Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Only a P-bass?
- Thread starter Dr. Cheese
- Start date
I think I'm in the same boat as you. I always imagined myself as being a primarily P-bass player, appreciated the simplicity, the quality of the single tone, but after getting a Jazz and spending some time with it, and having the two side by side on my rack, I almost always pick up the Jazz, unless I want to thumb around on some Jamerson-style stuff.
If I had to just have one single high quality axe, a desert island bass, I would pick a Jazz.
That thought entered my mind, but I decided it was worth pointing out anyway.
Looks like they're trying to give the full vintage pickguard look, but when Fender make P basses with extra frets, they shrink the guard to keep the pickup in place.
You are certainly on the spot with these comments. I LOVE the way a P bass sounds, but it really only works if you are playing with certain ensembles. I think the the P-bass is ideal in country, blues, etc. where a brighter guitar sound is preferred and there are no other "bass-envy" players in the mix. The P-bass tone is so classic and signature that nothing else makes sense. The P and the telecaster are an amazing combination.
However, if you are playing with a group where the guitarists tend to EQ bass-heavy and/or there are keys (especially heavy left-handed keys) a P bass is too easily buried. It just doesn't have the edge that a jazz has.
That's is why I love my Deluxe P5 so much. It can offer a VERY respectable old-school P-tone, but that dual-coil bridge pickup coupled with the active mid can dial up the very familiar bridge pickup "grunt" that we all want from a jazz. All and all, just a killer bass. Too bad Fender gave up on them.
To me, there are two myths that seem to be constantly held up and protected around here. One is that flats sit better in a mix. The second is that a Pbass "just always works". I'm not dogging flats or P basses at all, and the myth does hold true sometimes. But personally I think they myths are false more than they are true.
Ignoring the flats thing and staying on topic here, there are a large range of musical environments where a P bass isn't the best choice. It doesn't just always work. I know some folks prefer a P bass over anything else, and that is really completely cool! But, that doesn't make them more versatile instruments. The Jazz bass is by far the most versatile bass in the world. I really don't think this is personal opinion here, though some will surely argue otherwise. I don't think you can name an instrument that is more at home in a large range of musical contexts and styles than a jazz bass. It not only works for any type of music, it flat out excels in those different forms. Even the uber-expensive, modern basses can't really boast of that kind of track record.
Of course, you can get by with most any bass a lot of times, at least on a gig. That's not what I'm talking about here. I'm talking about having a single bass that can kill any gig or session, or at least have the best chance of killing any gig or session. That will most likely always be a jazz bass.
Also back on topic to Dr. Cheese, I totally recommend picking up a good P bass, and pretending for a while that it's your only player. I wouldn't suggest getting rid of other instruments to do that though. I think the love affair can wear off quickly if you play in various environments that require a bit more versatility and a larger tonal palette. Having a good jazz or 55-02 to fall back on will always get you out of ditch in a hurry.
Quadzilla
Supporting Member
I have to chime in here. Even though I posted my new P Bass and am over the moon about it, I have to agree that it's not actually either the most versatile axe out there, nor would it fit into every situation. Right now, I'm using mine exclusively, but I know it's just because I'm still excited about it, and will eventually consider it to be the toolbox component I bought it to be, rather than my main bass.
I also love the Jazz, but I think that my 55-02 has a wider tone palette because of the tapped MM bridge pickup.
...of course, I'd love a nice J Bass as well. This P has given me a taste of how cool it is to have a bass without a battery in.
I love P-basses, and in my current band -- an original old school rock band -- I could easily use a P-bass all the time. In fact, my G&L SB-2 probably fits best in this particular band. However, I do prefer my Jazz basses on several tracks, and I use them just as much, partly because my only five is a Jazz. (That could change any day though. 
)
When I think back to all the bands I've played with in recent years, the Jazz comes out slightly ahead. I've had the same experience as Chasarms in a dense mix with heavy keys: the Jazz works a little better, because the deep lows slide under everything else, the highs cut through, and it still has enough mids. In the end, I'm with Eublet, Chasarms, IPA et al. about the J-bass as a better overall axe, especially with good noiseless pickups.
But, could I get by with P-basses only? For the material I typically play, sure.
)When I think back to all the bands I've played with in recent years, the Jazz comes out slightly ahead. I've had the same experience as Chasarms in a dense mix with heavy keys: the Jazz works a little better, because the deep lows slide under everything else, the highs cut through, and it still has enough mids. In the end, I'm with Eublet, Chasarms, IPA et al. about the J-bass as a better overall axe, especially with good noiseless pickups.
