Ironic they call it a Precision bass

[McSpunckle]

http://diy.despair.com/output/poster91858614.jpg

Lol! I don't know why that made me laugh so hard.

Exactly. It's called a "precision" bass because the player can "precisely" play notes because of the frets, as opposed to the double bass. Has nothing to do with pickups. I couldn't tell you why a jazz bass is called "jazz", though. ANyone?

I wanna know that too.

 

[DeanT]

I believe it was called the Jazz because its body styling was loosely based on the Jazzmaster series of instruments. But, as usual, I could be wrong.

 

[Darkstrike]

The Jazz, was supposed to be more upmarket and suited to Jazz musicians.

 

[dirtybass]

Holy crap, This thread is so strange I dont even know what its about, and the sarcasm is very hard to pickup on sometimes.

Ps I keep hearing talks of moving threads to different places, but its kinda rough to find my way around here as it is.

JMO
Maybe its cuz Im new around here.

 

[wateroftyne]

Would that be an imprecise fretless bass?

Hey.. that's my bass!

I'm honoured.

 

[sublime0bass]

I don't remember making this thread last night, if that is telling at all

but it was just a thought, not a troll. And I've learned something from this thread, so that is valuable

I would say it is less precise because it gets fewer string cross-sections

 

[Benjamin Strange]

I don't remember making this thread last night, if that is telling at all

but it was just a thought, not a troll. And I've learned something from this thread, so that is valuable

I would say it is less precise because it gets fewer string cross-sections

Ah... fewer string cross sections... now it all makes sense.

 

[Mushroo]

My cat's breath smells like cat food.

 

[papajune]

tastes like burning

 

[lpdeluxe]

I would say it is less precise because it gets fewer string cross-sections

That doesn't exactly explain a lot.

"Precise" in what way? More precisely righteous? More precisely bassitudinous? More precisely orange with a tint of green?

If you're thinking that it should be more precise because it picks up a shorter length of string, I'd be interested in why you would think that the P would be less precise than a Jazz, which (I feel silly pointing this out, but given the original question, I'm not taking any chances) has TWO pickups, and therefore picks up string vibration at widely separated locations.

As noted, the Precision was named that because it was considered an improvement on the "imprecise" standup bass, which had no frets and therefore was subject to poor intonation in the wrong hands. The P was so precise that even a g**tarist could play it in tune. Don Randall, who formed Fender Sales with Leo Fender and others, and who was responsible for the "Broadcaster," "Telecaster," and, yes, "Jazzmaster" names, said that Fender himself insisted on calling the bass the Precision.

I have a fretless Precision that I made up a decal for that says "Fender Imprecision" but I've never installed it.

 

[TylerlovesAva]

Ironic how this is not such a sublime troll.

You might wanna consider that there aren't imprecise basses. They don't play themselves, do they? It's all up to the player.

Think about it.

 

[dangnewt]

I have a fretless Precision that I made up a decal for that says "Fender Imprecision" but I've never installed it.

LOL

Leave the decal off if you have the right hands. However, if I were ever to play it, you would have to put the decal on as a warning to anyone in earshot.

 

[Ten Four One]

Precision -> First bass with frets. Introduced in 1951. Also known as "The Fender Bass"

Jazz -> Different tone/voicing, thinner neck for high-speed runs which Leo thought Jazz players would like. Introduced in 1960.

This thread -> Troll. Posted 2008.

1 pickup v. 2 pickups -> It's a matter of opinion which is more "precise." Debatable ad nauseum.

 

[whitedk57]

http://www.cobwebaudio.co.uk/articles/bass-guitar/bass-guitar-history-637.html

The bass was called a Precision bass because of the accuracy of the notes. Players were able to play notes that were perfectly in tune because of the presence of frets on the electric bass guitar.

It's ironic that somebody would call the OP's post a trolling post. I actually learned something from this thread.

 

[lug]

Actually, you can be more precise on a fretless than a fretted.

If by "you" you mean me, that statement is totally incorrect. On a fretted bass, I have a 1 in 12 chance of hitting the correct note. On a fretless there are an endless number of incorrect notes for me to explore.

 

[Phalex]

I fixed the title for you. Now it makes more sense.

 

[73jbass]

If by "you" you mean me, that statement is totally incorrect. On a fretted bass, I have a 1 in 12 chance of hitting the correct note. On a fretless there are an endless number of incorrect notes for me to explore.

I just spewed my drink all over my monitor. Good one!

 

[The Golden Boy]

If by "you" you mean me, that statement is totally incorrect. On a fretted bass, I have a 1 in 12 chance of hitting the correct note. On a fretless there are an endless number of incorrect notes for me to explore.

That is awesome.

You. Are Domination of the highest order.

 

[Fretlessboy]

 

[TylerlovesAva]

http://www.cobwebaudio.co.uk/articles/bass-guitar/bass-guitar-history-637.html




It's ironic that somebody would call the OP's post a trolling post. I actually learned something from this thread.

Yes you might have learned something, but not from the OP. He might have instigated the discussion, but he did it in an incendiary manner. He could've elected to ask an intelligent question, more like his second post, or rephrased the title, but he chose to go the other direction.

great posts from the others, nonetheless.