In Your Words...P vs. J ??

[nikolozj]

I'd have three:

1) P with flats
2) PJ with rounds
3) J with rounds

 

[GLEN18INCHSPICA]

I find myself playing the Jazz bass finger style only, & lately been using a pick more often than I used to when using a p bass, it might be a result of playing a jazz bass for quite a few years now. Someone said the Jazz bass for cut & P bass to sit in the mix, thats a pretty good simplification.

 

[Lowbrow]

Jazz: great for solos and improvisation music and great tonal range. Consider Geddy, Jaco and Marcus. More in your face and look at me I'm playing a Jazz.
Precision: great to sit back and just play. No tricky knobs to deal with - you just dial in your tone and that's it. Focus on the groove baby.

Not entirely off base, at the same time before accepting this as gospel visit YouTube and search for The Who Live At Leeds, Summertime Blues. That is a P you're hearing.

 

[Stormer]

Have both and love both, but i always end up playing the pbass.
As others have said, in a band situation the pbass is perfect. Don't get me wrong, the jazz is a fantastic instrument. I am lucky to have a beautiful mia jazz (natural, ashtrays) but i always find myself lusting after that pbass tone.

The pbass feels more "solid" too, you get the feeling you could beat an elephant to death with it and it would still stay in tune.

 

[rydin4lifebass]

For my reference...what kind of bass is used in the following song:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VDmW051IoM

 

[alexlocurto]

For my reference...what kind of bass is used in the following song:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VDmW051IoM

From what I know of the Smashing Pumpkins, D'arcy used a Jazz most of the time. I haven't seen her often with a Precision bass.

 

[rydin4lifebass]

One TBer did show me pics of D'Arcy and corgan playing precisions. The clip I linked to has more "growl" but I wanted better ears to confirm.

 

[mystic38]

agreed..
you certainly cant make a PJ sound like either a P or a J

Simple - IME, P/J's don't do the P or J thing as well as the "real thing" - I've owned a few P/J's, and other than the active ones, I feel I'm better off with either a P or a J Bass...


- georgestrings

 

[mystic38]

which active Ibanez do you own?.. after all, something with Nordstrands would cure you of wanting a Jazz bass

For those of you that own/play both, describe what you fell are the differences and pros/cons to each. I've read a lot of the posts and just want to hear "fresh" opinions. I own a pbass and two active Ibanez basses (one standard tuning, one BEAD) and I'm contemplating adding a jazz bass as well. I played a Squier Jazz the other day and really liked it (love the thin neck) but I'm not sure if I'm gonna pull the trigger on it just yet. It's obviously a different feel/sound than a precision but I'm not sure how to put it into words. Owning another bass isn't a necessity, but what benefits will I get out of it and how will it sit in a mix different than a precision? I play anything from 90's alternative to classic country up to hard rock and everything in between.

 

[Jheake]

J to be heard.
P to be felt.

+1

This is exactly how I feel as well. I own a single P bass, and 2 J basses.

 

[grendle]

They both suck alone but together they kick booty. The p brings the bottom end and the "wool". The j brings the bite and its brand of growl. Match made in heaven.

 

[funnyfingers]

Of course, although Jazz basses generally do not have P-like pickups, and the D/G side isn't in the same position. These are the main differences between the two, and IMO, standard P pickups do not sound like a Jazz neck pickup. It's got a lot more meat and presence, Js still sound thin by comparison.

The different neck sizes also make a noticeable difference in tone, the thin Jazz neck accentuates the upper mids more.

P with Jazz neck: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Normal P: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

The Fender Precision Deluxe comes with a J neck.

 

[rydin4lifebass]

I have an sr300 and srx300....love the thin necks!

Any thoughts on the type of bass in the sound clip I posted?

 

[kellyrojo]

Like em both but currently neither. To me p is boom and thump and j is bam and bite

 

[mellowinman]

I play the Jazz, because I love the neck, and I love the versatility. I like to get that little bit of bark, and while I don't cop the P's mighty bottom end, I find that with some EQ, I get enough bottom end. For my style, in my band, the Jazz is the way to go. I love the sound of a P very much, and I don't get why I would try to convince anyone that one is better than the other.

They are both mighty, mighty basses, each in their own right.

 

[SactoBass]

So with a P, you get a fatter neck

That is correct, assuming the P bass has a B neck (1.625" nut) or C neck (1.75" nut). Some P's came with an A neck, which is a 1.5" nut, same as a J bass.

 

[SactoBass]

Of course, although Jazz basses generally do not have P-like pickups, and the D/G side isn't in the same position. These are the main differences between the two, and IMO, standard P pickups do not sound like a Jazz neck pickup. It's got a lot more meat and presence, Js still sound thin by comparison.

The different neck sizes also make a noticeable difference in tone, the thin Jazz neck accentuates the upper mids more.

P with Jazz neck: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Normal P: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

MY USA Lakland Glaub came with a J neck. I never noticed an accentuation in the upper mids.

 

[Diesel Kilgore]

Flats. Especially on a J. I own both and love both. Both have flats. J is brittly and trebly. P is warm and thumpy. I find both to be equally as versatile. Just depends on the mood.

 

[R&B]

P: solid bottom
J: swingin' top

Both good.

 

[rrybicki]

P = Stays put when you set it down and lean it against your amp.

J = Tips over.

Russ