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what is the difference between a p bass and a jazz bass

A

andyfannin

Mar 22, 2012
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0
#1
Alright im new to the world of bass guitar playing and i was wondering if anyone could help me out. I am looking to buy a 4 string bass and was wondering what is the difference between a p bass guitar and a jazz bass guitar.
 
#7
ok i'll bite ....a P Bass was the first Fender made ....i liken it to a Tele Esquire - one pickup strategically placed ...the body of a P Bass is much like a Strat! The J body is kinda like a warped strat body ...you have to see it to understand.

The Jazz Bass came 2nd and like the Strat coming after the Tele it had more pickups to choose from ...the J has a rear bridge pup and one closer to the neck - each pickup has it's own volume knob so you can blend them together any way you like. The P bass pickup is more or less right in the middle between the bridge and the start of the neck.

The J bass typically has a thinner neck ...the fretboard playing surface is also narrower than a P Neck as well .....

besides the structural differences, the P Bass has a thick, round tone that screams Bass/ bottom....the J bass is known to have more mid range punch and cut with less bottom end than a P.
 
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#9
sammyp said:
besides the structural differences, the P Bass has a thick, round tone that screams Bass/ bottom....the J bass is known to have more mid range punch and cut with less bottom end than a P.
Click to expand...

I disagree, in my experience a P has more going on in the mid-bass and lower midrange with a dip around 600-900hz while a Jazz bass with both pickups on has a scoop in the mid-bass, lower midrange, and a boost to the lowest frequencies.

OP - The only way for you to really know the difference is to play them for yourself, I don't recommend buying an instrument without trying it out first (unless there is a good return policy).

IMO these videos do a good job of showing the tonal differences between them. Both basses are strung with old stainless rounds into a Reddi DI.

Jazz bass: Jamiroquai - Love Foolosophy HQ (2007 Abbey Road Live Session) - YouTube

P bass: Jamiroquai - Runaway Live from Abbey Road - YouTube

Bunch of different basses: Genz Benz Shuttle Max 12.0/Uber Bass 212 - YouTube
 
#12
Duckwater said:
I disagree, in my experience a P has more going on in the mid-bass and lower midrange with a dip around 600-900hz while a Jazz bass with both pickups on has a scoop in the mid-bass, lower midrange, and a boost to the lowest frequencies.

OP - The only way for you to really know the difference is to play them for yourself, I don't recommend buying an instrument without trying it out first (unless there is a good return policy).

IMO these videos do a good job of showing the tonal differences between them. Both basses are strung with old stainless rounds into a Reddi DI.

Jazz bass: Jamiroquai - Love Foolosophy HQ (2007 Abbey Road Live Session) - YouTube

P bass: Jamiroquai - Runaway Live from Abbey Road - YouTube

Bunch of different basses: Genz Benz Shuttle Max 12.0/Uber Bass 212 - YouTube
Click to expand...



i know what you mean ....but what i mean is i hear the J Bass having more energy in the high mid range than the p bass .....i do hear the p bass as having more general bottom end though
 
#14
#16
I feel guilty about my sarcastic reply.
Yes, nothing is as good as trying them both yourself. The thing is, a lot of people (myself included) love the smooth "bedroom sound" of a Jazz Bass (playing by yourself) but REALLY love the way the Precision sounds when you're playing with other people. It has a beautiful, muscular clarity. Its bedroom sound can be a bit crude compared to the Jazz Bass.
I once described them with an ice cream analogy:
P Bass: dark chocolate
Jazz Bass: lighter chocolate, vanilla AND strawberry
 
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#18
AndyFannin:

I'm into rock & metal so I can somewhat sound a bit "partisan"

Anyway

Here're two signature models of the two more celebrated bass guitars in the world... Steve Harris Precision, Geddy Lee Jazz...





Steve Harris plays fast & furious triplets with thick flats on a bass reknown for midrange attack and mid-low overall punch...
Geddy Lee plays intricate, challengin' textures with a narrow neck-vintage style singlecoil kinda sound-astonishing accuracy
 
#19
Am I the only person who didn't get a J bass when they were starting out because they had no intention of playing Jazz music??? Oh if only we knew then what we know now..

P bass sounds old school, either bassy and smooth or chunky and punch

J bass sounds funkier, jazzier, a bit thinner than a P bass to my ears but with more "character." Probably cuz it has a slightly mid-scooped sound (where the P has a distinct mid-bump sound)

PJ, to me, is the holy grail combination of the two, and gives you the option between 100% P sound and mixed PJ funk. The mixed PJ funk is hard to describe, you either love it or hate it.

And while we're at it....
Rickenbackers sound trebly and grindy
Gibson Thunderbirds sound thick and bassy but muddy
Musicman Stingrays sound burpy and punchy

That covers all the classics, right?
 

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