Comparing new Precision to Jazz

[KrisH]

Yesterday I picked up a 2002 Standard Precision from a flea market. It cleaned up and tweaked out really well, with just one cosmetic flaw on the front. More importantly, everything mechanical and electrical functions smoothly. Black with a white pickguard, like my Geddy Jazz, but with a Rosewood fretboard. I know . . . no pictures, etc. . . . . I'll get a few up in a day or so. It looks like a NOS piece that hung in a store until someone dinged it in the face.

The P-bass has a really nice sound, more midrange sounding than my Jazz, as I expected, but one thing that I didn't expect: these pickups are hotter than those in my Jazz. Noticably louder, I tweaked to get them close to each other volume-wise. Would this be because of the make of the pickups, or because the split coil is inherently louder than the two single coils? And it's hard to believe that the Jazz technically has more bottom and top end, the way this P-bass punches.

Other differences: the P-bass is a pound lighter. Any idea what the wood is? The neck isn't as clunky as other Ps I've played, either, so I guess that's probably part of he design for that model/year. I still like the Jazz neck better, though. But all in all, I'm pretty happy with it, and might mod it with chrome bridge and pickup covers. That, coming from someone who gigged with an EB-3 for years, and swore she'd never own a Fender . . .

 

[GeneralElectric]

Jazz basses prevent neck dive by having a larger body. Genius huh? The P-bass has a Fender B neck which means 1 5/8 (IIRC the actual nut width, its close) which is between Jazz necks and the P-bass C neck which is 1.75. However, almost every P-bass thats been made since the late 60s has had a B neck.

Precision basses are usually louder than the single coils since the split coil makes it almost humbucking. It has more punch because thats what midrange is.

Welcome to the joys of owning a P-bass.

 

[christw]

I swore I'd never go back to P Basses or Fender. I almost didn't. Then I realized that they provide the tone and feel I'm looking for. A chance at a Highway 1 for too cheap had me back in. I was almost a sole Ric convert too.

Personally, I love the big chunky P necks. My HW1 feels too small to me. It bothered me at first, but I've become accustomed.

 

[KrisH]

Here are a couple photos:

You can see the ding above the pickguard. I'm currently trying to camouflage it.

Here are the two Fenders together:

I think I'm going to trick the P-bass out with the chrome bridge and pickup covers. I've seen those and like the look on black/white.

Sorry it took a few days to get these posted -- I was sidetracked by the birth of my first grandchild yesterday . . .

 

[godofthunder59]

Congrats on the grand child ! Oh yeah and on the New P bass ! I am a Gibson guy myself but I do have a bunch of Fenders. I like J necks and P bass bodies and P pickups. My '08 Jazz has Seymour Duncan hot for Jazz pups that solves the low output issue of the Jazz for me. My '74 P has a pretty narrow neck for a P bass I like that alot. I know there are A, B, and C widths for Fenders but I forget which is which

 

[TomB]

Back in the day we used to call those "Beach Boys" basses .
Brian Wilson played a black/white P for years.

It's amazing how Leo Fender hit the jackpot so quickly w/the P, but it's worked well in so many genres for so many years! Mids are what you need in a live mix, and the P-bass excels.

I understand, I played an EB-2 for many years myself. I still like J-basses, as they do so many things well, but if you're struggling to be heard in a live mix and you only have one option... P-bass it is! ...and the B-neck is a nice compromise, even for a J-player.

 

[KrisH]

Now tricked out -- I like the look. Forgot to order the finger rest, though, Next time.

Posing with her sister:

 

[bassplayer7768521]

Those are two really classy basses there, congrats on finding the P-Bass :]