Pick an active bass for me

[Gord_oh]

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Alright Talkbass, since I cant decide I need all of your help to pick my next toy.
I have it narrowed down to what is pictured, and I am stuck between the two.

Currently I have a passive jazz and a passive pj, but my current band set up I want some more oomph. Looks aside, I am looking for opinions on pure function. Ive been mostly a Pbass kinda guy, but lately Ive been wanting another jazz. Played both and liked both.
My band is semi aggressive sounding like A Day to Remember or Jamie's Elsewhere.

Actually here is a link to us Invalid Link Removed.

"Play what you like"
"Get what you want"
I know.
Just pick one, mmmmk? thnx.

Looking for comments, opinions, experiences. Let me hear them.

Gord_oh

 

[KevInDaBassment]

Maybe I'm dumb, but I feel like an active p-bass seems to be a bit strange. This is totally an opinion based thing but I feel it sort of takes away from the character of the p-bass pickup. The one you cited was a special, with the jazz pickup in the bridge, but I often wonder why slap an onboard EQ into a bass with a precision p-up. I feel that since the jazz can use a little more punch in band mix, the active preamp seems to help them a bit more than hurt. This is why I voted for the active J =)

 

[Count Bassie]

The Jazz. I agree with post above in that the Jazz caters better to an active circuit. It's a more complex sound anyway really, and there's more in there to deal with for an on-board eq.

And the Jazz looks more "secret"... like you have a savvy angle that the poor block-headed P-player isn't in on.

Just kidding. But I'd do the Jazz.

 

[Gord_oh]

i originally wanted the pj, but your words are my thoughts exactly. thats when i became torn.

 

[Gord_oh]

ps- opinions on my band?

 

[Count Bassie]

ps- opinions on my band?

I'll get back on that tomorrow- for sure. I'm off! Good hunting...

 

[Gord_oh]

I'll get back on that tomorrow- for sure. I'm off! Good hunting...

uh...ok?

 

[Lowner]

I used to have one a few years back and so i am partial to active jazzes. They sound great but the neck was a bit too thick for me.

 

[madbassplaya]

i've played both and owned one.

i had the jazz and it was a great little bass. an active jazz makes sense to me. an active p does not.

 

[PaulMacCnj]

My preference is typically a P bass over a J bass. But when it comes to active electronics, I prefer a J. P bass sound like Ps when passive, not active, IMO. A J bass sounds better active since it avoids all the noise issues with all passive Js. Again, that's IMO.

 

[steamthief]

My passive MIA Fender P/J was my #1 for twelve years until I got my Spector Euro 4LX a few weeks ago. Frankly, the fat tones of the active P/J Spector blow the Fender away.

 

[ghostjs]

you'd get great fat tones out of a P/J i must agree, however, i love the looks of the Jazz bass... go with the sound over anything though IMO

 

[Billnc]

There is a beauty and simplicity to the plain old passive one PU P bass that any alteration destroys.

Go Jazz, a better platform for hot rodding.

 

[nocontrols]

I picked P because I think you will get more versatility with the P/J setup... I need a P in the neck position for warmer tones and the J in the bridge will give you a quacky Jaco thing if you like that.

But who cares what I think?

"Play what you like"
"Get what you want"
I know.
Just pick one, mmmmk? thnx.

See, you're all but admitting this is a stupid thread. You knew this was dumb when you posted it.

 

[Mike M.]

Which one feels best in your hands? Which one feels like it's a part of you? For me, that's the first consideration. No sense buying a bass if it doesn't feel right.

Can't comment on the P/J bass because I've never played one. But I do have the Deluxe Active Jazz 5 string bass, so it's basically the same thing. Of course, one's style and amp have a lot to do with it, but I found that once I raised the pickups pretty high and turned the preamps treble, bass and mids about a quarter of a turn (+) past the nuetral position that it punches pretty good.

Believe it or not, I tried to get the output of my J to match that of my (believe it or not) passive Affinity Squire P bass! That little bass kicks! After doing a lot of comparing, adjusting this and raising that, the J kicks like the Squire. Differant tones of course, but they equal out in terms of output.

Bottom line; it's your hard earned money so take your time in buying, but for some reason I've always liked the vibe of a Jazz bass.

 

[sethlow3]

I am not an active 4 string guy, but that jazz is SEXY! I have a passive MIA Jazz.

 

[SLaPiNFuNK]

Jazz... (based more on looks though).

 

[TheNightLife]

I voted pj. I have a few p basses and a marcus miller 4 string and I must say the active jazz does not sound like the brute in your face sound of a p. Hence why I voted pj. I think the pj would give YOU the best of both worlds in terms of sound and feel. The jazz basses always sounded thin in comparrison to a p bass even an active jazz. The active jazzes tend to have a lot of upper sparkle to them but I noticed the low end on them just isn't the same. Plus the p cuts better in the mix. Atleast with my band it does. Link Removed.

 

[Gord_oh]

Good input guys. Exactly what I was looking for.
Unfortunatly there is one store I can think of that would carry both of these in stock at the same time (not a GC).
I might have to make the drive and go AB them together. I've played both, just not at the same time.
Keep the comments and voting coming!

PS- buy my bass in the classifieds so I can get one of these.

 

[Gord_oh]

I'm playing in drop d flat (c sharp), and need to keep that low end coming in hot.
My setup now is a small fender combo amp, but I plan on getting an aguilar tone hammer 500 head and 410 cab.