which classic look do you like best?

[bon viesta]

Love the looks of the Jazz bass (shape wise) but prefer the P-Bass sound wise. Don't get me wrong I love the sound of the Jazz, just prefer the P. As far as ergonomics go?.... Hmmm, either one works for me as I wear my basses pretty low. There is something about a Jazz bass's offset body that is just cool (to me) though. Sunburst looks great on both basses and tort is..... well.... tort.

we finally have one! i didn’t know so many folks disliked burst and tort. burst and tort is like the look of going to the music store in ‘69 and spending the money you made working all of those jobs in the summer... or something like that. i’m 14. lol. it just looks good.

 

[2cooltoolz]

burst and tort is like the look of going to the music store in ‘69 and spending the money you made working all of those jobs in the summer... or something like that.

You read my mind! Even got the year right! And I was 16 in 1969 and that's where my summer job money went!

These are somewhat more recent:

 

[droo46]

I like both, but I only currently own a sunburst Jazz. I think it looks pretty good.

 

[2F/2F]

Not a fan of 3TSB...but a Jazz Bass makes it look all right. Especially attractive if it's a 3-bolt black guard model ('70s).

Tort can be OK sometimes too.

 

[Chrisk-K]

Sunburst P + black pickguard + rosewood fretboard

Sunburst P + gold pickguard + maple fretboard

 

[bigtone23]

I like the look of a J more than a P, but I too do not like sunburst. The only sunburst I can remotely tolerate is that late 60s to late 70s Fender 3 tone that is very yellow in the middle. I had a 76 P with it and still have a 69 Strat in that flavor.

 

[revd]

My kids love my burst 'n' tort P bass and they have fantastic taste.

(do you think they just say that to humour their Beginner Bass Dad..?)

I bought it before I'd ever been on a bass forum or realised that some folks even post vomit emojis to describe how much they hate them. Modern life, eh?

 

[jamro217]

I prefer to listen to a P and look at a J.

 

[whero]

Regarding the two "classic look pictures", I don't actually like bursts that much (black, white, or natural wood, in that order), I'm definitely not a fan of big chrome covers, and while it's probably sacrilegious to admit, I'm not really into tort guards either. Other than that, I like a Jazz body just a bit more than a Precision, but there's not much in it and I'd happily play either.

 

[swarfrat]

I dunno, to call a Jazz bass "sexy" implies some sort of scoliosis fetish.

 

[Polkatronixx]

I voted for the precision bass. To be fair, the jazz bass style is probably more beautiful to me - I think the jazz bass is gorgeous. But I hate the sound of jazz basses and I hate the neck, so I just prefer precision basses. So I should've voted for the jazz bass, but I couldn't help myself.

 

[Kijuer]

Knobs, control plate, PU cover, fb binding and blocks and sunburst finish are much sexier on a J.
The sound of the P, though...yummm

 

[JoeWPgh]

I could never stand the 'classic' bursts of the 60s and 70s. The red band was too wide and too red. Modern 3tbs have a narrower, more subdued red - almost a burgandy. I'm OK with these.

 

[John Webb]

SbkrW5HZQOO5WlBPp3hHFw

• John Webb
• Feb 1, 2021
• my jazz

'99 USA Std Tobacco refinish by Jimmy Wilson

Yes but Tobacco....

 

[chris_b]

I voted Precision, but only because I couldn't vote for both and I've owned a Precision since March 1969.

I'd play anything in any finish (except sparkle) but, all my basses are 3 tone burst and tort, as were the last 3 basses I sold. . . . developing a theme here!

 

[dave64o]

I have both a sunburst precision and a sunburst Jazz. As a matter of fact, my other three basses are also bursts.

The shape doesn't really matter to me. I’ll go with sunburst carrots as my write-in vote.

 

[FrenchBassQC]

For me the body shape of the Jazz bass but I cannot stand sunburst...

 

[lbbc]

I like the look and feel of the jazz bass...but have not found one that doesn't have a significant hum.

The precision looks cool but the necks are too chunky for me.

Sunburst is fine but I prefer Olympic White with a tort pickguard

 

[MtManiac]

I like beat up vintage sunbursts played by either people, but that’s it, I don’t want to own one. Also not a fan of the C width necks, I prefer B width over C and A both.

P bass not ergonomic?? Haaaave you played a Thunderbird before?

 

[chris_b]

I like the look and feel of the jazz bass...but have not found one that doesn't have a significant hum.

Try a Mike Lull or Sadowsky Jazz bass. No hum at all.