Fender J neck vs P neck, which you prefer and why.

[todd0864]

So I still have not come to a decision on which neck I prefer. Some days I prefer my MIM P and others I prefer the MIA J. I would like to hear from people who own both or logged some hours on both and why they prefer one over the other. Do you prefer the slimmer profile and narrow nut on the J or do you prefer the chunkier and wider nut of the P. Are there some techniques with your style that work better on one neck or the other? I'm not concerned with the pickups or if you put a J neck on a P body etc. Let's focus on neck profile only. Why do you prefer one over the other.

 

[boamedt]

I wish my j neck looked like my p neck, all flame maple with a beautiful rosewood board..but i prefer j necks

 

[Chico Ruger]

So I still have not come to a decision on which neck I prefer. Some days I prefer my MIM P and others I prefer the MIA J. I would like to hear from people who own both or logged some hours on both and why they prefer one over the other. Do you prefer the slimmer profile and narrow nut on the J or do you prefer the chunkier and wider nut of the P. Are there some techniques with your style that work better on one neck or the other? I'm not concerned with the pickups or if you put a J neck on a P body etc. Let's focus on neck profile only. Why do you prefer one over the other.

Even though I have relatively short fingers, I like a wide P neck; the 1.75 nut width is my fav. I mostly finger pluck, occasionally use my thumb, and never slap. I even prefer wide necks on short-scales. It helps that I am not a "fast" player. The wide spacing both on the fretboard and at the picking area provides a comfortable margin-of-error for me

All that said, I do have a Guild M85 with a J width neck that I like, but it is not my main player.

I have been playing more SS lately, due to hand issues.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

So I still have not come to a decision on which neck I prefer. Some days I prefer my MIM P and others I prefer the MIA J. I would like to hear from people who own both or logged some hours on both and why they prefer one over the other. Do you prefer the slimmer profile and narrow nut on the J or do you prefer the chunkier and wider nut of the P. Are there some techniques with your style that work better on one neck or the other? I'm not concerned with the pickups or if you put a J neck on a P body etc. Let's focus on neck profile only. Why do you prefer one over the other.

Wider does not require chunkier.

 

[Matt Dean]

Over the years I've been gravitating towards wider and flatter necks. I used to play jazz type basses and now I'm more of a vintage P neck guy.

 

[mpdd]

i prefer the chunkier jazzes and the more modern p necks, however the super wide flat p necks are pretty comfortable once you get used to them

 

[Malak the Mad]

I've preferred Jazz necks from the get-go. For me, the main reason is the slightly tighter string-spacing. It allows me to switch/reach from string to string with a little bit more efficiency and physical economy. However, I found out the hard way that not all Jazz necks are equal.

When I put together my first parts-bass project, I used the neck from a Squier Deluxe Jazz. I loved the look of the smooth, all-black, ebonol fretboard. Plus, it had a black painted headstock…a big "Hell Yeah!" for me. I was also intrigued by the purported toughness and "resistance to humidity" of the ebonol. Unfortunately, I could seem to fully bond with it. There was "something" not quite right with it that I couldn't peg down.

Later that year, I decided to dig my Aerodyne out of it's dormancy and take it with me on a short trip. Once I started noodling around with my 'Dyne, something I hadn't done in many months, I had an epiphany! (as opposed to an Epiphone ) That "something" I was missing with my parts-bass was in the neck. So, I called up the specs of both basses for comparison. As it turns out, it was the fretboard radius that was radically different.

The 'Dyne has a curvier, vintage-style, 7.25" radius, while the Squier Deluxe has a much-flatter, modern-style 12" radius. All the other basses I'd owned up to that point had a 9.5" radius common amongst most Fenders. To my hands, going between 7.25" and 9.5" is an easy transition, but the curvier ones are more comfortable.

On the upside, I stumbled upon a crucial criterium when shopping for instruments and necks. Now I know for certain what my fretting hand likes. Sure, it eliminates a number of possible "exploratory purchases", but if nothing else, it's a great tonic for GAS!

