Precision vs Jazz (If I Could Only Have One)
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- Опубликовано: 20 сен 2024
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The Jazz bass is more popular than the Precision… but many pro’s prefer P bass. So which bass is better?
* Free PDF to help you pick P vs J bass - www.bassbuzz.c...
* Bass tabs for all those tasty P/J riffs - www.noteflight...
The Fender Jazz and Precision are the two most legendary basses in history, making up 83.5% of all recorded music. Or something like that, I didn’t actually do the math.
They sound and feel TOTALLY different, and you need to know the differences to figure out which is right for you, P bass vs J bass. That’s why in this video I’ll walk you through:
* Which is better for rock?
* What about funk?
* Emm, what about soul?
* But seriously, what about SLAP?
* If I could only have one, which bass I’d pick
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#Precision #Jazz #BassBuzz
Which bass is your favorite and why? 🎸
Buy a PJ BASS
I have a BC Rich with double P... Nothing hits brighter than both tone knobs at 10
Dunno why, but this video has a significantly lower audio level!!
Get a Stingray and you've got the best of both.
I acknowledge the versatility of the Jazz, but I'm in love with that classic Precision tone.
The question is: single coil P or split coil P?
What I take away from this is an admiration for Leo Fender who designed the P bass in 1951, and then for an encore made the Jazz bass in 1960. And now here we are over a half century later discussing which of his inventions is better.
And he basically did the same thing with the Telecaster and then the Strat. Just brilliant.
I hate to say it. But he bested both with music man. Hate that guy 😂
And Leo did the Stingray too
More impressive still is that he didn't play an instrument; he was an electronics engineer.
Well he did change the P Bass after the original version, but it was early on, and before the J Bass, so decades ago
Let me tell you a story about bass guitars: a rodeo cowboy had 2 ponies. The first pony was named Jimmy. He could jump a fence, run through a wheel of fire, pose for pictures, and laughed at all the cowboy's jokes. The second pony was named Petey. Petey only knew one trick: he could cook the most perfect chili colorado with corn bread, and everyone who came to see him got to take a bite. The cowboy loved Jimmy more, but the crowd loved Petey more. It was only one trick, but that trick was so good that it didn't matter.
The sequel: then the cowboy bred both of the horses, and then bred their offspring, ending up with the perfect solution: a horse that could cook, fantastic chili, jump, offense, run through a wheel of fire, pose for pictures, and who gave a cool snicker at his jokes.
He called him Pete James.
Good ol’ PJ.
@@robertsimpson5801 We love Pete James! It's just such a shame it's so hard to find him these days
I’m stuck on the part where Petey the horse cooks chili colorado 😂
The jazz bass may be more "versatile," but I find myself choosing a P bass every time I need to record. It just always works. Besides, there's still a lot you can by changing your hand position, picking technique, and EQ settings. A P bass played with a pick through a Sansamp pedal with the presence knob cranked is going to sound very different than a P bass played with your fingers up near the neck with flats and the tone rolled off. Every bass is versatile if you want it to be.
Dude, preach! I couldn't agree with you more.
My head says J, my heart says P...
I always say there’s nothing better for recording than a p bass it just works on almost any genre of music
Prefer the punch of the Pbass.
Yes. This is why pbass is all over records-even if the bassist was known for being seen with other models.
This is probably the best P vs. J video I have ever seen! You've truly managed to capture vibe and historical relevance of each instrument. Although I'm not a slapper I prefer the Jazz myself. I like the clear deep tone, and I can role back the bridge pickup and tone control to get a more P-bass like sound.
Yes i also have a J-bass although im not really into slap. Love the warmth of the neck and the funk of the bridge and you can totally a mean tone out of a J-bass although it's not the same as the growl of the P-Bass.
J totally rules.
P bass hands down. A rolled back bridge pick up on a j sounds just like that. It's nothing like a p bass sound to me.
@@TheWonderer7 I wrote that I can get a “more P-bass like” sound, not that I could sound exactly like a P-bass, it works in a pinch. Although I prefer the Jazz bass, I do also own and frequently use a Precision bass, it all depends on the gig and my mood. Either way, they’re both classics and you can’t go wrong with either one. 👍
I ended up getting a PJ Squier. I have been gigging with it for about a year and have had nothing but compliments on how it sounds every time.
