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P vs J: 2016
- Thread starter sigmafloyd
- Start date
P Bass. No questions asked for me if I can't combine any parts of the two. I like the necks better, the body better, and if I can only choose between a split coil and the two singles I'll take the split every day of the year.
You neglected to include a critical option: "Both."
Different tools for different jobs, IMO. I prefer the Jazz for what I play.
I vote J. I have owned 3 P's and gigged with 2 for years. Now that I have J's, I feel like I can cover any tone needed, including the P tone with my front pickup soloed.
On a serious note, I'd say in 2016 people are probably playing a diverse range of basses so it's not just P or J anymore.
Yeah, if you're going to rock shows you might see a lot of P-basses but if you hit up a wider range of musical styles I think you'd see a lot of other basses. Grunge had the Spectors and Gibsons (G3, Ripper), Funk had the Stingrays. 80s New Wave bands I'd listen to had Peaveys, Hofner/Gibson-styled basses (Duesenberg for the Tears for Fears guy), etc. I've seen some Emo bands prefer Mustangs or Jaguar basses.
Sometimes a new genre of music forms and the passionate, starving-artist musicians were playing whatever was most affordable off the pawn shop wall. Folks I know seem to play ESPs, Ibanez, Carvins and Schecters.
On a personal note, I spent a lot of time with a Jazz bass as my #1 but shifted to P-basses lately just because I like the fatter sound and how minimalist they are. PJs too, that's if I want some extra growl or pop. P-basses just seem to slot right in the mix well when you're competing with more than one guitarist or other instrumentalist. I did find Jazz basses worked really well in a 3 or 4 piece band (if one person is lead singer).
Yeah, if you're going to rock shows you might see a lot of P-basses but if you hit up a wider range of musical styles I think you'd see a lot of other basses. Grunge had the Spectors and Gibsons (G3, Ripper), Funk had the Stingrays. 80s New Wave bands I'd listen to had Peaveys, Hofner/Gibson-styled basses (Duesenberg for the Tears for Fears guy), etc. I've seen some Emo bands prefer Mustangs or Jaguar basses.
Sometimes a new genre of music forms and the passionate, starving-artist musicians were playing whatever was most affordable off the pawn shop wall. Folks I know seem to play ESPs, Ibanez, Carvins and Schecters.
On a personal note, I spent a lot of time with a Jazz bass as my #1 but shifted to P-basses lately just because I like the fatter sound and how minimalist they are. PJs too, that's if I want some extra growl or pop. P-basses just seem to slot right in the mix well when you're competing with more than one guitarist or other instrumentalist. I did find Jazz basses worked really well in a 3 or 4 piece band (if one person is lead singer).
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I picked P because I just ordered one of those Fender American Standard Precision Basses in mystic blue that Musician's Friend is blowing out for $999.99.
It gets here tomorrow. . .
It gets here tomorrow. . .
Wanted to jump on one of those too...just not in this teacher's budget this year; that said, a nice new MIM P in black with maple fretboard would sit nicely with my two old MIJ Ps (75 reissue and a Sting). I have had seven J basses, and the fact that I no longer have any says something about my preference. I find J's heavy and ergonomically clumsy for me (and my stand)
Jazz Bass if I'm in a John Paul Jones/ Tommy Shannon/ Craig MacGregor state of mind.
Precision Bass if I'm in a Duck Dunn/ James Jamerson/ Classic Rock/ Anything Else That Matters state of mind.
(It's 2016. 'Both' should be condidered a viable option. ;-)
Precision Bass if I'm in a Duck Dunn/ James Jamerson/ Classic Rock/ Anything Else That Matters state of mind.
(It's 2016. 'Both' should be condidered a viable option. ;-)
I like both very much and will say a passive p bass has a certain magic to it.
Having said that, as a long time active jazz player I can solo the neck pickup and do a damn good precision with a tweak to the mid frequency and boost.
Having said that, as a long time active jazz player I can solo the neck pickup and do a damn good precision with a tweak to the mid frequency and boost.
Everytime i try a jazz bass i get fustrated finding my tone.
Everytime i try a p/j it dosent sound right till the bridge pickup is almost off.
So its always p basses for me.
Everytime i try a p/j it dosent sound right till the bridge pickup is almost off.
So its always p basses for me.
Tina We
I think Tina Weymouth played a Mustang on Psycho Killer, similar tone as here.
Skip to 1:42..............
I think Tina Weymouth played a Mustang on Psycho Killer, similar tone as here.
