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Why do I have to want a P...

'Nuff said
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I love both P's and J's (except J's always seem to weigh too much for my shoulder to take unless they're really expensive), but if all I had was a J and I wanted a P sound, I'd just turn the bridge pickup off. It's not 100% identical, but it's pretty darn close.
 
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I play jazz, primarily. So would a P still suit me, ya think?

Ask Mike League over in the fusion band Snarky Puppy. He rolls with a Jazz and a Precision. I generally prefer the sound of his PBass personally. But why settle for one bass when you can have several?

tl:dr - If you want one, get one. It's a nice addition to your toolkit. If you end up not liking it, there's a ready market for them - so you won't be stuck with it.
 
Both basses do special things that each other can't. I highly recommend 1 of each.
If we drill down to the very basics, the jazz has a great mid. The precision has bottom end that I don't think can be matched if you are utilizing reinforcment.
Either could be used for most types of music but each has it's own sonic advantage.
 
This is how I am justifying the purchase to my fiancee. I half-heartedly showed an American Standard P for $1,399 on Sweetwater, but that got shot down instantly. Looking at an Affinity P by Squire.

That'll work. But if you could possibly swing a Classic Vibe it would be well worth considering. The build quality and sound is several levels above the Affinities. Enough so that it rivals its more expensive Fender cousins. These CVs are definitely ready to gig or record with. With the Affinity series you'll need to be a little more selective as to which one you buy.

Another consideration: you're far more likely to keep (and continue to use) a CV for the long haul, whereas an Affinity is far more likely to be a "starter" instrument for you.
 
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I've owned and loved a MIM Fender Jazz for three years, but this forum has made me wanna try a Precision. So bad to the point of buying a cheap Squier P for experimentation, not to exclude modding. Please talk me out of this craziness?

Don't bother buying a cheap *anything*. If you need a P because you gigging calls for it, then get a used MIA P. If not, don't bother. Pay down your credit card / add to your saving instead.
 
It's not crazy to want something. If you want one just go and buy one.
If someone wants something and is capable of buying it they should. I can't think of any reason why they should not.
Life is too short to deny yourself and suffer.
If it turns out that you don't like the thing after all, sell it. Might cost you a couple of bucks for the experience but so what?
 
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Don't bother buying a cheap *anything*. If you need a P because you gigging calls for it, then get a used MIA P. If not, don't bother. Pay down your credit card / add to your saving instead.

I agree here, but also consider a Mexican Fender P. I like them better than the Am. Standard and they are put together well and have more vintage specs. Who needs a string through bridge on a P? A low mass bent metal bridge is part of the P vibe. It is a simple instrument that in my opinion doesn't benefit from the Am. Standard upgrades.
 
I've owned and loved a MIM Fender Jazz for three years, but this forum has made me wanna try a Precision. So bad to the point of buying a cheap Squier P for experimentation, not to exclude modding. Please talk me out of this craziness?

It's stupid to want something because everyone else has it, but I too fell victim to this. After shelling out over $600 for an American P, I just hated the fretboard size & sold it the following week. I compared the sound to an Ibanez sr400 with DiMarzio pups, & there was so slight of a difference, I never GASed for one again.