P for me, thanks. I like the B neck, simplicity, tone, and the wide expanse of tort.
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Fender Jazz or Precision bass: Which do you prefer and why?
- Thread starter Dardas92
- Start date
I voted a different type of Fender bass.
It depends on the kind of music you are into, the way you play, and the sound you like best. YMMV of course.
So for me Leo got it right the third time, that is with the Mustang Bass. I like the ease of play and darker tone of the short scale. I actually played mainly Precisions for about ten years and I feel the Mustang is like a short scale P even though the sound is a bit different.
I tried a J about one year ago, nice bass but not my cup of tea; could not get used to the body shape especially when playing sitting and didn't care for the tone.
It depends on the kind of music you are into, the way you play, and the sound you like best. YMMV of course.
So for me Leo got it right the third time, that is with the Mustang Bass. I like the ease of play and darker tone of the short scale. I actually played mainly Precisions for about ten years and I feel the Mustang is like a short scale P even though the sound is a bit different.
I tried a J about one year ago, nice bass but not my cup of tea; could not get used to the body shape especially when playing sitting and didn't care for the tone.
Like most on here, I own a few Fender basses, both Ps and Js in their original form. Even 2 PJs. In earnest I have to admit that of the 2 basic models, the J offers an unquestionable advantage when it comes to versatility. I'm almost certain that most if not all bass players could be fooled in a blind test if they were asked to identify a P from a J if the J was soloing the neck pup in the hands of an experienced player.
The P bass has a characteristic bite with a heft that makes it an ideal all-around instrument. The J may appeal to the soloist or to players that prefer the narrower neck and the expanded tonal variety. I belong to the latter but must admit that life would be duller without my Ps.
The P bass has a characteristic bite with a heft that makes it an ideal all-around instrument. The J may appeal to the soloist or to players that prefer the narrower neck and the expanded tonal variety. I belong to the latter but must admit that life would be duller without my Ps.
Always loved the sound of a Jazz but the one I bought mid mintiest was horrible to play and I sold it. Think I went my whole life up to last year without touching a Precision. Then I tried a PJ. Played like a dream, had the Jazz sound I wanted and... oh yeah... that P thing. It sounds great!!!!
I couldn't decide. So I bought myself both.
Fodera.
No, really, my first bass was a jazz, back in 1967, and I like both although the burly p bass is a little easier to use. I don’t have a good jazz right now.
But I’m severely gassing for a mahogany yin yang right now, someone please talk to me...
No, really, my first bass was a jazz, back in 1967, and I like both although the burly p bass is a little easier to use. I don’t have a good jazz right now.
But I’m severely gassing for a mahogany yin yang right now, someone please talk to me...
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Good for you. I just can't do jazz basses. I tried, believe me, and always it came down to selling/trading the instrument. 3 times I bought/traded for jazz basses: it's not the shape, it's not the neck it's the tone. I'm probably ignorant but I could never get them to work for me in any band context. At the moment, I have 2 fivers: a G&L L2500 Tribute (I use it passive) and a Lakland Skyline DJ5, plus my 2008 Fender P (4) which is a total dream to play - that's the one I'm bringing to the grave with me. I need a fiver for one of the bands I'm in, and the G&L gets all the play time. The Lakland is a fabulous instrument, flawless in my opinion, got it in a trade deal years ago and I used it in some acoustic trio project. It's the only time I felt "it isn't bad". But in a full, electric guitars, acoustic drum context, my Fender P or the G&L. Now is not the right time to sell I guess, but when we get back to a "normal" life, I will sell the Lakland. It's beautiful, flawless, but it doesn't work for me.
I played Jazz basses for years but always had to replace the stock pickups with SD quarter pounders because the stock pickups were lifeless and boring sounding. I now play a P bass and prefer the bigger neck and non offset body. I love the Pbass tone more as well though I am thinking of trying a new pickup in it, maybe the Geezer EMG.