I've watched a gajillion of these p/j comparison videos and this is easily the best one I've seen. You managed to circumvent whatever filters youtube slaps on that usually otherwise prevent this kind of comparison video from actually meaning anything to the listener. I can actually hear the distinct differences in tone well enough to not have to actually go play either of these basses for myself to know how they sound (mostly). And you put all the sound samples into the precise musical context necessary for getting the point across. Thanks!
+1
I appreciate that you took a few second to talk about the difference in neck shape/profile. I feel that this is super important when deciding between the two, especially for any new players out there.
Nowadays theres pbass with the classic pickup and jazzbass bridge pickup and the neck profile of a jazz, so theres no discussion really
I had to find out the hard way that guitars have different neck profiles!
The Precision, because of its tight low end and pronounced midrange just sits so nicely in a mix. However, I get really close on the Jazz , almost indistinguishable, with turning the bridge pickup down about a third, rolling off the tone to a degree depending on how dark you want it to sound, and finally, the most important ingredient which is plucking in BETWEEN the neck and bridge and not OVER the neck pickup like so many do.
That precision just has such a good thunk to it, can’t go wrong with some good thunk
@@LostmychillP
I need to try this next time I get to play a J.
No matter how many P vs J bass I've watched, I'll always watch more! I've learned that as much as I love the scooped sound of a jazz when I'm playing on my own, what sounds good in my living room doesn't always sound the best when played with other musicians. That's definitely where the magic of the P bass shines!
P for me - something very cool about the fact that it was "right first time". but you can't lose either way. Don't forget the impact of the strings/amp/player on tone whether P or J
To any beginners that might be reading this, I highly recommend a PJ bass if you can’t decide between just a P or a J.
You really get the best of both worlds (growl of the P pickup and the duckiness of the bridge J pickup) and you’ll be able to make a good tone for most standard playing situations.
There are also more cheap P/J bass models than P or J ones, which is always great, especially if you’re just starting out.
Something else for any bassist watching this, if you’ve just found BassBuzz through this video then definitely watch more of their videos, this is seriously like, the best, most informative, most helpful, and most entertaining bass channel on RUclips, and you’ll learn something no matter your skill level. Have fun! ❤❤❤
My Yamaha TRBX174 seems to be the perfect bass for a beginner… quality that can be had close to $200.
Very good advice!! I started on a Squire P/J and learned how much I liked bass. Then carefully went to a MIM J Bass. So pleased.
@@lsh3rd Yeah, that's what I got. I love it. PJ
I wouldnt recommend that at all. A PJ will just sound weaker with both pickups on, which might confuse a beginner. Ive never played one with a balanced set
Totally agree. Although you do get some extra pickup noise off some PJs compared to the P or J bass.
This is the best P bass vs J bass comparison video I’ve seen on RUclips. It’s detailed and concise, with excellent playing examples, and it really demonstrates clearly the strengths of each bass within specific musical contexts!! Thank you!
I absolutely appreciate the editing required for this video
I'm a J guy. When I decided to buy a bass, I posted on a messageboard "what bass should I get to play funk?" The overwhelming majority of responses were pro-J.
The video editing in this video is more refined than the 2 basses combined. Congrats to the editor. Check what he does at 4:23 with the last note from Jaco’s riff. That’s art.
I chose a Jazz bass when I started playing bass seriously a year and a half ago. I am so glad I did. I love the tone and slim neck. I recently bought a fretless Jazz and I am blown away with the tone! So much fun 😊
Which one did you buy? I am looking for a good bass. Coming from the upright town lol
@@andreashoppe1969 I'm not who you responded to, but I really like my Squier Jazz Bass. It's on the cheaper end (~$280) and I've stuck with it for the better part of a decade.
I don’t see enough people talk about how much more comfortable the J feels to play. I think it’s an important consideration
Just rewatched this and it is genuinely the best video on the subject I've seen. Actual clear and practical examples. Nice work, mate.
Well, I have a Stingray now, and I've never looked back! But before that, I played a P bass.
Where you pluck the strings (closer to the bridge vs closer to the neck) doesn't seem to get talked about very much, but it makes a BIG difference! So you can still get some versatility out of just one pickup
I have stingray also I love but still always back to the P.
Enjoy the back pain lol
I got a StingRay last year. It’s now my main Bass… I’m looking for a fretless one.
I got a Stingray 5 two weeks ago and as much as I love the sound and punch, my P Bass will always be #1
I love both, I can't decide. But that's also the reason why my favourite configuration is a P/J bass (preferable with an active EQ on it): you have the same growl of the split coil with the added definition of the j-single coil in the bridge. Plus, you can use each one of them alone.
