P bass in Jazz?

[lousybassplayer]

I don't know if its possible, but if anyone can help me figure it out, it's you guys.

 

[Dubista]

No, it's impossible. You can only use a Jazz bass to play Jazz.

But seriously, it depends on you, what you like, what you think sounds good and the context you're in.

What might work for one person might not work for you.

 

[lousybassplayer]

I suppose, but since I am a music theory D+ student at best, my "jazz" sounds just as good played on chickenwire. With all that random galavanting arund the fretboard, I am afraid the precision of a P bass would ruin the natural flow of jazz music.

 

[JimiLL]

I guess theres no legitimate thread topics anymore?

 

[lousybassplayer]

Oh, sorry. I'll try again.

Which Fender neck profile is best for slap metal for under 50 bucks or over 50 grand. Tort perhaps?

 

[Nitzan]

Tim Lefebvre uses a P bass when playing jazz. Though he totally has his own style...

 

[MOTORHEADBANGER]

TALKBASS HAS GONE INSANE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[troy mcclure]

The lunatics have taken over the asylum....

 

[mellowinman]

Why hasn't a major manufacturer come up with a model of bass called the "Metal."

Think about it.

Well, maybe DON'T think about it.

I don't care.

 

[dhsierra1]

Monk Montgomery (Wes' brother) used a PBass back in the early 50s with Lionel Hampton.

 

[peledog]

Did you know that the upright bass has been used incorrectly for years? It's supposed to be bowed. Pizzicato comprises less then 5% of playing style. So, if you play classical music on a P bass, it has to be bowed.

 

[CnB77]

Not to be that guy who brings up James Jamerson
But James Jamerson was essentially a jazz bassist and he liked the P-bass. Honestly you can use any kind of bass in any kind of music, as long as it's what you personally like.

 

[FenderBassist]

Precision bass used, I believe:



Can see it at around 2:40.

 

[David Jayne]

Sure. I mean, everybody knows if you put flats on a P bass it'll sound just like a DB. C'mon, folks.

 

[CapnSev]

Paul Jackson.

 

[shrimpflea]

Dave Holland......P-Bass with Miles Davis

 

[bassman64]

its not the Bass its the player

(true some bass's have unique tones and are used in certain types of music but is is not only this for that.....

 

[lousybassplayer]

Did you know that the upright bass has been used incorrectly for years? It's supposed to be bowed. Pizzicato comprises less then 5% of playing style. So, if you play classical music on a P bass, it has to be bowed.

Now that's the kind of response I was looking for.

 

[Rocky McDougall]

Leo gave us the Precision bass but there was no Precision music. What a waste.
Rocky

 

[KJung]

I don't know if its possible, but if anyone can help me figure it out, it's you guys.

To actually give you a serious response, I think your question is legit, since most electric players (IMO and IME) who play in most jazz contexts (e.g., cocktail jazz gigs, fusion, pop jazz, smooth jazz, even some straight ahead gigs, etc.) tend to play basses with two pickups and, in many cases, flatter radius necks with a more 'modern' flattened neck/board feel.

The P Bass doesn't have that feeling of 'space between the notes' that many 'jazz' players like, and the frequency response results in the upper register to not feel quite as articulate. Combine that with many P Basses having relatively round, fat neck profiles, and it seems easy to understand why other basses (more influenced by the Fender J than the Fender P) are more popular among players who play this type of music.

For me, who at most, plays 'cocktail jazz' sets on occasion at this point (i.e., pretty straightforward 'Real Book' type tunes at medium tempos), I love my P Bass on those types of gigs. Fat and a bit bloomy down low. It puts a nice pillow under the group, and also (at least in my case) forced me to move away from at least some of the cliche's and ruts I'd fallen into over the years, since the feel and reaction of the P is so different than a J or 'J inspired' bass (like Fodera, MTD, etc., etc.).

Pure IMO, and lots of over-generalizations, but I am TOTALLY digging the P (in my case, a Nordy passive 5 string) for virtually every playing context I perform in at this point.