Jazz v. Precision Bass- question from [relative] newbie

[barnettiuk]

Friends, the Jazz was introduced as a purported improvement on the Precision in that (among other things) it had two pickups and therefore a wider potential range of sounds.

It's claimed that

"....................many bass players who want to be more "forward" in the mix (including smaller bands such as [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_trio"]power trios[/url]) prefer the Jazz Bass."


......yet my perception (and I accept I may be wrong about this) is that it's never been quite as popular as the Precision and like for like seems to fetch a bit less on the market.

Why do you think this is, and do you think the quote above is true? [e.g. tell that to Budgie]


cheers

Ian

[Ed_S]

Given that you can get a multitude of after-market pickups, preamps and different strings to change the sound of most 'classic' basses into something more akin to various others before you even get to the amp / modeller, I'd have thought that these days it was a subtle mix of overall aesthetic appeal and preferred neck dimensions that sold a P to one guy and a J to another (and both to many others). That quote in the OP might have held true 'back in the day' (I don't know - I wasn't there) but I can't agree with it in the current climate.

[skej21]

+1 to what Ed said.

I think the factors in such a decision these days are probably quite limited. With a larger range of options (such as Fender modern players and black tops alongside classic p & j configurations) you can pick a stock model that has the pups you want with the body shape you want and the colour scheme you want. So after that probably; price, neck radius and MAYBE string-spacing/hardware would be the few deciding factors.

[paul_5]

I reckon it's the other way around - a 'P' bass has a noticeable hump in the midrange, so it is more apparent in most mixes, the Jazz has an inbuilt 'mid-scoop' due to the phasing of the pickups. All of this can be altered/changed outboard with amps, effects, wang, EQ etc...

The big difference as a player is that the neck on a 'P' bass is a bit fatter, with the Jazz necks traditionally having a slimmer profile.

[Sean]

It's like Groundhog Day on this forum sometimes

The search facility on this forum is an excellent tool and will bring up dozens of [i]Jazz vs Precision[/i] threads all of which have some excellent comment and I promise will answer all the questions you will ever have about said basses and also some you would never think of.

[Fat Rich]

[quote name='barnettiuk' timestamp='1334310084' post='1614125']
......yet my perception (and I accept I may be wrong about this) is that it's never been quite as popular as the Precision and like for like seems to fetch a bit less on the market..........
[/quote]

On the vintage market the old Jazz basses generally fetch better money than a similar age and condition Precision, I'm not sure about newer bass prices but I suspect it's a similar story.

On Basschat the P bass seems to be more popular (although I've a feeling it's just that most P bass players are more vocal about how "perfect" it is for all music ), generally though I'd say there are plenty of Jazz basses out there, plus the P bass had a ten year head start.

I prefer Jazz basses but I would never part with my P bass.

[Lozz196]

[quote name='paul_5' timestamp='1334314805' post='1614280']
I reckon it's the other way around - a 'P' bass has a noticeable hump in the midrange, so it is more apparent in most mixes, the Jazz has an inbuilt 'mid-scoop' due to the phasing of the pickups. All of this can be altered/changed outboard with amps, effects, wang, EQ etc...

The big difference as a player is that the neck on a 'P' bass is a bit fatter, with the Jazz necks traditionally having a slimmer profile.
[/quote]

This would be my view. A P doesn`t necessarily "cut" more, but due to the natural tone, it has more presence.

[KiOgon]

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1334317653' post='1614370']
This would be my view. A P doesn`t necessarily "cut" more, but due to the natural tone, it has more presence.
[/quote]

^^ Nicely put ^^

[CBbass]

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1334317653' post='1614370']
This would be my view. A P doesn`t necessarily "cut" more, but due to the natural tone, it has more presence.
[/quote]

This.

It mostly comes with a fatter neck which is a big deal to me as well as others (I like to keep my basses fairly stock). I've seen a few polls on preference and it's generally 50/50 but with a slight majority liking the P bass more.

[charic]

Jazz for versatility
Precision for one stop shop

[EssentialTension]

The Precision is not a one stop shop. It can do everything from dub to JJ Burnell - just move your hand, use a pick, change the strings, roll off the tone, use the eq on the amp, there's a massive variety in a P bass and that's why it's been used by so many people in so many genres on so many recordings.

[risingson]

[quote name='Sean' timestamp='1334315040' post='1614291']
It's like Groundhog Day on this forum sometimes

The search facility on this forum is an excellent tool and will bring up dozens of [i]Jazz vs Precision[/i] threads all of which have some excellent comment and I promise will answer all the questions you will ever have about said basses and also some you would never think of.
[/quote]

I don't see the problem with people posting questions to others on a bass forum that satisfies their curiosity concerning two different kinds of bass guitars, especially since the OP has described himself as a newer player and many of us here are experienced with gear and such. If you don't like the topic, I would have thought it easier to simply not reply?

Back to the original topic, I agree with Ed S's post. I've played Jazz basses for practically the whole time I've been gigging and have found it to be indispensable as part of any given band situation. My old P Bass was great too, and if anything I would probably argue that the P Bass was a little better suited to 'trio' work as it fills out the low end of a mix much better than a jazz bass tends to, giving a full, fundamental low end that really works well at filling space.

