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J Bass vs. P Bass
- Thread starter ToneFreak11
- Start date
I have both. Started off with a P bass and that's all I had for a very long time. I've had my J bass for a couple years now. I have to say I like them both equally. It boils down to the sound I'm trying to achieve. That being said I can understand how someone might like one over the other because they are not the same.
What I have noticed is that the Jazz players say they can get close to a Precision sound, but no Precision player has tried to simulate a Jazz bass.
If I wanted my bass to sound like a Jazz, I'd buy a Jazz.
That's why I own but two basses. Both are Precisions. No Jazz yet.
If I wanted my bass to sound like a Jazz, I'd buy a Jazz.
That's why I own but two basses. Both are Precisions. No Jazz yet.
This has to do with physical attributes/pickup positioning -- the Jazz has a single coil pickup in the exact positioning of the split humbucker of a Precision, therefore it can emulate the voicing - al beit, thinner (but mimics an early '51 style P-Bass almost perfectly)....However, a single split PU P-Bass does not have a bridge pickup -- you can try all you want, finger on top of the bridge if you want, be as motivated as you'd like: if the pickup isnt physically there, you cant emulate that voice (hence the reason why so many P players modded their P-basses in the 60s and 70s with an extra J pickup for that extra J-type articulation and gave rise to the P/J configuration)
Leo kept improving the twin PU design: Because the P-Bass signature sound is just a humbucking pickup in the mid position (unlike a Stingray whos signature sound has as much to do with the proprietary nature of its preamp along with its pickup), any G&L L2K/ASAT player can solo that mid-PU and sound so close to a P-Bass that you cant tell the difference (and most basses with stronger/modern pickups that are soloed in that position can emulate it)
for the record: I don't mind P-basses....as a matter of fact, although I don't play with a pick (or play much rock), a P-Bass with rounds or pressurewounds played with a pick through a tube rig like an SVT is (IMHO) one of the best bass sounds on the planet...but its P-Bass fans that act like nothing on the planet can sound like one (just opositte of the truth) that drive me insane, but Ive given up on trying to explain the above to them so back to my popcorn I go............
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Yup. I understand all that. I rented/borrowed and gigged a few Fender Jazz before I bought my Precisions. I really liked the look and feel of the Jazz, but in the end they were the very reason I bought as I did. Try as I might, I couldn't quite get that Precision sound out of them. Close, but no cigar.
If you wanted both sounds, the upper end J-Basses (Deluxes) can do it pretty well and, as stated before, most P/Js, G&L L2Ks/ASATS, and other brands can do it...but you say youre happy with what you have so thats all that matters
...besides, where a lot of the disparity comes from is that, unlike guitarists, many bass players tend to be "set it and forget it" players as far as pickups are concerned ( one of the reasons why the pan-pot has replaced the pickup selector in modern times) and dont want to mess with settings, even if they have Swiss Army basses....a standard single pickup P-bass never tempts because of the simplicity in design: You plug it in and go .... although the voice can't be changed, plucking/picking at different points on the string can change tonalities. Its not enough for me to do that but experienced P players can usually milk what they need that way
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I see a black Aerodyne Jazz in my future.
I prefer having at least one precision and 1 jazz rather than having a P/J.
Love the sound of a P bass except when I'm playing it. Also the big 2x4 necks aren't to my liking.
Prefer the feel of a Jazz bass but not enough pure thump for my liking.
On most of my 2 pickup basses I've gone to the P/J pickup system. The P gives the pure thump and you can blend in enough of the J for a little more mids & highs. Also like the V/B/T for the same reason.
Prefer the feel of a Jazz bass but not enough pure thump for my liking.
On most of my 2 pickup basses I've gone to the P/J pickup system. The P gives the pure thump and you can blend in enough of the J for a little more mids & highs. Also like the V/B/T for the same reason.
Not a hardcore fan of the offset body nor the skinny neck.
Plus, while I like the J-only tone, it's not something that makes me melt.
P all the way.
Plus, while I like the J-only tone, it's not something that makes me melt.
P all the way.
I would hope to never have to choose just one. It's like comparing salt to Mrs Dash--they do the same thing, but differently.
Had it come down to the decision, it would be Jazz, I can get more tones out of it.
Had it come down to the decision, it would be Jazz, I can get more tones out of it.
That is THE most unfair decision to make in all of bassdom, but if I had to, for THE singular bass tone: Precision.
Sound? P/J, or what I own which is P/P.
Looks and playing? Whatever you like, but I think the J's offset body is sexier and prefer it's thinner neck.
Looks and playing? Whatever you like, but I think the J's offset body is sexier and prefer it's thinner neck.
