fender precision vs jazz bass?

  • Thread starter Thread starter junplugged
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ok, i did some searching, but all i could find was p bass fat, j bass midrange
 
1. As stated above but not a hard rule. Some Jazzes are as fat as hell; some pbasses sound a bit reedy.
2. Body on P-basses are clunky and slablike, small amount of body contour, body shape is somewhat symetrical. Jazzes have highly contoured bodies with sort of a 'lobe' at the bottom.
3. Jazzes have a narrower, tapered neck.
4. Different pickup arrangement
5. P-bass- rock, blues, standards. J-bass- Funk, jazz.
None of these rules apply to all makes. Somes clones ever have humbuckers. Alembic made a Jazz clone. Hell, I've seen a P-bass with an Lightwave optical pickup. Strangest thing I've ever seen on a bass. YMMV.
 
personally, to me, the biggest difference is obviously sound. youve got more tonal range with a jazz bass. both pickups on creates a humbucking effect, and gives you an awesome growl. p-bass only has the 2 p-pickups, and thats it, theres no hum cancelling as there is on the jazz. the neck, as stated, is different. the p-bass neck is FAT at the 1st fret, whereas the jazz necks get slimmer as you get to the first fret. personally, i like jazz basses a lot more, as i've got one, and a p-bass as well...but throw some flatwounds on a p-bass and you've got a nice fat sound
 
if you're in the market and have a choice, go for the jazz, or a p-j.
 
...

p-j is the best of both worlds.

i think they call some of them special or deluxe, but as long as it has the p and j pickups you're set.

i do prefer the neck on the j basses, and luckily it seems that most of the models with both types of pickups have the thinner neck (thinner at the nut).
 
Apart from sound, the necks are very different. Jazz necks tend to be thinner at the first fret and a thinner in general. Since I learned on a precision, I prefer it. If you have small hands, you might not like the feel of a precision.
 
I just got my first full-sized P-style Frankenbass, after playing a short scale J-style neck.....and even with my baby hands, it's not as tough a transition as I expected....of course, I'm still a total newb, so I'm not playing anything that tough, but it feels like going from a 3/4 sized cello to a full sized, which I did pretty regularly in junior high school....the little one's easier, but I just have to cheat a little on the big one....
....I can't speak for the sound differences yet, since the pups on the new one need work, and my old one is a single soapbar style ....but I'm still intrigued by the whole p-j option....
 
Precision is better than no Fender at all, but IMO the Jazz wins, for any style, it's just warmer and fatter, pretty much what I look for in a bass. The only thing I've heard that I prefer is the Musicman Stingray...
 
One vote for the P here

but you really should play them both to see which fits you better.

Actually, I prefer Mustangs, but that wasn't the question.

Then of course, you've got the early 50's style P bass (aka the Telecaster bass) that Sting uses, which is a whole different animal. For the most part, I prefer the necks on them over a regular P or J.

But in reality, for different things, you need them all.

I really should get something with active Bartolinis at some point.

A Music Man style humbucker, too, but I'm not into that kind music much, so I'm not dying for one.
 
get a jazz then get some nice active pickups ... thats my vote
 
well, i have this crazy old bullet bass and now that i think about it, it's mostly a p-bass, but the head is a telecaster style, 2 staggered, small, kinda weak pups, and the big, curved pickguard, but now that i look at it some more, the neck seems narrow at the nut.

i got it really cheap back in 1984, maybe? for about $200 or so, maybe 215 or 225 or 250 i've actually seen it used for $1500 !
 
Then for heaven's sake sell it and get something you like!
 
i can't it's just been here for too long, i can't part with it. I remember my mom drove me to the store....
 
junplugged said:
i can't it's just been here for too long, i can't part with it. I remember my mom drove me to the store....
Click to expand...

OK, then. I understand. Never mind.
 
whyseye said:
I just got my first full-sized P-style Frankenbass, after playing a short scale J-style neck.....and even with my baby hands, it's not as tough a transition as I expected....of course, I'm still a total newb, so I'm not playing anything that tough, but it feels like going from a 3/4 sized cello to a full sized, which I did pretty regularly in junior high school....the little one's easier, but I just have to cheat a little on the big one....
....I can't speak for the sound differences yet, since the pups on the new one need work, and my old one is a single soapbar style ....but I'm still intrigued by the whole p-j option....
Click to expand...

Tell me more about the short-scale J?????
 
P Bass vs J Bass

Difference is like a car. The P Bass is like a 70's Chevelle and the J Bass is like a 73 Porsche. Do you want to fill the arena and rock the house down with loads of pumping bottom end? Get the P Bass. Do you want to run up and down the neck like a mouse, the J bass. Personally for rock I like the P Bass for the bottom end, we don't need a bass player trying to be a lead guitar player. Also P Basses sound great through an Ampeg 6 x 10, a J bass is great with a DI box or miked through a Fender Bass amp. with respect to this being a home recording forum, a J bass is probably better for home recording than a live situation with a P.
 
I've played a J since June 1997 and I freakin' love it. I picked up a MIM P off of another member here about two years ago and was actually quite surprised at how much I liked it, even being so pro-Jazz bass. It felt great and the action was reeaaaaallllll low and seemed a bit quicker than a J. The body on the P is a bit more sleek and not quite as fat as a J.

It was apparent early on that the P-bass would be my "go to" when I needed a punchy, low sound. Not that the J wouldn't do it, but the P did it better. I'm more a chord and accent bassist so when I needed some extra cash, the Precision was the only thing I wasn't really attached to at the time. If I ever have some extra cash though, I def. want to get another one some day.
 
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