Sorry for the dumb question but I always wondered what the main differences are between a P and J bass. I'm looking to buy a new bass and am not sure which to get. I assume Jazz basses are played for Jazz ( duh) and maybe P basses are more for rock? But can you play the other styles on the other bass? Are there any sound differences? I mostly play rock music maybe some reggae, but sometimes I jam with my piano playing cousin who is into Jazz. Thanks for any help you can give.
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Differences in Precision and Jazz basses
- Thread starter Trist6075
- Start date
This question is asked almost weekly. For what you describe get a P bass as its more suited. Basically the difference apart from pickup layout and stuff. Is that a Jazz bass is more versitile that an P bass but does not give out the precision and the proper legendary tone that a P bass gives you.
Its your decision, play both and see which one you like better. I prefer P basses personally.
Its your decision, play both and see which one you like better. I prefer P basses personally.
Necks and bodies are different, plus you have different sounds.
Id say go for the best of both worlds and get a PJ bass, this will give you the P sound but you can also get the awesome aggressive edge of a J pup at the bridge
Id say go for the best of both worlds and get a PJ bass, this will give you the P sound but you can also get the awesome aggressive edge of a J pup at the bridge
Neck width - Jazz is thinner
Body - Jazz has an offset body shape.
Tone - I'd sum it up this way - Jazzes can get a larger number of different tones by varying the pickup pan/volume and tone, while the main tone of a Precision is useful/usable in a wider number of styles of music without changing much.
You can take a p-bass with a single volume and tone and play reggae, funk, jazz, rock, country, etc. and MAYBE roll down the tone knob for reggae and jazz. One change, many styles.
J-bass - you might want to solo the neck pickup for some things, solo the bridge pick for others, balance the two or have them both running but unbalanced, before ever touching the tone knob, just to get the perfect sound for the style/song.
Body - Jazz has an offset body shape.
Tone - I'd sum it up this way - Jazzes can get a larger number of different tones by varying the pickup pan/volume and tone, while the main tone of a Precision is useful/usable in a wider number of styles of music without changing much.
You can take a p-bass with a single volume and tone and play reggae, funk, jazz, rock, country, etc. and MAYBE roll down the tone knob for reggae and jazz. One change, many styles.
J-bass - you might want to solo the neck pickup for some things, solo the bridge pick for others, balance the two or have them both running but unbalanced, before ever touching the tone knob, just to get the perfect sound for the style/song.
I purchased in 1971 A new Fender Jazz.....I love the feel of a Jazz, but I wanted more punch out of it, so in 73' I had a P bass pup mounted where the neck J pup was and put that J pup right next to the bridge J pup. That was in 1973 that I had that done at Veneman's Music in Rockville,Md by a guy named John. He also added 2 mini toggles to boost either the P or J pups. It's the best of both worlds with the punch of the P pups & The mids of the J's. I own 10 different basses....but none of them can get the sound I get out of my 71' Modified Jazz.
Thanks for the replies everybody. I'm thinking of getting a new bass so I just wanted to know the sound differences and styles for each one. I think I will probably go with a P Bass. I like playing mostly rock but also walking bass lines. I'm still undecided on whether to get a 51 P bass or a Standard P Bass or a Fender Jaguar although it may be different from a P bass. I need a new 4 string bass cuz all I have is my acoustic bass guitar and a five string. I have to order online so I can't really play them before.
A P-bass can do everything. A jazz bass can do everything, and sound good, too.
Exactly, both are great basses and both can do anything. Aside from the slight differences in neck and body shape, the Jazz has two pickups and the Precision has one, so you have more possible tones available with the Jazz. For no other reason that having two pickups over one, go for the Jazz. I'm a firm believer that the differences in the two are not as extreme as people make them out to be. The neck pickup on a Jazz is fairly close to the single Precision pickup, but then you have one more on the Jazz, all the better.
basically... jazz bases are for girls
P basses are like Telecasters as Jazz's are to Stratocasters... just to confuse you further..
P basses are like Telecasters as Jazz's are to Stratocasters... just to confuse you further..
basically... jazz bases are for girls
P basses are like Telecasters as Jazz's are to Stratocasters... just to confuse you further..
r u calling me a girl!?!?! thems fighting words. haha, i love my jazz basses. so groovy and growly. tone for days
PICS? I'd love to see the bass. From your description, it sounds like it would be awesome.
basically... jazz bases are for girls
Correct. So all of you guys have to send your Jazz basses (including boutique copies) to me, or suffer ridicule at the hands of your brethren.
But seriously, concerning styles of music, many seem polarized on P-bass for Punk and Motown and J-bass for Funk slap tone, although I had fun slapping on a P-bass(!) at GC a few days ago. Lot's of '70's funk tunes were thumped on P-basses. You can't go wrong with either, and certainly can't go wrong with both.
basically... jazz bases are for girls
P basses are like Telecasters as Jazz's are to Stratocasters... just to confuse you further..
Nope, they're just for people smart enough to know how to spell "basses."