I think a good analogy is that the P is like a Hollywood super star who always plays himself. The J is like that OK character actor you saw in lots of films but can't remember the films or the name of the actor.
Hell no. The J-Bass is like the Gary Oldman or Forrest Whitaker of bass.
I think you’re both right. J is an AMAZING teamplayer support, and P tends to stand out more. Sometimes you want your bass line to be heard, sometimes you want it to hold everything together.
I love the producer switch. Best invention since making the volumes on your amp go up to 11 instead of 10😆🐸🍺🔪🔥
This video is a lifesaver. I can’t choose between a P or J bass and this video really helped me in my decision. I love both sounds but damn, something about that Jazz bass just hits my soul.
Jazz bass with a push/pull pot to toggle between parallel and series is my favorite. So many options :) and I prefer the thinner neck profile of Jazz basses.
As a player of both, I think this was really well done. I have my P bass set up for more traditional rounded tones (higher action and medium guage strings) and my J bass is set up for more aggressive sounds (lower action and light guage strings). Works for me, they are both great.
If I HAD to pick one, it would be the P bass because it is LEGEND.
@jerrymckenzie1858…..yeah, I’m in the same place with you on both basses. Very good video of comparatives. It’s a weird love story if you’re a Fender guy. I played P for 40 years. played on flats, then medium rounds…but always envied the “ricks” for that deeper tone. Been fretless J the last 10 years, then converted my P to fretless. I record direct a lot, and the P just always seems to require less monkeying around for tones…I see why most producers asked for it. There was a limited run, and I got a deal on a J “black top” fretted rosewood board. This had the P pickups, but in the positions of the J locations. This thing is best of all worlds for live and recording. But for the most part….P is set up for pick playing, action ect, and J for finger playing and more aggressive fingering techniques. Love that slim neck! There are lots of basses out there since I started on P’s back in early 70’ but, I have to have ‘em’ all with me. Truly depends on genre, and tempos, not just the tones…but the P is an excellent “all round” bass. When I get to playing the J too much, the P is on the stand looking at me like, ahh?? 😂
Precision is the King of bass. The Jazz is Queen. The Stingray is the King's cousin who is desperate for the crown. Basically, Leo Fender Invented and refined the bass guitar. He's the real hero.
I have all three. Three? J, P and PJ. I don't play long scale basses anymore, so my Fender Jazz sits in the rack, untouched. For a Jazz, I have a Valiant 27" Mini Bass, which sounds amazing. For a Precision, I have a Schecter Banshee. For a PJ, I have a Sire U5, which I just love. And the J bridge pickup is silent! So, if I could only have one? The Sire U5 would be it. But...I'd never give up my T.C. Stingray or Wattplower Mk II, or any of my other shorties, for that matter. These are great times for short scale players. 👍
In the studio, I have one of each. The P logs 7:1 more time being recorded - this from many many bassists over the years across all genres.
After years of hemming and hawing, this video finally pushed me into getting my first bass. I just picked up a Sire V3P yesterday. Thanks Josh =)
If I had a nickel for every time bassists ignored PJ basses, i'd be richer than Elon Musk.
I really hate PJs ngl,idk but it really seems like a beginner thing to enjoy PJ basses. I know some pros use it but i really cannot enjoy it
I enjoy the sound of the PJ bass best personally. The tone can be rich and full, but with a little growl too.
Dude I effing love my yamaha bb434, sucks that they're so overlooked
@@petaldapotato8282 That's kind of a dumb take. How can you not enjoy it? Turning off the J pickup effectively makes it a P pass. My first expensive bass was a Fender P, and while I still have it, it has basically been wall decor for the last seven years. Fender ran a limited PJ series in 2016, and I never looked back to the basic P. You get more out of having a PJ + a J than you get out of having a P + J. Anyone claiming PJ and P doesn't sound equal with the J pickup off are just making things up. Having a P/J can also free up your budget/space to get something else, like something "more suited" for modern metal.
@@lassebasseish no PJ is good,its versatile and my first bass was an Ibanez with PJ pups,but i just dont like it,probably because im a J bass guy
Also,in term of versatility,dual humbuckers basses easily beat PJ,and if you want a classic tone while also have versatility,just get a J bass,since J's neck pup can replicate P pup,but PJs cant replicate a J bass with all pups on
I am a guitarist that likes to play bass from time to time. Got myself a Squier Vintage Modified PJ bass a few years ago. Best of both worlds. That purchase was a no-brainer.
