They want me to use my P-bass.

[jsa0100]

Some people i play with prefer that
i plays with my Precision instead of my Jazz.
They feels the P bass "fills out more".
The reason i plays with my Jazz is that i like the upper mid range.
It cuts through and i am so used to type of sound.
We plays mostly 60's and 70's rock.
Shouldn't have brought the P-bass.
Should i budge ?

[KeithPas]

If you have a P Bass play it. I played at a worship service this past week and intended to use my Washburn Status bass (think jazz bass on steroids) and I also brought my cheap parts P bass just in case. When we started playing I decided that the sound of the Status was not right for that room and I used the P bass and it was perfect. They are not necessarily being unreasonable, it may just be that they are being honest with you about their opinion of what sounds better.

[4-string]

Nothing any one would say could make me play a P-bass.

It's your choice IMO.

[grace & groove]

Originally Posted by 4-string

Nothing any one would say could make me play a P-bass.

It's your choice IMO.

Ah well, you're close minded then.


<_<
>_>
<_<
Hey man, just brings what sounds better with the band. If they think you complete the music fuller with a P, I suggest you'll need to think of a good reason as to why your Jazz can compliment the overall sound better than the P.

[Fuzzbass]

Consider yourself fortunate that your bandmates listen to you.

Why don't you compromise: play your P-bass half the time, and your J-bass the other half.

[J.D.B.]

What is gained if you decide to use a P bass or stay with the Jazz? Get someone to play yours and step out front and see if it sounds better to you, one way or the other. Made a world of difference for me to hear what the actual sound was out in the audience. I love a good sound check. Other than that, being "in a band", I tend to keep the door open and come to some "group consensus" on how or what the sound should be. It's as much a social thing for me as an individual expression. For some reason(s), the P bass sound rules the world, even in the studio. It's considered the "right tool" in so many places. Why is that? The sound happens to have the most "right" characteristics to the most people. Sounds like what yer guys were trying to convey. "Use a blade to cut and a hammer to pound".
Josh

[butchblack]

Tough call

If for whatever reason you don't like playing the P, then don't. What the original post hints at is that your band mates have a different opinion of what the band's overall sound should sound like. The suggestion of getting someone to play your basses through your amp at your settings so you can hear the differences is good. I can not tell on stage what I really sound like, so I appreciate when someone plays either my bass or my amp or both, so I can hear what others are hearing and I don't have to concentrate on playing.

[BuffaloBass]

Hey, I have a Pbass around in case I ever wanted "that sound". As long as you dont mind the wee bit of hum, your JBass heavy or all neck pup should do fine, as does mine. They seem to be asking for more of those lower mids in the mix. As all others have said ( cept one), defer to the music and appreciate that your band mates are listening critically. Again, you can emulate the same low mid heavy vibe on the J, by using the neck pup redominantly, or, if its an active bass, dialing in plenty of mids ( low Hz setting if avail) , rolling off treble, and boosting the lows a freckle.

[jsa0100]

I am running the basses in to the PA with DI.

However i have a Peavey DPB with a good preamp section
that allows me to use eq prior to the XLR out.
I will bring it the next time.

I haven't had any one playing my bass, but standing away with a
long cord, my first impression is that the precision gives a heavier sound.

[bebop1]

I play both P and J exclusively for electric. I use my 2006 MIA Jazz more often than my 1977 MIA Precision, but sometimes the P works in better (usually depending on the guitar player's tone). Both J and P sound great with drums even though they occupy different sonic spaces. With tough rooms, the J is usually better as it can be set to be less "boomy".

So, most commonly, I use my J live and my P on recordings. I would listen to the other band members closely in your case though - they rarely express an opinion about bass and likely have good reasons.

[KeithPas]

I find that mt P works better is settings where the instrumentation is thicker and there are more instruments pushing low end besides bass guitar. The P just seems to occupy a place sonically that other instruments do not. It ends up sounding thicker and it has more clarity "in the mix". By itself it does not always sound better.

[zachbass02]

Originally Posted by jsa0100

Some people i play with prefer that
i plays with my Precision instead of my Jazz.
They feels the P bass "fills out more".
The reason i plays with my Jazz is that i like the upper mid range.
It cuts through and i am so used to type of sound.
We plays mostly 60's and 70's rock.
Shouldn't have brought the P-bass.
Should i budge ?

if they write you a pay check and it could cost you the gig, then yes. if you don't really care if you could possibly get the boot, then no....

[CrashClint]

I own a X2 wireless which allows me to walk out and listen to the overall sound. If you are playing with good solid musicians and the overall concensus is that the P sits better in the mix, I am going to do whatever makes the band sound better. I love my Roscoe bass (which produces monsterous P tone), but I do carry my jazz as a backup and have used it occasionally.

[Marcury]

I'm confused, why even have a P-bass if you don't want to play it?

[scootron]

Originally Posted by KeithPas

I find that mt P works better is settings where the instrumentation is thicker and there are more instruments pushing low end besides bass guitar. The P just seems to occupy a place sonically that other instruments do not. It ends up sounding thicker and it has more clarity "in the mix". By itself it does not always sound better.

IMO, this is exactly right. So many people worry about what they sound like "solo", when what really matters is how they sound in the mix. I play in a band with a group of very young musicians, very worried about their "tone", and that has been the hardest thing to convince them of, that the only thing that counts is how everybody sounds when we are playing together. I have basses that I love the sound of, but they just don't sound right in the mix of our band, so I wind up playing a P, or sometimes a J depending upon the tune. If you are playing certain old Stax tunes, you just about need a P to capture the feel.

[EddieG]

If you like using the Jazz, why not wire in a series/parallel switch, or push-pull pot? I've done it on my Warmoth recently, and when switched it does have a fatter, P-ish sound.

Though of course nothing will beat a real Precision. Just thought I'd point that out before the purists do!

[Buskman]

Originally Posted by zachbass02

if they write you a pay check and it could cost you the gig, then yes. if you don't really care if you could possibly get the boot, then no....

I agree - it all comes down to the almighty $$$. If it's a paying gig, you do (or play) what's required by your employee. If it's not a paying gig, then the heck with 'em & play what you like!

[nastyn8c]

The P tone is fatter, and depending on your band's style and mix, it may actually sit better in the mix. Personally, and this is total personal preference, I hate P necks. If someone wanted me to play a Fender P, it would need to have a Fender J neck. My Dingwall gets a pretty solid P tone, and I do find that while it sounds really good, it doesn't cut quite as well, so I can relate a little bit.

I tend to avoid the P tone in a full band setting, unless it's something really mellow. That said, if everyone was telling me to use it, I'd be okay with knowing that it is the best sound I can get.

[spade2you]

Eh, you're the bassist and should know how things are sounding. So, do you get to tell the guitarist what to do if he's telling you to do this? If the P sounds good in spots, use it. If the J sounds the way you want it, stick with it. When the day is done, you're the one who has to live with the end results of your playing.

[knarleybass]

Originally Posted by Fuzzbass

Consider yourself fortunate that your bandmates listen to you.

Why don't you compromise: play your P-bass half the time, and your J-bass the other half.

Ah-men