P.S.: If anyone is thinking "just keep practicing on other necks…you'll adapt", there are circumstances in my life that say otherwise. Specifically, I'm a professional massage and neuromuscular therapist. I can ill-afford to inflict any unnecessary cramping on my hands that would come with forcing such a transition. So, I'll stick with what I know my hands prefer.

 

[TinIndian]

I used to considerably myself a jazz neck guy, Then I got hold of a friends 78 Precision and realized that it's just the 1.75 wide ones I don't like. I love the 1.625 necks, especially the slightly chunkier profile from the 70's. Just super comfortable to me.

 

[Hot Rats]

I don't have a preference as to the width of the nut. I can play any width just fine. I do, however, prefer a thin neck front to back like my '84 squier.

 

[meatwad]

I prefer a modern Precision neck profile in a four string bass (1.625" width @ 9.5" radius), because my hands tend to cramp with anything less.

 

[Jeff Scott]

I used to think I preferred Jazz Bass width necks, now I know better that I don't. 1 5/8" to 1 11/16" for me, thanks.

 

[twinjet]

So I still have not come to a decision on which neck I prefer. Some days I prefer my MIM P and others I prefer the MIA J. I would like to hear from people who own both or logged some hours on both and why they prefer one over the other. Do you prefer the slimmer profile and narrow nut on the J or do you prefer the chunkier and wider nut of the P. Are there some techniques with your style that work better on one neck or the other? I'm not concerned with the pickups or if you put a J neck on a P body etc. Let's focus on neck profile only. Why do you prefer one over the other.

I like chunky P necks. Feels like a man's bass, the way another TBer put it.

 

[Camaro69]

I like the Precision necks, and a nice round back side

 

[Marko 1]

I haven’t played a four-string for a while, but I think I preferred my P neck.

With fivers, I’m pretty sure they’re both the same.

 

[2cooltoolz]

I have tried a lot of different basses, with a lot of different necks over the years, and for me, the 1.625" nut width Modern "C" Fender is the most comfortable. I have medium sized hands, play finger style classic rock, blues, funk and lighter jazz (think Stevie Wonder). I'm not locked into "eight to the bar", but I'm not playing speed metal either. I find the 19mm string spacing at the bridge with the 1.625" nut to be the perfect compromise, allowing plenty of room for my clumsy right fingers, and easy navigation for my left.

 

[2cooltoolz]

I like the Precision necks, and a nice round back side

Are you still talking about basses with the second part of that?????

 

[sharkbait130]

I have two P basses with 1.625 necks and one bass with a 1.50 (same as a jazz) neck. I really don't notice the difference. The Jazz neck in in my music room , so just about everything I work on is done on it. I always gig with the P basses. Never had a problem jumping between the two.

 

[Malak the Mad]

I like chunky P necks. Feels like a man's bass, the way another TBer put it.

Ever had the opportunity to try out a Classic '70s Jazz neck? Front to back, they're on the thicker side. (That, combined with the vintage-style radius has some folks compare it's feel to that of a "baseball bat".) I'd be curious how your chunky-lovin' hands would take to it.

Time for a gratuitous pic or two…

 

[twinjet]

Ever had the opportunity to try out a Classic '70s Jazz neck? Front to back, they're on the thicker side. (That, combined with the vintage-style radius has some folks compare it's feel to that of a "baseball bat".) I'd be curious how your chunky-lovin' hands would take to it.

I've been playing my P bass exclusively for the past two and a half months. I'm ready for a challenge, just wait ... I'll PM you my address.

 

[Malak the Mad]

I've been playing my P bass exclusively for the past two and a half months. I'm ready for a challenge, just wait ... I'll PM you my address.

Silly boy! I didn't mean my own, personal Jazz neck!! Send it all the way up to the Great White (yet not exactly Canadian) North? Madness, I say! You'll just have to score a deal on one yourself.