Nice job! I think a PJ can give you the best of both worlds but honestly I use my Jazz more than my P on gigs and recordings due to the versatility and the ability to dial in a P-esque tone by adjusting pickup volumes and using the tone knob when I need. I can also dial in P tones with a Jazz by tweaking the amp if needed. And with hand placement and various muting, I can get close enough to the P place without having to change basses. The other bonus - my jazz is lighter, the neck is easier to get around on, and gives me less fatigue on long gigs or gigs with super challenging music. Love my P though. Bottom line, you have far more options and can subtract and add a lot more with a J than P. Thanks for the work that went into this.
Some more plucking position changes can unlock a bit more shift in P bass tone (as you know but for those who haven't thought of it). Plucking closer to the neck can make the bass sound more laid back (because it shifts the sound to less mids and more fundamental), especially when you pluck with your thumb, and also if you add a mute to the bridge (or palm-mute and lightly thumb pluck for something similar). Plucking just below the pickup (closest to the bridge) as well as between the pickup and the bridge will get you an in-between kneck and bridge pickup sound that speaks out more in the mix but still supports the band's bottom end, although maybe not as much. Not to say the J bass is more versitile, but the P bass can have a bit more variance to it as well that might be just enough for some, while also having that wonderful one-trick. Happy playing!
I bought my first and so far only bass almost two years ago. I chose a precision bass because it just looked simpler than everything else - only one pickup, two knobs, nothing to think about. And if it is good enough for Steve Harris, it is good enough for me.
I have both and I’m glad that I do. But if I had to get rid of one I’d keep the P.
it really is good enough for anyone/everyone! if it ain't broke...
I have switched back and fourth between the two for the last 40 years with a few Stingrays thrown in, but it has always been the Precision when recording and in recent years it has became the one I use the most.
One of the best P vs J battles ever! And I agree, I'd also go for the J if I only could have one. I have a modern J 5-string (active/passive, with Delano TheHybrids, so I get a nice StingRay sound on top), and an old P-style bass (with flats). Perfect combination for me. But I still couldn't resist getting a shorty and a fretless on top 😅
I agree. If I could only have one, it’s my Jazz. But, with all the parts available out there, I may just build a Frankenstein of both!
I love playing a Fender American Professional II Jazz Bass, but my daily players are one of the three P-Basses I have. Usually the '51 Reissue P-Bass with a Lindy Fralin Split Coil pickup. So much awesome in one package.
Omg finally a fair comparison between these two! Really cool video, specially because you dropped some pretty nice songs there :D
something that I took from this video is that I feel the J is better on the higher notes on the d and the g, while the opposite goes for the P. The cut-through tone makes it an excellent low end support sound
I definitely would pick my J over my P (the fretless J even more so). However the active PJ is a good a really good choice nowadays.
Quite a bassist you are! Nice demos and comparisons making the similarities and differences quite clear.
They actually sound pretty close.. The Jazz sounds rounder then again the usage of finger versus pick attack and the amp setup is as you know a game changer..
It’s crazy how we can all have completely different ears and taste!
Indeed... Mind you, depending on your audio card and speakers on the pc, frequencies can sound different..@@SimonChingon
@@BedeLaplume that’s the beauty of music!!
@@BedeLaplume that’s the beauty of music!!
I have a boring '77 P-bass, and I lOVE it! Bought it in '84, and have been playing it ever since! However...... I am really concidering a jazz in the near future, just because......
This is the best and most informative and accurate P Vs J comparison I have evere seen, and also you have an invredible playng. I've always was a p bass guy, I had my Jazz periods but i always came back to P in the end of the day, but now I recently switched to musicman, it's like it has all the pros of p and j together, it is great for rock, funk and pop, and imo it has the best slap tone. I only prefer the p in the oldschool stuff
Never had either, but I think I'd choose J just for the sheer power of narrow and thin neck that's super comfortable to play with.
Held such instrument in the guitar store and it almost made me tear joy.
I think you missed the real most versatile bass....The PJ....best of both worlds.
