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.
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.
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.
Yes, and some of the first to make something like this were the rebooted Silvertone in the 1990's to 2000's having the P & J bass pickups all in the same instrument called the dual threat or something like this. My brother has one from when I traded a crappy First Act and a Marshall solid state of mine to a guy for the bass and a finale era Crate solid state bass amp, ripping off a person who was working to permanently in a weed state now even without the weed due to smoking a less harmful strong fully synthetic THC that was legal in Minnesota at the time.
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!
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.
@@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'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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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! ❤❤❤
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
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. ✌️👌
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.
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 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 😊
@@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'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.
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.
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?? 😂
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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. and did you actually say "the P's one tone"?
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!
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.
"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!
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 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.
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!
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.
I have been playing a P bass for years and it is my go to bass. I put a DiMarzio J bass pickup on my first P bass and noticed a difference in tone. A few years ago I got an American Performer P bass which has both the split pickup in the middle and the J bass pickup in the bridge and have the best of both worlds.
@@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
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 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 👍
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.
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.
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.
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
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 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.
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. 👍
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!!!
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 😊
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.
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'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.
Ever since i was like 8 years old when Appetite for Destruction came out 1987 and heard Duff's bass lines I have been a huge fan of the perfect combo of both in a PJ bass
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 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......
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!
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 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 is the BEST P vs J comparison I've heard (and seen!) yet, and I think Leland S. would approve of the Producer Switch reference 😎. I have a Kramer 4001 with P-bass pickups and a Fender Jazz. I get a lot of enjoyment from both, but the Jazz wins for playability. There are situations in electrically noisy environments that I prefer to use the Kramer because the Jazz Bass is just too susceptible to interference, even with active pickups and control cavity shielding. I can shape the tone pretty nicely with a little compression and a SansAmp Para Driver DI, and the Kramer will always get the job done. 🎸
A didactic and sophisticated work. Congratulations! All possible questions are covered and brilliantly executed, together with a very intelligent production makes the best video of this type. Subscribed and Many Thanks!!! (J Fretless User)
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.
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!
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.
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 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
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.
I love my Ultra Precision. It is the finest production model I've had in my hands in over 50 years. I wouldn't trade it or sell it. Oops, and why, the myriad of tones from quiet jazz to classic rock is phenomenal. Additionally, it had an exceptionally smooth neck. The frets are profoundly finished.
Holly crap, HopMonk! been many years. I always owned P-basses and several years ago finally got a J-bass, and honestly, I love J a little more. The tonal versatility and neck profile just suit me more. Nice playing, btw.
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 :)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I don't like choosing, so I'm just here for the awesome bass playing and the Josh vs Josh 🤪. My first bass was a Jazz. I had never played before, so the guy in the shop did a demo with both and I did some very basic plucking. I liked the J neck and the guy mentioned the versatility + I definitely planned on learning slap, so J it was.
My current go to bass is a P/J. All the awesomeness of the P with the added quack of the J bridge pickup. I can hit a pretty wide range of tones with that. I love the variation in tones you get from different basses and they're all great for different things. String choice adds even more tone variation. For me the money tones I love to hear are a P with flats and Stingray with rounds.
P basses do it all. Super reliable and just feel right. Love the big fat neck. I have flats on mine. I have a 5 string Schecter for more rock tones or anything but I always go back to my p bass with labellas.
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 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.
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!
Best P vs J vid on the net. So many examples side by side really making the differences crystal clear. In the end it's still the P for me. Sometimes I want some bite though. So my ideal is a PJ, no doubt :)
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.
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.
Yes, and some of the first to make something like this were the rebooted Silvertone in the 1990's to 2000's having the P & J bass pickups all in the same instrument called the dual threat or something like this. My brother has one from when I traded a crappy First Act and a Marshall solid state of mine to a guy for the bass and a finale era Crate solid state bass amp, ripping off a person who was working to permanently in a weed state now even without the weed due to smoking a less harmful strong fully synthetic THC that was legal in Minnesota at the time.
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!
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'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.
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.
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!
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.
Just rewatched this and it is genuinely the best video on the subject I've seen. Actual clear and practical examples. Nice work, mate.
