Why did the J never dethrone the P?

[TonyP-]

 

[jdjk7]

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 think this question lacks a little context. In some ways, I think, the Jazz DID "dethrone" the Precision. It's definitely the more popular bass in a few different genres and realms. I'd argue that IMO, Jazz basses are now more popular than Precisions, just from where I sit and the media/music/etc that I consume. That's not even speaking as a Jazz fanboy or anything-- I don't even own one. The closest I have is a fretless Carvin B4-- which at this point sounds more like an upright than a Jazz. Otherwise, the Jazz is a bass that I see all around me but have never owned myself.

 

[ElectricBass72]

The thin necks on Jazzes and Rickenbackers never bothered me. I can go from a wide 6-string Ibanez Soundgear neck to a thin 4-string Jazz bass with no issues. I agree with those who say the EBMM Stingray is a better bass than Fender Precisions and Jazzes.

 

[sxaxsx]

Actually, that is a very good question - my company had (still does) the king product in our category, and we absolutely tried to de-throne it. Any company with common sense does that.

The logic is simple - if it's possible for someone to de-throne your product, you want it to be you, not your competitor. If you succeed at de-throning your own product, you still have the king, albeit a second king. If you fail, you still have the original king. It's always good to be/have the king.

That's a good point. Fender introducing the Jazz when they did was a great move on their part. By introducing a second bass when they did, in the early days when it was common to see "Fender bass" in album liner notes rather than "electric bass" or simply "bass" they cemented that they would have the two most popular basses on the market and everyone else could compete for third.

 

[maxschrek]

It did, as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Vinny_G]

Chacun à son goût ?

But I never heard that, so maybe it is old french ?

No, "chacun (a) son/ses goût(s)" (literally everyone (has) their taste(s)), "les goûts et les couleurs" (literally tastes and colors) and "tous les goûts sont dans la nature" (literally all tastes are in nature) are all three commonly used expressions. But "to each their own" seems to be the best translation.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

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's difficult to top an original. If I had to choose between a P and J, I wouldn't even have to think about it... P all the way! But that's just me. Js are cool and serve their purpose. I just think the P bass sounds better in a mix with all that punchy midrange. Hence, it's popularity.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

Why would anyone think FMIC would have wanted to "dethrone" another FMIC product?.

Actually, that is common business practice. It's known as 'creating your own competition'.

 

[Gunga Din]

For a passive bass, the Jazz is king in my world. I cannot get on with Ps, as much as I want to. Had 5 and none of them lasted a year with me.

 

[bobyoung53]

Different animals, P basses have more lower mid presence and are great for anything that requires ummm, more stones in the music. I own both and like both but feel the Precision adds punch that is usually missing from a Jazz bass. Jazzes have a nice clear low end along with the clear top end. The Jazz does things the Precision can't do and vice versa. P's are great rock basses and Js are great pop basses IMHO. A P will underpin a record very nicely and it's hard to miss, a J will kind of blend in nicely. I know there are exceptions, ouch!!!

 

[Ronzo]

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

View attachment 4519585

I still remember Buck Buchanan saying to the hype man/announcer when DR’s name was mentioned, “Dirty, Dirty Rhodes…”

Pro wrestling in the ‘70s on “Canal Cuarenta y siete. El canal de los grandes y spectaculos. Primer lugar en sintonea. Linden. Newark.” New York’s channel 47. Spanish language TV - except for “Professional Wrestling from Florida” (NWA), followed by “The World Tomorrow, with Garner Ted Armstrong”.

Sleepless nights caring for my daughter. The “Tomorrow” show with Tom Snyder got some play, too.

 

[J-Bass RMR]

Dethroning has nothing to do with anything.

If you're an auto manufacture selling sedans, you might want to consider offering pickup trucks SUVs, and other options. It's about increasing your overall market-share.

I liked driving my Toyota wagon to gigs, but sometimes, I needed to take the van.
Whatever gets the job done for you...

The rest of it is all silliness.

 

[Jefenator]

Maybe beginners are less put off by a single pickup? I don't intend that as a knock - after 33 years, sometimes I am still less put off by a single pickup!
But, how relevant is market share to the player? If I lost all my gear in a fire & had to scrounge something up to get back to work, in order to cover a wide range of material particularly modern pop, I'd be looking for a good two-pickup bass. And in that category, AFAIC the J is king.

 

[mrjim123]

I see more jazzes than P's being played no matter where I look - locally, on TV, etc. You could argue that the P HAS been dethroned by the jazz.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

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?

1: less meaty tone

2: it's brighter

3: it's heavier

4: The neck (this is the big one) (the point that most people don't ever buy a jazz because of)

5: hum

 

[bassdude51]

Simple is best. The Precision Bass is simple and sounds GREAT!

 

[Bob E]

When I was a kid I saved my money for a long time to buy one of those fat swiss army pocket knives from the pages of a catalog. In the real world all the extra little tools were just about useless, and they made the knife the most cumbersome pocket knife I ever used. The only thing it was ever really good for was impressing all of my friends. I don't want a hundred mediocre options. Just give me that one good sound and get out of my way.

 

[Groove Doctor]

I see many more Seasoned bass players on a P bass. After 34 years of playing & owning many basses I tend to agree.

Why are there so many P supporters on TB? Because many of the regulars here are older & have 20-40 years experience.

My #1 for 14 years was a Jazz Bass. I bought my first P bass 13 years ago & my ‘69 P has been my #1 since I bought it 11 years ago.

FWIW…. I own 1 Jazz & have owned 4 P basses.

 

[And I]

The P bass is not on a throne anywhere except in the minds of the folks who put it there.

 

[Inconnu]

As the French say, chacon a sons gou...

That would be : à chacun son goût
But close enough.