Guys, honestly I get angry when I see how few likes this video has. There are hours of work behind this video and so much professionalism that I have watched thousands of RUclips videos about comparisons. Never before have I seen such a professional, clear, technical comparison that gets to the point and explains all questions with its theoretical and practical applications down to the last detail for us with so much love and fun. This video deserves millions of likes. I've been watching comparisons for years. This is the first man or RUclipsr who finally doesn't do a lot of advertising and talking but rather presents facts to us clearly and professionally from Germany. Many kind regards, my friend, stay as you are. You are one of the most successful bass, RUclipsrs for me who deserves much more. ✌️👌
I love my Squier VM Jaguar bass. It’s a PJ configuration. I mainly use the P pick up to get a precision tone but I love that it has a thin neck like a jazz bass.
Honestly, medium scale, jazz neck, PJ configuration, 2 volume AND 2 tone, it's on paper the ideal bass for me and I'm extremely happy with mine.
@@YIIMM the Jag I have is from 2011 and it is a full scale jazz neck
P bass + pick is my choice. I’ve played a Nate Mendel signature Mexican P bass for eleven years now. Love the tone and the Mecki which lies somewhere between a P and a J bass in width.
The J bass is the tone king, absolutely no doubt about it. Personally, the slim neck of the J is the thing that sold it for me, that '62 neck with the '62 pickups. As an owner of 4 J basses, nothing will replace it as my number 1.
Yes, the big difference for me is the neck and the two pickups
The Jazz's skinny neck is a no-go for me as it literally rubs my LH fingers the wrong way.
However...
In 2005 at a Guitar Center in Pittsburgh, PA, I found a 2004 Translucent Sunset Orange USA Jazz Bass, with the then available S-1 Switching Sytem and ... wait for it ... *factory* Precision Bass "B" tuxedo neck. It says Fender Precision Bass on the head-stock but has the proper Jazz serial number on the reverse. It has been my #1 since then...mostly...except when I was playing my USA Precision Bass, which was my favorite until I played my Jazz...then the P, then the Jazz.
And that's what it's like being a middle child.
With both set up properly & preferred strings...hard to choose! I have an active jazz with flats and p with rounds. Love both. Note about Jameson around 5:10 -- he indeed played p on MOST Motown hits, but also played stand-up. Bob Babbitt also played p on notable (mostly later) Motown hits. Thanks for your excellent presentation!
That is an interesting combination. I prefer flats on my P bass because I think they go together well.
I believe the official name is the Lee Sklar Producer Switch
Love that you included The Stranglers here. He made his bass sound like it's getting beaten up.
I have a p bass but sometimes it’s not the tone I want…. A lot of times it is. A lot of times I get lucky cause I have the same bass that was played on the song im trying to learn.. I am
Looking at a duff mckagan p with a p/j configuration and paying on it to own it as well… but I’m
Wondering if I should just get a jazz… if anyone reads this comment let me know what you think. I will also add I like the killers and have been having trouble
Getting my p to sound like the songs of the killers I am trying to get good at playing
Go and try a Jazz. Figure out if you like it more. Or consider getting a P/J and trade in your P. A P/J with the J pickup rolled off sounds like a P, so you're not missing out on that part.
I have one of all three from Fender, and if I had to get rid of one, it would be the P.
This was great! Loved hearing the basses side by side. I could really hear the differences, so really helpful. Plus, your presentation is really fun. Great job!
I currently own a P and am getting a J for Christmas. Interested to see which I end up using more
My jazz is more comfortable for me, but I always go back to the P. Funny I put away the P and dusted off the jazz last night and this morning I see this video 😊
If you like a thinner, neck and a sick ass sound, the J is your man.
@@lifespanofafry1534 can’t go wrong with either, but it’s nice to have both!
I know that feeling...which one? I have already a Fender Jazz and just did buy a Fender Preci....so....no question which one anymore... 🙂
The Jazz sometimes sound too clean
I like the "mean" sound i get on my Precision, and that's the same reason why i like Rickenbackers and Thunderbirds
I’ve got an ‘80s Kramer bass, essentially a P-Bass copy but with a Jazz-style neck on it. So it sounds like a Precision, feels like a Jazz. Hey, I like it!
Nice to hear some JJ and the Stranglers on here at last.
Always been on a J Bass. Never saw a reason to change that. I could dial a different sound whenever asked or wanted to do so.
I love the P and went with it for many reasons, including my love of Matt Freeman. Only to then learn he used a Jazz on Out Come the Wolves 🫠
Definitely jazz bass for an ordinary person like me, due to the versatility across different genres, but its quite understandable why a professional musician with a specific sound would go for precision bass.
