Precision vs Jazz Bass

71Smallbox · Post by **71Smallbox** » Tue Apr 26, 2016 5:14 pm

I am considering trading my P Bass for a Jazz bass and I would like to hear opinions on the merits of both basses. I really like the Precision but it seems like playing it can be physically demanding since I only occasionally play bass. The easier neck and the single-coils on the Jazz bass seem to be what I would like, more low end? What do you guys think?

paul_ · Post by **paul_** » Tue Apr 26, 2016 5:54 pm

I'd say a Jazz Bass is capable of more top-end, and it's neck pickup is less "full" sounding than a p-bass pickup on its own but by mixing in both pickups you get a richer sound overall from a Jazz Bass, substituting a little bit of thump (recoverable with EQ tweaks if need be) for detail.

I'm a fan of the narrow-nut necks on Jazz Basses, and I like the sound of finger style on them more than a Precision. I wouldn't consider them less physically demanding basses though.

It's all personal preference really... have you considered a P-Bass Special, with J-bass neck and J-bass pickup in the bridge position? I'm actually interested in ditching my Jazz for one of those these days.

71Smallbox · Post by **71Smallbox** » Tue Apr 26, 2016 7:29 pm

I understand that it will still be comparably harder to play than a guitar, but I thought the neck width would alleviate some of that. It seems that all of the bass sounds I like on records are either Jazz basses or Rics.

George · Post by **George** » Tue Apr 26, 2016 8:09 pm

p bass is what a bass guitar sounds like in my head and i find the body easier to manage, but i like the jazz style neck better

you can get various mixes of the two, i suppose

NickS · Post by **NickS** » Wed Apr 27, 2016 8:59 am

I prefer the Jazz Bass neck and I like the tonal flexibility of the two pickups (I have a cheap copy but it's pretty faithful to the original).

Alternative 1: I played someone's Music Man bass on Sunday, some dual pickup model; that was nice to play and quite punchy (though maybe the Orange Bass Terror helped with that). Seemed like the nut was closer to me/less of a stretch than on the Jazz, though it wasn't a shortscale. I could be mistaken

Alternative 2: Less physically demanding - shortscale bass (Mustang/Jaguar/Bass VI?)

BearBoy · Post by **BearBoy** » Wed Apr 27, 2016 9:10 am

If you don't mind a shortscale then the Squier Jaguar Bass Special SS is awesome. PJ pickup configuration and super playable. Cheap as chips too.

mezzio13 · Post by **mezzio13** » Wed Apr 27, 2016 12:33 pm

BearBoy wrote:If you don't mind a shortscale then the Squier Jaguar Bass Special SS is awesome. PJ pickup configuration and super playable. Cheap as chips too.

Epiphone EB-0's are great 30.5" scale basses. You can really tear it up, and the don't tear you up.

71Smallbox · Post by **71Smallbox** » Wed Apr 27, 2016 12:41 pm

Thanks for the replies. I really don't want to go shortscale for the bass, I don't mind the full length bass neck. What bothers me most about bass playing is the hand fatigue since I mainly play it with my fingers. I only need a bass for recording and occasional jamming with friends. I have a line on a Jazzie that a guy wants to trade for a P bass. I don't really want to go through selling it to fund another, I'd just rather trade.

aen · Post by **aen** » Wed Apr 27, 2016 2:06 pm

I just had a bitch of a time picking out a bass, but I DID IT.

Pbass- that neck is wide as fuck. The old style ones are up to 1.75" wide, coupled with a big fat neck behind all that width, much like my wiener. That can be a real hand wrecker if that's not "your jam."

I also prefer the Pbass pickup, but I ended up going with a Geddy Lee jazz, because it met more of my demands than any other current production model.
If you're a "sometimes" bassist, I really love the Squier Vintage Modified P/J.

http://shop.fender.com/en-US/squier-ele ... ml#start=1

I'm sure they vary, but mine is feather light, sounds pretty fucking good and has a slim jazz neck on it, with a decent amount of finish on the neck, so it doesn't feel like a raw chunk of wood like so many modern instruments do. Also pretty easy on the pocketbook as far as instruments go.

I almost went for the "deluxe P-bass"
http://shop.fender.com/en-US/electric-b ... xe&start=1

Which is pretty much the fender version of my squier, but I decided I didn't want to fuck with active electronics.

And if the jazz bass isn't bassy enough... there's always pedals!

dezb1 · Post by **dezb1** » Wed Apr 27, 2016 2:52 pm

I have a jazz and a P bass (both copies) and far prefer the Jazz it just has more sounds in it... however it doesn't match the P bass for thump.

singlepup · Post by **singlepup** » Wed Apr 27, 2016 4:01 pm

I like the simplicity of the P Bass with its single pickup (surprise!)

Do you play bass very often? I found that any hand fatigue I experienced while playing a P Bass went away the more I played. I was a bassist in several bands in my 20s.

George · Post by **George** » Wed Apr 27, 2016 5:16 pm

i have a squier p bass deluxe so (p bass body and neck pup, with jazz a neck width and bridge pup)

tbh the bridge pup doesnt get much play and doesn't blend as well as it would on a typical jazz bass configuration, so it's not really the "best of both worlds" scenario you'd think it is

sunshiner · Post by **sunshiner** » Wed Apr 27, 2016 6:14 pm

As much as I love this cover of Taylor Swift's "Shake it off" by Screaming Females, that someone posted here some time ago, I really like the look and sound of that Peavey bass which that dude customized with 4001 pickups. Awesome bass
[youtube][/youtube]

71Smallbox · Post by **71Smallbox** » Fri May 06, 2016 10:15 pm

The guy backed out on the trade. I'll just get some AlNiCo pickups and flatwounds for my P bass and call it a day.

paul_ · Post by **paul_** » Wed May 18, 2016 1:22 am

George wrote:tbh the bridge pup doesnt get much play and doesn't blend as well as it would on a typical jazz bass configuration, so it's not really the "best of both worlds" scenario you'd think it is

Indeed it can't blend the same way, because a p-bass pickup is basically two pickups in and of itself. The halves are reverse wound to each other to cancel hum but then the magnets are flipped so it doesn't have the thin out-of-phase sound. A Jazz Bass pickup is meant to work the more traditional way single-coil pickups do, a single coil in a single orientation which is only hum cancelling with another pickup which is RW/RP to it (like positions 2 & 4 on a Strat). To just wire up a PJ like a Jazz Bass would result in a new phasing issue, so it has to be done differently.

71Smallbox · Post by **71Smallbox** » Wed May 18, 2016 1:48 am

Thanks Paul, your posts are always top notch.

George · Post by **George** » Fri May 20, 2016 11:11 am

thats some sweet pickup lore

jagsonic · Post by **jagsonic** » Fri May 20, 2016 12:41 pm

If you can find one, check the modern player jazzbass. This pickups are the fattest and coolest sounding things i've ever played.

aen · Post by **aen** » Sat May 21, 2016 4:39 pm

NICE. Would banf.