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Post subject: P bass Vs. J bass
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 7:56 am
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In your opinion, what is better, A P bass or a J bass. Neck feel, Body profile, Sound, Versatility, looks or anything. What makes one desirable over the other to you? Thank you


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Post subject: Re: P bass Vs. J bass
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 9:29 am
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Trick question; you need both.

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Post subject: Re: P bass Vs. J bass
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 12:17 pm
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There isn't any such thing as one of these being better than the other.Each one of these basses is an excellent guitar and they are both revered the world over.Having said that one may be better suited than the other for an individual.As much as I like the great thumping tones you can get from a P-Bass,I can't play it and be comfortable because the neck is too thick and wide for my smallish hands to the point that it's practically impossible to play.The thin neck of the J-Bass that is only 1 1/2 " wide at the nut,is perfect for me,plus I like the extra tonal textures that you can get from Jazz Bass because of the extra pots and the layout of the guitar.Unless there is something tremendously wrong with one guitar,nobody can say that one is better than the other.

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Post subject: Re: P bass Vs. J bass
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 12:22 pm
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I like the stock sounds of both, but prefer playing a Jazz when I'm playing bass. I prefer James Jamerson's sound with the P tho.

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Post subject: Re: P bass Vs. J bass
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 12:50 pm
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Tochai is right of course. That is the best possible answer in a world where you are fortunate enough to be able to own both. Not everyone is that fortunate though.

Others only need one bass because it isn't their primary instrument as they double on it or they only use it to make recordings. These people probably only want one electric bass around.

The choice of which model is a very personal thing. You can figure out which camp you are in quickly by playing one of each for a moment and switching back and forth.

In general guitar players doubling on electric bass seem to prefer the neck on the Jazz more often than the Precision. It is narrower and thinner so they like it better. It also is easier to play intricate passages on a Jazz that would sometimes require more brute force and practice on a P-Bass.

If you are used to playing stand up acoustic bass and are looking to double on electric bass then a wider fatter Precision neck might suit you better.

I think personally if you are recording that a P-Bass tone is great....but so is a Jazz tone. So it is a toss up there, especially with effects making it possible to emulate about any tone. It might be easier to get a repeatable recording friendly tone with a P-Bass since the controls are simpler. In a live band setting it is easier to repeat tones also with a P-Bass.

So far as passive tonal versatility is concerned a SINGLE COIL JAZZ BASS wins! It has more tonal voicings possible than a post 56 P-Bass. BUT it lacks the trademark P-Bass tone. In an ACTIVE BASS it is more of a tie in tonal range.

Passive Jazz tones seem to me better at cutting through the mix, so if you are a flashy player doing up front solo stuff in a live band then a Jazz would be a good choice.

P-Basses to me are more pick friendly as picking a Jazz can result in an annoying "pick click" that is harder to dial out.

Me, I prefer a first generation P-Bass live. It sounds sort of in between a modern P-Bass and a Jazz.

This stuff is just my opinion. Your mileage may vary.


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Post subject: Re: P bass Vs. J bass
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 4:08 pm
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They both suck! :P Actually, I think it's interesting that you mentioned this, because I just recently got a Jazz Bass, but I've been finding myself missing a P-Bass. Not knocking a Jazz, it's a really nice instrument, but I've come to the realization that I'm a P-Bass kind of person. I prefer the thicker neck and it's tonality. Although, the Jazz has it's merits, too. I think it's kind of like comparing apples and oranges between the two, really. To pretty much repeat what everyone else said, it's really a matter of preference. I think the reason I like P-Basses and Telecasters a lot is because of their "beefiness." They are kind of like a club in your hands, if that makes sense.

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Post subject: Re: P bass Vs. J bass
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 4:18 pm
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I love the sound, looks and feel of a 1st Generation Precision Bass ('51 to '56)...a close second is the late 60's/early 70's (?) Telecaster Bass (basically a '51 P-bass with a neck position humbucker).

Another bass based ( :? :P ) on this style (visually, at least) is the oddball Ampeg Big Stud made between 1973 and 1975). I own one of these, and while it was a budget instrument, it sounds and feels great...it was abused before I got it, so it's not particularly pretty, but it looks really cool (IMHO)...

The complaints about the bigger neck don't concern me; although my fingers aren't especially long, the wider string spacing (especially at the 1st position) make for cleaner/smoother playing (at least for me).

Put me down for early P-Bass...but then again, I prefer my Tele over my Strat, so let that be your guide.

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Post subject: Re: P bass Vs. J bass
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 4:55 pm
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Currently owning a 1994 '54 RI 1st Gen P Bass, a 2nd Gen 1965 Precision Bass, and a 2011 American Special Jazz Bass I can say I hands down prefer a Precision over a jazz. Although the Jazz has more versatility pickup/sound wise, the precision gives you the basics and expects you to do the magic. I love the '51-'56 Precisions because the string through body and single pickup gives you these meaty lows, they are meatier than a Brazilian steakhouse. Slap some round wounds on a 1st gen and you have what Leo wanted, an electric bass that sounds just like an upright. The feel and look of a Precision to me is just so much better than a Jazz bass. Another problem I have with the Jazz is that it is prone to much more neck dive than a Precision ever is, especially sitting down, which basically defeats the purpose of the Jazz's off-set body.

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Post subject: Re: P bass Vs. J bass
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 5:45 pm
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Tochai wrote:
Trick question; you need both.


+1 Correctomundo! At least one of each is the barest mimimum.

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Post subject: Re: P bass Vs. J bass
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 6:52 pm
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It's two different worlds, because of the narrowing alignment of the strings on the Jazz.


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Post subject: Re: P bass Vs. J bass
Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 7:23 am
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i agree both!

Saying that, i only own a p-bass. I love both models though, to me its almost like strats to teles, the tele is the p-bass (chunky and a bit of a treetrunk), the strat is the jazz (more of a light, think, versatile, muso tone monster).

A modern player might well say a warwick streamer can do both sounds easily enough, but it just aint the same, nothing rock and roll about a warwick :lol:

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Post subject: Re: P bass Vs. J bass
Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 3:56 pm
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Both is a good idea. My Precision, is going to have a Fretless Jazz to contend with. This Jazz is on it's way.

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Post subject: Re: P bass Vs. J bass
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 3:14 pm
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I have owned both J & P basses and I definitely prefer the Jazz. I like the narrower neck and the more complex sounds you get as compared to a P-bass. However, I have never owned a 1950s P-bass or ever played one, but I love the sound they have. One day if I win the lottery I will get a first gen P-bass.


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Post subject: Re: P bass Vs. J bass
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 3:33 pm
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Mr. Nylon wrote:
Both is a good idea. My Precision, is going to have a Fretless Jazz to contend with. This Jazz is on it's way.

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Nice bass! 8) That's my favourite finish and pick guard combination, although I will say that the blue finishes have also go my attention.

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Post subject: Re: P bass Vs. J bass
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 3:38 pm
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I have owned a number of P basses in the past. Actually for the longest time that's all I ever wanted and who could fault a guy for that? They do seem to be the standard by which all others are judged in most people's eyes. The first time I tried a Jazz I fell in love and haven't owned a Precision since but that's me.

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