"Producers Switch"!! HAHAHA! Leland taught us all the truth! I love my P Bass, but if I don't know what the situation might call for I bring the J. ( Actually, my favorite bass is an English bass called Fret King that has a P bass pup in the bridge, a J bass pup in the mid position, and a Gibson Bass-Bucker style pup in the neck. It is the master of all tones and can dial in literally ANY tone. But that's just my secret weapon.) Great video. CHEERS!
p-bass has a darker, louder tone, perfect for rock and metal. while jazz sounds brighter, perfect for jazz and pop playing. especially pop, where those stingy producers won't let you do much on bass. having the ability to switch between neck and brigde pickups would be killer in that context!
I have both an Ultra V Jazz, and a P made in Mexico. The P has a double humbucker bridge pickup, and the mids are extremely mean. I used it in a "The Who" tribute band. Nothing touched the tone. The jazz is my favorite though. The feel is just...I dunno, natural? Maybe? The jazz is an 18 volt, and I normally run the mids at 3/4 up. I back it off for a warmer tone when needed. It is a bit more versatile that way.
This is the reason I bought PJ bass. The best from both worlds. Now I can get the mid tones, punch and the grit in one package.
I'm using Yamaha TRBX174 with EMG Geezer set. It kills!
I also own a PJ but it really isn't the best of *both* worlds. PJ is primarily a P-Bass that can be spiced up a little bit with the J-Neck pickup - so it' a more versatile P-Bass. But you can't really reproduce that typical, scooped J-Bass sound with a PJ because you need both J-Pickups working together for that sound.
I personally can't stand the honky mids and high end clacking of a P bass. I tried to dial it out with different pickups, then pedals, then amps, it was always there, sounding like the bass is refusing to let me dig in properly. Then I pick up a Jazz or Stingray and immediately get the snappy response I want. Producers say a P bass fits every mix, I say they haven't tried enough genres yet.
Might be a very limited view of mine, but The Sweet's "Live at The Rainbow" album convinced me of the Jazz bass forever. Bassist Steve Priest uses a Gherson bass, an italian copy of Fender Jazz Bass Sunburst. Just listen to tracks like "Done Me Wrong Alright", "Little Willy" or "Blockbuster" from that album.
I vote for P/J jazz bass.
I've got a fretless P in 1977 and a fretted one from the early 70s a few years later. Lots of friends play a J but my Ps really put out the tone forever... been playing them for over 45 years.
I am surprised that Jazz bass is still called versatile while there are many mid range basses out there with humbuckers with optional single coil or series/parallel mode and 3 band eq, sometimes with selectable mid frequency, active/passive switch. This is what I'd call versatile
Right! like e.g. the Marcus Millers on the cheaper end, or, of course Stingrays at the more pricy regime.
I have a Lakland Skyline 44-02 that covers this. I can get a P, J or Stingray tone if dialed in right. And neck to die for.
i love the inclusion of the stranglers' "peaches." i learned on a jazz copy but play a precision. i think the jazz is more versatile but precision tone is just easier to fit into the mix.
- The Police recorded Message in a bottle on a jazz bass along with all of their early hits.
P with TI flats is my desert island bass. These days I’d even say short scale P. My Sandberg Lionel instantly became my main gigging bass. Of course every working bass player should have a P and a J. One thing few comparison videos mention is the difference in body shape and ergonomics. The J has a bigger body while the P has a rounder more compact shape. Besides the split coil P tone being so classic and perfect, I find that the P shape feels so much more comfortable to play and my right hand sits naturally in the perfect position.
I just picked up a beauty Precision, 2018.
Part of the beauty is it comes with a jazz pu, at the bridge and the traditional split P pu’s!!!
3 knobs, all sculpting the sound to what you want!!!
Me, I play in a Country/Blues/Oldies cover band so,,,obviously I want to crank it out like Steve Harris!!!!
But there’s so many variations it’s amazing!!!
Really nice job comparing the two. I began on a P bass years ago. My most recent P was a 50's Classic with flatwound, which I loved. Until I got a Lakland DJ-4 Jazz bass. Man, that slimmer neck just did it for me. I have since moved on to a Lakland 44-02 which is active and the neck is between a J and P bass and super comfortable. I can get pretty much any tone I want. But I will admit, a P just looks so cool and rock and roll, and all my bass heroes played P basses.
