Jazz Bass vs. Precision Bass

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Ben Logan

Ben Logan

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I'm looking to purchase a new bass, mainly for recording. I can't decide between a Fender Jazz bass, vs. Precision Bass. Looks aren't an issue, nor is the difference in neck. I'm mainly concerned about the tone difference.

Which gives a better overall "sits nicely in the mix" tone? Any of you guys have experience with playing, and or recording with both Jazz and Precision basses?

Thanks.
 
I think the Jazz is overall more versatile. If I was doing rock or country, the precision is going to satisfy that genre 80% of the time. For other types of music, I prefer the Jazz because I can make it work in rock and country but it slips into jazz, pop etc too. The Jazz has a slender neck which also makes it a little easier to play if you don't have basketball fingers.


There's my two cents.
 
The Jazz is great, and I love that bridge pickup growl, BUT I also love the P-bass Funk. You have to figure that if it is good enough for James Jameson, Bob Babbit, and Donald "Duck" Dunn (to name just a few), it will probably do what you need it to do.


You just need to learn how to MAKE it do what you want it to do.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
 
Do you want to know how out of touch I am?
I thought Fender Jazz basses were still fretless by default.
 
Thanks for the posts guys. It seems like the jazz bass is having a real resurgence of popularity these days.
 
My first bass was a P, and I have to say I don't really like them much at all. Js are much cooler :cool:
 
There's a guy that records at my little studio from time to time that plays a '62 Jazz bass he's been playing solid since '68 or so. It's great to see something trancend being a musical instrument and become an extention of someone.

For me though I kind of like the P bass layout better; wider nut and less buzzy.
 
What I want to know is: whatever happened to P/J's? Did the '80's kill them? They are as rare as decent journalism these days, and it is a compromise that doesn't really give anything up. I have a cheapie Rondo SX P/J, and it kinda rules, especially for $120.
 
I just got rid of a Precision as a trade in for a 1962 Jazz reissue. I will never look back.

There is no contest for me, this Jazz bass is way easier to deal with. And I've found that I get better recordings using medium gauge Ernie Ball flat wound strings.
 
I've been playing bass for 35 years. The Jazz bass is easier to play due to its narrower neck, and there are a lot of nice sounds you can get out of it. I don't hold a "religious" opinion about which is better. I own both and use both.

However, for recording most music, there is nothing which "sits in the mix" better than a Precision. Another advantage to the P is the lack of noise due to its humbucking pickups.

And, rayc, the Jazz bass was never made fretless until recently. The Precision was the first Fender to go fretless, back around 1970.
 
As someone who has owned 3 P's, & 4 J's, I can tell you that it all depends on what genre, or sound you are going for. P's have more attack and pop, but are a little thinner (unless you change the pickups). J's have a more rounded sound that doesn't necessarily work for some stuff (hard rock, & metal)

You should look into a P/J bass. I own an American HotRod (P/J) that does nicely for any style. I don't know if they make them anymore, but i'm sure you could find one on ebay. The best thing about these, besides being extremely versatile, is that you can balance the tone between the two sets of pickups to get the desired sound that YOU want.
 
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