Precision or Jazz, that is the question

[Bassmunnky]

In this day and age, there's really no reason not to have one of each....

Really is a blonde better than a brunette or a red head...good lord.

Both are great, and IMHO, you need both to understand why.

 

[SteveC]

I try to like P basses but I never seem to sound like everyone else on a P. I sound like crap. My wife told me to get a P and live with it for a year. She's probably right.

 

[Tampabass]

either one will work for any kind of music. The sound is in your hands.

 

[Davo-London]

This is obviously a very pro P response.

I started life with a 70's P and played it for 20+ years before getting a Jazz (fretless). Because the 70's P weighed a ton I was happy to play other basses and I got into Jazzes. However, when looking for a pre-CBS Jazz I stumbled on a '64 P. OMG it is so wonderful and so much better than my '76. Now I've come full circle and play the P most of the time.

Davo

 

[St. Louis Scot]

This may not be true in every market, but my experience has been that when a studio-gig comes up, the sound techs inevitably ask you to bring a 4 string fretted P-bass.

 

[BearCave]

Try them both. See which one feels better in your hands. Play some bass lines for the songs you play in your band on each one and decide which bass yout think sounds better. It's all in your perception to what feels and sounds best to you.

If it turns out that you like the P and the J equally, it comes down to what your budget is and if you can afford to buy one of each or possibly look for a P/J configuration. There are plenty to choose from.

I own many different J's and P's including a Custom Shop P/J and I love 'em all!

Choose what YOU like and what works best for YOU.

 

[Stumbo]

Hi guys, this is my first post here so go easy on me!

Firstly sorry for cutting across the thread as I know I'm looking for a p bass but I hope you can help me out.

I'm looking to get a solid, cheapish bass for my recording studio - I'm looking to use it live too and it would be mostly rock stuff that I'd be working on.

So, I've a choice to make between the Fender Cabronita, the Fender Tele Bass modern player or a Squier Telecaster Bass or just a regular Fender P bass...I know it's all down to trying them out and all that but I'd really appreciate any thoughts you might have...

Welcome to TB!

Good post.

I suggest starting a thread of your own to get more replies. Also, reading the TB FAQ's would be helpful as well.

Btw, "cutting across the thread" as you call it is known as "going OT(off topic) or "hijacking".

Usually going OT is a reply to something already posted and is usually accompanied with an apology for doing so or bracketing your post with [OT] and [/OT].

Posting a completely different question than the OP(original post) is hijacking.

 

[BulbousMoses]

This may not be true in every market, but my experience has been that when a studio-gig comes up, the sound techs inevitably ask you to bring a 4 string fretted P-bass.

I've heard this many times as well but I wonder if it isn't just laziness on the part of the engineer. Supposedly, the P just sits in the mix very well without much eq-ing. But, any style of bass can be made to sit well in the mix if the engineer takes the time to explore the sonic characteristics of the instrument. Paul McCartney used a Hofner and a Rick a lot in the studio and they sound just fine to me. I read somewhere that Geoff Emerick took a lot of time to place Macca's bass properly in the mixes, exploring how his bass sounded, etc.

 

[tranceFusion]

If you're a "no fuss", keep it simple kind of person, get a P first.
If you're a tinkerer/gearhead, get a Jazz first.

As others said, you'll eventually want both

 

[Polfuste]

P/J is the key: perfect bass shape and neck with a P pickup when you want to go P and a J when you want this particular growl from jazzbass. Mix the two and you are in heaven !

 

[steve_rolfeca]

I've heard this many times as well but I wonder if it isn't just laziness on the part of the engineer. Supposedly, the P just sits in the mix very well without much eq-ing. But, any style of bass can be made to sit well in the mix if the engineer takes the time to explore the sonic characteristics of the instrument.

...I read somewhere that Geoff Emerick took a lot of time to place Macca's bass properly in the mixes, exploring how his bass sounded, etc.

It's certainly true that engineers are relieved when they are presented with a known quanityt, and that they tend to prefer instruments that don't require a lot of experimentation when setting up a mix.

I'm not sure that it's accurate to call it laziness.

One aspect is cost- time is money in the studio, and the engineer is working for the client, not the bassist. Another is past experience. An engineer may tend to shy away from particular instruments for reasons that are all about bad experiences with past clients, and nothing to do with you and your gear.

Also, not every engineer is Geoff Emerick. An inexperienced engineer in a low-rent project studio may push you to play a P-bass because at this point, his limited skills are best suited to working with that tonal family.

 

[los100malditos]

buy a p bass (american special) is a perfect p bass with slim neck

 

[BulbousMoses]

It's certainly true that engineers are relieved when they are presented with a known quanityt, and that they tend to prefer instruments that don't require a lot of experimentation when setting up a mix.

I'm not sure that it's accurate to call it laziness.

One aspect is cost- time is money in the studio, and the engineer is working for the client, not the bassist. Another is past experience. An engineer may tend to shy away from particular instruments for reasons that are all about bad experiences with past clients, and nothing to do with you and your gear.

Also, not every engineer is Geoff Emerick. An inexperienced engineer in a low-rent project studio may push you to play a P-bass because at this point, his limited skills are best suited to working with that tonal family.

Point well taken. Laziness may not have been the best choice of words. I'll still maintain that you can get any (or almost any) bass to sit well in a mix. But yes, time is money and time wasted figuring how to eq artist X's Icelandic Driftwood bass may be better spent just tracking with a known quantity. A good and experienced engineer should be able to work with non P basses though.

 

[bass geetarist]

I've owned both a P and a J for many years, and have made many of my own recordings with them (sadly nothing I'm ready to share just yet). I've always found it easy to get the p bass to cut through a mix without overwhelming other instruments. It was much, much harder with the j. I could get a good tone for it on its own, but had a hard time getting it to cut through a mix, particularly if there was a guitar playing low chords in the mix. Turning it up would bring in more washy muddiness than anything else, and no amount of eqing would improve this situation, as rolling off lows would take out all the punch and "meat" of the tone. Keep in mind that this could just be my particular p and j, but I've heard similar complaints from others...

Best case scenario is to have both of course, but I know that's not realistic. A P/J configuration is a good option. I now have a Power Jazz Special that can get good p and j tones.

 

[Biggbass]

Best scenario is to have one of each..plus a P/J and a P with a J neck.
if you can only afford one it's a tough choice.