P? J? Who cares?!

[NKBassman]

I’ve been seeing a lot of threads on this “debate” coming up lately, more frequently than normal.

I’ve never understood why this is something that needs to be "debated", as if there is only one "right" answer. Why is it a question that needs an answer at all? If you want to play a P, play a P. If you like Jazz basses better, great! Music Man? Rickenbacker? Alembic? Active or passive? Rounds or flats? What you choose to play shouldn’t matter to anyone but you.

Your choices are your own, and it truly doesn’t matter what Talkbass or anywhere or anyone else has to say. If you like the noise you’re making, then carry on and send anyone else packing along with their opinions. There is no debate to be had, an no consensus to be reached. This isn't some bass guitar Thunderdome where two models enter, and one model leaves.

The only answer I’ll accept to J vs. P is “both!”.

/rant

 

[Mike Vee]

amen

 

[WG Plum]

Neither! Play upright!

(okay, I have all three - a P, a J, and an upright - and I'm mediocre at best on all three! )

 

[NKBassman]

Neither! Play upright!

(okay, I have all three - a P, a J, and an upright - and I'm mediocre at best on all three! )

I've got 4 different Ps, a Jazz, and a Mustang. Upright might just be the next frontier for me.

Fender P4 w/ flats (passive).
Fender PH4 w/ rounds (active)
Dingwall P5 w/ rounds (passive, multiscale).
Yamaha Attitude bass (P + neck mudbucker; passive) w/ rounds
Fender Geddy Lee Jazz w/ rounds (passive)
Fender JMJ Mustang w/ flats (passive)

I think that's all of them. lol

 

[WG Plum]

I've got 4 different Ps, a Jazz, and a Mustang. Upright might just be the next frontier for me.

I highly recommend it. It's a completely different experience and gets you down to the essentials.

 

[Snert]

I’ve never understood why this is something that needs to be debated. Why is it a question that needs an answer? If you want to play a P, play a P. If you like Jazz basses better, great! Music Man? Rickenbacker? Alembic? Active or passive? Rounds or flats? What you choose to play shouldn’t matter to anyone but you.

Because some need positive reinforcement from the herd that they've made the correct decision, sort of a self referencing argumentum ad populum.

 

[NKBassman]

Because some need positive reinforcement from the herd that they've made the correct decision, sort of a self referencing argumentum ad populum.

I mean, if you can't decide or have questions or doubts or curiosities that you'd like to address, then by all means ask away. But it's not like we're all going to see the results of yet another poll thread on this topic and finally decide "ok, the Ps have it!" and that'll be that.

 

[Snert]

But it's not like we're all going to decide one day that "ok, the Ps have it!"

Some already have,

and that'll be that.

and in their mind, that's that. If you choose anything else you're worse than a McCarthy era communist.

I'm not a particular fan of FSOs, but that has never stopped me watching me listening to Marcus Miller, simply because he's awesome. I don't really give a flying blot what he plays, and neither should you (meaning anyone) give a stuff what I play. The only time I see the aesthetics being an issue is in a tribute band. Otherwise the audience doesn't give a rat's posterior.

As for tone, on stage it's not all that important, and if listening to a recording, you really have no idea what was played (without filmed proof) or how the engineer manipulated it to get that sound.

 

[Smith357]

The real difference for me is, I prefer the chunkier neck on the P, had a few Js and just could not bond with the neck.

 

[shadven]

Anything but a P/J.

 

[NKBassman]

Some already have,

I have, for myself. But that doesn’t mean it’s the right answer for anyone else.

 

[Snert]

But that doesn’t mean it’s the right answer for anyone else.

I agree, but there are some who really can't comprehend you using anything that doesn't gel with what they have/think.

 

[Lowendtech]

The only answer I’ll accept to J vs. P is “both!”.

Sure is.
My solution:
A passive P.
A passive J.
And a passive P/J.
My P/J is a stacked knob (for something completely different).
(The Dingwall SP/J and the Active J are just variations on a theme).

 

[NKBassman]

Sure is.
My solution:
A passive P.
A passive J.
And a passive P/J.
My P/J is a stacked knob (for something completely different).
(The Dingwall SP/J and the Active J are just variations on a theme).

I’ve tried a Stingray in the past and didn’t gel with it, but I’m actually quite curious to try one again these days. Same story with a Ric, but I have no desire to try that again lol.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Play what YOU like and LIKE what you play....this is the motto I always say. And therefore I play a P but mostly a Ray, but Im not against playing the right J.

 

[Lowendtech]

I’ve tried a Stingray in the past and didn’t gel with it, but I’m actually quite curious to try one again these days. Same story with a Ric, but I have no desire to try that again lol.

Tried a Ric. Not for me. But I will put a shoutout to G&L’s. SB-2 and L2K as worthy combatants. L2K with a J (#8) neck was lots of fun. I’d do that again.

 

[WG Plum]

Tried a Ric. Not for me. But I will put a shoutout to G&L’s. SB-2 and L2K as worthy combatants. L2K with a J (#8) neck was lots of fun. I’d do that again.

Same here with Rics. Really want to like them, love how they look, but they're just not comfortable. Tried many basses of different make and type over the years, but I seem to prefer playing poorly on FSOs.

 

[TrevorG]

Yeah but it’s the P better though???

 

[sleddogn]

I’ve been seeing a lot of threads on this “debate” coming up lately, recently seems to be more frequently than normal, anyway.

I’ve never understood why this is something that needs to be debated. Why is it a question that needs an answer? If you want to play a P, play a P. If you like Jazz basses better, great! Music Man? Rickenbacker? Alembic? Active or passive? Rounds or flats? What you choose to play shouldn’t matter to anyone but you.

Your choices are your own, and it truly doesn’t matter what Talkbass or anywhere or anyone else has to say. If you like the noise you’re making, then carry on and send anyone else packing along with their opinions. There is no debate to be had, an no consensus to be reached. This isn't some bass guitar Thunderdome where two models enter, and one model leaves.

The only answer I’ll accept to J vs. P is “both!”.

/rant

This on just about 75% of all threads here....same ole same ole day after day....lol

 

[Iridescentone]

P vs J...yeah pretty dumb debate.

To quote Jerry Seinfeld..."People, they're the worst."