Gust0o Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 f***ing hell, Rich - that's nailed it in one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lettsguitars Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 The only difference is the pickups aint it? Soundwise anyway. Different neck dimensions will alter the sound slightly n'all. Cant stand the jazz tone personally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 [quote name='Gust0o' timestamp='1341961428' post='1727253'] f***ing hell, Rich - that's nailed it in one [/quote] Precision = hammer Jazz = nail I'd rather be a hammer than a nail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 [quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1341962827' post='1727275'] I'd rather be a hammer than a nail.[/quote] Yes, I would. If I only could, I surely would. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drTStingray Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 (edited) [quote name='Looper' timestamp='1331806291' post='1579046'] and possibly the most important is actually the technique and style of the player. [/quote] I suspect this is far more important than anything else. FWIW I think the Jazz can be made to make a nasally sound which the P can't - and the Jazz can't thump like a P bass (there's an isolated bass track on You Tube of Jamerson playing What's Going On - and you can hear what I mean by thump - it sounds a bit like speaker excursion caused by striking the string very hard - I think Larry Taylor got the same effect in Canned Heat (there are one or two nice solos on live albums) - all that said Leo Lyons gets a similar effect live on solos on the Ten Years After album Undead - not quite as punchy - on a Jazz) Edited July 11, 2012 by drTStingray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigman Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 P = bully J = bullied The P is fat and in your face. The J is thin and weedy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 [quote name='Twigman' timestamp='1341988363' post='1727362'] The P is fat and in your face. The J is thin and weedy [/quote] Er..... no. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUrH4NrqIjw&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUrH4NrqIjw&feature=related[/url] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmTOAUEZRBo"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmTOAUEZRBo[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 Sounds like a lot of P players trying to justify their choices here.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 [quote name='Conan' timestamp='1341990648' post='1727381'] Sounds like a lot of P players trying to justify their choices here.... [/quote] ... in which case that would be the same for J players ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregBass Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 [quote name='drTStingray' timestamp='1341968596' post='1727304'] and possibly the most important is actually the technique and style of the player. [/quote] I vary the basses I use at rehearsals, and last week took my Precision along. The comment from the drummer was "that sounds like your Rickenbacker". Must have had my Rick fingers on that day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 (edited) [quote name='Looper' timestamp='1331806291' post='1579046'] Seems to me the sound you get to hear is a combination of the bass, the amp, the recording set up and possibly the most important is actually the technique and style of the player.[/quote] Very much so. Though I would say a P will naturally have a slight mid-scoop (YMMV) and a J more mids and less bottom end. But as Looper says, these traits can easily be enhanced or attenuated. [quote name='Conan' timestamp='1341990648' post='1727381'] Sounds like a lot of P players trying to justify their choices here...[/quote] Nope, I'm very happy to be a P player. I want so much to like J basses and I keep trying 'em, but I just don't get on with 'em. Edited July 11, 2012 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 [quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1341992815' post='1727434'] ... in which case that would be the same for J players ... [/quote] Possibly true.... I love both. I see no reason to even compare them. They are different tools that can be used for different jobs or sometimes for the same job. It just comes across as a bit childish when we get the old "Js are for girls" sort of thing. Funny in Off Topic, a bit sad in this forum perhaps? Maybe I'm being over-sensitive as I sold my P and now have two Js... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1341998956' post='1727571'] Very much so. Though I would say a P will naturally have a slight mid-scoop (YMMV) and a J more mids and less bottom end. [/quote] Weird! I would have said exactly the opposite Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1341998956' post='1727571']Nope, I'm very happy to be a P player. I want so much to like J basses and I keep trying 'em, but I just don't get on with 'em. [/quote] I'm exactly the opposite (again!). I love the "out of the box" P tone, but I find them limited because of the single pickup. I like to have a bit more versatility. A J can [i]nearly[/i] do a P, but a P can't do a J. If I was limited to only one of them, it would be a J every time. On the other hand, the limited nature of the P forces you to be more creative with playing styles and amp settings. So maybe that is good too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highfox Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 We all know that both can sound great depending on what sound your looking for and /or what your trying to do. A lot of the Jacksons stuff being recorded with a J and no.one would say that sound weak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 (edited) [quote name='Conan' timestamp='1341999390' post='1727591'] On the other hand, the limited nature of the P forces you to be more creative with playing styles and amp settings. So maybe that is good too? [/quote] You could be right there. I find Js physically easier to play, but then I tend to overplay them. Maybe I just like having to work at it. A P will tell you this: 'You're playing too many notes, you dick! What d'you think this is, bloody jazz fusion? Stop it!' *Cue videos of Steve Harris shredding his P, etc etc* Edited July 11, 2012 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 Can anyone really tell the difference? [url="http://dubsaint.wordpress.com/2012/06/15/p-j-or-ray-whats-the-difference-anyway-part-2-take-the-sound-test"]http://dubsaint.wordpress.com/2012/06/15/p-j-or-ray-whats-the-difference-anyway-part-2-take-the-sound-test[/url] That should kick it all back off... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 [quote name='tauzero' timestamp='1342001254' post='1727638'] Can anyone really tell the difference? [url="http://dubsaint.wordpress.com/2012/06/15/p-j-or-ray-whats-the-difference-anyway-part-2-take-the-sound-test"]http://dubsaint.word...-the-sound-test[/url] That should kick it all back off... [/quote] Bugger. My work PC won't let me use soundcloud... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Rich Posted July 11, 2012 Author Share Posted July 11, 2012 [quote name='Conan' timestamp='1342004665' post='1727749'] Bugger. My work PC won't let me use soundcloud... [/quote] Me neither, I think we may have overloaded it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 look at this guys playing (he's a member on here too) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aks3fSHA1jU&feature=player_embedded#! now I love this jazz sound- and I suspect that most of it is down to the player. but tonally what makes it up? there's a thinness to it, and this kinda less bass and a nasal quality to it. I love it. Comparing the neck pups the P has the typical hum bucked fatness to it and something about the attack and the way it fills out the bottom end is different. I'm thinking thinner strings would help with that on the P?(or at least ones that weren't two years old!) hmmm... my streamer however has WAY too much bottom end to sound like a jazz. which I was trying to make it do! destined to fail I think! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 [quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1342004851' post='1727753'] now I love this jazz sound- and I suspect that most of it is down to the player. but tonally what makes it up? there's a thinness to it, [/quote] Bear in mind that he has very light gauge strings on that particular bass - 30-90 to be precise. They will always give a "thinner" tone than heavier gauge strings... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 (edited) [quote name='tauzero' timestamp='1342001254' post='1727638'] Can anyone really tell the difference? [url="http://dubsaint.wordpress.com/2012/06/15/p-j-or-ray-whats-the-difference-anyway-part-2-take-the-sound-test"]http://dubsaint.word...-the-sound-test[/url] That should kick it all back off... [/quote] This was posted somewhere recently and yes, I was able to tell the difference. *boasty* Edited July 11, 2012 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ba55me15ter Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 Having tried my Fender Roscoe Beck neck pickup in series mode, I'd say a lot of it is in the pick-up. It does an uncanny P impression. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 [quote name='Conan' timestamp='1342010336' post='1727931'] Bear in mind that he has very light gauge strings on that particular bass - 30-90 to be precise. They will always give a "thinner" tone than heavier gauge strings... [/quote] yeah, I was thinking that would have had a big effect. hmm something to try out I've gone from massive strings and massive action to low action and thinner strings over the last 2-3 years. Some of that may have been learning to do better set ups on my bass mind:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 [quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1342011474' post='1727977'] I've gone from massive strings and massive action to low action and thinner strings over the last 2-3 years. Some of that may have been learning to do better set ups on my bass mind:) [/quote] True. And fingers getting older too... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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