new neck? or new nut?

[hachi kid]

hey guys. I know the obvious financial choice here is "NEW NUT!!!!", but I've been noticing I've been having some trouble when it comes to playability on my bass. the bass I started on and played for 9 years has a narrow Jazz style neck, and Vincent has a wide p-bass style neck on it. I've noticed that my playing is a bit "clunky", and I've been thinking it's been due to the string spacing. when I was in guitar center on my lunch break today, I played a couple basses, and I noticed on the poorly setup Jazz basses, I was really moving around the fretboard without problems and each note was well articulated. when I picked up a P-bass, that "clunkiness" to my playing came back. I initially thought about ordering a replacement all canary jazz bass neck from Warmoth and selling my current neck whenever it arrives. but that's kind of expensive. so, my next thought was getting a narrower slotted nut made and installed on it. I'm curious if it wouldn't still feel weird with the "extra neck" being there, though. I mean the extra wood there outside of the E and G strings. anyway, I hope you guys might be able to help me on this. I'd rather not spend $400 on a new neck...that'd be nice.....

[hachi kid]

also, with Warmoth, the back to front thickness is the same with the jazz and precision bass style necks, assuming you get the standard contour. I like the thickness of it, the strings are just too far apart for me.

[TGLbass]

It will still have the wider feel that the P has if you slot the nut. The neck will still be the same width it was before you slotted a new nut. Also if you slot the nut it will bring the strings in over the pickup and they won't be aligned the same (if that makes a difference to you). It may work for you. I'm sure someone has done that before too.

[dmusic148]

If you like the Jazz shape, then you should get one- changing the nut won't accomplish what you're after.
Keep your eye on the TB classifieds. For example:
2009 Squier CLASSIC VIBE Jazz neck

[darkstorm]

Change the neck. Keep eye out for nice alternative to warmouth for lower cost neck replacement.

[StonewallValent]

Neck, if what you're after is for a jazz feel neck. You can get a mighty-mite for about 100.