Jazz Superior to a Precision in Every Way?

[HolmeBass]

I am looking to buy my first bass and I don't really know much about them, but i know i want either the fender jazz bass or the fender precision bass. I've heard the precision bass is better for rock music (which is what i want to play), but the jazz bass has a cleaner sound. I also heard that the jazz bass is better for people with small hands (like me).

The Fender Jazz Bass to me is probably the most versatile bass in history. I've always loved it's sweet, focused tone and narrow, fast neck. With two single coil pickups you have a myriad of possible tones at your fingers. Even small adjustments with either knob can give you vastly different sounds.

The two paragraphs above were copied and pasted from separate Misc web pages, found by searching the same title as this post. Please disregard them entirely. I'm testing a hypothesis on TB: I don't think that a lot of people here bother to read past the initial paragraphs of an OP's post before succumbing to the overwhelming urge to inject an opinion. For starters, if you've already voted in this non-poll, you've proven my point. If you did not vote, please like this post. I'm now going to insert a picture of a bass that I do not own:

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Call me Ishmael. Some years ago--never mind how long precisely--having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world. It is a way I have of driving off the spleen and regulating the circulation. Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet; and especially whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people's hats off--then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can. This is my substitute for pistol and ball. With a philosophical flourish Cato throws himself upon his sword; I quietly take to the ship. There is nothing surprising in this. If they but knew it, almost all men in their degree, some time or other, cherish very nearly the same feelings towards the ocean with me.

That was the first paragraph of the book "Moby Dick" by Herman Melville. If you have read this far, then please do not follow the instructions above by liking this post. Instead, please respond to this thread with five random words, made into a sentence. If you did this, congratulations, you have proven me wrong and I applaud you. I will now conclude my post with another random paragraph about a P v J squabble - spelling error included:

Countless notable bassists have used the Jazz including John Paul Jones, Larry Graham, Geddy Lee, Aston Barrett, Marcus Miller and of course Jaco Pastorius. It's a classic bass for a reason...great tone, playability and versatlity, not to mention durable as heck.

Tell no me to what (do)!

 

[Afc70]

Cambrian explosion gave Darwin doubt.

 

[Bassman Spiff]

This thread is really asinine

 

[40Hz]

Antic muses make strange bedfellows.

 

[drummer5359]

Random words make great sentances.

 

[Mugre]

Not the tool, the player.

 

[Electric_Delta]

This is Coach McGuirk.

 

[aaronious]

That's what I did. It should be a standard option IMHO. Otherwise, I always have tp piece something together. And, yes, I've played the PJ version but I prefer my P to be a P and a J to be a J. I'm fickle that way.

I agree with every word you just said. I'm working on a project right meow to turn a pj into a P. Gonna fill in the j hole and everything. How fender hasn't figured out that this needs to be a standard option is beyond me.

 

[sratas]

Sorry, OP belief is wrong


Please notice, 5 words above

 

[Pilgrim]

A J is a J, a P is a P, a hollowbody is a hollowbody. All come in multiple variants and models. None is "better" in a universal sense.

I voted Carrots, which is the most nearly accurate option in the poll.

 

[Gyver]

I voted and liked, ha!

 

[P-oddz]

 

[aaronious]

The best part is how you thought no one would read/ listen to all your instructions. We're bass players, we instinctively pay more attention than most. Now look what you've started.... LOOK AT IT!!!!

 

[DwaynieAD]

A "P" makes a better "P" sound than a Jazz.

 

[Big Hoss]

Picture me mow the lawn.

Nice hat.

Back on subject.

I am not going to agree that a Jazz Bass is in any way, shape or form BETTER than a P bass, or a PJ bass, or a Stingray, or MM, or a... Different basses are simply that, different. Is a #2 Phillips screwdriver better than a #1? No, it's just s different size meant for a different application. Same thing goes with musical instruments.

I personally have a Jazz Bass, a P bass, and a PJ bass (not all Fender products, but still same configuration). They each have their place. For the style of music I am playing, the P bass fits best, but there are some pieces I have done that the Jazz suits better. If I played more prog, stuff like Rush I would spend far more time on the Jazz bass, but since I am doing blues / country / classic rock, the P bass just sits in the mix better.

 

[Jamvan]

The fact that you can.

 

[Pilgrim]

Is chocolate better than vanilla better than caramel better than coffee?

 

[tedious1]

jerkweasle, jerkweasel, jerkweezle, jerkweezyl, jerkwheezle.

You ain't no Nobody, he was less trolly, but more, but welcome nonetheless.

 

[socialleper]

The classic P is a little limited. Both instruments cut through in different ways and a jazz is a little more flexible because of the two pickups. Neither is inherently superior to another, it is really just a matter of what sort of sound you want.
I'm going to check you on the "most versatile" part though. The Lakland 44-02 is a P, Jazz, and Music Man all rolled into one. They are also very comfortable to play. However, they are a little out of the reach of most starting players.

 

[NortyFiner]

OP not true. The thicker neck of a P helps to get a good swing out of it. And I don't mean a musical swing.

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