Best body fit - Precision or Jazz?

[ThingsAbove]

I had a recent epiphany that a Precision bass body fits me better than a Jazz body. My plucking arm and hand fall to a more natural position and the P balances better on my leg when I practice sitting than my J.

Have you found a bass body style fits your body better than others?

I've done a markup on the image below to show differences in where the J vs P balance on my leg and where my arm crosses. I didn't realize that the J was so much longer than the P.

My arm crosses much further forward on the J when sitting due to the balance point being further forward causing my forearm to be higher and requiring much more bend in my wrist. It's not as bad when standing but I do most of my practice sitting.

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[PJ Muzikmansky]

The Precision feels good, but the Jazz feels slightly better for me. {I'm a big guy - 6'5 }

Tone is another matter. I generally prefer the tone of a good split coil Precision.

 

[4sight]

The Precision feels good, but the Jazz feels slightly better for me. {I'm a big guy - 6'5 }

Tone is another matter. I generally prefer the tone of a good split coil Precision.

Do you have a Mark Hoppus sig? If not, you should

I prefer the offset Jazz body too.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Anything where the upper horn strap button is near the 12th fret.
No single-cuts for me.

 

[LinusKarlsson]

I generally prefers P-basses, but it's a close call. My plucking hand and wrist like the P better, for some reason.

 

[mikewalker]

I'm thinking I agree (P >J) but I've only had about ten minutes playing time on the J so I guess that the jury is still out

But really neither of them hold a candle to my flying V with its built in forearm rest...

 

[mongo2]

Best fit for me standing or sitting is my resurrected '65 Silvertone 1444, better than any other I have including P and J.

 

[ThingsAbove]

The Precision feels good, but the Jazz feels slightly better for me. {I'm a big guy - 6'5 }

Tone is another matter. I generally prefer the tone of a good split coil Precision.

I'm much shorter than you (5'9") and while I don't have T-Rex arms it's a real stretch for an F when the instrument is strapped on. I can't even reach the G tuner by stretching without pulling the instrument toward my body. I think tall versus short players will see big differences between the two body styles.

Maybe it's just my J but it balances on my leg waaay out toward the end of the lower horn, shifting the body further to my right. I like to pluck over the bridge pickup and that causes my wrist to really have to bend to unsustainable angles.

 

[PWRL]

It's been a while since I played my Jazz, as it's in storage elsewhere right now, but I do remember that my P bass felt better on my lap. However, of any bass at all, my Warwick Streamer has been the easiest for me to use sitting down.

 

[P. Aaron]

I’ve instinctively liked the overall Precision bass playing experience more than any other electric basses I’ve played.

 

[nerkoids]

I preferred the Jazz overall for comfort and ergonomics that suit me. I find compared to the two P-basses I have it balanced better sitting down or standing up, and since I'm flats guy and like to pluck between the front pup and the neck, the issues some folks have who are more prone to pluck near the bridge doesn't really affect me.

 

[ultra60]

I mentioned to my band mates, a few months back, that the P shape works best for me. That led to the realization that I am not a Jazz bass guy, and it was more of a feel thing than anything else.

Excellent reference you posted there

 

[scowboy]

P-bass or any bass with a similarly styled body for me. My main basses have a traditional P-body or a Stingray.

 

[MattZilla]

6'1", lanky. P fits better than J due to that same arm contact you observed.

Maybe it's just my J but it balances on my leg waaay out toward the end of the lower horn, shifting the body further to my left.

This makes no sense, unless you're playing lefty. if your J is balancing closer to the 12th fret than the bridge, then its balance would be forcing you to shift it to your right, bringing the lower notes closer to you and pushing the bridge off further behind your hand.

Also, that balance point is not inherent to J's, just to basses with weight-mismatched body/neck combos. Your J has a heavy neck and a light body.

 

[baileyboy]

I, too, like the feel of the Precision over the Jazz, but both are very playable.

 

[Element Zero]

The P body fits me slightly better than the J style when standing. That’s really the measure for me. When sitting I’m not exactly in the same playing position I would be in if standing.

Although the offset J body is MUCH more comfortable when sitting and playing slap, I reserve that technique more for messin around than utilizing it with any of the groups I usually play with.

Other varying body shapes feel somewhat awkward. The Pedulla Pentabuzz I had never quite felt “right” to me. Similarly with Ibanez SR bodies I feel incredibly fat lol.

The Monarch shape of my Fodera is perfect.

 

[MJ_Sotti]

I really can't tell a difference. All I know is I like 'em heavy with the thickest necks.

 

[Hundred proof]

Way back I occasionally played with a pick, and liked the P for that, the J for finger style. The easiest overall for me now is the EBMM Sterling. The Sterling body is slightly smaller with the J taper neck.

 

[Sid the Kid]

Way back I occasionally played with a pick, and liked the P for that, the J for finger style. The easiest overall for me now is the EBMM Sterling. The Sterling body is slightly smaller with the J taper neck.

If you aren’t a big guy the Sterling shape is the most comfortable downsized P body you will experience. Great basses. G string tuner is easier to reach too!

 

[pappabass]

Yes, I had a Squier VM jaguar, I could not sit down & play it because the cut away was in the wrong position