FENDER BLACKTOP: P-bass? or J-Bass?

[N I C lK]

Sup TalkBass,

I have a question. I play mostly Stoner Rock/Metal, Doom Metal, Sludge Metal, Hardcore, Shoegaze, and some Alt-Rock bass so, most of these genres of music use highly fuzzy/distorted bass. I have a Bass Big Muff (**** yeah) and soon I will have a 400 Watt Acoustic Cabinet with a 200 watt Amepeg Micro-VR amplifier (You know, the one that comes with the micro cab but, the cab sucks dick. Yeah, that one). I currently have an Ibanez SR300 bass with active pickups and it sounds great for a $300 bass but, I have the money to get something I really like and I saw the 2 new Blacktop Bass's.

I (along with many of you I assume) love the way P-bass's look and sound. I also love the way J-Bass's look and sound. The new Blacktop P-Bass has 2 HUGE ass humbuckers and the Blacktop J-Bass has 4 Precision pickups instead of jazz pickups.

My question (finally) is, what bass would be better for a nice fuzzy tone? Most of the bassists I appreciate (Al Cisneros, Tim Bagshaw, Scott Reeder) play out of single coil pickups and ALWAYS have a great tone for bass but, aren't humbuckers better for handling fuzz? I am just unsure so I came here. I have only been playing for about a year and just need some help here. This also my first post in this forum so gimme a break.

Thanks people!

 

[ehque]

The new Blacktop P-Bass has 2 HUGE ass humbuckers and the Blacktop J-Bass has 4 Precision pickups instead of jazz pickups.

My question (finally) is, what bass would be better for a nice fuzzy tone? Most of the bassists I appreciate (Al Cisneros, Tim Bagshaw, Scott Reeder) play out of single coil pickups and ALWAYS have a great tone for bass but, aren't humbuckers better for handling fuzz?

Welcome to talkbass.

FYI, P basses have 1 P pickup, and the new blacktop jazz has 2. The two halves form a single unit.

Also, if you're looking to prevent hum for high gain fuzz, then both the humbuckers of the blacktop P and the P pickups of the blacktop J will kill hum and allow higher gain with less noise.

Personally i like the blacktop P better (twin buckers being represented in all sorts of heavier music, and it's also the layout my basses have - not fenders though) but I can't see why either wouldn't work in your situation.

 

[N I C lK]

Thanks for the welcome sir.

Anyways, I know that P basses normally only have 1 set. I was just curious about what would be better for my style. 2 Humbuckers? Or 2 Precision Pickups? I am starting to think about going with the J-Bass because, I like their body more and I think I would cut through the fuzz better with single coils, right? I have no clue because all I have ever played are active pickups out of my Ibanez. And I don't know many bassists in my style of music that use Humbuckers.

Thanks though!

 

[Ayliffe]

The Humbuckers will have a more aggressive tone (think stingrays) with more high mids. The P's will have more low mids and more thump to them.

Honestly it just comes down to which you like better, they'll both suit the music fine. Try them both out as much as possible and decide which you like better.

Edit: I play a lot of the same sorta music you do, and i'd prefer the p pups for the doomier stuff, where as i'd rather use the 'buckers for the faster hardcore stuff.

 

[N I C lK]

The Humbuckers will have a more aggressive tone (think stingrays) with more high mids. The P's will have more low mids and more thump to them.

Honestly it just comes down to which you like better, they'll both suit the music fine. Try them both out as much as possible and decide which you like better.

Edit: I play a lot of the same sorta music you do, and i'd prefer the p pups for the doomier stuff, where as i'd rather use the 'buckers for the faster hardcore stuff.

Why are the 'buckers better for hardcore? And thanks man but, I wish I could try both of them out but I don't have a Guitar Center around here or anything.

 

[Josh Pelican]

P-bass.

 

[JulienJeff]

another vote for the P !

 

[GBassNorth]

For what you play the "P" with dual humbuckers would be best. Much more bite and more agressive overall. It's more along the lines of the Stingray $$ or the G&L $$.

 

[mmbongo]

Definitely the P. But better yet, get a G&L L2000...much better bass.

 

[Josh Pelican]

Well, we could recommend all kinds of basses that are better, but I think he wants a Blacktop!

 

[dudelove]

try them out self and select that u better likes

 

[Muziekschuur]

Jazz with double P's cuts better thru the mix. P with dual humbuggies lays a heavy foundation but does not cut aswell. So it's up to the bandmix wich will do a better job. In the end... both are qualified...