Why do I have to want a P...

[twinjet]

I was a J guy for about 20 years. I bought a P early this year. I haven't touched a J since.

A P will sit in the mix perfectly in pretty much any kind of music there is, without a lot of EQ. Just plug it in and go. I use it in my soul/classic rock band, I use it in my hard rock/punk band, it sounds equally good in both. It isn't "versatile", because it doesn't need to be. It just sounds good. Always. You can go from fat old school tone, to bright metal with a turn of the tone knob. All I'll ever need (not necessarily all I'll ever want though... ).

Sorry, I'm not much good at talking you out if it.

I play jazz, primarily. So would a P still suit me, ya think?

 

[jd56hawk]

I do, but I need something in the cheap range. I'm kinda broke. All my money has gone to paying for A&P school.

Well, since you can buy either one of these for $299 ($109 and the bass will be shipped to you and all you have to do is make two more $99 payments!) why not buy a P bass?

By the way, they're not cheap basses, they're very good basses for very reasonable prices. Some people might find this hard to believe but every song you can play with a $1,500 American Fender P bass you can play with either of these.
Squier PJ and Eva Gardner P bass.

 

[Bajo Clarkko]

I have a J and a P, and I bring them both when I play out. When I use the J, I'm constantly tweaking the volume of one pickup up, and the other pickup down. And don't get me wrong, I love my J.
But when I use the the P, I just set the volume, and go with the flow. Tone control is right there if you need it, but even at that, I usually don't touch it. The P allows me to channel my inner James Jamerson, Duck Dunn, etc.
Not only that, the next time a P bass w/flatwounds vs P bass w/roundwounds thread erupts, you can choose a side, and proceed to spout your newfound expertise. (Although, everyone knows its flatwounds.)
(whispering) Join us... Join us... Join us...

 

[DwaynieAD]

All too often if I'm digging a bass line on a song ill look it up and .... P bass..

 

[taylor16]

Not crazy... You'll need two P's. One with flats (naturally) and another with rounds.

THEN you'll realize that you want a P with "bright" flats (Fender, Chromes) and another with more "old school" flats (GHS).

AND THEN you'll want a P for each gauge of flat of one particular style (Deep Talkin' Flats FS, FM, Jameson)...

It gets ugly fast bro.

 

[sikamikanico]

My favorite thing about the P is the simplicity. I'm amazed how much you get done with one split coil and moving your plucking hand. I find it much more intuitive than playing with knobs, which leads me to pay more attention to playing the music (as opposed to playing the instrument).

That being said, I really enjoy a good jazz bass too... I used to have a Lakland Daryl Jones and that thing was a beast! But imo it's much more likely that you'll find yourself wondering about upgrades on a jazz than a p... On a P, the only dilemma I tend to have is what strings to put on it

 

[buldog5151bass]

My suggestion? Start looking and put the beer money into your funds. Look new and used. When/if one speaks to you, get it.

 

[Jamvan]

I had a J, thought certainly I'd need a P to compliment and augment, then realized there are days I just can't decide between them so...

 

[LT131]

There's to much upside to owning a PBass. In addition to the chicks, 75% of studio gigs, fame, fortune, and weight-loss you'll get to learn the secret PBass handshake.

 

[Shaunpski]

Working in your A&P? Build a parts P. You have more than the requisite skills, can buy quality pieces via the classifieds, and can stick with your Jazz neck. You can also buy as your budget allows. Good luck!

 

[jamersonburton]

I'm a P kinda guy. The neck, the body, single pickup, V/T controls. Simple and sweet. I LOVE the bedroom tone and I think they work well in the mix regardless of music; an industry standard. I have always wanted a J but everytime I've walked in a store with the intent of purchasing one I walk out with a P. It's bizarre but alas, i have accepted it. I can really see the jazz being better as a 5er but for now, 4 is all i will ever need. P all the way.

 

[RED J]

Well, even though the dweebazoids at GC can't tell a J from a P, how could you go wrong ? Their shipping is always dirt cheep, and Affinitys are incredible bang for the buck.

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[VWbug]

I can't help you. I recently bought a nice MIA P bass (avatar) and have been using a MIA Jazz that's gotten a bit heavy feeling. It's not like I've never owned a P bass at one time or another, but I'm enjoying this lightweight P bass a LOT.

Maybe it's a phase. I figure why have to be a P or J guy, why not enjoy having both? The "simplicity" vibe is a pretty inspirational wave to ride.
I was listening recently to a bunch of old favorites on a long driving trip and realized most of those recording were done by bands that were probably using P basses and that's the sound I was always inspired by to play bass.

My playing has gotten better too, I find myself working on my modes etc. where before I'd find myself distracted by tone and other things. I sometimes feel like this P bass is like the modern version of the upright, no real knobs to diddle with, just get in there and play it.

*I'm using round wounds, been happy with GHS Boomers for years and I have no plans on using anything else.

 

[Kukulkan61]

Probably because you drank too much Lite Beer!!

 

[Bluto]

Check out Sweetwater, I pick up a great Fender American Standard PBass which comes with a case and free shipping/2 year warranty. I received the bass in a couple days which was awesome. They are running a special right now for 0% interest for 3 years but you need to to be quick because that deal ends today 8 Sep. Mine was demo so it was marked down which was even better. I was expecting to see some scratches but the bass didn't have a scratch on it and the setup was spot on. They even strung it with my choice of strings for free. The bass is a keeper but even if it wasn't I was told when I order it over the phone that I could return it if I didn't like it.

 

[asahisuperdry]

Because P-basses are the benchmark, everything else is simply an adaptation or response to the original. It doesn't have to say Fender on the headstock but the style is the progenitor.

 

[Eilif]

So bad to the point of buying a cheap Squier P for experimentation, not to exclude modding. Please talk me out of this craziness?

Can't do it. You need to buy a P.
If you can save just a bit more scratch ($300-400), look around for a used MIM Fender or an LTD 214. Two very nice P-Basses that are a smidge above many of the currently available instruments.

Also, if you really like the feel of your Jazz, there are quite a number of P-bass style instruments with Jazz style necks on them.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

All this talk of a Precision being the most versatile bass is a load of tosh IMHO.

I would agree with you if it's a P/J configuration, but not just a single Precision pickup.

 

[Mr_O'B]

Bass players are a bit LOCO! We're never satisfied and always want more, more, more.........

 

[Nobody]

So much new information here that hasn't been discussed on talkbass...... truly groundbreaking.