Fender American Standard Jazz V vs. Precision V

rmars · #1 08-13-2011, 05:21 PM

Hey ya' all, I am interested in the newer (post 2008) American Standard Jazz and Precision 5 strings. I have seen Ed Friedland's review of the P-Bass version and even played one and was very impressed.

However; I have always been of the belief that a bridge pickup (or in the case of the Stingray the sweet spot) really made the sound of a B string not to mention I'm a J bass guy.

Also would like to know about weight, I keep seeing some pretty light weights posted on the P's but not much about the weights of the J version.

Besides the obvious differences between P and J basses would love to hear from some of you guys that have spent some time with both version of these Fender 5 strings what opinons you formed about them.

roadkill2309 · #2 08-13-2011, 06:07 PM

You're overthinking this. If you're a J bass guy, buy the J. I've spent time with both and love both. The reason I went for the P is because on a recent album I got a pretty good J sound by twiddling with my Lakland 55-02, but I never got a really good P sound out of it, so that's what I needed to fill the void.

Even the necks are the same, so you don't even have to worry about that.

One day, I'd like to get teh J to match my P.

walterw · #3 08-13-2011, 06:18 PM

don't discount the earlier "american series" jazz V.

that was the one model in the whole line where the S1 switch was really useful; series-wiring the jazz pickups brought back the missing beef on the low B, fixing its otherwise slightly anemic sound.

bal704 · #4 08-13-2011, 06:56 PM

I've had both. They both do their thing well. I personally don't like Jazz basses, so I got rid of the jazz. I still have the P5. Absolutely an incredible bass.

I've yet to play a bad post-2008 MIA Fender. Either 4 or 5 string.

Bassmunnky · #5 08-13-2011, 08:07 PM

I have Both. Love Both.

The J vs P or J + P arguments still apply.

The P5 is the BEST P I've ever owned. The B is great. Same for the J5 (but I did put NORDY Pickups in the J)...I use either based on what the needs are for the song, or what I feel like playing.

No Flop on the B whatsoever, and ED knows his sh!t. It's all true!

rmars · #6 08-13-2011, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassmunnky

I have Both. Love Both.

The J vs P or J + P arguments still apply.

The P5 is the BEST P I've ever owned. The B is great. Same for the J5 (but I did put NORDY Pickups in the J)...I use either based on what the needs are for the song, or what I feel like playing.

No Flop on the B whatsoever, and ED knows his sh!t. It's all true!

Yeah the P I played was great. Been wanting a P and a 5 string so I was kinda thinking it would kill two birds with one stone so to speak. But I also imagined that the B on the J may be a bit more punchy and growly.

How does the weight compare of the two you have? My shoulders been killing after every long night and the P was I played was pretty light.

rmars · #7 08-13-2011, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadkill2309

You're overthinking this. If you're a J bass guy, buy the J.

LOL! Yeah I know but I'm broke and don't buy a new bass very often so I admit I'm over analyzing the heck out of it . To add fuel to the fire I've always wanted a good P bass and the P V I played was one of the best sounding P basses I've ever laid my hands on. I played it back to back with one of the 60th Anniversary's the P V was a beast!

Joe Smithberger · #8 08-13-2011, 08:46 PM

I have both and bounce back and forth. Weight is almost the same. B string is better on the J, but the D and G are better on the P (you can better tune the pickup height). I have flats on the J and rounds on the P and still debate which to take every time.

bal704 · #9 08-13-2011, 09:17 PM

My P5 is the lightest P I've owned. Far lighter than my SR5. Really, my P5 might be the best bass I've ever owned, and I've had a lot of them. They may have just turned the screws right on the one I have, but it's great.

Snarf · #10 08-13-2011, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmars

Hey ya' all, I am interested in the newer (post 2008) American Standard Jazz and Precision 5 strings. I have seen Ed Friedland's review of the P-Bass version and even played one and was very impressed.

However; I have always been of the belief that a bridge pickup (or in the case of the Stingray the sweet spot) really made the sound of a B string not to mention I'm a J bass guy.

Also would like to know about weight, I keep seeing some pretty light weights posted on the P's but not much about the weights of the J version.

Besides the obvious differences between P and J basses would love to hear from some of you guys that have spent some time with both version of these Fender 5 strings what opinons you formed about them.

I've played one of each. I own a Jazz V and played a P V.

The jazz is heavy. It's NOT fun on a 4 hour gig. Part of that, though, I think has to do with the straplocks. I'm taking all straplocks off my basses, I think they're kind of uncomfortable. The neck is a little on the thick side for my taste in 5 string necks. B string is about as good as a Fender production model can get.

The P had a fantastic sound. Loved it. B string was plenty powerful. The P I played was quite light.

If you're a jazz guy, you'll like the jazz for sure. If you want the P, you won't be disappointed either. They're very different instruments of course, and it's all up to taste.

roadkill2309 · #11 08-13-2011, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmars

LOL! Yeah I know but I'm broke and don't buy a new bass very often so I admit I'm over analyzing the heck out of it . To add fuel to the fire I've always wanted a good P bass and the P V I played was one of the best sounding P basses I've ever laid my hands on. I played it back to back with one of the 60th Anniversary's the P V was a beast!

