Can I be happy with a Jazz?

[Jefenator]

FWIW my J is my hands-down favorite.
I like how the J neck pickup goes a little deeper than a P. A good one won't get buried; it will occupy and dominate its own territory below everything else.
But there is also bite with the single coil. Even without any help from the bridge, I can get some trebly presence with a pick.
And that's just the one pickup setting. I don't use blended & bridge solo'd as often, but they are both also very relevant IME.
I think of P & J as siblings - distinct but not eons apart. With both types, I find implementation is key. It would be easy to try a so-so specimen of either & get an impression that the design isn't working.
I would take a mojo-tastic P over a "meh" J any day. But, all things being equal in terms of wood resonance & pickup quality, the J is what I really crave.
"Can I be happy with a Jazz?" Definitely YES - if you're me.

 

[tvbop]

I can dial a convincing p sound with the neck pickup full on and the bridge pickup 50% or less. Once it’s in the mix of a band, you’d never know.

This. Saw two 70's well known bands recently, big theatres etc. One using a J bass the other a P bass and both bass tones sounded the same...kinda muddy and indestinct...in other words buy what feels right and not what you think is gonna sound a certain way cause the room and the sound dude will screw with it either ways.

 

[gln1955]

Find a Jazz with a series/parallel switch or mod whichever J you buy. The Jazz pickups in series will get you fairly close to a P tone when you just need that.

 

[logdrum]

Made in Japan

Kiesel JB-5 - Great value

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

If you can, find a friend that owns a P and trade basses for a week maybe?

 

[Grinderman]

If you can, find a friend that owns a P and trade basses for a week maybe?

Have a bass guitar key party while you're at it.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

Me personally?? I have bought and sold 2 nice MIM Fender jazz basses. One recently. I forgot why I sold the 1st one after I bought the second one 15 years later. I took my new jazz to our gig along with my other bass. After the 1st set I swapped back to my sterling ray4. Guitar player looked at me & said I like that one (ray4) better. Jazz seems to lack the big lows and kick. Jazz went back to GC.

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

Why the negativity? "neither knows what may be suitable"... yes I do, and I described it as clearly as I could. "nor really wants other people to give suggestions"... I am asking here, aren't I, and I haven't dissed anyone's welcome opinions and experience.

Lighten up, Francis.

People don’t know and can’t know if in “your band” a jazz bass will be audible or not .. go get one and try it .. period .. asking here something like this simply doesn’t make sense - no negativity whatsoever implied.

Edit:

I own 3 P-basses and 1 J; I like them all; why 3 P? It happened.
Can the sound of my J-bass fit in your band? I don’t know …

 

[IamGroot]

I am sure you will like the Jazz if you already have a Precision.
Choosing the third bass will be more difficult.

 

[Jeremy Crockett]

...

Can I retain most of the thumpy, mix-sitting strengths of my Precision in a Jazz bass? If so, is there a specific Jazz model I should be looking at, or do you think most Jazz basses will abide?

As others have pointed out; a Jazz will not sound like a P, that's why you want one of each.

 

[Gyver]

Can I retain most of the thumpy, mix-sitting strengths of my Precision in a Jazz bass?

Yes, if you get a USA Fender Geddy Lee Jazz...

 

[babsobass]

I am sure you will like the Jazz if you already have a Precision.
Choosing the third bass will be more difficult.

Agreed. If I was to speculate on a third, I'd probably lean toward a MM Sterling!

 

[babsobass]

Have a bass guitar key party while you're at it.

Sorry, but my bass is not much of a swinger.

 

[Gluvhand]

People don’t know and can’t know if in “your band” a jazz bass will be audible or not .. go get one and try it .. period .. asking here something like this simply doesn’t make sense - no negativity whatsoever implied.

Edit:

I own 3 P-basses and 1 J; I like them all; why 3 P? It happened.
Can the sound of my J-bass fit in your band? I don’t know …

You're making the argument that TB is unnecessary, and whether you meant to seem negative or not, that's how it's coming across. Even now. You could've just skated by but decided tell us what we can't and don't know. Experience goes a long way here. Certain generalities apply. Have a sunshiny day.

 

[Jonny Reese]

Agreed. If I was to speculate on a third, I'd probably lean toward a MM Sterling!

If you get an EBMM Sterling, the question will become which bass becomes your #2, the J or the P?

 

[P. Aaron]

I'm currently using a GK MB500 and one or two Avatar 112 cabs depending on the needs. This rig does really well for the P.

As I've said before; Great amp will get you through times of bad bass better than great bass will get you through times of bad amp.

 

[Auspuff]

I have a 2009 MIM Precision bass that I like a lot. It is pretty heavily modified; new electronics including pickups, new tuners, BA bridge. It is a great player bass and currently my only gigging bass. For the music we play (classic rock, a little new and old-school country, blues rock) with guitar and drums, it provides a sound that sits in the mix well.

I have been considering another bass, primarily a Jazz, in order to get the somewhat different sound and feel that a Jazz provides. I know I want to retain some of the things I like about the P: passive, mix filling mid-range thump, etc. But am also interested in what a Jazz can bring: slimmer neck profile, zingy-er high mids and highs when desired, etc.

Can I retain most of the thumpy, mix-sitting strengths of my Precision in a Jazz bass? If so, is there a specific Jazz model I should be looking at, or do you think most Jazz basses will abide?

Take the plunge. You'll wonder why you did not do it sooner.

Better yet, try a fretless Jazz, and bask in musical bliss.

 

[bikeplate]

From Jaco to Judas Priest. Jazz bass should treat you just fine

 

[IamGroot]

Agreed. If I was to speculate on a third, I'd probably lean toward a MM Sterling!

Excellent choice

 

[swarfrat]

If you want to be happy with it, close your browser and just play it.