Why did the J never dethrone the P?

[dbsfgyd1]

On paper, the Jazz has everything to dethrone the Precision as the most widely used type of bass, such as:

• A faster, smaller and thinner neck that is most likely more comfortable for more people;
• Two pickups for a wider range of tones, including a neck pickup that most of us couldn’t distinguish from a P’s when soloed in a blind test; and
• Offset body that is more comfortable to play while sitting down.

So, why did the J never manage to dethrone the P in your opinion?

IMO, PBs record better. The JB has a mid hump. OTOH. PBs the lower you go the more the low end blooms much like a grand piano. No mid hump.

That said, JBs are great live where that mid hump comes in handy as well as the extra punch of the bridge pick up.

 

[Lesfunk]

I always thought it did.
I don’t know the official sales figures.
In my own personal history, I never really came across very many other players playing Precisions . Almost everybody I knew played a jazz if they played a fender .
Then I signed up for talkbass and suddenly everybody on earth is playing a Pbass…

 

[Ric Vice]

One could arguably say that the Music Man Stingray unseated both the Precision and Jazz Basses. I was around when Music Man first hit our local music establishment

Rocky’s Music in Muncie, Indiana. They sold like hot cakes and Louis Johnson used that bass to change bass playing around the world

 

[Spirit of Ox]

With the huge slap trend in viral videos, I would say the Jazz bass dethroned the P bass in that market. I would say a close toss up between the Jazz and Stingray.

 

[Fernando Costa]

They are very different animals, made for very different purposes, although they can sound very similar in certain settings. The genres of songs that were successful later decided which of the two basses would be more popular. Of course, the instrument used in the most popular songs would not be dethroned.

 

[two fingers]

On paper, the Jazz has everything to dethrone the Precision as the most widely used type of bass, such as:

• A faster, smaller and thinner neck that is most likely more comfortable for more people;
• Two pickups for a wider range of tones, including a neck pickup that most of us couldn’t distinguish from a P’s when soloed in a blind test; and
• Offset body that is more comfortable to play while sitting down.

So, why did the J never manage to dethrone the P in your opinion?

Oh I can tell a P bass from a J neck pickup in a matter if seconds.

Other than that, I got nutn.

I prefer a P to a J. But I am not the universe. I am but one player.

 

[Ric5]

On paper, the Jazz has everything to dethrone the Precision as the most widely used type of bass, such as:

• A faster, smaller and thinner neck that is most likely more comfortable for more people;
• Two pickups for a wider range of tones, including a neck pickup that most of us couldn’t distinguish from a P’s when soloed in a blind test; and
• Offset body that is more comfortable to play while sitting down.

So, why did the J never manage to dethrone the P in your opinion?

I started playing in 1968, I owned several basses. I did not own a Fender style bass until 2001. So for me neither the P or the J was king. Now I own Jaguar, Jazz, and precision style basses but all of mine are not even close to being stock ... mine have 2, 3, or 4 pickups, 5 strings, and preamps.

The only use that I would have for a stock p or J bass is as a platform to modify it into a bass I can use.

 

[Flaked Beans]

This question is silly, sir.

 

[db59]

Or Dusty Rhodes & Abdullah the Butcher....not sure which was dethroned here........

 

[juggahnaught]

On paper, the Jazz has everything to dethrone the Precision as the most widely used type of bass, such as:

• A faster, smaller and thinner neck that is most likely more comfortable for more people;
• Two pickups for a wider range of tones, including a neck pickup that most of us couldn’t distinguish from a P’s when soloed in a blind test; and
• Offset body that is more comfortable to play while sitting down.

So, why did the J never manage to dethrone the P in your opinion?

It did.

 

[P. Aaron]

I like my Precision V and the 4-string P-Bass it replaced for player comfort and ease of finding a workable tone for most music I've been asked to learn/play live. Live, it's easy dial in, if it's needed at all. I never worry about venue with a powerful and set flat rig, it's easy to adjust if needed.

I am refinishing my fretless Jazz Bass right now. It has that thin neck at the nut and after a spell, it cramps the center of my left hand. Tone is different of course, and I can get pleasing things out of the instrument so, it's simply a comfort thing with the Precision V. And, the P's neck is one wide hunk 'o lumber but, the damn thing's so easily playable...and the tone. It just works!

I have a Dimension Deluxe 5 and it has a neck, tones and feel of the Fender Jazz 5 string series. 4 knobs: V, H, M, Bass boost. I add a smidge of treble, full on mid & bass. Never touch them, simply adjust for volume. The amp: Hartke LH1000, or a Mesa WD800, and a LDS 2 x 10. Generic, flat stuff.

It's always about getting tone at the venue. However one can do it. With whatever gear you can do it with. Audience don't care if it's an awesome 'Ray or a Squier. If the tone works and gives you joy, ta-da!

 

[Tanner5382]

I always thought it did.
I don’t know the official sales figures.
In my own personal history, I never really came across very many other players playing Precisions . Almost everybody I knew played a jazz if they played a fender .
Then I signed up for talkbass and suddenly everybody on earth is playing a Pbass…

Same experience here. On the local level, I always saw more Jazz basses than P basses.

 

[BassDaddy77]

Seems like an odd question to ask since Fender is the originator of both models. I'm sure they move plenty of each and could care less which one has higher volume in sales.

To put it simply (and IMHO):
Fender sits upon the bass throne with a P in one hand and a J in the other.

 

[Killing Floor]

Why did the chicken never cross the road?

 

[lowfreqgeek]

I suppose we might call it "revisionist history" looking at it in 2021, where it would seem (if Talkbass is your measuring stick) that the P-bass is the only bass Fender really made and the Jazz was just a footnote. I'd say the Jazz and it's derivatives absolutely had a turn through the 70s, 80s, 90s, and even well into the 2000s. How many companies built their brands off the Jazz formula? Sadowsky, Lull, Fodera, Lakland, Pensa, Moon, Suhr, Ken Smith Design, Devon, Valenti, Bass Mods, Performance, LowEnd, Sire, etc. Yes, many of those make a P-style bass, but they didn't start out there.

The P sort of made a resurgence more recently, but there were a few decades where most major studio players were playing a Jazz or derivative as much or more than they were using P-basses.

 

[Artman]

A thinner neck is not necessarily faster. That's marketing nonsense.

 

[Flaked Beans]

Yep check out my double basses.

 

[tpaul]

Because the Precision bass is better?

 

[Killing Floor]

And being honest, my own personal experience, I know more people who play Jazz basses than P basses. Seems like the player I know, myself included, came around to P after playing a J. I love both. I see a ton of younger players in bands rocking Js and more session players rocking P. As I said, I love both. I would not be surprised if Fender sells at least as many J as P. Remember TB represents a small corner of the market.

 

[Killing Floor]

Or Dusty Rhodes & Abdullah the Butcher....not sure which was dethroned here........

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I remember those boots. Glorious.