I overthink purchases like this all the time.

If you've always wanted a P, then I think that changes things. You really can't go wrong with either, but in light of a P being a long-time want, I'd say to get one. A P will fit in with almost any kind of music, whether you put rounds or flats on it. The same is true of a J, of course, but I'm assuming that you've already got some sort of a Jazz.

I'd check out the classifieds here for a 2008+ P 5. I saw a nice one a few days ago. If you're broke (Like me

), then the classifieds are a great way to buy a bass you couldn't normally afford.

maximumfiff · #12 03-25-2012, 01:48 PM

i bought a P 5 in april of 09, black with maple fret board. Its a ridiculous beast. It was my first bass purchase ever, everybody told me to start with a four string. i just saw the p five and couldn't pass it up, I've never regretted buying it. A big plus of the post 2008 fender's is the Graphite reinforced truss rod. As far as p vs J its all about the sound you like. I got the P because it does its job like no other, and i'm a huge fan of that sound, but the same could be said about a J bass, It does what it does better than any other.

dedpool1052 · #13 03-25-2012, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maximumfiff

A big plus of the post 2008 fender's is the Graphite reinforced truss rod.

they have been using the posiflex reinforcement system well before 2008.

rmars · #14 03-25-2012, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maximumfiff

i bought a P 5 in april of 09, black with maple fret board. Its a ridiculous beast. It was my first bass purchase ever, everybody told me to start with a four string. i just saw the p five and couldn't pass it up, I've never regretted buying it. A big plus of the post 2008 fender's is the Graphite reinforced truss rod. As far as p vs J its all about the sound you like. I got the P because it does its job like no other, and i'm a huge fan of that sound, but the same could be said about a J bass, It does what it does better than any other.

I ended up getting a Jazz V, kept it a week and sent it back. Nice bass but it was heavy compared to the P V's and I absolutely disliked the 9.5 radius on a 5 string Jazz. P basses are different animals to me and I think I could forgive the 9.5 on one of those but not on a Jazz. I may end up revisiting these later but in the meantime my needs have changed .

rmars · #15 03-25-2012, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dedpool1052

they have been using the posiflex reinforcement system well before 2008.

Yeah, I think it was around 98 or 99 when they introduced those. However, whatever Fender's done to improve their necks on American Standards since the mid 2000's (whether it be wood choice or construction) has been a big improvement.

JMarsh · #16 03-26-2012, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmars

I ended up getting a Jazz V, kept it a week and sent it back. Nice bass but it was heavy compared to the P V's and I absolutely disliked the 9.5 radius on a 5 string Jazz. P basses are different animals to me and I think I could forgive the 9.5 on one of those but not on a Jazz. I may end up revisiting these later but in the meantime my needs have changed .

Just curious: what radius are you looking for on these?

rmars · #17 03-26-2012, 12:26 PM

I like 12" to 14" on wider neck 5 string basses. The wider the neck the more I notice the tighter radius. I'm not a big fan of 7.25" but I'm cool with 9.5" on a 4 string. The Stingray Classic 5's are 7.25 and that seems totally ridiculous to me.

Please understand that this is a personal preference I've developed over the years and I tend to be picky. I'm sure most guys could care less and that's cool. I am probably most frustrated by this because in all other ways I think Fender is making some killer basses these days. Had that bass been a 4 string I don't think I could have parted with it!

Nedmundo · #18 03-26-2012, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmars

I like 12" to 14" on wider neck 5 string basses. The wider the neck the more I notice the tighter radius. I'm not a big fan of 7.25" but I'm cool with 9.5" on a 4 string. The Stingray Classic 5's are 7.25 and that seems totally ridiculous to me.

I'm with you on this, but I still like the 9.5" radius on my 2008 Jazz V. I'd prefer 12" -- which I have on my G&L fours -- but the 9.5" feels natural.

Too bad your Jazz V didn't work out. I ordered mine on line, and got lucky with a light one that resonates like crazy. I think it's lighter than my 2003 Am. Series four. So the light ones are out there; you just might have to look for awhile.

I've been on the fence about the P5 for a long time. Fender could get me off the fence with a five string version of the new American Deluxe P, which would be so awesome that it seems like a no-brainer to at least give it a shot in the marketplace.

Mojo-Man · #19 03-26-2012, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassmunnky

I have Both. Love Both.

The J vs P or J + P arguments still apply.

The P5 is the BEST P I've ever owned. The B is great. Same for the J5 (but I did put NORDY Pickups in the J)...I use either based on what the needs are for the song, or what I feel like playing.

No Flop on the B whatsoever, and ED knows his sh!t. It's all true!

I agree 100%.
Just got a mint 2008 P5. This bass is amazing. Great B-string.
One sweet sounding P-Bass.
It is so much more musical than I expected. First 5-string that lets me be me.

rugrat · #20 03-26-2012, 06:50 PM

Last week I got my Jazz v from Bass Central. I feel good with the 9.5 lbs. Very happy overall. I did have to raise my B string quite a bit to keep the fret buzzing under control. I had a very well respected Luthier adjust everything He checked the frets and said that they were spot on, and the neck was beautiful.