Jazz neck or Precision neck. Which do you prefer and why?

[Blake Bass]

Jazz

 

[jamminology101]

I wish this question were this simple. There are too many variations on each of those necks to be as simple as P vs. J, I think. Even just in the Js, you've got your choice of profiles: Vintage C, Modern C, U, V, etc. Then there are at least two choices of radii, 7.25 and 9.5 ... the only commonality is probably the nut width.

With the P, it's even worse. Nut width can be 1.625 up to 1.75 (maybe bigger), unless you've got a P with a J-style neck, then it's 1.5. Same issue with neck profiles and the radii.

That said, I prefer a J neck, though a P would be fine. But only in Vintage C profile (kinda chunky) with a 7.25" radius. Give me a Thin or Modern C and a 9.5" radius, though, and--while it's still a J neck--I don't like it.

Dont forget the 70s jazz necks with thinner than 1.5" nuts...they say 1.47 on the vintage 74 info but I own a 73 and it is about 1.42!!! The neck is a chunkier u than I felt on their vintage 74 reproduction too....ahh the variances of handmade are like snowflakes...no 2 the same...

 

[kev b]

Jazz neck for me, I like the narrow string spacing, my Ibanez is even thinner and narrower and suits me fine.

P necks seem too chunky and wide at the nut, not so comfortable for me with the wide string spacing.

 

[ChopperDave]

Dont forget the 70s jazz necks with thinner than 1.5" nuts...they say 1.47 on the vintage 74 info but I own a 73 and it is about 1.42!!! The neck is a chunkier u than I felt on their vintage 74 reproduction too....ahh the variances of handmade are like snowflakes...no 2 the same...

Interesting--I should measure my 75 reissue. It does look pretty narrow ...

 

[mellowinman]

I like Jazz because I have Jazz and that is what I play.

I will play any bass any time, and make it work. It's not because I'm so good.

It's because I'm not so good, and I can play not so good on any bass.

 

[jessicabass]

i like both.
Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you dont.

 

[Eilif]

P width necks (around 1.75" width at neck) for me all the way. It probably has something to do with starting on Upright, my first electric being a MIM precision, and having long fingers. I've owned dozens of basses and I just cant seem to enjoy any 4 stringers with narrow necks. They feel cramped for my fingers and make my palm uncomfortable. I built a parts jazz with Precision neck and even custom built/assembled a dual darkstar bass (I knew Skyline Decade neck would not suit me) because I wanted those sounds but just couldn't find a comparable wide necked instrument instrument that I could afford.

Despite the smaller selection of P-width necked bases out there, over the years I've managed to assemble a stable of such instruments that suit my preference. I'd still really like to be able to enjoy the massive range of skinny necked instruments, but after 20 years of trying, I'm content to know what works for me.

 

[DD_BigBottom]

I have long fingers, prefer the feel of 1962-63 L-Series P-Bass necks; d-shape and wide.

MORE BASS

 

[noahw1]

Jazz. When I first started playing 30+ years ago I learned on a jazz and that feel has stayed with me all these years. I've tried other type necks (Warwick, P, a few 5 stringers) but I could never get over the neck feel and always went back "home" to the 4 string jazz neck.

 

[ROOTSnFIFTHS]

Interesting subject as I have always been bewildered when someone (and there are many!) that love a 1.75" nut width.

I wish I was one of them but a 1.5" Jazz type width is the one for me. I have bigger than average hands and yet when it comes to complex and fast runs, I choke on that 1.75". Just picked up a Precision with a 1.62" and while it is tolerable, the 1.5 is what I would call comfort.

 

[stonewall]

It,s a tie for me LOVEi them both.One makes you appreciate the other.

 

[noobiebro]

Long fingers, but still prefer J neck, as thin/narrow as they get. Liked the thin Ibanez neck, too. Not a big deal, though, I love P&J both and just switched from a really narrow to a not-as-narrow J neck.

 

[MonetBass]

Prefer the Jazz profile because that's what I learned on. I can play a P profile, but I don't like it as much.

 

[Thrash3r]

P, it's what I grew up playing & it always felt right to me, J neck just feels too thin for me.

 

[MovingPitchers]

Oh damn, nevermind so.

I thought it has a jazz body and jazz neck but precision pickups which are also reversed so that the D and G have more beef and the A and E have more cutting tone?

Maybe I was wrong. Damn TheSpartanFan...LIESSS

And I prefer the jazz neck because it feels so nice and my small hands can fly around the neck.

The MIA precision neck is too fat for me, but I am able to get around on it relatively well. Sidenote; is it just me or does the MIM p neck feel thinner and smaller than the MIA neck? MY friend has an MIM P and it definitely feels thinner than my MIA P...

 

[ExaltBass]

Small hands and short uneven finger lengths here... I used to love small necks (Klira, Hofners), then graduated to Mustang, then Rics and Jazz necks and finally the P-Bass. I feel most comfortable on a wide (1-3/4 nut) thin (front-to-back) neck. I do have several 1-5/8 (nut) necks that I really like, but they are also of the thinner variety.

Wide and FAT... no way!

 

[SactoBass]

I much prefer a Jazz neck (1.5" nut width).

All three of my basses have a 1.5" nut width (Fender Custom Shop Jazz, USA Lakland Duck Dunn P, Mike Lull P4).

 

[1960jbass]

70's and later P bass. Large hands and that's what I'm used to playing.

 

[Aqualung60]

I prefer the Jazz neck myself, even though I have hands the size of "Canned Hams". The Jazz is just more comfortable for my playing style.

 

[KingRazor]

Prefer Precision necks, but like Jazz necks as well.