P v. J?

Hizzoner · #1 12-05-2009, 12:45 PM

Hey there JMJ...hope all is as well as it can be in your world..

A question for you, if you would be willing to indulge me...
What criteria do YOU use for determining when to use a Precision vs a Jazz...both in live applications and recording...?

I sometimes feel that original songs.. can really go either direction...I keep flats on my old p bass and old rounds on my J for variety...

I'm thinking in particular a guy like (fellow Aggie user) Paul Turner playing with Jamiroquai on live at Abbey Road sounds great on a P and a J...and the tunes seem as though both kinds of bass could potentially fit...

Any thoughts? I know you dig on both(inspirationally I might add)...

Muchos Gracias

Mark

jmjbassplayer · #2 12-05-2009, 06:35 PM

Hi, Mark.

I tend to gravitate towards a good P-Bass sound for most everything these days, as a first choice. That definitely seems to happen with most records I'm recording right now.

With NIN however, a J sound seemed to fit the most. It became clear to me that a somewhat scooped sound with a pick fit the best with most of the material, and the P bass usually seemed too "bouncy" with the mids.

With Beck, a P-Bass sound (putting aside hollow bodies, Steinbergers, T-Birds, Rippers all the other "character" stuff) was for sure the mainstay.

I don't know. P-basses, for the most part, seem to resonate a bit more with the artists/producers I work with.

This is such a subjective question that is hard to answer; I can only speak on the way it goes in my particular world.

Best,
JMJ

Hizzoner · #3 12-05-2009, 07:34 PM

Very much appreciated...hard to go wrong with a P in many situations....
I really wanted to hear your own thoughts on the subject...thanks

Mark

BrandonBass · #4 01-07-2011, 11:19 AM

hey, jmj i own a jazz bass with dimarzio J as well and with the neck pickup solo'ed it can pull off a 'precision' sound pretty well. What is your opinion on this?

jmjbassplayer · #5 01-07-2011, 12:07 PM

For me, I don't think it really does the same job, no.

thudstaff23 · #6 01-07-2011, 12:30 PM

Interesting.

On the topic of the Beck P-bass tones:

JMJ, if you don't mind me asking, did you use a pick for "think I'm in love"? That is one of my favorite lines, and I love working it finger style. I think I hear pick on the recording however, and I was just curious. I really think your tone is superb for a lot of Beck, especially Sea Change. Much respect!!

BrandonBass · #7 01-07-2011, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmjbassplayer

For me, I don't think it really does the same job, no.

thanks for the reply.

but pls pardon me cause i have another question

, would you use a pbass strung with flats in a situation where distorted guitars is present? will it get buried alive?

also, why would u rather have a traditional P opposed to a P/J?

jmjbassplayer · #8 01-07-2011, 04:35 PM

1) It can get buried. With Beck, no. With NIN, yes. Depends on the spectrum you're fighting against, and how bright your flats can be.

2) Because I haven't found a P/J that, when the neck is solo'ed, can sound exactly like a good P.

James Judson · #9 01-07-2011, 05:00 PM

I own 7 basses that I'm in love with (for different reasons and no two at the same time). I don't have the money to keep fresh strings on more than one at a time. Sooooooo...... when the strings are dead on the one I'm using, I lift my head and ask who's turn is it to get new strings. Now I play lots of styles (rock, country, blues, regge, funk, fingerstyle, picks, slap) and I would think that one bass is best for one style etc. etc. I can make any bass work in any situation. With that said I find a slight advantage using a thicker sound (P-bass, EB-3) when playing in a small trio. And another slight advantage using a thinner sound (J-bass) in a band with 4 or more. No one in the audience will notice the difference between a P and J. I say pick the one that sounds best to you and feels best to you. Or buy a bunch and rotate frequently like I do. A fan may come up to you and say "you got a new bass", then I lie and say "yep"!! Once in a while a musician will accuse me of having good tone but he's really judging my ability to track with the drummer.

Moral: Any bass will sound good when played tight with a drummer.

jmjbassplayer · #10 01-07-2011, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Judson

Moral: Any bass will sound good when played tight with a drummer.

I actually think that is quite true.

BrandonBass · #11 01-08-2011, 03:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmjbassplayer

1) It can get buried. With Beck, no. With NIN, yes. Depends on the spectrum you're fighting against, and how bright your flats can be.

2) Because I haven't found a P/J that, when the neck is solo'ed, can sound exactly like a good P.

i see. anyways, i have mainly been a jazz/stingray player and for years ive been trying to force myself to like a P tone but i just cant get into it

People always say a good p tone is one that is fat and thumpy and sits well in the mix. But i have played several P basses and they all sound 'hollow' to me. Its like somewhere in the mids frequency something is missing.

How would you define a good p tone..? And also, how much difference do you think the fretboard of the neck make in the outcome of the tone?

thanks

jmjbassplayer · #12 01-08-2011, 10:35 AM

I dunno - just big and brawny, with the kind of mids that mesh so well with lots of other dense guitars/keyboards. It's just a way different kind of midrange than a j bass or musicman. I don't find the fingerboard makes a huge difference, frankly .
JMJ

BrandonBass · #13 01-08-2011, 12:20 PM

thanks for takin the time to reply.

btw, im gonna place an order for a tech 21 vt thanks to ur NIN vid

NickD · #14 01-11-2011, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Judson

Once in a while a musician will accuse me of having good tone but he's really judging my ability to track with the drummer.

Moral: Any bass will sound good when played tight with a drummer.

+1000
I remember getting this advice once from an old pro bassist, who'd been round the block, when I was at the time scratching my head trying to improve my bass tone.
I eventually found a good drummer for me, locked in with him. Compressor went back in the bag of unused effects pedals, got my punchy tone organically.

Good drummers really are worth they're weight in gold IHMO.

thombo · #15 01-11-2011, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmjbassplayer

2) Because I haven't found a P/J that, when the neck is solo'ed, can sound exactly like a good P.

how 'bout your Yamaha BB2024X or tony franklin? i don't bring this up to call you out, but rather find out what you think... i've been on the fence about putting a j-bridge in my p.

jmjbassplayer · #16 01-12-2011, 12:57 AM

No, they don't quite do it.

Vic Winters · #17 01-14-2011, 01:39 PM

When you use the Yamaha, do you usually run it in the P or P+J setting?

jmjbassplayer · #18 01-15-2011, 11:20 AM

morehorn · #19 01-18-2011, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmjbassplayer

2) Because I haven't found a P/J that, when the neck is solo'ed, can sound exactly like a good P.

can you, or anyone, explain this? is it just that you haven't found a p/j that does the precision thing better than your go-to p's ... or is it that that there's something intrinsically different in p/j wiring/output/etc that makes the neck soloed sound "different"

jmjbassplayer · #20 01-19-2011, 12:30 AM

Beats me. Just basing it on what I've heard with mine.