Best body fit - Precision or Jazz?

[micguy]

All of my basses are built on either a P body of a Warmoth G4 (which is kinda like the G&L body - a sleeker Pish kinda body). My Jazz basses (pickups are jazz pickups in the usual 60's positions) are built on P bodies, and have P width necks. Fits my big hands better, I practice a fair amount sitting down (the P shape balances better), and.....a P just sits better on conventional guitar stands. Besides being "different", I see no real reason one would prefer a J body. Obviously my opinion, and you're entitled to yours, even if it's wrong. ;-)

 

[ultra60]

If you have a Fender hard case it will fit both basses but you'll see space around parts of the P-bass in the case because it has a smaller body.

Actually... the Fender AVRI cases for the P, and J were not the same length. The J bass case is indeed longer, and if you put a P in there, it has plenty of room to move length wise. This is true of the early tweed cases with the orange interiors. I'm not sure about the later cases.

 

[Basically Bob]

The curved body of my Spector Rebop feels sooooo good!

 

[AudioTaper]

My Peavey Cirrus 5 fits me really well.
Jazz bass fits ok, P bass sits kinda funny.

 

[BassinCT]

I have a USA custom “Pea” that is very comfortable against the body. It was my first P-style bodied bass, and I immediately felt at home with it. When playing seated, I prefer to rest the bass on both legs, which puts the neck further away. My other instrument is one I built that has the curve on the treble side closer to the balance point it is my “sit-down” bass.

Seated, J basses were ok when resting on my right leg.

 

[Altitude]

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

I'm 5'10 and 185; the J body feels a little large to me.

The P feels fine, and there are a few downsized J bodies out there (Lakland DJ, Valenti, Sadowsky among them) that also feel fine.

When I play a standard size J, I feel a little of the "little guy, big bass" look that Rob Squires from Big Head Todd's band does so well:

I don't like that look for me, though.

 

[PJ Muzikmansky]

This is a very interesting thread.

I'll elaborate on my previous comments and say that a significant reason toward my preference for fender, or fender-style basses - almost to the exclusion of all others - IS the shape of the J & P; both of which {at 6'5 } I find very agreeable.

My only deviation from this course is in my long term love affair with the Stingray bass - specifically my 2003 EB 3 band. It has a slightly smaller body, albeit in the same ballpark as the P bass, but I've long since come to terms with it for the sake of owning *that* sound.

Other basses {apart from the stingray} have come under consideration over the years, but I'm usually faced with one of two issues: 1) Either they sound good {e.g. various iterations of Spector, or Hofner } BUT the body is way too small for me, or; 2) the body IS the right size {e. g. Gibson Ripper} but I don't really dig the tone. Thus, ergonomics AND tone are and a big part of why I keep coming back to the trusty J or P {and to a lesser extent, the 'Ray}.

To summarise then:

• Best sound + slightly less optimal fit = Precision;
• Best ergonomics + slightly less optimal sound = Jazz

 

[pedroims]

I have a 5502, Fender Jazz, Fender P, Yamaha BBP45, Stingray 5. All feel the same to me in the fretting hand. I dont care about plucking hand because position depends on the sound I am looking for.

I might be crazy but I have never noticed nor feel a difference between a P or J body, neck is a diffetent story.

 

[Rip Van Dan]

Note I said that's where my Jazz bass balances. If I set it on my leg at the cut-out my bass head dives to the floor. Similarly I can't move my elbow back because I have to rest part of my arm on the rear of the instrument or it head dives to the floor. I'm glad your Jazz balances perfectly on your leg at the cutout.

Different strokes for different folks was the point of the OP.

Different strokes indeed. I'm sorry to hear your neck dives from that point - that sucks. Regarding moving the elbow back and up, I still have my forearm resting on the bass when I do that.

 

[chadds]

Tele.

 

[gr8avocado]

I've had 3 j-basses and got rid of them pretty quickly. I like the sound, but the shape and feel just don't agree with me at all. It's not the neck since I prefer the 1.5in on my other basses. I dunno they just feel off somehow.
The p style body just feels right.

 

[kevinpmajka]

I am so glad I found this thread. I thought I was crazy for not liking jazz bass body type basses. I'm 5-6 when I'm feeling tall and chubby and despite that I love precision bodies. The f note on the e string does not bother me at all. I feel like I'm swimming on a jazz bass.

I have multiple precision basses and I'm contemplating building a warmoth body with two jazz bass pickups so I can get that sound when I want it but not sacrifice feel of the body.

 

[kevinpmajka]

Am I the only one who ordered a body like this after the discussion? Ha. It will be surf green eventually.

It looks weird, but I'm super into it.

 

[MobileHolmes]

I have both, I've never noticed one fitting better than the other. My P type is lighter than my J type. But MY J gets all the play because I like the sound

 

[MobileHolmes]

Am I the only one who ordered a body like this after the discussion? Ha. It will be surf green eventually.

It looks weird, but I'm super into it.

I don't think it looks particularly weird. A P pickup on a J body always weirds me out though

 

[Jazz Ad]

The J is extremelly uncomfy to me. The neck is too narrow, the body cumbersome, controls difficult to reach. Hate it.

 

[Bob_Ross]

I'm not sure which I prefer (between the J and the P) because lately I'm finding that I'm very sensitive to that "arm crossing" point on every bass I play, and neither the J or the P is completely ideal for my comfort.
Actually of all the basses I own I think the most comfortable in that regard is the Schecter Stiletto Studio 8, which has a fairly small, decidedly non-Fender-ish shape:
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I suspect a Pedulla Thunderbass or Alembic Balance-K shape would offer a similar comfort...not that either of those are in my future any time soon!

 

[ThingsAbove]

The Fender Mustang is narrow top to bottom which I find very comfortable

 

[Hot Rats]

I play both and it makes no difference to me.

 

[kevinpmajka]

I don't think it looks particularly weird. A P pickup on a J body always weirds me out though

Agreed.