The only Fender I own is a 51 Precision reissue, but I've never found a split pickup P bass that felt and sounded right in my hands so I voted "other".
P.
Simplicity. One knob to control all tone options and NO STUPID BATTERY to go dead!
I like playing on jazz's as well, but right now anyway, the P is my go to.
Simplicity. One knob to control all tone options and NO STUPID BATTERY to go dead!
I like playing on jazz's as well, but right now anyway, the P is my go to.
I voted j for these reasons. Neck width and profile is home bass for me. The 2 pickup config makes it more versatile. And I have 2 p basses and 2 pj and 2 jazz, and as far as the goto for recording what my sound is, it is a j.
I'm a sucker for the looks of a bound and blocked J bass, and love to noodle around on J basses. However, I tend to prefer the tone of a P bass. Probably because it is what I am most familiar with.
My main bass the past few years has been a Jazz Bass Special, so bit of a mix of the two (J neck with PJ pickups). Although more recently, I find myself picking up my L-1000. That neck is just wonderful.
YMMV
My main bass the past few years has been a Jazz Bass Special, so bit of a mix of the two (J neck with PJ pickups). Although more recently, I find myself picking up my L-1000. That neck is just wonderful.
YMMV
Precision.
I like the pickup better. More output, lower in tone, noiseless.
Ps can be easily set for perfect string to string volume balance. Js have a significant volume mismatch string to string, which drastically affects how I have to play them.
I like the balance better. Ps sit “right” on me. The offset J body shifts the bass more to my left...or else the upper horn pokes my gut. Take your pick.
I like the neck width a whole lot better (and I don’t even have large hands).
I rarely have the desire for a solo bridge pickup – maybe one song out of 50.
I almost never have the desire to use blended pickups – maybe one song out of 100.
IME, Ps trend a bit lighter in weight.
Ps look better to me.
The P is less flashy/more conservative, aesthetically. Less bling, less dramatic styling.
I don’t like a separate control plate, aesthetically.
I prefer the shapes of the bridge and pickup covers on a P.
Don’t get me wrong. I do think Js look good, and I do play them. But out of three Js, only one has the classic setup: skinny nut, lower output flat-poled pickups, separate control plate. It’s a ‘64 reissue, and I like it to have access to the classic “J thing.” The other two I built with wider nuts, single piece pickguards, and fatter pickups that allow for good volume balance between the strings. One of them doesn’t even have a bridge pickup.
I like the pickup better. More output, lower in tone, noiseless.
Ps can be easily set for perfect string to string volume balance. Js have a significant volume mismatch string to string, which drastically affects how I have to play them.
I like the balance better. Ps sit “right” on me. The offset J body shifts the bass more to my left...or else the upper horn pokes my gut. Take your pick.
I like the neck width a whole lot better (and I don’t even have large hands).
I rarely have the desire for a solo bridge pickup – maybe one song out of 50.
I almost never have the desire to use blended pickups – maybe one song out of 100.
IME, Ps trend a bit lighter in weight.
Ps look better to me.
The P is less flashy/more conservative, aesthetically. Less bling, less dramatic styling.
I don’t like a separate control plate, aesthetically.
I prefer the shapes of the bridge and pickup covers on a P.
Don’t get me wrong. I do think Js look good, and I do play them. But out of three Js, only one has the classic setup: skinny nut, lower output flat-poled pickups, separate control plate. It’s a ‘64 reissue, and I like it to have access to the classic “J thing.” The other two I built with wider nuts, single piece pickguards, and fatter pickups that allow for good volume balance between the strings. One of them doesn’t even have a bridge pickup.
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Probably been covered a zillion times, I love my j bass, I love the sound. Contrary to popular belief it DOES have a bottom end and can have a good mid range. Except most guitar players, BLs etc, say they like the p bass sound. So I keep trying but the hand that signs the check picks the bass. And I keep my P handy.