I've had a '66 Mustang, '65 Newport , a Ibanez something or other and a franken Fender Jazz with a custom fretless neck which I got in the mid 80's. Aside from the incredible solid 1 piece ASH Jazz body and sentimental youth attachment to the Jazz, I have never been able to justify selling it for it lacking anything. I stooopidly sold my 60's basses before Reverb existed and now long for my Mustang and Newport again; but it never even occurred to me to let go of the Jazz. I'm currently hunting for the right replacement Fender Jazz neck ,,, would LOVE a PBASS also and a couple of semi hollows,.. but for a NOT full time professional bassist.... the Jazz is kind of everything you need. PRO TIP: I have flat wounds and I use a hunk of I think neoprene black cymbal mute material under the strings at the bridge and the MUTE effect is stellar PHAT! You can Motown it!
I have played the fender Precision bass guitar since I first started playing bass back in 1969. Anyone who says that it is a one trick pony has obviously never spent a huge amount of time using a precision bass guitar.
It is capable of many different sounds depending on where you pick or use fingers. Close to the neck, over the pickup, back by the bridge. Each has a different type of tone.
I also like a jazz bass. But I feel it misses that thumpy mid-range that you get from a precision. That is by design. Leo Fender wanted a bass that had a smoother overall tone for jazz music. With two pickups to enable a wider range of tonal possibilities. With a slimmer now or neck but also would enable a guitarist to quickly and easily adapt to playing the electric bass guitar.
To be honest you really should own both. I do add a series/parallel pickup switching option on any jazz bass that I own. That adds a little bit more beefiness to the low end which I find helpful on a jazz bass.
The P and J basses are the standards by which bass guitars are judged. The fact that They remain as popular today as the day they were released decades ago, and also that almost every custom high-end manufacturer of bass guitars today started by making copies of P's and J's
Prove they have stood the test of time.
So why limit yourself to one or the other get both.
I have a 2012 American Standard Precision bass and an American Original 60's Jazz Bass and I love them both so much I bought a partscaster Precision bass with a Jazz Bass neck, Seymour Duncan SPB-3 pickups, Emerson 500k volume and tone potentiometers, Fender high mass bridge, and Fender vintage style tuners and it's the best of both worlds 👍
You could get best of both worlds with those P-basses that have the Jass pickup in bridge and the P-Bass traditional pickup in the neck.
Very good video as usual! Here is my personal experience. About 1 year ago, I joined a band as a bassist. It was my first time that I played thru a big amp or PA. I had two basses - a precision deluxe (or special. P/J) and a Jazz. Although my ears had not been trained yet, I could find my P-bass in the mix easily. But with Jazz, I struggled. If I may, P bass sounds like a square whereas Jazz more like circle. That unique 90 degree angles are what make P-bass sound so solid. Now 1 year later, I have learned a lot and know there are tons of possibilities with P or J with knobs, amp setting, effect etc. One has to experince P/J in the settings he/she would be playing (band, studio, bedroom). Now I have 3 Jazz basses and one P bass (said PJ - good to have options of P + J @ bridge) and am content.
The answer, of course, is a Jazz Bass Special a la Duff McKagan. PJ body gives you the "it always works" classic P pickup but adds a J bridge for versatility; then puts a Jazz neck on that P body. I've never loved an instrument more than my Boxer reissue; I just wish I could get a vintage fretless one in Burgundy Mist.
I think so many pros play one and why it was on so many classic tracks is because so many producers knew how to dial in a P Bass sound super fast... And they passed that on to newer producers and so on. And so many bass players had the "You HAVE to get/have a P Bass! It is a must." drilled into their heads.
I love my J Basses.
As self-learned bassist (guitarist at first) I started with a PB. I had a JB one year ago because I wanted to had a bass who sound like a bass. I like them both.
Thank you for using Mex JB/PB, it helps motivating the young players with affordable instruments, as they're the one heard in the video.
The definitive video. Just covers it all. Thank you.
Can we get a video on pedals please? I have no idea on what pedals are good for certain music. If you could give us a lesson on that I would greatly appreciate it! I love your videos to
you’re so helpful!!🤘🤘
I just scored a killer Precision this evening. I've been playing jazz basses for nearly 30 years, but this one sounds great and is so simple! Can't wait to gig it tomorrow night.....
Avid Precision bass lover - it was my first bass 23 years ago, & for 2 reasons: 1- Squier had a good starter kit, & 2- The Ramones, Dee Dee played Pbasses, & i loved the band. Fast forward that time span, i've had my share of other bass styles (Thunderbirds, Semi hollows, Short scales, Ricenbackers, Grabber/ripper basses).
