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Fender 5-String Basses - P or J - Opinions

Groover

Groover

Jun 28, 2005
1,756
19
Ohio, USA
#1
Thinking about adding a passive 5 string bass to
my arsenal. I typically play Fender Passive P basses, and I'd like to stay with similar tone.

Should I stick with the fender P fiver?

What's your opinion between the J and P fivers. Does one have a better B string over the other?

Thanks!
 
#2
Since they use the same necks, bridges and strings, there shouldn't be any difference in quality.

But

There was a P fiver sitting for over a year in the same shop I bought mine that had a really floppy B string. I have to assume it was a setup issue since mine has been great no matter what strings I use. I've seen this before with other brands as well between the same model of bass.
 
#3
The P5 is NOTHING short of amazing. But that' IMOH.

No Floppy B and I LOVE and Use the Fender Taper Core strings.

To my ears, it sounds the way a good P should. Vintage or New. It kicks.

Ed Friedland has a great video of it up on youtube.

It's gotten some goofy bashing on TB..but mostly from people who don't own it.
 
#5
IF your really into P basses, the P5 sounds like a great fit. I have only come across a few guys who say they didn't like them (although I don't go looking so there may be a bunch of them out there) and from all the video reviews and stuff I have read they are really great. That being said I would still vote for the J simply because if you have aton of Ps, why not throw a jazz in there just to mix it up a bit?
 
#7
CapnSev said:
Not totally true. The necks are a little different. The P is wider at the nut, and has a different back profile.

Anyway, IMO, go with the P. You can't beat a good ol' P bass with a low B.
Click to expand...

I was wondering about that myself, but I was unable to comment for the 5s as I have never even seen any of the new P5s. Obviously this isnt true for the 4. Honestly I'd get whichever one feels closest to the 4 string Ps you use now, since I am willing to sacrifice a degree of very specific sounds for greater comfort. After I fiddle with effects and amp settings I can overcome a lot of sound deficiencies.
 
#8
CapnSev said:
Not totally true. The necks are a little different. The P is wider at the nut, and has a different back profile.
Click to expand...

I pretty sure the necks are exactly the same. Both have 1.875" nut width, a "modern C" profile, 9.5" fretboard radius, and 20 frets. Before I bought my 2008 Jazz V, I had played a P5, and loved the neck. I e-mailed Fender to make sure the J5 had the same neck, and was told it did.

I play both J and P basses, so for my first five I considered both. I loved the P5, but went with the Jazz because: (1) over time, I've found the J tone more useful, albeit by a thin margin; (2) IMO, Fender's Precision pickups have slightly "blurry" lows, which I thought woundn't be good with a low B string; and (3) I figured the definition from the J's bridge pickup would be good with a B string. I think I made the right call, because I love my Jazz V. It's slowly becoming my go-to bass.

But of course I still want the P5, and I might buy one soon.
 
#10
lousybassplayer said:
^ Apart from the assertion that they are the same neck (which I do not know for sure) I agree with all of this.
Click to expand...

I've read this on several threads - I also asked a tb'r who had both and he confirmed.

fwiw I have an older MIA J V and I absolutely LOVE it! I am more of a P guy these days so I might choose differently if I were getting one today...
 
#12
I've played both, and cannot make up my mind as to which one. The necks are the same width (1.875) - according to the Fender Website!

I also played a American Deluxe V . . . 22 frets, Samarium Cobalt pickups, slightly smaller body (I'm told), grainer wood, active EQ, and so on, and it feels different from the other two.

The necks are what has sold me on Fenders . . . those rolled edges just feel good.

BTW, the 8250 strings that come with either of the three models . . . are excellent strings!
 
#13
I've played a Jazz V American for 10 years, and it is and always will be my favorite bass. The passive pups are sometimes a challenge for lazy sound techs when I DI to the FOH, but they sound so sweet. Compared to other 5 strings, the Jazz V neck seems a little wide but I like the string spacing. I play almost all fingerstyle, so couldn't tell you about slapping, but the tone for fingers is that great jazz tone.

As for whether the necks are the same, couldn't say. Never played a P5. as for a rattling B string, I know on my bass it was a setup issue. the regional chain store did me no favors but I found a qualified luthier/tech who adjusted the neck, corrected the intonation and set the action just perfect.

So hey, you already have a P4, branch out a little, try the J5, but definitely play before you buy.
 
#14
i just returned a jazz 5 after a week b/c i couldn't get the p 5 i played out of my head. swapped it and i am in love!!! i raised up the bass side of the pup a little bit and it sounds great!!! very even w/ a nice passive B string sound. if you do pull the trigger, make sure you get the case and goodie package.

i am a stingray 5 player, so i am use to a nice b string... the us standard precision delivers the goods!

i liked ed friedland's review:


that said, i am use to a single pup design, and don't touch the tone in my rays too often. the jazz does have more tonal options, but it also has single coil hum.
 
#16
You know, I was gassing for one of these P5's for awhile, until I played an untouched one at GC last week. What a dissapointment, even played it through the SVT rig too...B string just don't have the mojo for some reason, maybe it was just that bass..maybe in P/J form it would rock.
 
#18
The local store here has a P5 that I am stopping by once a week to play. I absolutely love it! The B string needed a little adjustment by way of the pickup, and it sounded just great.

Some people complain about the P5's B being "floppy", but it's on a P bass for crying out loud! I think even the E string sounds floppy and chunky on a P, like it's supposed to sound.
 
#19
i think the p sound on a low B is amazing. im personally a jazzV kinda guy (as im in the midst of trying to get one) but if i had the doe to spare i would have an only white and tort P5 in my arsenal and im pretty sure if i could bet on me being me it would probably be my main
 
#20
405893476_gKSCz-M.jpg


:p
 

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