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Fender P Bass vs Jazz (neck pickup)

#42
Geri O said:
Or….

That’s why I have one of each.

I learnt a long time ago…..

Have a Precision for what it and its single pickup does.

Have a Jazz for what both pickups up 100% do.

(And a Stingray H for what its single pickup does. But that’s another p
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Yeah, one reason I don’t currently own a jazz is because of the goofy body shape. I have looked at the G&L trib jb2. But I have read a some of trib models with truss rod issues.
 
#45
micguy said:
There is often talk about the difference in sound between a P and a J pickup being due to the coil geometry. If all you have to look at is what you can see physically, I can understand why people think that. However, if you have the right instrumentation (it isn't that expensive), you can easily find that a P pickup generally has about 50% more inductance - that is a significant difference, and that's where most of the tonal difference exists, when you are comparing them with their volume controls at full.

If you do some circuit simulations, it also becomes apparent that, when you start talking about playing at less than "full" on the volume control the J has the disadvantage of having the volumes wired backwards, which shunts the pickup at reduced volumes, and it also has more load on it - 3 controls rather than just 2.

The VVT scheme is not really good at doing what you would think it should - in particular, the volumes don't act as volume controls - they're an odd mix of tone and volume. If you like what they do, and can work with them, good, but for me, the way they act drives me to distraction, so I wire my basses differently.
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How do you do your Jazz bass(es)?
 
#48
JeezyMcNuggles said:
P sounds full and angry

J sounds dull and hollow. Like, there's something missing. But it's not half as noticeable in a live setting. It still does what you want it to by rolling back the bridge. It makes a more mid forward, honky tone. But, it doesn't do it the same as a p bass. It's a little empty.
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Agree.

That's why i use Cobalt flat wound (lasting ) instead nickel roundwound (get dull after few weeks) to make the Jazz bass neck pickups sound better clarity and meaty. But still different tone character compare to Pbass , even 51pbass.
 
#51
J has imbalanced string volume, a slightly (but noticeably) thinner sounding pickup, and single coil hum at certain angles. Amp settings, subtly applied high quality noise gates, and technique can pretty much equalize the two. The imbalance in string to string volume is the most glaring difference, the worst difference, and the hardest difference to correct. In combination with the mid-sucked blended tones, it gives the J an anemic midrange with a strong bottom end and top end. Not good bass tone IMO. I play mine on neck pickup only 95 percent of the time.

Jazz Basses were supposed to be higher end and more capable than Ps, but IMO, their disadvantages (mentioned above) outweigh their advantages (more tones available via onboard tweaking – almost none of which I like or use during a set They have worse ergonomics/comfort from the offset body. I also dislike the 1.5” nut. So for my uses, they are actually a de-evolution from P. A bass that has imbalanced strings and hum on the control setting that I use 95 percent of the time is not a better tool for me.

All of my Jazzes except the AVs have been modified with staggered or adjustable pole pickups – and all but one have hum canceling pickups too.

Leo Fender and crew “fixed” the J in 1981, with the L-2000. Unless you’re highly reliant on all the variations in pickup blends, and can’t live with just a simple 100:100 blend, the 2K is superior to me in every way. Wide nut, non-offset body, balanced string volume, hum canceling on tap, added bass control, not to mention an onboard boost that can be used or bypassed. They had also expanded the capabilities of the P the year before, with the L-1K.
 
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#53
2F/2F said:
J has imbalanced string volume, a slightly (but noticeably) thinner sounding pickup, and single coil hum at certain angles. Amp settings, subtly applied high quality noise gates, and technique can pretty much equalize the two. The imbalance in string to string volume is the most glaring difference, the worst difference, and the hardest difference to correct. In combination with the mid-sucked blended tones, it gives the J an anemic midrange with a strong bottom end and top end. Not good bass tone IMO. I play mine on neck pickup only 95 percent of the time.

Jazz Basses were supposed to be higher end and more capable than Ps, but IMO, their disadvantages (mentioned above) outweigh their advantages (more tones available via onboard tweaking – almost none of which I like or use during a set They have worse ergonomics/comfort from the offset body. I also dislike the 1.5” nut. So for my uses, they are actually a de-evolution from P. A bass that has imbalanced strings and hum on the control setting that I use 95 percent of the time is not a better tool for me.

All of my Jazzes except the AVs have been modified with staggered or adjustable pole pickups – and all but one have hum canceling pickups too.

Leo Fender and crew “fixed” the J in 1981, with the L-2000. Unless you’re highly reliant on all the variations in pickup blends, and can’t live with just a simple 100:100 blend, the 2K is superior to me in every way. Wide nut, non-offset body, balanced string volume, hum canceling on tap, added bass control, not to mention an onboard boost that can be used or bypassed. They had also expanded the capabilities of the P the year before, with the L-1K.
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After reading all this my mind says: “ahahahah” … :laugh:
 
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#54
This is an extremely subjective topic. I subjectively...
  • ...prefer my P bass with flats if I'm playing an "upright gig"; such as latin, jazz, etc.
  • ...prefer my P bass with nickel rounds if I'm playing a "neck-pickup-gig"; such as pop, rock, etc.
  • ...prefer my J bass with steel rounds if I'm playing a "bridge-pickup-gig"; such as funk, fusion, etc.
So... To my ears and subjective taste, I prefer the P bass over the neck pickup of a J. Sounds rounder, fuller and more powerful to me. J bass neck pickup subjectively works better when blended with the neck pickup within the %80-100 range, and that means a different sound.

Did I say subjective enough times? Good :D

Among hundreds of others; here is a relatively fresh video which can help answer your question:
 
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#58
micguy said:
There is often talk about the difference in sound between a P and a J pickup being due to the coil geometry. If all you have to look at is what you can see physically, I can understand why people think that. However, if you have the right instrumentation (it isn't that expensive), you can easily find that a P pickup generally has about 50% more inductance - that is a significant difference, and that's where most of the tonal difference exists, when you are comparing them with their volume controls at full.

If you do some circuit simulations, it also becomes apparent that, when you start talking about playing at less than "full" on the volume control the J has the disadvantage of having the volumes wired backwards, which shunts the pickup at reduced volumes, and it also has more load on it - 3 controls rather than just 2.

The VVT scheme is not really good at doing what you would think it should - in particular, the volumes don't act as volume controls - they're an odd mix of tone and volume. If you like what they do, and can work with them, good, but for me, the way they act drives me to distraction, so I wire my basses differently.
Click to expand...
Can you share how do you wire them?
 

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