P VS J NECK

[andrew_over]

So i just got this new p bass with jazz neck, and it's sick. Before this bass, i played a j for a few years, and before that played a p affinity by squier for 4 years. So today when i'm playing i ask myself, what did the p neck feel like? so i looked on some websites, and noticed that alot of pros with fenders like the j neck more, and like my bass, it's a p but comes with the j neck. So i'm wondering, is the j better?? i know that it's smaller, but what does that mean. Is it just for comfort of the owners personal taste? or is there also a bigger picture. thanks

andrew

 

[msquared]

There is no "better". Everyone has different hands and certain neck shapes lend themselves to different playing styles. What works for you is what works for you. Anyone who says something is better without telling you what it's better for is only giving you half an answer.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

So, I guess you could put a P neck on a Jazz too. It never really occurred to me, but that might be a good idea.

 

[treebranch13]

Many people like smaller necks because it is less area to cover and it is more comfortable to not stretch out as much.

There are other people who like the spacing, i have played Ps and Jazzes and many other basses and i find my ESP to be more comfortable despite it having an extended scale (35") and larger string spacing.

 

[Gasman]

So, I guess you could put a P neck on a Jazz too. It never really occurred to me, but that might be a good idea.

That's what Tim C fron RATM does. It's just whatever feels good to you. Personally, I prefer wider necks, but there's no advantage/disadvantage to either.

 

[savit260]

I think the advantage to being comfortable on a bigger neck, is it's easier to play one that's smaller if you have to.

I see a lot more J guys complaining about playing on a P neck than the reverse.

 

[Human Bass]

I think that nut width is such a small detail, the profile shape (C, shallow C, D, U, asymmetrical, etc) has a much bigger impact.

 

[timmbass]

Not better. Just a way to get the P sound for people who like the J neck. I do prefer the J neck.

 

[cdef]

So, I guess you could put a P neck on a Jazz too. It never really occurred to me, but that might be a good idea.

I used to have a parts bass like that, an original '70s Fender P neck on an ash J body (by ESP). It was a different beast. Compared to a regular J, it sort of invited a heavier playing touch to get the most out of it. Yet it didn't feel like a Precision either.

 

[vcs700s]

So, I guess you could put a P neck on a Jazz too. It never really occurred to me, but that might be a good idea.

Fender did- Mark Hoppus bass.

Jazz body, P bass neck, P bass pu.

 

[coreyfyfe]

if you compare a fender p to a fender jazz they both use a "C" shape neck, and that 1/4" at the nut makes all the difference.

 

[sixstringbass]

i play a jazz with a precision neck and i think it feels better because the jazz just feels too small and uncomfortable.

 

[DutchDude]

I like em both.
The jazz neck is easier to play, but the p-neck just feels a lot sturdier and that's what I want when I'm playing a gig, a sturdy neck.
this is just my opinion, I'm not saying j-necks are crap before someone makes this thread in another big fight

 

[Doctor J]

I've predominantly played a J neck for the last 18 years, but I just got a P and I really dig it.

 

[cowsgomoo]

I think your adapability as a human being negates any size difference between P & J necks, provided your hands aren't particularly small and you have healthy hands

what I mean is that I have P & J basses, and when I got my first J, after having played P's for years, the neck felt tiny... now I go back to my P and it feels huge... but after a half hour with either bass, that feeling goes away and there's certainly no strength or stamina issue.. I think it's all in the mind

the only difference is that I sometimes overreach on my jazz with my left hand when grabbing for octaves or added 9ths down in first position after having played the P for a while... but that's all

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I feel that way too. People often discuss 5-string spacing at 19mm vs 17.5mm, etc... I have both, but after a few minutes on either I can get used to it. I even have a P with a C shaped neck and a P with a U (I think) shaped neck and both feel good.

 

[canshaker]

I've always loved the way a P sounds, but hated the way they felt, and love the way the J felt, but hated they way they sounded (when I played them. Purely personal taste)

I just had 2 basses built with P bodies and J necks. The pick ups were made by Rob Timmons, who modeled them after the ones in my '74 P.

 

[flipper_gv]

Tim Commerferd uses a Jazz Bass with P Bass neck.

 

[BassJunkie730]

I cannot play a jazz neck and feel comfortable playing.

It's strange actually but I need the big necks (though new Warwicks are Too big for me)

Recently I was inches from pulling the trigger on a RED Jaguar bass. I had the cash in my pocket and played it for about an hour. I simply could not justify the purchase because of the neck (which happened to be thinner than your average jazz.

So when the dust settled I ordered a 70s reissue Precision neck to complete a project.

P > J in my opinion.

 

[Pilgrim]

I have a J and a P and I feel only a little difference when switching between them. I learned electric bass on the P, so perhaps it is the "standard" for me - but I erally don't feel that much difference when changing between any of the 8 basses I own. To me, it's not a big deal at all - I just play whatever I feel like, and don't I worry about any differences - I enjoy them.