Best body fit - Precision or Jazz?

[Liam Wald]

My 77 Jazz bass balances much better with Hipshot Ultralite tuners than it did with the stock tuners.
That said, the P-Bass feels better to me but I like the sound of the Jazz.

 

[GretschWretch]

For me, best fit sitting is the Supro violin bass. That deep C bout across my thigh allows many angles for best neck accessibility. Standing is a bit more of a challenge since the Supro is a longer than normal bass.

 

[Hundred proof]

Yeah at 5'7" the Sterling works well for me.

 

[idoker]

It would be interesting if the OP provided a poll to better view the results of the two choices.

 

[bobyoung53]

I like the way the P bass feels better too but been playing them for years so that counts for a lot too, I love them both though.

 

[dkelley]

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 left. I like to pluck over the bridge pickup and that causes my wrist to really have to bend to unsustainable angles.

View attachment 3393092

I had no idea the j neck is so much farther away than on a p. Damn. Played both for decades. This really shows it clearly.

I had no idea at all before this.... wow... i'm floored

 

[bobba66]

I own a Precision and that's what I love. On the other hand, I've enjoyed every Jazz Bass I've ever played.

 

[Jscriv]

I actually rock a p body with a geddy neck. Super comfy. That and an EBMM sterling just fit me perfectly

 

[StyleOverShow]

This P bass, I’ve sold it since, was the best fit ever. It’s an MIM, 52 reissue.
I think the belly curve matched my belly. Like two LEGO pieces, it just fit.

 

[nostatic]

I hate offset bodies. I've tried numerous times, and had some great basses but just don't like the ergonomics or looks of a J-bass body compared to a P-ish.

 

[Kukulkan61]

I like both, mainly a Pbass guy tho. Im a lower left leg amputee since 2015 so now I alternate standing and sitting when I'm gigging but I mostly stand, the only difference between the two to me is the Jazz is more comfy when I'm sitting!!

 

[Nashrakh]

Excellent food for thought. Comes at an appropriate time for me. In my quest for THE ONE I have recently been faced with the issue of balance when sitting down. My P balances nicely, no issues. My 6 string Ibanez SR is just horrible in the regard, otherwise very comfy neck but it really doesn't balance well at all. Always dives and I need to "clamp" it which I feel is a severe handicap. No issue while standing up though, which is good, thus I am guessing the body shape just doesn't work with aircraft carrier necks.

The custom build I'm gassing for right now only offers J bodies... And that's where my problem lies. I'll be following the thread closely for comments on J balance while sitting.

 

[Nephilymbass]

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.

View attachment 3393092

They both have their ups and downs for me. For example the body shape of the p is slightly more comfortable for me but I think jazz pickups make better thumb rests when I’m playing the low string. Both are a lot more comfortable than some other basses on the market though so it’s no shocker that a lot of bass companies base their designs off of them.

 

[Greevus]

Gotta have a fat-friendly P bass for the belly

 

[Pdaddy1978]

I never did an engineering analysis of the two....
I just knew pretty quick that the ergonomics and balance of the P was a better, more comfortable fit .
Kinda cool to see the Bill Nye the science guy reasoning behind it tho.

 

[ThingsAbove]

Added a poll...

 

[mongo2]

I just tried my Mustang P/J to see how comfortable it is and it's a close second behind my Silvertone 1444 because the Silvertone balances a bit better while playing seated.

 

[nilorius]

I like jazz type more.

 

[Bassosaurus]

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.

Me too. Especially sitting the J is just perfect. They are generally heavier though. These days, I also prefer the P bass tone, but that was not always the case.

 

[TimboZ]

View attachment 3393092

Is it me or is the photo flawed. The P Bass is looks smaller in size than tne J. If they were both lined up at the 12th fret the horns would be the same