Fender P or J bass....

[mello_bedwetter]

Well I'm thinking of getting a new Fender American Bass. I don't know which one to get, the Precision or Jazz. The only bass I've used so far is the jazz. I have a Geddy Jazz and a '92 Jazz(MIM). I'll try both styles and then decide but I thought I'd ask for some input on here. Which one do you use and what style music do you play? Which bass is more versatile?
I usually play classic rock, new rock, some alternative rock, southern rock, and country(old). Mostly Classic rock and country. Any input is welcomed...thanks.

 

[Chris Ramlar]

if you already have a J I think you need a P with flatwounds =D

 

[MtManiac]

Basses are not versatile, players are (or aren't).

Both Js and Ps are well represented in all the styles you mentioned.

You already have two Jazzes.

Almost everybody likes a P bass, in almost every situation. I'd say you *need* one, wouldn't you?

Look at the artists you admire, and see what they play.

 

[Honk'n_down-low]

Basses are not versatile, players are (or aren't).

Both Js and Ps are well represented in all the styles you mentioned.

You already have two Jazzes.

Almost everybody likes a P bass, in almost every situation. I'd say you *need* one, wouldn't you?

Look at the artists you admire, and see what they play.

+1 get the P-Bass - you won't regret it - go in and play all they have and buy the one that speaks to you - if none do - go somewhere else and try theirs till you find the sweetness that is a nice P-Bass.

 

[kraigo]

I am a big fan of P-Basses. If you didn't already have Jazz basses covered I'd think I had no place making a recommendation, especially since I know I'm biased. I know a lot of people can't stand the only-slightly-wider neck at the nut that a P-Bass has. I can't see how that little bit can make such a huge difference for them, but I'll respect it.

I guess that the thing I like about a P-Bass is that it hum cancels. I don't like both pickups on, so a Jazz bass always has 60 cycle, it seems. That "one" P-Bass tone has never let me down.

In the end, follow your heart of course. In my case it's a no brainer. Even though I don't rule out owning a Jazz again some day (I can't remember if I've had three, four or five over time), but I really can't see not owning a P-Bass. If I only had one bass...

KO

P.S. I also like the squared off body by the bridge on a P-Bass. I lean my bass against the amp a lot of the time and the squared off body is more stable.

 

[mello_bedwetter]

Well if I decide to get something new I'll have to use the Geddy as a trade or sell it out right. That would leave me the MIM jazz, which actually sounds pretty good.

 

[mimaz]

Go with the "best of both" - get a P/J combination. It's by far my favorite for the sake of versatility........you can get the P bass thump, the J bass growl, and a whole lot of great stuff in between.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

If you'll still have a Jazz, then I think it would be a relatively easy decision to go for a P.

 

[Hot Rats]

You NEED to get the P-Bass. You already have a Jazz, and getting the P will dramatically open up the versatility of playing in any situation. Jazz and P w/flats maybe?

 

[mello_bedwetter]

You NEED to get the P-Bass. You already have a Jazz, and getting the P will dramatically open up the versatility of playing in any situation. Jazz and P w/flats maybe?

Flats for sure...that's all I use.

 

[yellofury]

Well if I decide to get something new I'll have to use the Geddy as a trade or sell it out right. That would leave me the MIM jazz, which actually sounds pretty good.

Well if you have a tendency to use the Jazz as your main instrument I would either keep the Geddy And sell/trade the MIM
and get an MIM Precision or throw a few extra bucks for a US made HWY1 Precision since the Geddy made in Japan is on par more or less with an American Standard.

OR

Sell the Geddy get a USED American Standard or HW1 Jazz Bass
Sell the MIM Jazz and get a MIM Precision

I have 2 Jazzes also and I couldnt imagine needing a 3rd unless it was a fretless. I was thinking of adding a fretless P-Bass to widen the arsenal and modding my MIM Jazz with an Audere pre to make it more agressive

 

[zeeverthebeever]

+1 P..

 

[mello_bedwetter]

Well if you have a tendency to use the Jazz as your main instrument I would either keep the Geddy And sell/trade the MIM
and get an MIM Precision or throw a few extra bucks for a US made HWY1 Precision since the Geddy made in Japan is on par more or less with an American Standard.

OR

Sell the Geddy get a USED American Standard or HW1 Jazz Bass
Sell the MIM Jazz and get a MIM Precision

I have 2 Jazzes also and I couldnt imagine needing a 3rd unless it was a fretless. I was thinking of adding a fretless P-Bass to widen the arsenal and modding my MIM Jazz with an Audere pre to make it more agressive

I have to try the new American bass but is the Geddy actually that "close" to the MIA? I'm just asking, like I said, I have yet to try the American series. Thanks.

 

[animal52]

Get a P, but for the love of God do not sell/trade your Geddy jazz. They are amazing instruments and you will regret getting rid of it. Sell the MIM and get a slightly cheaper P instead.

If I may make an out of box suggestion here... I own a Dirnt sig and it kills soundwise. You can pick one up new for 7 bills or used for half of that. I believe it has the same pickup, or similar, as the 62RI P bass, and I can say that the build quality on mine is actually better than any MIA fender I've owned despite being a MIM bass. The neck is narrower at the nut than an ordinary P bass, but chunkier all around. Not warwick chunky, and certainly very playable, but still slightly bigger than a modern P neck.

Or better yet find a used Peavey Fury (I think it was Fury). They were P style basses, USA made, that can now be had for under $200 on the used market. That's alot of bang for the buck.

Good luck.

 

[mello_bedwetter]

I haven't seen the Dirnt series at GC. I'll have to look for one this week.

 

[MtManiac]

...since the Geddy made in Japan is on par more or less with an American Standard.

Ahh... no. Sorry, not true. Simply not true.

But I agree that you could keep the GL and sell/trade-in the MIM, except that you like the sound of the MIM better, so keep it, and trade-in the GL on a new MIA P bass.

 

[mello_bedwetter]

Ahh... no. Sorry, not true. Simply not true.

But I agree that you could keep the GL and sell/trade-in the MIM, except that you like the sound of the MIM better, so keep it, and trade-in the GL on a new MIA P bass.

That's kind of what I thought, the American Series sounds better. I should say that's what I hear, I haven't tried one yet. When I got my Geddy I was planning on getting the American Jazz but the Geddy felt and played better. This wasn't the 08 series though, it had the S-switch which I didn't like at all. The things I've read have said the new 08's sound better. I'm going to try one.

 

[Bongolation]

Go with the "best of both" - get a P/J combination. It's by far my favorite for the sake of versatility........you can get the P bass thump, the J bass growl,

I have an HRPB. Fender put a unique set of passive pickups on them in order to get them to balance -- a weak P and a hot J. Neither pickup was ever used on another bass.

I don't feel sure that it does either P nor J that well, plus there's some grief with volume/balance adjustment on these -- but with both P&J on full, the bass sounds very nice. Most HRPB owners I know came to the same conclusion.

I have three Precisions, all OK.

I have a brand new 2008 "American Standard" Jazz and am utterly underwhelmed with the poor materials and build. Feh!

 

[mello_bedwetter]

You don't like the way the new 08 is made?

 

[Bongolation]

You don't like the way the new 08 is made?

I don't like the way mine's made. Others may be better, but it's an overpriced bass for what it is in any case -- and it's not all that.