Playing wise, I think I'll always prefer the profile of jazz bass necks, plus I tend to play over the bridge pickup a fair bit and swapping between my old P (which had the thickest neck of any bass I've ever used) could throw me a bit. Still, I'd have another Precision in a heartbeat, and I love the design and sound of both basses. Very different instruments, but at the same time they kind of compliment each other.

Edited April 13, 2012 by risingson

[Prime_BASS]

Personally my preference (if I had to choose) is the Jazz.

It will safely do the precision sound, and any minute differences will be lost in any mix.
My favourite bassist use's a P bass but he EQ's so much and uses so many effects it probably doesn't matter what he uses.

I'll stick to my Musicman basses.....

[discreet]

Nah, Precision every time!
The Jazz is far too complicated, what with all those knobs and pickups and all!

[icastle]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1334331128' post='1614751']
Nah, Precision every time!
The Jazz is far too complicated, what with all those knobs and pickups and all!
[/quote]

It has one extra knob you knob.

[charic]

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1334320928' post='1614455']
The Precision is not a one stop shop. It can do everything from dub to JJ Burnell - just move your hand, use a pick, change the strings, roll off the tone, use the eq on the amp, there's a massive variety in a P bass and that's why it's been used by so many people in so many genres on so many recordings.
[/quote]

Didn't mean it could only do one sound! More the fact that it is very difficult to make it sound bad in a mix

[discreet]

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1334360776' post='1615334']
It has one extra knob you knob.
[/quote]

How [i]dare[/i] you 'knob' me - and in the early hours of the morning, too, when my resistance is at a low ebb...

[Ou7shined]

[quote name='Fat Rich' timestamp='1334315795' post='1614313']
....On Basschat [b]at the moment [/b]the P bass seems to be more popular....
[/quote]

Fixed

Not long ago it was all jazz this and super jazz that.

[LukeFRC]

[quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1334403726' post='1615704']
Fixed

Not long ago it was all jazz this and super jazz that.
[/quote]
Maybe theres a trend here? Bout 2000 and warwicks and all these modern basses were in fashion, then they went out of fashion and for a while stingrays were 'it' and then it went all jazz and super jazz all over the place and now precisions seem to be in... now maybe thats just things being in fashion at different times, but there is a trend here, we are getting more and more retro!
So next year you'll be swapping your allivia coppelo and wal and rioters for double basses... and the rest of us will swap our squiers for tea chest basses.

[EssentialTension]

[quote name='charic' timestamp='1334397822' post='1615575']
Didn't mean it could only do one sound! More the fact that it is very difficult to make it sound bad in a mix
[/quote]
Ah, then we agree.

[Conan]

[quote name='risingson' timestamp='1334329501' post='1614719']
I don't see the problem with people posting questions to others on a bass forum that satisfies their curiosity concerning two different kinds of bass guitars, especially since the OP has described himself as a newer player and many of us here are experienced with gear and such. If you don't like the topic, I would have thought it easier to simply not reply?
[/quote]

Exactly. Such is always the nature of a "specialist" forum. The fact that so many helpful members are happy to post (and sometimes even show a change in opinion from their posts on earlier threads) and share their knowledge and experience shows that the nay-sayers are in the minority.

Personally, I prefer J basses and their derivatives over Ps and theirs. I like both of course - but I just think that a good J can [b][i]almost[/i][/b] do everything that a P can, and a lot more. But a P can never do that "scooped" sound that you get from a J with both pickups on full. Or that burping back pickup either...

Full-on rock (and particularly punk) needs a P though.

[thinman]

I've got the S1 switch on my Jazz which is supposed to make it sound like a P when on. It's certainly different but identical to a P - not really in my view. Any opinions on that?

[discreet]

As I'm sure has been said a billion times, it's not just about the sound differences between J and P - although certain mid- to late-70s P basses certainly have a 'scooped' sound, imho - it's also about playability, nut width and neck thickness and a lot of other factors...

I've certainly never been able to get a 'true' P-Bass sound from a J (whatever you think that may be)... but then I'm not a J afficionado. I really [i]want [/i]to like J basses, but the result of long trial and experimentation has always led me back to the simplicity of a P bass. Once again it's horses for courses, each to his own, ymmv, imho, glwts, etc. etc.

Edited April 14, 2012 by discreet

[Ed_S]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1334419894' post='1616022']
I really [i]want [/i]to like J basses, but the result of long trial and experimentation has always led me back to the simplicity of a P bass.
[/quote]

You're quite noble to have gone as far as the experimentation phase! I managed to shun Js on the basis of aesthetics alone for 15 years, but my dislike was/is fairly specific; J pickups. The J body shape never set my world alight (though I don't mind it as such) and the differences in neck dimensions don't bother me, but I think J pickups just look weedy and unappealing. I thought I'd get away with keeping my cash, but then Fender brought out the Blacktop...

[PaulWarning]

I too would say a P is better for a power trio, not the other way round, I've had a Jazz, although it was a MIM one, I've now got a MIA P and I would say the P definatly helps fill out the sound of the band more than a Jazz.