I've also played a few Jazz style basses (Fender/squier, copies, ibanez black eagle, custom builds). & while some of them were nice feeling & sounding, i couldn't bond with one for 3 reasons: 3- I can't get used to the offset body, Which is funny because i actually enjoy playing jazzmaster guitars (maybe it's perception of the neck & body on a jazz bass feel way more out than they actually are due to the longer scale), 2- the tone isn't bad, though i've had a few Jazz basses in my ownership that i've modified with a series/parallel switch to give more punch/beefier tone to the jazz. But even then, it wasn't what i'd use dominantly. 1- I was very much exclusive pbass player by this point x)
Both have their place, just not with me. There's loads of music where a jazz bass has dominated (Hendrix Experience with Noel Redding, Rush's Geddy Lee, Dead Kennedy's Klaus Flouride, to name a few), all of which i enjoy very much. But a pbass just hits all my boxes for my music & playing styles. It can be agressive or mellow, all depends how you approach it. You can't go wrong with either or, I'm solely in Pbass camp :)
The best way to get as close to a P Bass tone as possible on a Jazz isn't to just solo the front pickup.
1: First, turn just the front pickup all the way up and then SLIGHTLY roll it back. If you play a note while the pickup is on full and then roll it back while the note sustains you should be able to hear the note change a bit if you do it right, the like sound of someone cutting out some of it's treble using a mixing desk. Watch the Scott's Bass lessons video on the Jazz Bass called 'Why the Jazz Bass CRUSHES everything' if you want a demo.
2: Once you've dialed the front pickup correctly, now turn the rear pickup on about a 1/4 of the way.
Every bass is different so perhaps it won't work for everyone's but on my Jazz it sounds almost identical to a P, even the recorded waveforms look very similar.
A great comparison. I prefer the Jazz, but its probably because I dont have a Precision yet. I have some EB cobalt flats on my Squier Jazz 70s VM and I kind of love how they still let that brightness of rounds through but you can get that thumpity thump of flats.
EB cobalt flats are the biz!
@@Luthiart I didnt believe it at first, that they kept that snap yet were….flatty. Love them. Im so anal I want the same bass with like four different string types just for shats and giggles
@MichaelEMJAYARE I couldn't believe how growly they were, yet you can still get that classic, fat, P-bass thump out of them too. I went a little nuts at first and put cobalt flats on ALL my basses. I ended up putting rounds back on my Jaguar and fretted Jazz, but I keep the cobaits on my P and fretless Jazz.
I tried their cobalt rounds, but they just sound weird.
I’ve had my 98 mim sunburst p bass since I was a junior in highschool. That is the only bass I will EVER need! That being said I couldn’t help but pick up a couple of other types of basses along the way!
this deserves so many more views! amazing playing and amazing video concept
i've always been a p-bass stan but a recently met a champion for the jazz bass. I wanted to take another listen and this video is everything i was curious about and more.
I'm still a p-bass fan but who knows, i may switch to jazz when i get that slap down.
thanks sm!
Well, I bought a P bass (I play mainly classic and indie rock) with a J pick up in bridge position to venture into other styles needing brighter tones. I don't know if it's the best of both worlds, but it's a good compromise which offers versatility. I know, some people don't like compromises and J pickups on P basses, but I'm not that purist so everything's OK. Basically I'm a guitar player, but I need a bass to record my demos and I didn't want to buy two basses for that. And I have no doubt that a P/J configuration is good for most live gigging situations. You can use it as a classic P bass turning down the Jazz volume, or start blending the two pickups like on a JB if you want it, or do some slap on the J pickup.
Some of my favorite bassists played the Jazz, including John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin, Mel Schacher of Grand Funk Railroad, and even Peter Cetera of early Chicago when they actually rocked.
I love the J. Mine is rewired with a blend knob so when I need the sound, a quick roll back and I am there. My P is very fun, but the J fits my genres and tastes more.
Don't forget the blend tones, when you slightly roll either pickup back to get some mids back
I think it all boils down to, what sort of music you want to play, and how the instrument feels to play.
My favourite bass is my Yamaha TRB-5P with it's active PJ with in bridge piezo pickup.
A active vs passive video would also be appreciated :)
Great video! I used to have a J bass, but never quit got along with it. I have a P bass now and couldn't be happier. Your examples showed my why. I don't do slap, but if I did, J bass definitely. I was surprised though how close the J bass neck pickup was to the P bass. I mostly play country and rock and the P bass just works every time and I like the neck better too.