Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
what are the differences in necks? Fender Jass/precision
- Thread starter craig3x
- Start date
You're gonna hear that you shoulda Googled your answer - but not from me.
The reason someone took the original Jazz neck off and put a P neck onto a Jazz bass is because they wanted the thinner neck for themselves and shuffled the bass out to someone else.
FWIW: Fender and Squiers have the same connotation as far as neck dimensions go - with some minor exceptions that is.
Same length - different width.
The reason someone took the original Jazz neck off and put a P neck onto a Jazz bass is because they wanted the thinner neck for themselves and shuffled the bass out to someone else.
FWIW: Fender and Squiers have the same connotation as far as neck dimensions go - with some minor exceptions that is.
Same length - different width.
The P neck is more precise...
The Jazz neck as its name indicates is a lot better if you play jazz!
Google is your friend!
The Jazz neck as its name indicates is a lot better if you play jazz!
Google is your friend!
Huge assumption. There are tons of guys who prefer Precision necks. I was one of them for years. I never played a jazz because of the skinnier neck and I might have put a Precision neck on a jazz for my own benefit.
I appologize for being a total noob, but the above quote makes it sound as if the Jazz bass neck is the thinner/skinnier one.
As a mediocre player, Is it really worth spending the extra several hundred dollars to get a true Fender over the Squier? I'm trying to decide on Jazz or Precision. We play mostly punk/ alternative rock. And I am a finger player...no pick.
IMO the choice should be more influenced by what tone you are after than neck size.
You can always get used to different neck profiles, you cant make a P sound like a J.
Try both, and do a search.
Also, as a mediocre player, spend less on the bass and more on bass lessons.
Jazz is the narrowest of the two.
If the combination of the two is what you want it's perfect, actually. Fender necks usually have higher quality than Squiers, so you sort of get the best of both worlds. (Cheap bass with higher quality neck)
What's best of a P and a J neck is simply a matter of taste.
Putting a jazz neck on a P body is a very common mod, so many may say that the bass you have found may be the "leftovers" from such a mod, but it could just as well be built by someone who wanted a jazz, bud have huge fingers. Bottom line is; if you like the bass and the price is right, go for it!
If the combination of the two is what you want it's perfect, actually. Fender necks usually have higher quality than Squiers, so you sort of get the best of both worlds. (Cheap bass with higher quality neck)
What's best of a P and a J neck is simply a matter of taste.
Putting a jazz neck on a P body is a very common mod, so many may say that the bass you have found may be the "leftovers" from such a mod, but it could just as well be built by someone who wanted a jazz, bud have huge fingers. Bottom line is; if you like the bass and the price is right, go for it!
Yes the jazz neck is skinier than a Precision neck. Most modern Precisions are only a tiny bit wider though. The difference is not that huge. Try both of them at the store and decide which width works better for you.
As far as the Squier vs Fender, it's hard to say as I am unsure what your budget it BUT the Squier line has come a long way and they are very good basses. I would not say instantly to take a Mexican Fender over a Squier as it's not that cut and dry which would be better.
I know that you can get used Mexican Fenders for really good prices so if you want Fender on the headstock watch the used market and see if you can get one that works for you. Otherwise I think you would be well off with a Squier as well.
You do not need huge fingers to get around a wider Precision neck. I don't have huge hands and I played wide Precision necks only for years with no problem. I think people can talk themselves into being scared of a wider neck but it's really not bad at all. I have seen tiny tiny males and females playing full width Precision necks.
Are some people really so anal that it just comes down to the decal on the neck saying Fender instead of Squier. Kinda like dudes that trick out their trucks with huge lifts and expensive shocks, but only drive them on the street for the "look at me" factor? Good thing I don't have a small @#$%. I can handle a squier logo, being I'm not a professional.
No that is not it. There is a large difference from a US Fender down to a Squier but the difference is not as huge as it was awhile ago. Budget instrument production has really gone way up in quality in the last few years. If you have the money there are really good reason (beyond name on the headstock) to go to a higher level Fender BUT that is not to say that the Squier is not a great bass that would work well for you.
I'd say one of the most important factors is that the jazz has a nut width of 1.5" and the P neck usually goes from 1.6-1.625" - but I believe another big factor is that the precision neck doesnt taper out much at all going from the nut to the bridge, while the jazz bass neck has a pretty obvious taper that can make your hand position odd at points or at different angles, still, I play jazz necks and I'm fine
I have a Fender Jazz and a Squier Vintage Modified Jazz. The Squier is my favorite of the two. It's prettier looking, happens to have a 'satin' finish on the neck which I prefer, has hotter pickups and better tone, IMHO. Squier has been making some very nice basses lately.
I personally prefer the Jazz neck. It is both narrower and thinner.
Jazz versus Precision is like Brunettes versus Blondes. Personal preference. P-basses have more THUD, while J-basses have.....well, they have that Jazz tone. Richer, in my opinion. Plus, Jazz basses can growl.
butchblack
Life is short. Do good. Find and do what you love.
Besides the difference of width at the nut, there is also differences in the thickness of necks, but that is more a function of when it was manufactured. It boils down to what you prefer.
