the one for me: J or P?

[Stranger Danger]

If anything can be taken from all our minor back-and-forth quibbling is that both of these basses are great, both will work for almost any genre, and either way, you really can't go wrong.

Bottom line'd

 

[Stranger Danger]

The P is a bit more accepted across all genres, but no one will turn you away for playing a J bass.

FYP

 

[Emanuel Apascaritei]

I have to disagree with you on this.

I have a jazz bass with single coils and either pickup soloed hums, and not just when I'm near my amp. The bass is fully shielded (control and pickup cavities) and grounded properly (star grounding) by a professional guitar tech and I still get that 60 cycle hum with either pickup soloed. Proximity to an amplifier might affect the hum, but the noise doesn't just go away if you move farther from the amp. Plus, proximity to other sources of interference will have an effect on the noise as well. Every single coil equipped jazz bass I've played has been the same way - it's just the nature of the beast.

Personally, I love the soloed bridge pickup sound on a Jazz so I put up with the hum. I don't mind a little bit of 60 cycle noise because it usually isn't noticeable when other instruments are playing, but it is definitely there and could be an issue to other players in noise-sensitive environments.

My experience is with only my bass (Am. Std.´09 Jazz) so maybe it does happend with only mine...I don´t know... and it´s not shielded, it´s all stock except the strings (Sadowsky flats). The fact is when my bass is near the amp I can hear the hum but when I put it like a meter away the hum gets lost. Also, sometimes I play without the amp but trough Genelec monitors at home and in the studio through Dynaudio and hear no hum. Belive me those Dynaudio are quite sensitive.

 

[guroove]

Thanks for all the reponses first off, I am learning more with each one. Also, I am not really interested in spending more than $1000. For that reason, and due to the fact that I HAVE auditioned both the J and P extensivly, I am not really considering other models. I also like as few options as possible in terms of controls. My upright doesn't have any knobs on it, believe it or not and I manage to get a bunch of different tones just fine.

It sounds to me like you want a P bass. I play both, and the two serve different purposes. The P fits well in any style of music. The J has a more "compact" or almost a "cute" sound. It's tighter sounding, more focused. Not necessarily brighter, or punchier, just not so big sounding. It's great for slapping and soloing. You can sound almost like a P-bass with a Jazz, by soloing the neck pickup, but the sound is not nearly as fat sounding.

 

[denton57]

I have both. I used to be a jazz guy all the way. Now I am about 90% P. I think a P for you is the natural choice...maybe a tele style even?

I also support the notion that the jazz beats the P on lows. I notice it clearly. One can just look at the pickup placement and see that. Jazzes are scooped sounding, and have a great sound! But I prefer the P tone mids and highs...just so thick

anyway, maybe a single coil tele bass? That is what Leo had in mind with the first generation P right?

 

[Webtroll]

If you like the sound of the P then it's gotta be a P. I don't agree with the neck on a J solo'd being a passable P unless you also think the bridge on a J solo'd makes a good MM and the tone rolled back makes a good upright. Fender doesn't have a lock on the P sound, there are plenty of copies out there that sound like Ps, but I am partial to Fenders.

 

[sikamikanico]

Another vote for Precision!

it's basically a plug-and-play bass, nothing will beat it's simplicity and effectiveness. delivers every time!

Damn, I really need a Precision again!

 

[darkozone]

Neither FENDER SUX!!!!!

 

[ransombass]

I say go with an American Fender J. With the rear pu rolled off you can get a convincing P bass sound. In my mind - you've got the best of both worlds.

+1

I do it a lot. It's convincing enough for live situations.

 

[colors]

wow this thread has really filtered down to one sentance replies...a reminder that this is not poll, and that "+1" and "fender sucks" are not really worthwhile contribution to a discussion.

Anyway, I went to my local Guitar Center and played lots of basses with no setups that felt horrible. But I did find that the supposed difference in quality between the Chinese and American was not as great as I thought. That considered I am not sure I would play a stock Squire. I did however like the vintage vibe Squire P-Basses. And have decided that whatever I get, its got's to have a P neck. I can't deal with the spacing on the jazz.

 

[becker4567]

Because they do both, they do neither very well.

Absolute, total, and complete rubbish!

 

[wideyes]

Just wanted to add a +1 that jazz basses generally seem to be able to kick out lower bass. The phattest bass sound I ever heard was from a j-bass at a reggae concert. In terms of overall "thickness", I actually find p-bass pups to be rather 'thin' sounding in that they are essentially mid-scooped by design - very 'grindy'. Flats do alleviate the grind, if that's what you're after. Nobody can deny the p tone is big or versatile; however, IME jazz covers the whole frequency spectrum better.

And for the record, I prefer the P bass!

 

[wideyes]

Absolute, total, and complete rubbish!

+1, this kind of reasoning always leaves me scratching my head.

 

[ishouldbeking]

wow this thread has really filtered down to one sentance replies...a reminder that this is not poll, and that "+1" and "fender sucks" are not really worthwhile contribution to a discussion.

Anyway, I went to my local Guitar Center and played lots of basses with no setups that felt horrible. But I did find that the supposed difference in quality between the Chinese and American was not as great as I thought. That considered I am not sure I would play a stock Squire. I did however like the vintage vibe Squire P-Basses. And have decided that whatever I get, its got's to have a P neck. I can't deal with the spacing on the jazz.

If you're looking for something that will only be used on occasion you might even want to consider an SX precision for about $120. I've got one and I do quite enjoy it. I just bought a nicer precision which will most likely be my stage bass, but at home I frequently play the SX. Given I used it as an opportunity to mod so it's not exactly stock, but it was completely playable stock. The only thing with an SX is it will most likely need an out-of-box setup, but you'll find lots of folks on here really like them.

 

[Rocky]

I guess you didn't read my thread, I have NO preference for the necks. I hardly ever play electric, so its really just a matter of me being easily able to adapt to the neck whichever one I choose.

Hi, I also play double bass, and I find that when I switch to EB it feels like a toy. A J-bass has a very narrow nut width (1.5 inch), and a P-bass has a 1.75 inch width. I know you say you can get use to any neck, and thats true for me also, but if you need to switch on the same gig you may find the P-bass to feel less toy like. Other than that either bass can handle most types of music without any problem so it really just comes down to what you like more.

 

[Bassmansean]

So you're after that 70's EB tone?

I'd recommend:
-Precision bass with an ashtray bridge cover
-Strategically place some foam under the cover to deaden the strings slightly
-Nickel flats, or stick with the Labella Blacks

As far as genres go, I can't really say either dominates more than another.... perhaps our "slap happy" friends prefer the brighter Jazz setup? I've always had that impression, anyhow. I've seen just as many jazzes as P's in the country genre, but I'm sure some fellow Talkbassers know more of that than I do.

I play a '62 Hofner reissue in my Alt-country band because I don't want loads of sustain. In fact I strive to make it sounds more like an upright, that's why I suggested you put foam under the bridge cover. That's pretty genre specific I know, but it's just a suggestion, or perhaps something to look into.

 

[minimalist freedom]

If you're looking for something that will only be used on occasion you might even want to consider an SX precision for about $120. I've got one and I do quite enjoy it. I just bought a nicer precision which will most likely be my stage bass, but at home I frequently play the SX. Given I used it as an opportunity to mod so it's not exactly stock, but it was completely playable stock. The only thing with an SX is it will most likely need an out-of-box setup, but you'll find lots of folks on here really like them.

SX are good. Set up was good on mine out of the box. Later I adjusted the neck as become comfortable and started to gig in harder. Nice neck.