Why does TalkBass love the P Bass so much?

[Ultradust]

My question might be too confidential so don’t be shy to don’t answer if it really is but from your manufacturer point of view, do you sell more of your precision style of basses or the jazz style is more popular ?

Great question.

Note that I'm just the guy that helps YJ Park with his email account (he's the solo luthier and is responsible for 100% of Moollon builds), but can answer things just the same, since I started assisting him in 2007, right before he launched the Classic Series line.

Right in line with the above logic, from 2009 - 2012 or so, Moollon J-basses were being purchased by customers here in Korea over P-basses, even though our local dealers were ordering equal numbers of both models, along with guitar models (and YJ was making more 1960s style S-models than T-models at the time). This carried on well through to the early 2010s, until many abroad caught wind of Tim Lefebre's use of and his 2008/2009 Sonic Blue P-Classic IV.

That changed a lot for YJ and really amped up the order list from then on; nearly half of all inquiries we received from then through the late 2010s referenced Tim and his "ostensibly white" P-Classic IV (and many others re: and Kevin Scott and his swamp ash late 1950s Blonde P-Classic IV), and it became the main model ordered from customers all over the world since then.

Sure enough, probably 3 out of 4 orders to this day are still for the P-Classic IV.

 

[Gurnmagic]

“That’s just the way it is”

 

[HaphAsSard]

“That’s just the way it is”

"Ah, but don't you believe them..." ?

 

[TheArchitect]

This is actually quite an astute observation regarding the scene here in Korea, which I've discussed with guys in the industry a lot over the past few decades.

I can't speak for Japan, but can attest from a number of collective voices over here that young people on social media and those working as session bassists in studios and broadcasts have been overwhelmingly influenced by Marcus Miller more than anyone else, to the extent that his collective playing style (not just his influence on bass-slapping Koreans) has placed a sort of mythos on all needing to have at least a few decent Fender or Fender-style J basses in one's collection is essential to maintaining a career, all the more fueled by instructors at applied music academies and university-level programs almost uniformly "encouraging" all to start with a passive J-bass and take it from there.

I have never seen this as an either or question. Do P basses record well? Yes. Do Jazz basses record well. Yes, but they are brighter and that top end does require some attention in most mixes to make sure it is not masking or being masked by other instruments.

This is why a P bass with flats (many basses with flats for that matter) in particular records well. The mids punch through where most lead instruments do not live in a mix and the highs of the bass are filtered out and don't get in the way of vocals etc.

As for why instructors suggest a passive J, well I suspect its more about A) directing them away from complicated active systems with elaborate EQ that could get them in trouble and be a distraction and B) students at higher levels of study are a lot more likely to be into jazz or fusion or at the very least the students have some interest in soloing. The Jazz is a better instrument both physically and sonically if that is the goal or expectation.

 

[Gunga Din]

I cannot get on with P-basses.

 

[PhatBottomBass1]

One of my favorite P Basses that I ever had was a '14 Freedom Custom Guitar Research Retrospect P that has a slab body with a Peter Florence Voodoo pickup and had a 3mm Brass FCGR "Tone Shift" neck plate.

A really nice Precision Bass from a master craftsman!

 

[badinage]

...a 3mm Brass FCGR "Tone Shift" neck plate...

Had to look it up.

Freedom Custom Guitar Research

 

[Mike Vee]

Don't get me wrong, I love it too-- but a Jazz bass can mimic the P tone quite well. Why not something more versatile, like a PJ?

The Jazz absolutely can NOT mimic the best of the P bass. I am not an "old man" and there is no doubt in my mind, after going through at least 25 basses in my life (including at least 4 jazz basses) that the P is the best. I now have a maple and a rosewood P, all I need for life.

The E of the Jazz bass doesn't sound or feel even remotely the same as the P bass,

 

[Gurnmagic]

One of my favorite P Basses that I ever had was a '14 Freedom Custom Guitar Research Retrospect P that has a slab body with a Peter Florence Voodoo pickup and had a 3mm Brass FCGR "Tone Shift" neck plate.
View attachment 5490175

View attachment 5490178
A really nice Precision Bass from a master craftsman!

Loving that Reeves rig!!

 

[mongo2]

Personally, I like the tone of a P but I find the P bass neck to be uncomfortable for me so I installed J necks on mine unless the P bass came with the "A" P neck (but that's only happened twice for me).

I've moved to shortscales exclusively and I now use a couple of P sounding Mustang PJs as my P basses. One is a LE in black with an ebony fingerboard and the other an early version with the rosewood fingerboard. Both sound different using only the P pickup but well within my tonal experience with P basses over the decades.

 

[sears]

The number of two-pickup basses for sale on the TB classifieds is always at least double the number of one-pickup basses, and at best half of the latter group are precisions. As I see it, this place is mostly jazz bass fans.

 

[TheArchitect]

The number of two-pickup basses for sale on the TB classifieds is always at least double the number of one-pickup basses, and at best half of the latter group are precisions. As I see it, this place is mostly jazz bass fans.

If they are selling the jazz basses, that tells me the opposite. They are holding on to the 1 pickup basses and moving on from the 2 pickup models

 

[SDC1-ClickClack]

Now, now, you two, don't make me turn this TB around.

 

[sears]

trying to get into the spirit

 

[SDC1-ClickClack]

trying to get into the spirit

Here ya go: Invalid Link Removed

 

[Mike Vee]

If they are selling the jazz basses, that tells me the opposite. They are holding on to the 1 pickup basses and moving on from the 2 pickup models

exactly. that's me right now.

 

[younggun]

If they are selling the jazz basses, that tells me the opposite. They are holding on to the 1 pickup basses and moving on from the 2 pickup models

So, by that "logic": since there are more 4 string basses for sale, then that means people are holding on to 5 string basses more? Since there are more double cutaway basses for sale, then people are holding onto singlecut basses more? Since there are more headed basses for sale, then people are holding onto headless models more? Since there are more basses made of wood, then people are holding onto more graphite basses? Since there are more fretted basses for sale, then.....etc. etc.

It just doesn't work that way.

 

[Anjohl]

I am definitely a bass rookie, but I own *two* PJ basses, and more often than not, I am on the P pickup 100%. It just has that cut/punch that you need!

 

[factory presets]

The number of two-pickup basses for sale on the TB classifieds is always at least double the number of one-pickup basses, and at best half of the latter group are precisions. As I see it, this place is mostly jazz bass fans.

Either that or it's full of people changing over to Precisions.

Of course your evidence don't rule out a forum full of folk who already have a P that suits them. And are doing the churn to find a suitable 2 pickup bass.

Edit: d'oh too slow.

 

[factory presets]

So, by that "logic": since there are more 4 string basses for sale, then that means people are holding on to 5 string basses more?

No. The "logic" means it doesn't tell you that they're not hanging onto their 5ers. You have to watch out for the false dichotomy when extrapolating these matters.