P Bass what am I missing

[RobBottom69]

I had a Squier P for awhile, but I like the feel of the Jazz better.

I have the Reggie Hamilton jazz and it has the P/J setup. I wouldn't say it sounds like a P but it does sound darker and fuller than the J pickup. I like having the versatility in tone, and with the Mesa D-800 I'm really hearing the differences now.

 

[Showdown]

Close. The neck pickup on a Jazz Bass sounds very similar to the standard P-Bass setup... IMHO.....

I disagree. I have never been able to get an authentic P sound out of a J neck pickup. It is kind of similar if you aren't picky, but it is missing something.

 

[FerruleCat]

One thing I prefer about my Jazz Bass is that it's home with me instead of still at the tech's because he snapped the strap button screw as I was pulling up. It's always the last step that gets you.

 

[Mastermold]

A P doesn't sound that great by itself - but it sits in a band mix perfectly for pretty much every type of music. I played Js for many years, but I've been playing mostly Ps for the last couple of years.

I think P-basses sound great by themselves. At least mine do. Especially the '64s.

 

[Lowendtech]

I see that Fodera make a really nice P bass now.
Andy Cichon from the Billy Joel band uses one.

 

[Double E]

His tone has been no more somewhat condescending than yours.

OK, I deserve that… I apologize.

 

[Tanner5382]

OK, I deserve that… I apologize.

It takes a real man to admit that. No problem, good on you.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

Not every band needs a P. Lots sound just fine with a Stingray. Or a Jazz. Or a Rascal. Or a Mustang. Or a Ric. But why not try a few out and see if you like one of them. As with any bass, they are all different in tonality and playablity.

 

[TripleDouble]

They sound thick but still defined enough and fit in just about any mix with no fiddling around. I haven't yet read any other replies, but are we fighting yet?

 

[Showdown]

They sound thick but still defined enough and fit in just about any mix with no fiddling around. I haven't yet read any other replies, but are we fighting yet?

If you say good things about a P the anti-P folks show up and tell you you are wrong. Then an argument ensues.

 

[TripleDouble]

If you say good things about a P the anti-P folks show up and tell you you are wrong. Then an argument ensues.

That's the one. I remember a simpler time when P's were good and there were not so many argumentative jerkweasels saying otherwise.

 

[Tanner5382]

If you say good things about a P the anti-P folks show up and tell you you are wrong. Then an argument ensues.

I've never seen anyone be told they're "wrong" for saying good things about P basses, except for when they say they are the only thing you need or that they are the be-all end-all of basses.

 

[shawshank72]

Played through a few jazzes, hated myself in the mix.
Played P Basses and owned the mix.
Just my experience.

 

[groooooove]

A little more thump, which blends well with kick drums.

could not have been said better.

yes, a jazz bass's neck pickup is a little fatter. but in the context of a band - you name it - from motown to blues to hard rock to many metal players- the natural EQ of a P-pickup in its normal placement along the string will tend to sound fatter, and will certainly have more note definition.

i don't play a P-bass. i've always played 6 strings with jazz-style pickups. i recently heard a recording of me from years ago where i was playing my old USA P bass. i was stunned at how clear and big the bass sounded. if you were to A/B the basses i use now compared to that P-bass, you'd think the P was way inferior. but, it just sits right on top of the kick drum in the mix and it's awesome.

i really wish i had more choices for 6 string p basses. to my knowledge there are no "real" options.

 

[Eminor3rd]

TO me, the only reason to use a P Bass is for the P Bass tone. If you don't want that tone, you aren't missing anything specific.

 

[Showdown]

I played mainly J basses and basses with J style pickups for about 20 years, still have a couple. I've been playing P the last couple of years. IMO if I could only own one bass it would be a P. It is the jack of all trades bass that works in any situation I'm likely to be in. I don't play fusion or jazz, but I play pretty much everything else and the P delivers without much fuss. Plug and play. My Js always needed tweaking for different situations/styles/rooms.

IMO. YMMV.

 

[Kukulkan61]

Your missing EVERYTHING...

 

[petrus61]

I disagree. I have never been able to get an authentic P sound out of a J neck pickup. It is kind of similar if you aren't picky, but it is missing something.

Yep. As much as I like both, there isn't a J I've played that can do what a P does, sonically. I think people that aren't as familiar with true Precision pickups get the notion from the J neck being more dark and woofy and somehow equate that to what a P sounds like, when in reality they're nothing alike. I tend to describe a neck J as having little initial attack, with the note blooming more after being struck and the P as having a hard initial attack followed by a slightly faster decay.

 

[MovingPitchers]

Uh, you are missing out on a bassist's version of water.

You need it.

XD

JK.

 

[Ant Illington]

All,
Look I know this is a very subjective topic, but that being said, I have a MIM Fender Jazz bass, and a Fender Rascal SS bass. I'm a guitarist for 25 years and now I'm on fire with bass. Since I love blues and classic rock, the P bass is played a lot in these genres. What does the P bass offer in contrast to the Jazz in terms of playability and tone?

I find both the jazz and P bass more challeging to the fretting hand than a lot of other basses, and the P a little moreso than the J. And I found the P a little more challenging to pluck toward the bridge before I was good at floating thumb.

Sound-wise, it's up to your tastes but there is no denying the greatness of a P in many situations. Be sure to have fresh strings if you really want to cut through "dense" arrangements, though, as is probably the case with most basses. Obviously dead strings work/worked for music without giant guitar sounds- like Motown or other old stuff. It's hard to put a finger on but the sound of a P with fresh strings is just incredible and unmistakable.