J Bass vs. P Bass

[f.clef]

Oh, okay. Carrots, Search, etc. out of the way...

It's a perennial question, with as many different perspectives as have posted, and continue to post, over the years.

Given good instances, I prefer both. Versatility is not an issue. That's why the Kreator has blessed us with so many basses. My perspective.

The P vs. J question. Why so much animosity from the REPLY police? Trolls aside, because the question implies this little pond of Fender/Fender-improvers solutions -- which are great, but it's a little pond, and there is so much more out there.

As noted (x 10^N, where N == some troll, please count it and report!), find the right ones for you.

 

[Jim R]

Gotta say I'm a jazz lover. Although there are times when I hear a p bass with a pick that I'm wishing I can get that sound. I never use a pick but listen to Graham Maby on a couple of Joe Jackson tracks. Pretty sure Eric Avery from Janes Addiction gets his sound that way also. Maybe one day I'll try a pick but can never get myself there.

 

[Popbumper]

Gotta say I'm a jazz lover. Although there are times when I hear a p bass with a pick that I'm wishing I can get that sound. I never use a pick but listen to Graham Maby on a couple of Joe Jackson tracks. Pretty sure Eric Avery from Janes Addiction gets his sound that way also. Maybe one day I'll try a pick but can never get myself there.

.....interesting comment, given that I MUCH prefer using a pick to fingerstyle. Just feels more "natural" to me, and on the P, it >does< give an excellent sound.

Still wanting to buy a J myself, feels much better to me overall. The P is definitely a beasty sort of instrument, and the thick neck takes some getting used to.

Chris

 

[unclekebm]

I had a P bass then added a J and played that the majority of the time, but went back the the P bass now. I prefer the sound more.

I did the same..

ime, the notes from plucking various positions between the PU and bridge
sound fuller and heftier than a PJ

 

[cassanova]

P bass deluxe and/or a jazz will work for me.

 

[lazerbrains]

I prefer the tone of a P but the feel of a J neck - the P neck tires my fretting hand too much.

Thinking about getting one of those squier jaguars with the thin neck and the p/j combo pups.

 

[Catbuster]

P for me, of the two. P/Js are pretty awesome, and my favorite too. I prefer 1.625" nut widths that are kinda thin.

 

[Bassman316]

Second bass I bought was a MIM Jazz. For years I didn't consider myself a P-bass kind of guy, but lately I've been falling in love with the tone of the P-bass. I have an SX P-bass that wears GHS Precision flats, and it's thump city.... almost too thumpy. I'm thinking of going with a brighter sounding flatwound like Chromes or even nickel rounds, and going with flats on the Jazz. The Jazz has never worn flats, and I'd like to give that a swirl.

Couldn't bring myself to vote one way or the other, though. I love both the Jazz and Precision (although my current love affair with the tone of the Precision has me soloing or favoring the neck pickup on the Jazz a lot lately).

 

[AntAir267]

P with a J neck, but if I had to choose I would pick a P. I typically dislike J bass tone, no matter how "versatile" it is. It just doesn't cut though mix well enough for me. The amount of artists that use a J bass with likable tone for me is very few. I love P bass tone, but the main complaint for me is how fat the P bass neck is. I had to learn how to play bass on my P bass and I now use incorrect technique because I had to bend my hand incorrectly to get my hand across the fretboard. I am now putting a J neck on my P bass and I couldn't be happier.

 

[tonymcbony]

You know, it really depends on the day for me.

Some days I love the bouncy mids and big fat neck of the P, and the growl.

Other days I'm all about the scooped yet growly vibe of a Jazz with both Pups full up.

Although I'm by no means a hater, I do find that most P/J configs seem to lose something in translation. Even when the Bridge Jazz pup is completely off, the P pup by itself doesn't seem to quite nail the P tone.

If I could only have one though, I'd go for the P. It seems to fit into most musical styles without much hassle.

 

[f.clef]

The P is definitely a beasty sort of instrument, and the thick neck takes some getting used to.

Chris

Not that much work, though. And the payoff is huge. Try it.

 

[Tunaman]

I tried an early 2000s S1 Jazz bass yesterday & it was terrible. My 2008 MIA Standard P is built well & sounds like a P should, round & warm.

I am gassing for a Jazz, my MIM J bass is noisy as hell.

 

[ThatBassistDude]

P with a J pup in the bridge

 

[EtoG]

Jazz basses just feel much more natural to me. I prefer it sonically, as well.

Precision basses are great too, but the Jazz is a much better fit for me.

 

[OOZMAN]

Gosh darn it aren't we all sick of these P vs J threads? It was kinda cool the first 500 times but not so much anymore.

 

[spiritbass]

I voted for the underdog (precision) at this point. Or should we call them thunderdogs? For me, the precision pickup was one of Leo's greatest brainchildren. Strictly speaking, I don't own a P or a J, but all four of my instruments are inspired by his legacy. My 'desert island bass':

The closest I have to a J:

THANK YOU, Leo!

 

[HMZ]

I wondering if you put a jazz neck on a P bass does it change the sound?
I would think it would only because the P neck has more mass and might be part of the P bass sound. I would love to hear from you guys that have made the switch....

 

[Bongolation]

Wasn't this question banned as a presumptive troll?

 

[f.clef]

Wasn't this question banned as a presumptive troll?

"When all of you people think alike, none of you think very much."

 

[tonymcbony]

Gosh darn it aren't we all sick of these P vs J threads? It was kinda cool the first 500 times but not so much anymore.

140 replies disagree with that, it seems.