But, could I get by with P-basses only? For the material I typically play, sure.
i thought i was a "jazz bass guy", but im really starting to appreciate my pbasses more.
im saving up to get an MIA standard p5. and im starting by selling a jazz bass.
the pbass is amazing in its simplicity, but in the end its all i need to get the job done.
im saving up to get an MIA standard p5. and im starting by selling a jazz bass.
the pbass is amazing in its simplicity, but in the end its all i need to get the job done.
If you where only going to play a P bass, you couldn't go wrong with one of these:
I had one and let it go because I felt guilty about trading away a really nice Stingray. That has to be among the top five basses I regret letting go among way too many to remember!
Wow... I wonder if they have the same deal with Jazz? I have been avoiding Best Buy because it sucks, but maybe I'll have to have a look at their new music room...
I absolutely love my P bass. It's great for the music that I play (blues-rock, a little bit of pop sometimes), so I can safely say that it's the only one I'll need. Plus, the simplicity of the bass just appeals to me. Two knobs and one pick-up is all I need to provide the groove.
However, there are times when I crave the versatility of Jazz basses. There's no doubt about it; the P bass is wonderful for some music, but the J bass definitely gives you a wider variety of tones you could tinker with.
In short, just get one of each when you can afford it. And then start craving for an MM bass. Then maybe a fretless. Then perhaps a...
You should see where this is going.
However, there are times when I crave the versatility of Jazz basses. There's no doubt about it; the P bass is wonderful for some music, but the J bass definitely gives you a wider variety of tones you could tinker with.
In short, just get one of each when you can afford it. And then start craving for an MM bass. Then maybe a fretless. Then perhaps a...
You should see where this is going.
Realistically, going to one bass of any type probably makes sense for me given that I am only a hobbyist who plays out less than 20 times a year. If I have a backup, it should be simple and passive.
I honestly don't need different basses for different gigs because I don't really have much in the way of gigs.
Dude! Get a 55-02 and call it day! Hard to beat those for a single bass!Realistically, going to one bass of any type probably makes sense for me given that I am only a hobbyist who plays out less than 20 times a year. If I have a backup, it should be simple and passive.
I honestly don't need different basses for different gigs because I don't really have much in the way of gigs.
I absolutely love my P bass. It's great for the music that I play (blues-rock, a little bit of pop sometimes), so I can safely say that it's the only one I'll need. Plus, the simplicity of the bass just appeals to me. Two knobs and one pick-up is all I need to provide the groove.
However, there are times when I crave the versatility of Jazz basses. There's no doubt about it; the P bass is wonderful for some music, but the J bass definitely gives you a wider variety of tones you could tinker with.
In short, just get one of each when you can afford it. And then start craving for an MM bass. Then maybe a fretless. Then perhaps a...
You should see where this is going.
I admit it...this is ME!
I love the simplicity and sound of P-basses (I have two--an Affinity I pulled the frets out of and a Greg Bennett), but the J-bass is a blast as well (Gregg Bennett). Because I bought inexpensively, I'm able to enjoy the sonic possibilities of both!
I know I just got mine, but I did spend a ton of time with it over the weekend. If asked today to carry only one bass to pull off the respectable tone on anything, I am thinking I would actually choose my new-to-me EBMM SR5.
You can get a very repectable, tubby P-bass like sound out of it. The mid EQ is, by far, the VERY BEST I have ever owned. It goes from deep scoop to heavy boost in the mids without ever losing a truly musical tone. The bass is tight, the B string is very good. Plays like butter. I'm now sure what else I could ask for.
I can't think of a style that I would not be comfortable with this bass.
Since you didn't ask, here is a pic
You can get a very repectable, tubby P-bass like sound out of it. The mid EQ is, by far, the VERY BEST I have ever owned. It goes from deep scoop to heavy boost in the mids without ever losing a truly musical tone. The bass is tight, the B string is very good. Plays like butter. I'm now sure what else I could ask for.
I can't think of a style that I would not be comfortable with this bass.
Since you didn't ask, here is a pic
I know I just got mine, but I did spend a ton of time with it over the weekend. If asked today to carry only one bass to pull off the respectable tone on anything, I am thinking I would actually choose my new-to-me EBMM SR5.
You can get a very repectable, tubby P-bass like sound out of it. The mid EQ is, by far, the VERY BEST I have ever owned. It goes from deep scoop to heavy boost in the mids without ever losing a truly musical tone. The bass is tight, the B string is very good. Plays like butter. I'm now sure what else I could ask for.
I can't think of a style that I would not be comfortable with this bass.
Since you didn't ask, here is a pic
LOL!!! That's looks just like the SR5 I swapped for AMPDV!
A SR5 would be a great choice for a single bass since I think it can do a much better modern slap tone than a P or even a P/J bass.