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. ✌️👌
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.
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 absolutely appreciate the editing required for this video
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
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.
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.
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?? 😂
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
5:05 Untrue --- James Jamerson played upright bass on many Motown hits including Heat Wave, Where Did Our Love Go?. My Guy, and Jimmy Mack.
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. and did you actually say "the P's one tone"?
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.
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.
"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!
Omg finally a fair comparison between these two! Really cool video, specially because you dropped some pretty nice songs there :D
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 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.
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!
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.
I think you missed the real most versatile bass....The PJ....best of both worlds.
I have been playing a P bass for years and it is my go to bass. I put a DiMarzio J bass pickup on my first P bass and noticed a difference in tone. A few years ago I got an American Performer P bass which has both the split pickup in the middle and the J bass pickup in the bridge and have the best of both worlds.
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
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 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.
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 👍
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.
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.
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
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 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
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 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. 👍
The definitive video. Just covers it all. Thank you.
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!!!
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!
Hands down the best J v P video on YT. Lotta work here and it’s appreciated.
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'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.
Ever since i was like 8 years old when Appetite for Destruction came out 1987 and heard Duff's bass lines I have been a huge fan of the perfect combo of both in a PJ bass
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 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......
Nice to hear some JJ and the Stranglers on here at last.
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!
I believe the official name is the Lee Sklar Producer Switch
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 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 is the BEST P vs J comparison I've heard (and seen!) yet, and I think Leland S. would approve of the Producer Switch reference 😎. I have a Kramer 4001 with P-bass pickups and a Fender Jazz. I get a lot of enjoyment from both, but the Jazz wins for playability. There are situations in electrically noisy environments that I prefer to use the Kramer because the Jazz Bass is just too susceptible to interference, even with active pickups and control cavity shielding. I can shape the tone pretty nicely with a little compression and a SansAmp Para Driver DI, and the Kramer will always get the job done. 🎸
I vote for P/J jazz bass.
A didactic and sophisticated work. Congratulations!
All possible questions are covered and brilliantly executed, together with a very intelligent production makes the best video of this type. Subscribed and Many Thanks!!!
(J Fretless User)
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.
I was completely convinced you were going to say P Bass after listening to your pros and cons. Got me.
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
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 =)
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!
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 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 🫠
- The Police recorded Message in a bottle on a jazz bass along with all of their early hits.
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 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.
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.
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.
I love my Ultra Precision. It is the finest production model I've had in my hands in over 50 years. I wouldn't trade it or sell it. Oops, and why, the myriad of tones from quiet jazz to classic rock is phenomenal. Additionally, it had an exceptionally smooth neck. The frets are profoundly finished.
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... 🙂
Holly crap, HopMonk! been many years.
I always owned P-basses and several years ago finally got a J-bass, and honestly, I love J a little more. The tonal versatility and neck profile just suit me more.
Nice playing, btw.
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 :)
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.
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.
Love that you included The Stranglers here. He made his bass sound like it's getting beaten up.
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.
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.
so there isn't a "better bass" it's a musician choice. great video man! I see it can help new musicians to figure which one fits themselves
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.
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.
I don't like choosing, so I'm just here for the awesome bass playing and the Josh vs Josh 🤪.
My first bass was a Jazz. I had never played before, so the guy in the shop did a demo with both and I did some very basic plucking. I liked the J neck and the guy mentioned the versatility + I definitely planned on learning slap, so J it was.
My current go to bass is a P/J. All the awesomeness of the P with the added quack of the J bridge pickup. I can hit a pretty wide range of tones with that. I love the variation in tones you get from different basses and they're all great for different things. String choice adds even more tone variation. For me the money tones I love to hear are a P with flats and Stingray with rounds.
This is, no doubt, the most practical video ever on comparing these two 👏👏👏
P basses do it all. Super reliable and just feel right. Love the big fat neck. I have flats on mine. I have a 5 string Schecter for more rock tones or anything but I always go back to my p bass with labellas.
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 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.
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!
Best P vs J vid on the net. So many examples side by side really making the differences crystal clear. In the end it's still the P for me. Sometimes I want some bite though. So my ideal is a PJ, no doubt :)