James Jamerson, Duck Dunn, Rocco Prestia, Freddie Washington, or Sting on certain songs.

When I think J bass, I think of Jaco Pastorius, Larry Graham, Marcus Miller, or Sting on some other songs.

If a enough EQ or effects are used, it might be harder for me to hear the difference. Pickup model, volume, blend, string type, and type of bass EQ (active, passive, etc.) can play a big role as well.

I prefer J-J and P-J basses, and can usually get any sound I want between the 2 of them.


Last edited by acebase62 on Fri Apr 02, 2010 2:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 2:53 pm
I've had both, in different Fender series. I ended up with a Precision. Adapted myself to the slightly larger neck, and get around on it very cleanly. I do prefer the overall sound of the P Bass, and the body shape as well. Also like having the one pickup.


Top
Post subject:
Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 7:04 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sat Dec 01, 2007 6:36 pm
Posts: 86
Location: Cooperstown, N.Y.
I started on a Precision then went to a Jazz. I've played Jazz music on both. The bridge pickup on the Jazz does make a difference. Then again I remember. changing my plucking finger position more on the P Bass to get different tones.

_________________
Fender American Original 60's Precision Bass
Washburn AB-34 Acoustic bass
Bergantino Forte Amp
Peterson VS-II Strobe Tuner
Moody Straps
Jazz is not dead, it just smells funny. FZ.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: At the risk of offending Precision AND Jazz players...
Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 8:27 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sat Mar 29, 2008 12:16 pm
Posts: 533
Arctic Bass wrote:
... do Jazzes and Precisions really sound all that vastly different when 'EQ'd to your personal taste?

I have both, I prefer Jazzes for the necks and body shape, but I'm just curious to hear what others have to say.


There are ways to make them sound similar, sure, but the reason the Jazz bass didn't replace the Precision is there are still enough tonal differences between them that each has its place.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2010 9:52 am
Offline
Amateur
Amateur

Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2010 10:19 pm
Posts: 110
I prefer the P body, but the J neck, so my basses are "hybrid".

The first Fender bass I bought is a MIJ 85 Jazz Bass Special, P/J with P body and neck p/up, plus J neck and bridge p/up.

My custom J bass also has P body and J neck, but with 2 hum-canceling J p/ups.

As far as the sound difference between P and J basses, I think of the p/ups physical shape. The P is naturally wider and fatter sounding. The J has a more narrow but defined sound, especially the bridge location. When using both J p/ups, you have a greater variety of sound.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2010 11:32 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 23, 2007 4:07 pm
Posts: 41
I own both P & J basses. The tones are quite different playing thru the same amp without adjusting the EQ settings. As has been described, the Jazz Basses are "Brighter" while the Precisions are "Thicker" in their tonality. I also have a MIM Precision Bass Special, which incorporates a J p'up in the bridge position, along with the narrower Jazz neck. I find this model to have the best features of both P & J basses. Of course, depending on the amp and it's EQ setting capabilities, a P-bass can be made to sound very similar to a Jazz, and vise-versa.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 4:12 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 4:50 pm
Posts: 7998
Location: ʎɹʇunoɔ ǝsoɹ pןıʍ
I would say it largely depends on your playing style. If you are mostly a deep thumping in-the-pocket kinda player you might gravitate towards the Precision but if you like to move around quite a bit and explore the upper registers you may find the Jazz has better articulation and note definition.

YMMV

_________________
Image
Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 5:39 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 5:33 pm
Posts: 1084
Location: NoHo in SoCal
Retroverbial wrote:
When played through a vintage tube amp (say, a Sunn 200S with D140s) the Precision Bass always impressed me with its low "growl", while the Jazz Bass seemed to have a more "woody" and "articulate" tone.

Bear in mind, I am NOT a bass player (I don't even play a bassist on TV). Thus my remarks should be tempered by that stipulation.

FWIW

Arjay

I am a bass player (and pay those who play bass on TV) and your description is exactly how I hear it too. I'm playing through a 1983 Bassman 135 with a 2 X 15" cab and my P-bass is more a deep gut feeling than a sound sometimes. Depending on setting, I can get it to sound a modest bit like a double bass.

The only thing I'd add to your J description is also more "pop." That becomes even more pronounced when I'm using the J through the Bassman 210/250, where the P tends to sound a bit dull/muddy.

Another way I explain it to people is that for vintage blues, backing up folkies, etc., I use the P. For funk, more modern sounds, slap and accentuating the higher registers, I use the J.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 8:27 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 28, 2009 11:10 am
Posts: 1086
if i would describe it, P = thump

J = growl

_________________
If I Like It...
I Just Do It...


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 9:48 pm
Offline
Amateur
Amateur

Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2010 10:19 pm
Posts: 110
I agree on the thump and growl.

If I want finger style growl, or a balanced clear slap/funk, I usually use the J-J.

If I want finger style thump, I usually prefer the P-J (favoring the P pickup).

In a pinch, I can get decent finger style growl out of the P-J (favoring the bridge J pickup).

I have never played a bass with 2 P pickups, but would like to try it sometime.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2010 11:36 pm
Offline
Amateur
Amateur
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jul 16, 2009 9:45 pm
Posts: 141
Location: Jackson, MS
in my experience, a P bass goes a long way towards making a solid state amp sound more tubey, particularly if you have a good mix of speakers in your rig (horn is a must).

pros and cons of both considered, i think Stu Hamm had it figured out with the Urge. :D


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 2:31 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Apr 14, 2010 3:42 am
Posts: 41
Location: Brit in Netherlands
I play a Jazz because you can make a Jazz sound like a precision, you can't make the precision sound like a Jazz!


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2010 6:29 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 28, 2009 11:10 am
Posts: 1086
the sound can be close to a p-bass.. but does not give that enough "precision punch".. anyways a P is a P and a J is a J... they are a different beast..

_________________
If I Like It...
I Just Do It...


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 7:15 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun Jan 17, 2010 7:50 am
Posts: 12
Hi I have both a american pbass and a 60s classic jazz with cs pick ups.I play in a 3 pc rock/country band. The guys say they cant hear my jazz as well as my p bass! A p bass "cuts" through the mix better , more pronounced mids that are part of a HUMBUCKER pick up. No matter how i e.q my set up , it doesnt stand out like a p! For amplification i have a markbass lm11 head and a gk neo 4-10 and a black widow loaded 15 inch cab. There is a very good reason people still prefer the ANCIENT pick up design of the precision bass! Don't get me wrong, my jazz is one sexy bass! a fast neck , great look and feel.....yet it just doesnt fill out a room like my p bass....go figure.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 22 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: