atheistasylum yep. Most just slap away like a machine gun. And we end up having "we get you're good" face on. XD nothin beats grovin out and not slap all the time xD
when you've got such a good staccato as scott, you don't really need to slap, honestly. i prefer the deeper end of the p-bass, but i'm not knocking on the j-bass by any stretch. wish i could get a 4003 for the grit, but until then, i'm using a hybrid pickup system (one p and one j). too bad scott didn't do a more in-depth comparison using different techniques, a p-bass and a j-bass don't sound anything alike using a pick or slapping them.
The jazz bass was my ideal instrument as a teenager at least in theory, I played a P-bass instead as a first instrument for maybe three years before I finally picked up a jazz bass. As a beginner the extra knobs and "variety" seem like a great idea, but having the time I did playing with just a Vol and tone taught me how all the tone you're ever going to need is in how you're using your hands. It's ultimately a case of technique and comfort. There are different characteristics in the sound of either bass, but ultimately having tone knobs, three million different pickups etc won't HELP you to sound better. I love the no-BS nature of a P-bass. It's got a volume, and a tone that I keep rolled off 24/7. Exploring the soundscape of the whole instrument while limiting its voice like that taught me to clean up my technique to get the sounds I wanted. It changed everything from how articulate my playing sounded to how loud my harmonics could ring beside fretted notes. Having a Jazz bass now, the extra controls feel more like a novelty than anything else. The extremes in terms of how you can get that thing to sound are way broader than a P-bass but I swear to anybody reading this - a P's range from tone rolled off to all the way open is all the extra boost you're going to need. Scott makes an excellent point near the end of the video about different basses informing which style he'll play with. I couldn't agree more, every subtlty from the bass' weight, body shape, neck shape etc. will affect how your hands are going to handle it. The sounds too, I find especially with these two styles of bass that they both very much like to be played a certain way. My P-bass always lends itself more to a more measured and selective approach to playing and which notes you're choosing, whereas a jazz bass screams at you the whole time to just shut up and let your fingers fly. Having such a slim little lady-neck on those things makes all the difference, especially if it's a fretless like the one I have and there's nothing there to fight against you accessing anywhere on the neck. All in all a fun debate that's not a a debate. These basses are too damn different but I get why jazz basses are so attractive. I can say that after pining over owning a jazz bass for years, it definitely delivered. My condolences to those who didn't live long enough to finish reading this beast of a comment. TLDR: Me like both
I was the same way, I played with a precision bass for a few years, but ultimately for me, it didn't feel right. When I got my jazz bass, it felt like it was meant for me and my playing seemed to improve due to the different feeling, sound, and style.
The P bass is without discussion THE bass to learn technique on. It's the very embodiment of bass playing, dumb-fudge simple to get into, takes years to get to the meat
@Mete Mercan Having read all that... I think the only thing left to cover is whether as a beginner you are picking up the right bass (for you at that time, at least), and any other barebones essentials like the right king of strings to begin with. One for another post then? 😊
Sooooo, the P Bass is kinda like what the Tele is for us, the guitar players: A no non-sense instrument with just enough versatility, and a very simple construction. And the Jazz Bass is like a Strat: More refined and ergonomic, lots of tonal versatility, the kind of tool that you want to have as a session player to get as many different tones as you need from one instrument. Great comparison and awesome playing, Scott!
J bass has more tones that work on a lot of stuff. P bass has one tone that works on almost everything. That one sound the P bass gets is more versatile than all of the J tones combined to me. It's pretty bland and boring, until the band kicks in, then it's magic.
Gonzalo Olivera Alves if you want to stick to Fender v Fender, then yes... but it’s more like Stratocaster v LesPaul. Both great guitars for blues, rock and metal but the pickups and how they’re wired make them sing in different tone areas. David Gilmore’s solo on Comfortably Numb wouldn’t sound right on a Les Paul and Slash’s solo on November Rain wouldn’t sound right on a Stratocaster.
Scott "Which one is right for you? Well, who are you listening to?" Okay, let' see, hh sick! *Mike Drent* plays the P bass, I'm getting that... wait, *Mark Hoppus* plays the Jazz bass, I think I'll get that... crap, *Geezer Butler* and *Roger Waters* play the P bass! I think that is the one for me...uh oh.. *Flea* on the Jazz bass! Of course that means that I am going to.... change my mind again because *James Jamerson!* *Carol Kaye!* P bass! C'mon man, that's what I'm going to go wi... dude... *Larry Graham* and *John Paul Jones* on jazz bass! That's decides it, that is what I going to.... crap!!!!
what about chris squire and his rickandbacker? some say he used piano strings, i dont know if thats really truth though. anyway, good luck with choosing one xD
Leo Fender was a genius. Telecaster Bass -> Precision Bass -> Jazz Bass -> Music Man Stingray -> G&L L1000 and 2000... I think he designed a few guitars as well.
I never thought about it that way, but you're right! You may have just uncovered a deep, dark conspiracy in the the bass world that goes deeper than we can imagine.........or just an interesting coincidence. 😉
I love them both, gradually fallen out of love with 24 fret active basses, they the passive tone and 20 frets just feels and sounds more warm, natural and honest.
P Bass for me if my fellow guitar player plays the Strat. Now, the Jazz Bass has a new brother, the Sixty-Six, a guitar with the shape based off of the Jazz Bass and the Stratocaster.
I've always felt as a bassist that a J sits more with the guitars and a P sits more with the drums. I'm a die hard P player and work a lot with both a AVS 57 reissue and a CS 55 P. That being said, my favorite bass is the single coil 55 Precision. The original single coil has the oomph of the P thump, but not the hard punch of the 57 and later split coil. While being smooth like a J. Apparently Leo got it right the first time. Go figure.
@@figs5472 I mean have you looked at the price of American Fenders lately? The Ultra series is the only way to get the same features and craftmanship of stingrays and they're in the same price range. You can go cheaper but you lose features and especially the craftmanship pretty fast. I can barely tell the difference between the MIM and American Player series but, just like the Ultra, when you pick up a genuine Stingray you KNOW you're wielding a well crafted instrument.
no doubt. I've not played much p-bass, but I had the G & L version (much higher output pickups than a fender). it was so "ballsy" I miss that thing now
In my opinion, the bass that people played for the first time seems to have a lot of influence on taste. My first bass was jazz bass. So, even if I really like p-bass sound, I eventually pick up the jazz bass. It feels like home.
Not always. I learned on a P bass and to this day, I won't/don't own one. I own J and soap bar basses. I play all styles and am perfectly happy with the sounds I achieve. I have nothing against P basses but I don't really love the sound.
@@danielestrada8932 Honestly the fodera tone is nice, but I actually prefer my bass’ to be more growly, and for the astronomical price of a fodera I can tune for the exact sound I’d want with say a fender or Spector custom shop
As a guitarist I needed a bass for the studio so bought a Jazz bass ten years ago. A mate gave me a Squier Precision two years ago. I gave the Jazz bass to a mate two weeks later. I have never regretted it.
PJs are my favorite. Can't quite nail everything the Jazz bass does, but not only does it not work the other way around either, it does do what I like best about both.
great comment! That's where I'm at, too! With a J bass I would be spending too much time trying to decide whether to be bassier (neck) or treblier (bridge). The PJ kinda brings it all together!
Totally agree! I have a Deluxe P Bass with a maple neck and the PJ blend is just buttery. I have a J as well and I love it for what it does but that PJ sound is my favorite.
As you said, I play both. And you're right, I play them differently too. It's like when I plug into an envelope filter pedal - suddenly my note choice is markedly different. Great video as always.
Flat wounds on Jazz bass is... INCREDIBLE. Im also confused on why he used rounds on the J and flats on the P, and he or anyone else failed to mention that.
@@getmeoutofsanfrancisco9917 I agree! I absolutely loved Flats on my jazz. I'm not much of a slapper so i loved the warmer smoother overall tone and feel of the strings. Had a 3band pre installed to help boost mids and highs
Kevin Lawrence Ayyyy! 3 band parametric EQ’s on bass for the win. I got one on one of my J’s as well (my favorite one). Typically, I will either cut the mids slightly around 600-1k if I’m playing rock with rounds (most rock for me at least) and if Im playing with flats, I will turn treble down a notch, turn my mid frequency parameter/knob all the way up to the upper mids and literally *boost the mid gain as far as it goes.* Thats the David LaBruyere bass tone from John Mayer’s “Room for Squares” album. I know everyone always mentions Pino when it comes to Mayer but personally I’m a bigger fan of the former’s tone. Check out the bass tone in this track. ruclips.net/video/H1W2UddURXI/видео.html People always think its a P bass. Its actually Jazz with flats.
+1! When I was (much!) younger, I tried many basses in shops and found that all P- and J- type basses - esp. the Real Fender ones - had necks that were way too thick for me to play. I wound up buying an Ibanez copy of a Rick 4001 in cherry-red sunburst finish (this was around 1974) which is still my only bass. Admittedly I recently put in a GraphTech Black Tusq XL nut (WOW what an improvement!) and MIGHT put on a Hipshot bridge in future, but I love its sound to death! Rosie (she's a leftie-strung-rightie - get over it, it's how I play!) and I are kind of two parts of a whole now. Oh: a (similar vintage) Laney Session Bassman 50 combo amp., and Thomastik-Infeld JF344 strings, since you (didn't!) ask. And no, Rosie doesn't sound much like a Rick really (she has humbuckers for starters, was built like that)! But to end by answering Scott's question: I always loved Jaco Pastorius (still do), so I way prefer the J-bass sound to the P-bass sound.
+adayatatyme No, he won't: and nor will anyone else. If YOU like the look, feel, and sound of a P-bass and YOU can get on with the thick neck on them, that's great. For ME, P-basses are and always will be massively uncomfortable, woolly-sounding, and generally horrible instruments. You shouldn't be trying to "convince" people to like a particular bass based on how someone else plays it, and Scott has made one or two videos saying exactly that: don't be dazzled by brand names, or choose an instrument based on how your bass hero sounds when THEY play that instrument! ALL that matters is how a specific instrument works for YOU when YOU play it. And me and Fender basses just don't get on at all, period.
I realized a while back that the sound I was looking for was found in the single coil jazz bass, I’ve been so happy with it! Just recently however I’ve been looking for a fuller sound. I’ve been listening to some old records from the 90s, I felt the bass sounded really good in the mix, discovered those are P basses. SOjust discovering something in a P bass that I never approached because I always thought of a p bass as cheap and too simple. Oh boy was I wrong lol
Hey Scott! I actually feel the Precision is missing some treble/mids and the Jazz is missing some bass. I prefer both pickups in the same bass, with P body and J neck. Best of both worlds in my opinion.
***** This video is not the first place where I hear both basses, so my comment wasn't based entirely on it. I do like both flats and rounds and that doesn't change my opinion on the bass model. No need to insult people just giving their opinions, I already saw you insulting someone else who wasn't being rude either.
peronchoalpalo yeah I do this. I have a Sadowky flat B, pryramid flat e and a, and dunlop round d and G. I experimented for years and this particular 5 has a P/J setup in a jazz body with maple fingerboard. people compliment my sound constantly. all I need to pop while I'm slapping is the D and G.
I owned a '76 P, and I can completely empathise with your fascination with how the feel, tone, and timbre of the bass has a synergistic relationship with your note choice. That P was a muse, it had an insidious influence on everything I wrote or played. I sold it, and moved on to a USA Jazz, and... well I liked the tone of the jazz, I liked the playability, but it just didn't speak to me or for me. Despite being a beautiful instrument which made a beautiful noise we just didn't share a common understanding.
I Scott, I’m a 74 year old bass player who still plays every week and have been for my entire adult life.... never made the big time, so to speak, but I’ve made a good living playing in clubs around the east coast to mid west, USA... Just wanted to comment on your ability as an educator, you are amazing. I truly wish there were opportunities like you offer for bass players today, back when I was coming up and had to learn the hard way... No, I did not go the music school, I went to the “start a band, learn how to play” School. Been doing it ever since. In 1968 I bought my first fender, it was a Jazz bass. My friend had a Precision. I loved his neck. So in 1970, I bought a precision neck, the dealer made me trade in my Jazz neck In back then, said it was the ‘Fender company policy’, and put it on my Jazz body... perfect fit.... Now I have the best of both with a sound to match... I’ve gotten so many compliments over the years about the sound. Yes, the pickups make a difference, of course, but the style of neck does also. Putting the two together rocks.... It’s a pleasure to see you week after week teaching all the new, and more advance players coming up today, how to play bass properly. They really have no idea how much better they have it with you out there than in my day.... My bass rocks, but you rock ever more.... Thanks for what you do....
I see you have a lot of experience playing instruments. What were the acoustic strings like during 1955-1959, were they flatwound or roundwound? I'm trying to get the acoustic guitar sounds of Elvis' recordings when he was with Bill Black and Scotty Moore.
I think the p bass has a THUD that can't be replicated. Half notes (root, fifth, root, fifth) really sound good on it. I was told that it is the closest thing to stand up bass. it makes me play very basic, slow notes.
It kind of is the best of both worlds BUT it's still basically a P Bass with possibly a J Bass neck and the addition of a J Bass pickup at the bridge which makes it sound a little fuller when both pickups are engaged. Purists will typically choose one or the other.
There is a compromise... The Fender Aerodyne has a Jazz Bass body and neck with a Precision Bass pickup in the middle and a Jazz Bass pickup in the bridge. Fender also makes Precision basses that add a Jazz Bass pickup at the bridge. So, whichever body/neck style you prefer you can add the meat and potatoes P-Bass tone to your Jazz or add some Jazz Bass pop and spice to your P-Bass :) Choices, choices, choices!!!
Hello SCOTT, I congratulate you for your instructive videos. I’m Hispanic but it does not matter because the music has no language, so consider my little English please, and my name is Jose. I have an American Special precision bass (2010), with a special thin neck, because is very confortable to travel around the whole neck up and down. My point about the precision bass, is that it is simple BUT a very very rich sound, so I define a precision bass. Thanks again for teaching us so much knowledge!
@Man I'll Probably regret this The reason he mentioned it is because he is kinda weak when it comes to the English language and asked that Scott please pardon his lack of English language skills.He is being polite about it and not pushing it at anyone.I come from NYC and there are at least one thousand languages spoken here.Some people who don't speak English well will say something like,I come from Guatemala so my English is not so good,I hope you will excuse me if I make mistakes when I speak.I always say no problema,Mi Espanol es no muy bien.Mi Espanol es menos dey un pocito.Disculpa mi, por favor.(no problem,my Spanish is not very good.My Spanish is less than a little.Pardon me, it's not that hard to be polite about it.
@Man I'll Probably regret this Your right,his written English is better than most native speakers.I can see that you meant no offense.Its his own insecurities concerning his language skill that cause him to be so apologetic about his English skills.I come from non English speaking imigrant parents and my eldest sister didn't speak English when she entered the first grade.When she finished the first grade,she sounded like a native speaker.I have family from and in many places speaking many languages and many people I know are just the same.I understand broken English very well.I agree that some people have a habit of telling one that there from Peru when they speak English beautifully and got there Masters/P.H.D. in American history by studying at a top notch American college in English and still teach there.At that point it can be unnecessary info,if that person is looking for some sort of easy English or pointless special treatment.If they feel insecure I can understand that.Sometimes women like to mention that there from Romania or Brazil or Haiti,just to spice things up.Of course if you they meet someone who likes American girls only,this just flops.Where can I find a woman who writes great lyrics and is wonderful in every way?A woman who will buy me basses,Amps and other such things.In my dreams,I suppose.
@Man I'll Probably regret this mostly because people can be dicks and tell people to learn english if they make one mistake. Mentioning it usually helps prevent that.
Jose Que importa de donde vienes amigo. Hay que estar orgulloso de donde uno es y sus orígenes. Te lo dice un mexicano bajista y orgulloso de su herencia. Como mexicano no me considero hispano. Los hispanos son de Europa. Yo soy americano porque nací en el continente americano y Mexico es mi país. Soy de raza cobriza y a mucha honra soy orgullosamente mesoamericano. Viva nuestro legado y sabiduría al mundo. No hay que pedir disculpas por no saber algo, al contrario mostrar orgullo de que uno trata y lo hace bien. Ya quisieran los gringos poder hablar dos idiomas/ teniendo a Latinoamérica tan cerca y nomas no. Vamos a sentirnos orgullosos de nuestro conocimiento y aporte a la humanidad con la cabeza en alto y el espíritu renacido. Viva la raza y viva nuestra sabiduría ancestral. Gracias por ser y por estas Orale
I never knew why I kept coming back to my P Bass until you started talking about the note selection. That is EXACTLY why I do it. I just have more fun playing my P BASS.
Irony: John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin used a Jazz Bass as his primary axe. Later he got into custom units, but the core Zep bass sound was a Jazz Bass.
Noone else seems to have mentioned that the tone is really dictated by your finger/pick/muting style...there's tons of variation in just your fingertips alone. I play both J and P basses (always have done) and find them both equals in most respects. It's only certain styles that really call for the J over the P. IMHO the J is more versatile in that you have more range of tonal adjustment and range whilst the P delivers the goods in the lower end. My main bass is a Geddy Lee J bass with a super slim neck. I love it, though IMHO the MM Stingray bass captures the best of both worlds for me!
I've found that I can get a lot more tones out of a P than a J. P with pick, fingers over pickups, finger over 18th fret, etc. There's a lot more exploration. J basses either sound like J bass or slapped J bass, without much in between.
I agree! I play a P bass and I can get a lot of different sounds out of it. I have got stainless steel roundwounds on my bass and when I open up the tone and play with a pick, I get a very aggressive sound. Tone all the way down and playing with my fingers gives a totally different, mellow sound. And everything in between. Same bass, so many possibilities!
Im different, much prefer a bass with EMG humbuckers, the brightness and the higer end of a j style but with a much fatter bottom end mine are on a esp ltd. I also have a ephiphone zentih (semi acoustic) with tape wounds which can get close to a P sound but is closer too a double bass, play both completely differently. Im looking for a j style bass now but maybe with humbuckers that can split to make it more versitile
Precision is the perfect bass. Most used for recordings. Has the depth you're looking for. Great all around natural feeling and very comfortable bass to play. I have about 30 different basses in my arsenal. P-bass is always the weapon of choice.. My 62 never fails me...
I really like how he explains how the bass itself will influence what the bassist plays. I do tend to noodle a bit more on my Jazz bass while I am happy just grooving on the Precision. Get both.
man, your last point about how different guitars make you play because of the tone and feel....spot on. I'm a guitar player, not a bassist, but every guitar I have makes me play in a different way. If I play a song using a Jaguar that I wrote on an SG, it just doesn't feel right. I'm able to write versatile songs that are so different from one another, just by whatever guitar I'm using that day.
Then you have that one guy like me, who can't choose, so he buys a P-bass with a J-bass neck, and PJ pickup configuration, one volume knob for each pickup, and a tone knob haha! Seriously awesome! Second hand Squier, changed the bridge, the pickups, and the strap buttons , gave it a good setup and it plays like a proper bass guitar :D Couldn't be more happy with this versatile baby! Really opened my eyes to be honest, you don't need something expensive to have a good piece of gear! :D
I always felt the pickups sound really different and when both are at full volume, they don't cooperate properly. But it's maybe I tried some cheap, low-entry level basses with PJ pickups. Anyway, I modded one of my P-Basses with adding a second split coil in bridge position as a compromise - most versatile bass I have now :)
I've always thought of Precision as the default bass guitar sound and the Jazz bass as a deliberate choice based on the bass' function in the arrangement.
I've always loved the sound of all those iconic bass lines played on the P bass, but from my own experience I've always had problem with the P bass sounding muddy and lacking in definition - especially with flat wounds. This problem is particularly problematic when playing in first position. I find it impossible to hear half-steps at times. I've tried tweaking the EQ - both on the bass and on the various amps I've played through -- all to no avail. As for the Jazz bass, I find it to be lacking in the warmth I prefer when playing finger style. Great for slap, but that's about it. And sooo...I recently tried the new MM Stingray Special, and...BINGO!! It provides great definition along with the warmth I don't get from the Jazz bass. Of course it also excels in slap. Makes me wonder why it isn't as popular as the Fenders. 🤔 I think for many players, myself included, the Stingray has historically been way too heavy. Now with the redesign and weight reduction diet Music Man put it on, I think more players will develop a new appreciation for this great axe.
i always enjoy how your videos usually go with the tone of "what works for you just do it seriously alright" so chill. got my p-bass during a sale from a local shoppe. had always wondered about this but also had never sat and thought about it before.
P bass, lots of fundemental. Jazz bass, lots of harmonics. Of course you can get either bass to do the other, but that is what it really boils down to. If you want both. Get a Musicman Stingray. Leo even said that was his goal when he made those.
... I would still tell anyone to try before they buy... or just get one and sell/exchange it if it doesn't feel right. I thought the same at some point, but the 4 string Stringrays never felt right for me. If I went for a 5-string bass, a Stringray would be in my top 5 to consider, but when it comes to 4-stringers, Leo nailed it the first time around. But really, I think you can never have too many basses, and never too wide a variety of basses. So if you have the dough, go for EVERYTHING and then just get rid of what you don't like after a while... that's what I've done over the last 15 years: it took me almost 40 basses to figure out there's nothing beats P bass for that all-round goodness. So if I had to choose only one...
I tried stingray. Beautiful bass and fun to play, but didn’t work for me. P bass for me. Stingray is closer to Jazz Bass, P bass is different in a very good way
I've just realized that I've thought about this topic, I just never said it. I like what Brendan said below: J to hear and P to feel the bass. I love resonance and the P-bass offers that more than the J-bass. So that defines my preference. Dancers think they're dancing to the singer, but a lot of what they're feeling and responding to are the drums and the resonance from my bass. I love that.
You are so right about what the dancers are experiencing! Also, the truth that most don't realize is that it is the BASS that drives the drummer, not the other way around! That being the case, it is the BASS line that is driving the dancers too! If the bassist and the drummer can't "lock it in the pocket" all is lost! Nobody dances!
I love this video! It helped me decide on getting a P bass first. I do play differently on the P Bass ( I also have a Jazz now,as well). I prefer the sound of the Precision most of the time, and it makes me play BASS! I am a converted guitar player and on the Jazz bass I tend to play like a guitar player! On the Precision, I don't. You made a shrewd observation there. Love your stuff, keep it rollin', Brother!
Just looking to buy my first bass ( at 50+ years old) and just watched your show for first time. I thought it was excellent channel. It's nice to find channel where they are "likeable" and don't try to come across as know it all's and talking down.
*February 2017* - I watched this video and at 9:21 literally Could 👏 Not 👏 Hear 👏 The 👏 Difference 👏 Between 👏 Them. Hit Like and it went to my Liked videos. Subscribed. *December 2017* - For Christmas, I bought and built *with my own hands* a P-Bass and a J-Bass out of 2 $65 Ammoon kits off Ebay. Spent the whole first year dialing in the setup on them a little a a time. *June 2020* - I've been playing the P-bass and the J-Bass I built (did I mention it was with my own hands?) off and on (maybe 100 hours per year?) for 3 years. RUclips recommends this video to me as a blast from the past. Only...now I can SO CLEARLY hear the difference between them! Thanks for accompanying me on this journey, Scott!
@@jamescanjuggle This will probably help a LOT. Listen to it, then come back here, and see if you can hear the difference now. ruclips.net/video/y4YoXGBoiSg/видео.html
after 35+ excellent rigs, I end up with passive P and J. P makes me a supporter, J makes me leader... Unasked for advice: start with a P, later, get a J. Nobody on the dance floor cares.
I've found that my Jazz Bass sounds best when I adjust the volume controls thusly; the bridge volume all the way up, and the neck pickup volume turned slightly lower than full. But I know what you mean, the scooped sound is never far from the J bass, and I try to check the amp tone controls.
Luckily when time came for "the decision" , Fender had out the "P Bass Special" - P body, J neck with P pup and J bridge pup - best of both worlds - for the P sound, just turn off the J pup :)
I used to have a Jazz. I didn't realize how much I loved playing it until after I sold it. The neck and string spacing were ideal for how I played. Guess what my next new bass is going to be.
Gotta have both! I use the p-bass when I want to blend into the mix as a more supportive instrument. Also blends great with acoustic piano, acoustic guitar, violin etc. I use the j-bass when I want to cut through the mix with that punchy growl. There is a special simple-ness to the pbass- just volume and tone.. you plug it in and it always sounds good
This is why I use a Gibson G3. Depending on the pickup used, it can readily sound like a P or a J bass, with a bit of Rickenbacker metallic jangle added to the mix.
Despite what many think, Jaco never played the bridge pick up solo. He played full volume neck and about half volume bridge. I run mine the same way. He got his tone with his hands! When Jaco was getting the most 'pop' he was picking directly over the bridge pickup. For fuller, less poppy tone he'd move his right hand closer to the neck. I generally keep my thumb on the neck pick up and finger pick between the pickups. That's 'my' tone. But, I too shift my right hand to change tone.
Scott, what are your thoughts on G&L L2000 bass? USA edition of course. Also, what P-bass would you recommend that's inline with the quality/cost of the G&L L2000? Thanks!!!
For me it used to be the difference in string spacing on the older P bass models versus the older Jazz bass necks. So it seems that the necks are a bit wider on the older P's. Modern models seem to employ some type of consistency and there doesn't feel like there's much of a difference as there used to be. I did notice however that the Rodger Waters P bass string spacing and neck/nut width is set to the old standard P bass string spacing, which I actually preferred. But over time I have made the adjustment to the Jazz Bass string spacing spec and neck/nut width. So now between the two, there's very little difference if any. My passive 4 string these days is Godin PJ pup configuration with a reminiscent P body and J-ish neck along with a 4 position pup switch for P bass pup(neck)/Series/Parallel/J bass bridge. A bit of versatility can be a good alternative to hauling around 2 basses. And of course... no quiver is complete without the extended active bass included.
Scott, you are dead on with your remarks about how the bass changes the way you play. I teach Psychology, and there is a unit on language and how the language you speak influences how you think. When I read that, I thought about how the bass I played influenced HOW and WHAT I play, just as you noted! I had both a P and J bass and the way you demoed the playing style differences, is exactly what I found in my experience. I found that also applies to playing with a pick or my fingers. Both lend themselves to different base lines. The same would go for playing a Les Paul or a Strat. The instrument definitely influences the player and the playing. I also loved how you said who do you listen to. The bass players and music that influenced me played P-bass and that influenced my decision to get one. I haven't played in 15 years and I am getting back into playing and I discovered your site. Great vids. Thanks for putting these up here. Thom
I think precisions sound a lot more like the upright basses they were meant to replace in applicable scenarios. They definitely have more of the qualities of the sounds of an upright, just louder. Especially with flatwounds. Jazz basses feel like the electric bass establishing its own niche not connected to the legacy of the upright -> electric transition.
When demonstrating the J Bass tones, I noticed that you only demonstrated two main tones, the "Marcus" both pickups together, and the "Jaco" bridge soloed. This leaves out the great neck soloed tone. I find it fairly P-ish, especially for anything needing something a bit more rude and gnarly, (relatively speaking, compared to the cleaner and more sophisticated both pickups on). While admittedly, it doesn't have the same low-mid girth of a split-P, with a little creative yet subtle EQing, preferably a parametric or at least a semi-parametric, a soloed neck J pickup can sound damn P-ish indeed, especially one of the early 50's single-single P basses, before they switched to the split P. My original 72' Jazz, with a one piece maple neck bolted to a swamp ash body, with an early 90's EMG J set and BTC concentric bass/treble knob, is my main bass, and I really only use two pickup combinations 95% of the time, either both pickups together fore anything "nice", "beautiful", "cultured" or "sophisticated", and the neck pickup soloed to get a P vibe for anything that needs that killer honkin' gnarlyness for oldschool attitude and aggressiveness. I rarely use the "Jaco" bridge soloed, but when I do, it's usually just for a special part or intro or something like that, and it's usually not for a "bass" like tone. It's usually to cover a guitar part, or keyboard part, or some other contrasting part, when we don't have the other instrumentalist on hand to play the melodies or whatever. But anyway, I really use the neck J pickup soloed a lot, and I personally find it much more useful than the bridge J pickup soloed, and it's close enough to a P to get those P jobs done, as far as I'm concerned at least...
I've played a BB series Yamaha for years and thoroughly enjoyed it. Then I decided to buy a Jazz Standard. I viewed this video to get an insight on the P Bass. I am disappointed because the tone is not distinguishable as is the Jazz or the Yamaha. It sounds quite muffled unless you rolled off the tone. I'm glad that I decided on the Jazz. Thanks for the video. Your insight is quite useful!
Very helpful. As a P-Bass player my self I gotta say that the main difference I notice between the two is that P-Bass gives you a more vintage sounding tone and really warm and round sounding low end. Jazz basses on the other hand are pretty punchy and are great for slapping and getting funky! However, it comes down to a lot of other factors as well. I had the pleasure of being able to order a Fender Mod Shop bass, and I put a 9.5 mm neck on my P-Bass and I dropped the action on it, and while it may not give the same percussive feel as a Jazz, whenever I use Slap technique it gives it a crazy percussive feel that sounds full and round but at the same time is punchy and I love it! So definitely pay attention to sound but also realize that you can get a lot of different sounds out of your instrument based on other factors too, by adjusting your truss rod, changing the strings on your instrument, and other factors. Don't be afraid to experiment until you find that sound that's perfect for you!
Thank you Scott! I really enjoy your Vlogs. Don't play anymore, but I must admit inspire me to pick up the pieces! Still have my Jazz Bass and 4001 -- and old Hofner B Bass. My first bass was a Framus (German). I have small hands and way back when, the P Bass neck was just way to large. As you mentioned, they later introduced a model with the Jazz Base style neck. But you are 100% correct in, one has to consider the sound and style that you want to achieve when selecting any instrument.
I didn't mention my influences. I was a blues bass player, so I was influenced by Donald Duck Dunn, Larry Taylor and John McVie, so I suppose I should have been playing a P Bass! :-) Of course back then we all loved John Entwistle's licks on "My Generation".
What about PJ bass? With a jazz pickup in the bridge and precision pickup in the neck position? Will the jazz pickup sound like it does in the J bass and vice versa?
The great Anthony Jackson said, " all you need is one pick up in the right position to get the maximum sound out of a bass." The P- Bass achieves this by using two small pick ups in the middle. They're placed in a position to take advantage of the natural string energy not far from the neck, but still able to get some bite from the bridge. Which is why the P-bass remains the industry standard.
Ah but once you play a jazz bass with a pair of headphones you’ll hear the difference my friend. And then you’ll understand why lots and lots of top musicians play a jazz bass .the P bass came first then Leo went back to the drawing board And the jazz bass was born! And so you should probably own at least both Yes I said at least… I had a music man stingray which I shouldn’t of sold but I did… And then I heard one of these videos where they play the same riff over and over on different instruments and believe it or not the stingray actually fills the gap between the P bass and the jazz ! And of course Leo designed all three…
Another great video! You have inspired me to order my first bass...a Fender Active Jazz V along with a Fender Rumble 100 amp! So my journey begins! Thanks for sharing your video series!
james cisneros Thanks for the recommendation, however, they just delivered my new Fender Rumble 500 V3 yesterday! Everyone deserves a backup amp and that will be the one for me! Thanks again!
I've had this 5 strg Jazz for years but a couple of years ago I came across a Squire P-Bass that I love. Don't know why... But I'm drawn to it. Gave it to myself on my b-day!
The neck pickup on some jazz basses is very similar to a P-pickup sound. Also, a lot of the tone can be confusing to the untrained ear, when one is playing with the right hand near the bridge, vs neck.
Aarni Kaivola I want a Ric sooo bad I can taste it but I hear so many negatives about them. I trust Scott and would love to hear his take on this for sure. I just bought my first P bass and I’m blown away by how different it sounds and makes me play. It does fit better in the mix too!
Rick Brown A Lot of the problems that go around only apply to the older 4001. Modern Rics have almost none of those problems. The bridge is still the same, which a lot of people complain about. It is a little harder to set up, but it does its job perfectly well, and I doubt you’re gonna adjust it very often. The double truss rod is still there, but they’re not so hard to adjust as the earlier 4001. You adjust them just the same as a normal truss rod, just there’s two of them. Every other common complaint I have heard about them only applies to 4001s. Some people say they are too fragile, but I have no idea where they get that from. Maybe an older basses thing again, but I know mine is a tank (and I’ve seen many Ric owners say the same).
As someone who has played newer and older Rics (4001 from the mid 70s and 4003 from 2012), I can absolutely back this up. Still not sure where the whole "fragile" thing is coming from, both of mine have seen plenty of use and abuse, and they're both still fine. I will say that the newer ones absolutely hold their intonation better, but that's nothing that swapping out some old machine heads and bridge hardware couldn't fix on the 4001. Also, I know a lot of people like to complain about the tone of Rics, and how the only reason to get one is if you're trying to sound like one of the prog rock greats. I call bs on this, because you can absolutely get a wider range of sounds by playing with the tone knobs. I've found a sound appropriate for jazz that I've used many times, and if you go with the 4003, you have the tone circuit that changes over to the 4001 sound. With more than 10 seconds of thought, you've basically got at least 3 different "instruments" in one, and probably more. If possible, find out if a shop near you has them in stock and you can play one. I will say the one negative that nobody can dispute is that Ric has a constant backlog of orders, so if you can find one and buy it in person, you've at least got that guarantee. I was fortunate to have one ordered on black friday 2012 and got it by the end of january 2013, but that isn't always typical. Cheers!
Rics play very nicely and are comfortable on your body. They're higher maintenance than Fender in my experience and less versatile sonically. Ric's sound stands out from the band while Fender blends in with the band.
I agree with Sax4Zero that one can create more variety in timbre on Ric than is commonly thought. I use a variety of right hand positions as well as volume, tone and toggle switch settings to sound about any way I want to. They're fine instruments. The downside is they have more moving parts than most other bass designs, including the removable bridge, more bells and whistles despite having passive electronics. That leads to more things that can go wrong and maintenance is a pain.. Aami, you sound like me when I was younger. I had an old Precision and just couldn't wait to find a Ric or a Jazz. My advice from 40 yrs of experience playing Ric, Gibson, Ibanez and Fender: if your Precision bass works, play it and don't chase your tail.
I just bought my very first truly P-bass bass. I had humbucker basses and PJs (which were incorrectly positioned P pickups) and of course many jazz basses. Even the PJ ones had jazz necks etc. so I literally never played a pure P one. Until now. Oh my god.... I am in love with the tone and the feel. So after so much time I found out that I am a P guy :D
SO - at the 2:00 minute mark I noticed an ALEMBIC ELAN (Fretless?) in the background... when do we get to see that one??? The Alembic Elan is my 'go-to' bass!
This is my favorite personality from Split
The musician
Holy hell I was hoping I wasn't the only one who thought that XD and yea this personality is by far the best.
😂
Yes
Exactly😆😆
One thing among several I like about Scott is he doesn't slap all the time like everyone else.
atheistasylum yep. Most just slap away like a machine gun. And we end up having "we get you're good" face on. XD nothin beats grovin out and not slap all the time xD
If you want real groove, check out TM Stevens' harmonic/rhythm video
To me, a little slapping goes a long way.
when you've got such a good staccato as scott, you don't really need to slap, honestly. i prefer the deeper end of the p-bass, but i'm not knocking on the j-bass by any stretch. wish i could get a 4003 for the grit, but until then, i'm using a hybrid pickup system (one p and one j). too bad scott didn't do a more in-depth comparison using different techniques, a p-bass and a j-bass don't sound anything alike using a pick or slapping them.
EclecticHillbilly A little every now and again is just right.
The jazz bass was my ideal instrument as a teenager at least in theory, I played a P-bass instead as a first instrument for maybe three years before I finally picked up a jazz bass.
As a beginner the extra knobs and "variety" seem like a great idea, but having the time I did playing with just a Vol and tone taught me how all the tone you're ever going to need is in how you're using your hands. It's ultimately a case of technique and comfort.
There are different characteristics in the sound of either bass, but ultimately having tone knobs, three million different pickups etc won't HELP you to sound better.
I love the no-BS nature of a P-bass. It's got a volume, and a tone that I keep rolled off 24/7. Exploring the soundscape of the whole instrument while limiting its voice like that taught me to clean up my technique to get the sounds I wanted. It changed everything from how articulate my playing sounded to how loud my harmonics could ring beside fretted notes.
Having a Jazz bass now, the extra controls feel more like a novelty than anything else. The extremes in terms of how you can get that thing to sound are way broader than a P-bass but I swear to anybody reading this - a P's range from tone rolled off to all the way open is all the extra boost you're going to need.
Scott makes an excellent point near the end of the video about different basses informing which style he'll play with. I couldn't agree more, every subtlty from the bass' weight, body shape, neck shape etc. will affect how your hands are going to handle it. The sounds too, I find especially with these two styles of bass that they both very much like to be played a certain way. My P-bass always lends itself more to a more measured and selective approach to playing and which notes you're choosing, whereas a jazz bass screams at you the whole time to just shut up and let your fingers fly. Having such a slim little lady-neck on those things makes all the difference, especially if it's a fretless like the one I have and there's nothing there to fight against you accessing anywhere on the neck.
All in all a fun debate that's not a a debate. These basses are too damn different but I get why jazz basses are so attractive. I can say that after pining over owning a jazz bass for years, it definitely delivered.
My condolences to those who didn't live long enough to finish reading this beast of a comment.
TLDR: Me like both
I was the same way, I played with a precision bass for a few years, but ultimately for me, it didn't feel right. When I got my jazz bass, it felt like it was meant for me and my playing seemed to improve due to the different feeling, sound, and style.
The P bass is without discussion THE bass to learn technique on. It's the very embodiment of bass playing, dumb-fudge simple to get into, takes years to get to the meat
@@Liminal.Headspace This man understands. P bass is so stripped back that you might as well just call it a talent stick.
@@Liminal.Headspace As a brand-spanking new beginner, I feel even dumber reading your comment... 😒
@Mete Mercan Having read all that... I think the only thing left to cover is whether as a beginner you are picking up the right bass (for you at that time, at least), and any other barebones essentials like the right king of strings to begin with. One for another post then? 😊
4:16 Jazz bass demo
8:46 Precision bass demo
Like if you used this :) but watch the whole video!
I watched the whole video.
I always go looking for such a comment when I watch one of Scott’s videos. Thank you.
thank you!
Thx
Sooooo, the P Bass is kinda like what the Tele is for us, the guitar players: A no non-sense instrument with just enough versatility, and a very simple construction. And the Jazz Bass is like a Strat: More refined and ergonomic, lots of tonal versatility, the kind of tool that you want to have as a session player to get as many different tones as you need from one instrument. Great comparison and awesome playing, Scott!
Nonetheless, it's amazing the amount of times that I saw session players working with P basses.
J bass has more tones that work on a lot of stuff. P bass has one tone that works on almost everything. That one sound the P bass gets is more versatile than all of the J tones combined to me. It's pretty bland and boring, until the band kicks in, then it's magic.
Gonzalo Olivera Alves if you want to stick to Fender v Fender, then yes... but it’s more like Stratocaster v LesPaul. Both great guitars for blues, rock and metal but the pickups and how they’re wired make them sing in different tone areas. David Gilmore’s solo on Comfortably Numb wouldn’t sound right on a Les Paul and Slash’s solo on November Rain wouldn’t sound right on a Stratocaster.
@@steelman774 Les Paul would more compare to a Stingray or L-2000
Always said this ! Very true
Scott "Which one is right for you? Well, who are you listening to?"
Okay, let' see, hh sick! *Mike Drent* plays the P bass, I'm getting that...
wait, *Mark Hoppus* plays the Jazz bass, I think I'll get that...
crap, *Geezer Butler* and *Roger Waters* play the P bass! I think that is the one for me...uh oh..
*Flea* on the Jazz bass! Of course that means that I am going to.... change my mind again because
*James Jamerson!* *Carol Kaye!* P bass! C'mon man, that's what I'm going to go wi... dude...
*Larry Graham* and *John Paul Jones* on jazz bass! That's decides it, that is what I going to.... crap!!!!
The Mark Hoppus bass is technically a P-Bass because it has Precision pickups.
@@SpongeBath_ShitPants Was going to say this as well
just get a jazz bass and use the neck pickup for the p bass sound
Marcus Miller on a jazz bass
what about chris squire and his rickandbacker?
some say he used piano strings, i dont know if thats really truth though.
anyway, good luck with choosing one xD
Leo Fender was a genius. Telecaster Bass -> Precision Bass -> Jazz Bass -> Music Man Stingray -> G&L L1000 and 2000... I think he designed a few guitars as well.
Guitars?! No way.
"I have literally 5 minutes to record this" *records a 15-minutes comparison *
Isnt it interesting that Jaco played a "J" bass and Pino plays a "P" bass?...just sayin...
I never thought about it that way, but you're right! You may have just uncovered a deep, dark conspiracy in the the bass world that goes deeper than we can imagine.........or just an interesting coincidence. 😉
NASA just asked me your full name and were you live
ALEXANDRE PALADINO It’s all classified son.
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh. The Illuminati is confirmed 🤔
Holy shit
I love them both, gradually fallen out of love with 24 fret active basses, they the passive tone and 20 frets just feels and sounds more warm, natural and honest.
No one makes the bass guitar look more fun to play than Scott. He inspires me to pick mine up every day, thanks Scott!
Entwestle did pure emotion
Ludwig The Lizard
Entwistle was a beast, but to be honest he always looked bored playing.
Scott makes me want to study chords and nuances of music ; intellectual.
Davie makes me wanna dig out my instrument.
I tend to use my j bass for more melodic bass lines and use my P bass for more supportive bass lines.
exactly!
Spot on.
P bass, just like the sounds
Janglin I
P Bass for me if my fellow guitar player plays the Strat. Now, the Jazz Bass has a new brother, the Sixty-Six, a guitar with the shape based off of the Jazz Bass and the Stratocaster.
me: "do I buy P or J bass?"
scott: "both"
:)
great video! Thanks Scott :D
Why not a PJ bass (with a P-style neck and a J-style bridge pickup)?
I've always felt as a bassist that a J sits more with the guitars and a P sits more with the drums. I'm a die hard P player and work a lot with both a AVS 57 reissue and a CS 55 P. That being said, my favorite bass is the single coil 55 Precision. The original single coil has the oomph of the P thump, but not the hard punch of the 57 and later split coil. While being smooth like a J. Apparently Leo got it right the first time. Go figure.
I couldn’t make up my mind, so bought a Stingray.
My man!
bostonaudi you could have bought a p bass and a j bass for the price of a sting ray.
Not if it was one of those imported econ models.
I bought two :D
@@figs5472 I mean have you looked at the price of American Fenders lately? The Ultra series is the only way to get the same features and craftmanship of stingrays and they're in the same price range. You can go cheaper but you lose features and especially the craftmanship pretty fast. I can barely tell the difference between the MIM and American Player series but, just like the Ultra, when you pick up a genuine Stingray you KNOW you're wielding a well crafted instrument.
Those flatwounds you got on that P - bass probably makes a bigger sound difference than just difference between the 2 naturally.
Agree. But naturally the P bass have a "fatter" sound even with rounds.
no doubt. I've not played much p-bass, but I had the G & L version (much higher output pickups than a fender). it was so "ballsy" I miss that thing now
Yes, The G&L P basses are great. I have one : )
I use chrome flats on a jazz and the sound is a great compromise between the two.
George, what brand of flats do you use?
real winner is Fender
🧐????
@@WorshipShed mo' money
@@SupernalOne mo' dollahs
Music man
Real winner is Yamaha actually
In my opinion, the bass that people played for the first time seems to have a lot of influence on taste. My first bass was jazz bass. So, even if I really like p-bass sound, I eventually pick up the jazz bass. It feels like home.
Not always. I learned on a P bass and to this day, I won't/don't own one. I own J and soap bar basses. I play all styles and am perfectly happy with the sounds I achieve. I have nothing against P basses but I don't really love the sound.
hahaha did asians kill your parents or something?
they're gonna eat your dog soon ya failed abortion
시발련이 말 좆싸가지없게 하네 ㅋㅋ 내가 다 화난다
이노진 my first bass was a PJ, But now i realized PJ is my least favorite pickup combination. Even worse than a regular P
“Go for the sound - not the look...” suuuuch painfully perfect wording..
That would be the only reason I would consider (if I had the money) to buy a fedora because it sounds good.
you must well have both if you can
@@danielestrada8932 Honestly the fodera tone is nice, but I actually prefer my bass’ to be more growly, and for the astronomical price of a fodera I can tune for the exact sound I’d want with say a fender or Spector custom shop
I definitely went for the look 🤤
As a guitarist I needed a bass for the studio so bought a Jazz bass ten years ago. A mate gave me a Squier Precision two years ago. I gave the Jazz bass to a mate two weeks later. I have never regretted it.
PJs are my favorite. Can't quite nail everything the Jazz bass does, but not only does it not work the other way around either, it does do what I like best about both.
great comment! That's where I'm at, too! With a J bass I would be spending too much time trying to decide whether to be bassier (neck) or treblier (bridge). The PJ kinda brings it all together!
Totally agree! I have a Deluxe P Bass with a maple neck and the PJ blend is just buttery. I have a J as well and I love it for what it does but that PJ sound is my favorite.
P Bass is woody and soulful.................. J Bass is punchy and percussive
Woodful
This comment is more informative than the video.
Good observation. For real that pretty much sums it up
In this video the basses have different strings and different woods which exagerrates the difference.
@Tom Anderson roundwounds vs flatwounds
As you said, I play both. And you're right, I play them differently too. It's like when I plug into an envelope filter pedal - suddenly my note choice is markedly different. Great video as always.
The P-Bass with flats is just such a classic sound. Rock, funk, and pop would not be the same without it.
"Who really inspires you?" If I was his student I would have replied in his face "You!" Too bad I can't afford you..
Video starts at 7:00
We need someone to do this on all of this guys videos
To be fair, if you paid for his site, there would be a lot less filler.
No
Video starts at he beginning.
Thank you Skipperino
Come on Scott that is not a real comparison you are using flat wounds on the P bass do a comparison with round wounds on the P bass.
Fr
Exactly
Flat wounds on Jazz bass is...
INCREDIBLE.
Im also confused on why he used rounds on the J and flats on the P, and he or anyone else failed to mention that.
@@getmeoutofsanfrancisco9917 I agree! I absolutely loved Flats on my jazz. I'm not much of a slapper so i loved the warmer smoother overall tone and feel of the strings. Had a 3band pre installed to help boost mids and highs
Kevin Lawrence Ayyyy! 3 band parametric EQ’s on bass for the win. I got one on one of my J’s as well (my favorite one).
Typically, I will either cut the mids slightly around 600-1k if I’m playing rock with rounds (most rock for me at least) and if Im playing with flats, I will turn treble down a notch, turn my mid frequency parameter/knob all the way up to the upper mids and literally *boost the mid gain as far as it goes.*
Thats the David LaBruyere bass tone from John Mayer’s “Room for Squares” album. I know everyone always mentions Pino when it comes to Mayer but personally I’m a bigger fan of the former’s tone.
Check out the bass tone in this track. ruclips.net/video/H1W2UddURXI/видео.html
People always think its a P bass.
Its actually Jazz with flats.
I wanna know what Scott thinks of Rickenbackers
+1! When I was (much!) younger, I tried many basses in shops and found that all P- and J- type basses - esp. the Real Fender ones - had necks that were way too thick for me to play.
I wound up buying an Ibanez copy of a Rick 4001 in cherry-red sunburst finish (this was around 1974) which is still my only bass. Admittedly I recently put in a GraphTech Black Tusq XL nut (WOW what an improvement!) and MIGHT put on a Hipshot bridge in future, but I love its sound to death! Rosie (she's a leftie-strung-rightie - get over it, it's how I play!) and I are kind of two parts of a whole now.
Oh: a (similar vintage) Laney Session Bassman 50 combo amp., and Thomastik-Infeld JF344 strings, since you (didn't!) ask. And no, Rosie doesn't sound much like a Rick really (she has humbuckers for starters, was built like that)!
But to end by answering Scott's question: I always loved Jaco Pastorius (still do), so I way prefer the J-bass sound to the P-bass sound.
Really? The fender necks are super thin, specially 70's jazz basses.
I have a late 60's Jazz. Very thin neck. My P has a fatter neck. I prefer the precision
Maybe Marcus Miller can convince you to like P-bass!
+adayatatyme No, he won't: and nor will anyone else.
If YOU like the look, feel, and sound of a P-bass and YOU can get on with the thick neck on them, that's great. For ME, P-basses are and always will be massively uncomfortable, woolly-sounding, and generally horrible instruments.
You shouldn't be trying to "convince" people to like a particular bass based on how someone else plays it, and Scott has made one or two videos saying exactly that: don't be dazzled by brand names, or choose an instrument based on how your bass hero sounds when THEY play that instrument! ALL that matters is how a specific instrument works for YOU when YOU play it.
And me and Fender basses just don't get on at all, period.
I realized a while back that the sound I was looking for was found in the single coil jazz bass, I’ve been so happy with it! Just recently however I’ve been looking for a fuller sound. I’ve been listening to some old records from the 90s, I felt the bass sounded really good in the mix, discovered those are P basses. SOjust discovering something in a P bass that I never approached because I always thought of a p bass as cheap and too simple. Oh boy was I wrong lol
I got a Ric based solely on it's look, and I've never regretted it!
P vs J is like chisel-head vs Phillips head. Use the tool that suits. Neither is "better" than the other. In truth, you need both.
Or get a musicman by ernie bell , that is definitely better
Hey Scott! I actually feel the Precision is missing some treble/mids and the Jazz is missing some bass. I prefer both pickups in the same bass, with P body and J neck. Best of both worlds in my opinion.
***** This video is not the first place where I hear both basses, so my comment wasn't based entirely on it. I do like both flats and rounds and that doesn't change my opinion on the bass model.
No need to insult people just giving their opinions, I already saw you insulting someone else who wasn't being rude either.
***** Interesting idea, boring attitude.
peronchoalpalo
yeah I do this. I have a Sadowky flat B, pryramid flat e and a, and dunlop round d and G. I experimented for years and this particular 5 has a P/J setup in a jazz body with maple fingerboard.
people compliment my sound constantly. all I need to pop while I'm slapping is the D and G.
David Newcomb Nice! Do you have any audio?
Adrián González ¿
In my opinion a P-Bass is a must in a collection.
P Bass over rated
Guitarist ^
I owned a '76 P, and I can completely empathise with your fascination with how the feel, tone, and timbre of the bass has a synergistic relationship with your note choice.
That P was a muse, it had an insidious influence on everything I wrote or played. I sold it, and moved on to a USA Jazz, and... well I liked the tone of the jazz, I liked the playability, but it just didn't speak to me or for me. Despite being a beautiful instrument which made a beautiful noise we just didn't share a common understanding.
I Scott, I’m a 74 year old bass player who still plays every week and have been for my entire adult life.... never made the big time, so to speak, but I’ve made a good living playing in clubs around the east coast to mid west, USA... Just wanted to comment on your ability as an educator, you are amazing. I truly wish there were opportunities like you offer for bass players today, back when I was coming up and had to learn the hard way... No, I did not go the music school, I went to the “start a band, learn how to play” School. Been doing it ever since.
In 1968 I bought my first fender, it was a Jazz bass. My friend had a Precision. I loved his neck. So in 1970, I bought a precision neck, the dealer made me trade in my Jazz neck In back then, said it was the ‘Fender company policy’, and put it on my Jazz body... perfect fit.... Now I have the best of both with a sound to match... I’ve gotten so many compliments over the years about the sound. Yes, the pickups make a difference, of course, but the style of neck does also. Putting the two together rocks....
It’s a pleasure to see you week after week teaching all the new, and more advance players coming up today, how to play bass properly. They really have no idea how much better they have it with you out there than in my day.... My bass rocks, but you rock ever more.... Thanks for what you do....
I see you have a lot of experience playing instruments. What were the acoustic strings like during 1955-1959, were they flatwound or roundwound? I'm trying to get the acoustic guitar sounds of Elvis' recordings when he was with Bill Black and Scotty Moore.
I think the p bass has a THUD that can't be replicated. Half notes (root, fifth, root, fifth) really sound good on it. I was told that it is the closest thing to stand up bass. it makes me play very basic, slow notes.
jess d double bass is unmatched by any electric bass, but J basses are closer I will admit.
The comparison just doesn't work. A double bass is so far out of the spectrum of the P and J basses in so many areas and vice versa!
What I'm hearing is I should buy one of each!
Or you can get a P/J combination bass
It kind of is the best of both worlds BUT it's still basically a P Bass with possibly a J Bass neck and the addition of a J Bass pickup at the bridge which makes it sound a little fuller when both pickups are engaged. Purists will typically choose one or the other.
There is a compromise... The Fender Aerodyne has a Jazz Bass body and neck with a Precision Bass pickup in the middle and a Jazz Bass pickup in the bridge. Fender also makes Precision basses that add a Jazz Bass pickup at the bridge. So, whichever body/neck style you prefer you can add the meat and potatoes P-Bass tone to your Jazz or add some Jazz Bass pop and spice to your P-Bass :) Choices, choices, choices!!!
That's what i'm doing. Have my P. Need my J now.
what IM hearing is "you got a lot of fuck you money and im gonna rob your ass..."
Hello SCOTT, I congratulate you for your instructive videos. I’m Hispanic but it does not matter because the music has no language, so consider my little English please, and my name is Jose. I have an American Special precision bass (2010), with a special thin neck, because is very confortable to travel around the whole neck up and down. My point about the precision bass, is that it is simple BUT a very very rich sound, so I define a precision bass. Thanks again for teaching us so much knowledge!
@Man I'll Probably regret this The reason he mentioned it is because he is kinda weak when it comes to the English language and asked that Scott please pardon his lack of English language skills.He is being polite about it and not pushing it at anyone.I come from NYC and there are at least one thousand languages spoken here.Some people who don't speak English well will say something like,I come from Guatemala so my English is not so good,I hope you will excuse me if I make mistakes when I speak.I always say no problema,Mi Espanol es no muy bien.Mi Espanol es menos dey un pocito.Disculpa mi, por favor.(no problem,my Spanish is not very good.My Spanish is less than a little.Pardon me, it's not that hard to be polite about it.
@Man I'll Probably regret this Your right,his written English is better than most native speakers.I can see that you meant no offense.Its his own insecurities concerning his language skill that cause him to be so apologetic about his English skills.I come from non English speaking imigrant parents and my eldest sister didn't speak English when she entered the first grade.When she finished the first grade,she sounded like a native speaker.I have family from and in many places speaking many languages and many people I know are just the same.I understand broken English very well.I agree that some people have a habit of telling one that there from Peru when they speak English beautifully and got there Masters/P.H.D. in American history by studying at a top notch American college in English and still teach there.At that point it can be unnecessary info,if that person is looking for some sort of easy English or pointless special treatment.If they feel insecure I can understand that.Sometimes women like to mention that there from Romania or Brazil or Haiti,just to spice things up.Of course if you they meet someone who likes American girls only,this just flops.Where can I find a woman who writes great lyrics and is wonderful in every way?A woman who will buy me basses,Amps and other such things.In my dreams,I suppose.
@Man I'll Probably regret this mostly because people can be dicks and tell people to learn english if they make one mistake. Mentioning it usually helps prevent that.
Jose
Que importa de donde vienes amigo. Hay que estar orgulloso de donde uno es y sus orígenes. Te lo dice un mexicano bajista y orgulloso de su herencia. Como mexicano no me considero hispano. Los hispanos son de Europa. Yo soy americano porque nací en el continente americano y Mexico es mi país. Soy de raza cobriza y a mucha honra soy orgullosamente mesoamericano. Viva nuestro legado y sabiduría al mundo. No hay que pedir disculpas por no saber algo, al contrario mostrar orgullo de que uno trata y lo hace bien. Ya quisieran los gringos poder hablar dos idiomas/ teniendo a Latinoamérica tan cerca y nomas no. Vamos a sentirnos orgullosos de nuestro conocimiento y aporte a la humanidad con la cabeza en alto y el espíritu renacido.
Viva la raza y viva nuestra sabiduría ancestral.
Gracias por ser y por estas
Orale
@@proyectoJAROCHO perfect response.
0:32-0:41 me making life decisions
Ahahah thanks bro, you made my day
Haha
I never knew why I kept coming back to my P Bass until you started talking about the note selection. That is EXACTLY why I do it. I just have more fun playing my P BASS.
Irony: John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin used a Jazz Bass as his primary axe. Later he got into custom units, but the core Zep bass sound was a Jazz Bass.
Noone else seems to have mentioned that the tone is really dictated by your finger/pick/muting style...there's tons of variation in just your fingertips alone. I play both J and P basses (always have done) and find them both equals in most respects. It's only certain styles that really call for the J over the P. IMHO the J is more versatile in that you have more range of tonal adjustment and range whilst the P delivers the goods in the lower end. My main bass is a Geddy Lee J bass with a super slim neck. I love it, though IMHO the MM Stingray bass captures the best of both worlds for me!
A Jazz sounds like a bass; a Precision sounds like *bass*.
I've found that I can get a lot more tones out of a P than a J. P with pick, fingers over pickups, finger over 18th fret, etc. There's a lot more exploration. J basses either sound like J bass or slapped J bass, without much in between.
I agree! I play a P bass and I can get a lot of different sounds out of it. I have got stainless steel roundwounds on my bass and when I open up the tone and play with a pick, I get a very aggressive sound. Tone all the way down and playing with my fingers gives a totally different, mellow sound. And everything in between. Same bass, so many possibilities!
Leo Comerford what does that mean?
Im different, much prefer a bass with EMG humbuckers, the brightness and the higer end of a j style but with a much fatter bottom end mine are on a esp ltd. I also have a ephiphone zentih (semi acoustic) with tape wounds which can get close to a P sound but is closer too a double bass, play both completely differently. Im looking for a j style bass now but maybe with humbuckers that can split to make it more versitile
and i put my comment in the wrong spot 😀
This is only me & is what suits me:
J: roundwounds & sometimes a plectrum
P: flatwounds & always fingers
Precision is the perfect bass.
Most used for recordings.
Has the depth you're looking for.
Great all around natural feeling and very comfortable bass to play.
I have about 30 different basses in my arsenal.
P-bass is always the weapon of choice..
My 62 never fails me...
I have both. The J makes me want to play like Jaco, and the P like Rocco.
Scott man, youre not only a great teacher, you're a damn good entertainer.
You look exactly like the guy from Split
Koala Nectar 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Koala Nectar 😂😂😂😂
Koala Nectar 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😂😂😂😭😭😂😭😂😭😂😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭🔫
I know a guy in Germany...he looks absolutely similar... Funny!😁
He looks a lot like Andrei Markov, a former NHL player too!
I really like how he explains how the bass itself will influence what the bassist plays. I do tend to noodle a bit more on my Jazz bass while I am happy just grooving on the Precision. Get both.
man, your last point about how different guitars make you play because of the tone and feel....spot on. I'm a guitar player, not a bassist, but every guitar I have makes me play in a different way. If I play a song using a Jaguar that I wrote on an SG, it just doesn't feel right. I'm able to write versatile songs that are so different from one another, just by whatever guitar I'm using that day.
You don't even have to go that far. One obviously doesn't play an acoustic the same way as an electric - the sound really influences how you play.
Then you have that one guy like me, who can't choose, so he buys a P-bass with a J-bass neck, and PJ pickup configuration, one volume knob for each pickup, and a tone knob haha! Seriously awesome! Second hand Squier, changed the bridge, the pickups, and the strap buttons , gave it a good setup and it plays like a proper bass guitar :D Couldn't be more happy with this versatile baby! Really opened my eyes to be honest, you don't need something expensive to have a good piece of gear! :D
Check out the Harley Benton PJ-5... Cheap instruments are bloody amazing these days (as long as the produced gives a hoot)
Ibanez Talman is a great inexpensive PJ style bass too. Under $200 for a pretty good bass.
I always felt the pickups sound really different and when both are at full volume, they don't cooperate properly. But it's maybe I tried some cheap, low-entry level basses with PJ pickups. Anyway, I modded one of my P-Basses with adding a second split coil in bridge position as a compromise - most versatile bass I have now :)
See more people need to do that, get something affordable and totally make it your own. Good on u 👌
Amazing frankenstein bass
I've always thought of Precision as the default bass guitar sound and the Jazz bass as a deliberate choice based on the bass' function in the arrangement.
I've always loved the sound of all those iconic bass lines played on the P bass, but from my own experience I've always had problem with the P bass sounding muddy and lacking in definition - especially with flat wounds. This problem is particularly problematic when playing in first position. I find it impossible to hear half-steps at times. I've tried tweaking the EQ - both on the bass and on the various amps I've played through -- all to no avail. As for the Jazz bass, I find it to be lacking in the warmth I prefer when playing finger style. Great for slap, but that's about it. And sooo...I recently tried the new MM Stingray Special, and...BINGO!! It provides great definition along with the warmth I don't get from the Jazz bass. Of course it also excels in slap. Makes me wonder why it isn't as popular as the Fenders. 🤔 I think for many players, myself included, the Stingray has historically been way too heavy. Now with the redesign and weight reduction diet Music Man put it on, I think more players will develop a new appreciation for this great axe.
The bass feel and sound making you make note-choices. I love that. Never thought of it that way but it's an awesome way to think about it.
i always enjoy how your videos usually go with the tone of "what works for you just do it seriously alright" so chill. got my p-bass during a sale from a local shoppe. had always wondered about this but also had never sat and thought about it before.
P bass, lots of fundemental.
Jazz bass, lots of harmonics.
Of course you can get either bass to do the other, but that is what it really boils down to.
If you want both. Get a Musicman Stingray. Leo even said that was his goal when he made those.
... I would still tell anyone to try before they buy... or just get one and sell/exchange it if it doesn't feel right. I thought the same at some point, but the 4 string Stringrays never felt right for me. If I went for a 5-string bass, a Stringray would be in my top 5 to consider, but when it comes to 4-stringers, Leo nailed it the first time around. But really, I think you can never have too many basses, and never too wide a variety of basses. So if you have the dough, go for EVERYTHING and then just get rid of what you don't like after a while... that's what I've done over the last 15 years: it took me almost 40 basses to figure out there's nothing beats P bass for that all-round goodness. So if I had to choose only one...
Or a pj special deluxe
I tried stingray. Beautiful bass and fun to play, but didn’t work for me. P bass for me. Stingray is closer to Jazz Bass, P bass is different in a very good way
I've just realized that I've thought about this topic, I just never said it. I like what Brendan said below: J to hear and P to feel the bass. I love resonance and the P-bass offers that more than the J-bass. So that defines my preference. Dancers think they're dancing to the singer, but a lot of what they're feeling and responding to are the drums and the resonance from my bass. I love that.
You are so right about what the dancers are experiencing! Also, the truth that most don't realize is that it is the BASS that drives the drummer, not the other way around! That being the case, it is the BASS line that is driving the dancers too! If the bassist and the drummer can't "lock it in the pocket" all is lost! Nobody dances!
I love this video! It helped me decide on getting a P bass first. I do play differently on the P Bass ( I also have a Jazz now,as well). I prefer the sound of the Precision most of the time, and it makes me play BASS! I am a converted guitar player and on the Jazz bass I tend to play like a guitar player! On the Precision, I don't. You made a shrewd observation there. Love your stuff, keep it rollin', Brother!
Just looking to buy my first bass ( at 50+ years old) and just watched your show for first time. I thought it was excellent channel. It's nice to find channel where they are "likeable" and don't try to come across as know it all's and talking down.
*February 2017* - I watched this video and at 9:21 literally Could 👏 Not 👏 Hear 👏 The 👏 Difference 👏 Between 👏 Them.
Hit Like and it went to my Liked videos. Subscribed.
*December 2017* - For Christmas, I bought and built *with my own hands* a P-Bass and a J-Bass out of 2 $65 Ammoon kits off Ebay. Spent the whole first year dialing in the setup on them a little a a time.
*June 2020* - I've been playing the P-bass and the J-Bass I built (did I mention it was with my own hands?) off and on (maybe 100 hours per year?) for 3 years. RUclips recommends this video to me as a blast from the past. Only...now I can SO CLEARLY hear the difference between them!
Thanks for accompanying me on this journey, Scott!
I'm where you are in 2017, I can't hear much difference at all except the volume😂
@@jamescanjuggle This will probably help a LOT. Listen to it, then come back here, and see if you can hear the difference now. ruclips.net/video/y4YoXGBoiSg/видео.html
he looks like a slightly inaccurate drawing of an older James macavoy
after 35+ excellent rigs, I end up with passive P and J.
P makes me a supporter, J makes me leader...
Unasked for advice: start with a P, later, get a J.
Nobody on the dance floor cares.
1okanaganguy as with so many guitar things
I play both. If I want to blend into the mix, P bass. If I want to cut through the mix, J bass.
Steve Harris cuts through the mix and he uses a P bass, but that's different. 😆
I find much the contrary in rock situations. A J sounds scooped in comparison.
I've found that my Jazz Bass sounds best when I adjust the volume controls thusly; the bridge volume all the way up, and the neck pickup volume turned slightly lower than full. But I know what you mean, the scooped sound is never far from the J bass, and I try to check the amp tone controls.
10/10 thank you for addressing how each makes you play differently and finding something that makes you play a way you like is key!
Guess I'm lucky, I like the sound and look of a jazz bass.
Still feels weird playing metal on a jazz bass though, but it works lol
Luckily when time came for "the decision" , Fender had out the "P Bass Special" - P body, J neck with P pup and J bridge pup - best of both worlds - for the P sound, just turn off the J pup :)
I used to have a Jazz. I didn't realize how much I loved playing it until after I sold it. The neck and string spacing were ideal for how I played. Guess what my next new bass is going to be.
P and J combined probly cheaper tho
Do you play flatwounds on your P? It actually sounds even more lacking presence than other Ps...
Looked & sounded like flatwounds to me.
22fret used to be able to get half rounds.
Yeah, I play half rounds on my fretless...
They sound like very dead flats with muted plucking
Instrument choice affecting playing style and note choice -- fascinating observation. Good stuff, thanks for the video.
Gotta have both! I use the p-bass when I want to blend into the mix as a more supportive instrument. Also blends great with acoustic piano, acoustic guitar, violin etc. I use the j-bass when I want to cut through the mix with that punchy growl. There is a special simple-ness to the pbass- just volume and tone.. you plug it in and it always sounds good
This is why I use a Gibson G3. Depending on the pickup used, it can readily sound like a P or a J bass, with a bit of Rickenbacker metallic jangle added to the mix.
it doesnt sound like either of the two lol
I prefer the P Bass. I love the sound. It has that groove that just makes me move my body
Before I started playing I noticed that all of my favorite bands had J-bass players. That's how I made my decision.
Despite what many think, Jaco never played the bridge pick up solo. He played full volume neck and about half volume bridge. I run mine the same way. He got his tone with his hands! When Jaco was getting the most 'pop' he was picking directly over the bridge pickup. For fuller, less poppy tone he'd move his right hand closer to the neck. I generally keep my thumb on the neck pick up and finger pick between the pickups. That's 'my' tone. But, I too shift my right hand to change tone.
Nonsense, don't know where you got that from. Jaco did play with the bridge pickup soloed.
Scott, what are your thoughts on G&L L2000 bass? USA edition of course. Also, what P-bass would you recommend that's inline with the quality/cost of the G&L L2000? Thanks!!!
...sounds like you've got flats on the P-bass. That makes a *huge* difference.
The way Scott smiles when he really gets going. 'Playing for the joy of it' may be the most important lesson.
And, BTW, Jazz bass.
By me, P-bass played solo doesnt have such a great sound but it's amazing how well fits in the mix, no matter what kind of music you play.
For me it used to be the difference in string spacing on the older P bass models versus the older Jazz bass necks. So it seems that the necks are a bit wider on the older P's. Modern models seem to employ some type of consistency and there doesn't feel like there's much of a difference as there used to be.
I did notice however that the Rodger Waters P bass string spacing and neck/nut width is set to the old standard P bass string spacing, which I actually preferred. But over time I have made the adjustment to the Jazz Bass string spacing spec and neck/nut width. So now between the two, there's very little difference if any.
My passive 4 string these days is Godin PJ pup configuration with a reminiscent P body and J-ish neck along with a 4 position pup switch for P bass pup(neck)/Series/Parallel/J bass bridge. A bit of versatility can be a good alternative to hauling around 2 basses. And of course... no quiver is complete without the extended active bass included.
Scott, you are dead on with your remarks about how the bass changes the way you play. I teach Psychology, and there is a unit on language and how the language you speak influences how you think. When I read that, I thought about how the bass I played influenced HOW and WHAT I play, just as you noted! I had both a P and J bass and the way you demoed the playing style differences, is exactly what I found in my experience. I found that also applies to playing with a pick or my fingers. Both lend themselves to different base lines. The same would go for playing a Les Paul or a Strat. The instrument definitely influences the player and the playing.
I also loved how you said who do you listen to. The bass players and music that influenced me played P-bass and that influenced my decision to get one.
I haven't played in 15 years and I am getting back into playing and I discovered your site. Great vids. Thanks for putting these up here.
Thom
And what about PJ bass ? :D
I have been playing a PJ for 20 years. It does it all! especially with a series parallel switch on the p pickup
Never heard one that sounds like a J, or just like a P for that matter. Not that that's a bad thing, I love the razor edged scoop of a PJ.
Are you only saying this because tyler plays one lmao.
I 've got one but still prefer the Standard Precision.
Eli Kwiatek: I actually bought the same as Tyler Joseph!!! :D
I think precisions sound a lot more like the upright basses they were meant to replace in applicable scenarios. They definitely have more of the qualities of the sounds of an upright, just louder. Especially with flatwounds. Jazz basses feel like the electric bass establishing its own niche not connected to the legacy of the upright -> electric transition.
When demonstrating the J Bass tones, I noticed that you only demonstrated two main tones, the "Marcus" both pickups together, and the "Jaco" bridge soloed. This leaves out the great neck soloed tone. I find it fairly P-ish, especially for anything needing something a bit more rude and gnarly, (relatively speaking, compared to the cleaner and more sophisticated both pickups on). While admittedly, it doesn't have the same low-mid girth of a split-P, with a little creative yet subtle EQing, preferably a parametric or at least a semi-parametric, a soloed neck J pickup can sound damn P-ish indeed, especially one of the early 50's single-single P basses, before they switched to the split P. My original 72' Jazz, with a one piece maple neck bolted to a swamp ash body, with an early 90's EMG J set and BTC concentric bass/treble knob, is my main bass, and I really only use two pickup combinations 95% of the time, either both pickups together fore anything "nice", "beautiful", "cultured" or "sophisticated", and the neck pickup soloed to get a P vibe for anything that needs that killer honkin' gnarlyness for oldschool attitude and aggressiveness. I rarely use the "Jaco" bridge soloed, but when I do, it's usually just for a special part or intro or something like that, and it's usually not for a "bass" like tone. It's usually to cover a guitar part, or keyboard part, or some other contrasting part, when we don't have the other instrumentalist on hand to play the melodies or whatever. But anyway, I really use the neck J pickup soloed a lot, and I personally find it much more useful than the bridge J pickup soloed, and it's close enough to a P to get those P jobs done, as far as I'm concerned at least...
I've played a BB series Yamaha for years and thoroughly enjoyed it. Then I decided to buy a Jazz Standard. I viewed this video to get an insight on the P Bass. I am disappointed because the tone is not distinguishable as is the Jazz or the Yamaha. It sounds quite muffled unless you rolled off the tone. I'm glad that I decided on the Jazz. Thanks for the video. Your insight is quite useful!
Very helpful. As a P-Bass player my self I gotta say that the main difference I notice between the two is that P-Bass gives you a more vintage sounding tone and really warm and round sounding low end. Jazz basses on the other hand are pretty punchy and are great for slapping and getting funky! However, it comes down to a lot of other factors as well. I had the pleasure of being able to order a Fender Mod Shop bass, and I put a 9.5 mm neck on my P-Bass and I dropped the action on it, and while it may not give the same percussive feel as a Jazz, whenever I use Slap technique it gives it a crazy percussive feel that sounds full and round but at the same time is punchy and I love it! So definitely pay attention to sound but also realize that you can get a lot of different sounds out of your instrument based on other factors too, by adjusting your truss rod, changing the strings on your instrument, and other factors. Don't be afraid to experiment until you find that sound that's perfect for you!
THAT BASS FACE
Lol
Lmao ! Brilliant
I prefer the Jazz neck but the p bass sound. So I got the Jazz. I think I'll get one of those Jazz necked P basses.
stuart studebaker I'd prefer a Jazz with a P neck, i kinda like that bulk, but maybe I'm just weird af
It's not because of the sound but I prefer J-bass. It's about the neck.
Couldn't you put a J neck on a P body?
Thank you Scott! I really enjoy your Vlogs. Don't play anymore, but I must admit inspire me to pick up the pieces! Still have my Jazz Bass and 4001 -- and old Hofner B Bass. My first bass was a Framus (German). I have small hands and way back when, the P Bass neck was just way to large. As you mentioned, they later introduced a model with the Jazz Base style neck. But you are 100% correct in, one has to consider the sound and style that you want to achieve when selecting any instrument.
I didn't mention my influences. I was a blues bass player, so I was influenced by Donald Duck Dunn, Larry Taylor and John McVie, so I suppose I should have been playing a P Bass! :-) Of course back then we all loved John Entwistle's licks on "My Generation".
What about PJ bass? With a jazz pickup in the bridge and precision pickup in the neck position? Will the jazz pickup sound like it does in the J bass and vice versa?
The great Anthony Jackson said, " all you need is one pick up in the right position to get the maximum sound out of a bass." The P- Bass achieves this by using two small pick ups in the middle. They're placed in a position to take advantage of the natural string energy not far from the neck, but still able to get some bite from the bridge. Which is why the P-bass remains the industry standard.
Ah but once you play a jazz bass with a pair of headphones you’ll hear the difference my friend. And then you’ll understand why lots and lots of top musicians play a jazz bass .the P bass came first then Leo went back to the drawing board And the jazz bass was born! And so you should probably own at least both Yes I said at least… I had a music man stingray which I shouldn’t of sold but I did… And then I heard one of these videos where they play the same riff over and over on different instruments and believe it or not the stingray actually fills the gap between the P bass and the jazz ! And of course Leo designed all three…
I started playing a j bass. But, after I've heard a p bass. It sounded amazing. From that time, i chose a p bass. It is my way of playing.
Stingray
The number one rock bass of all time.An svt and a pick is the dream rig like Les Paul into a Marshall-* classic
Another great video! You have inspired me to order my first bass...a Fender Active Jazz V along with a Fender Rumble 100 amp! So my journey begins! Thanks for sharing your video series!
David Fodor , I would try to get a Fender Bassman Combo amp instead of the rumble. For the tubes, just my opinion.
james cisneros Thanks for the recommendation, however, they just delivered my new Fender Rumble 500 V3 yesterday! Everyone deserves a backup amp and that will be the one for me! Thanks again!
I've had this 5 strg Jazz for years but a couple of years ago I came across a Squire P-Bass that I love. Don't know why...
But I'm drawn to it. Gave it to myself on my b-day!
The neck pickup on some jazz basses is very similar to a P-pickup sound.
Also, a lot of the tone can be confusing to the untrained ear, when one is playing with the right hand near the bridge, vs neck.
I started on a four string P bass when I was 15 and at 26 I got a five string J bass then my amp died a week later
Could you do this: Good and bad sides of Rickenbacker 4003.
Aarni Kaivola I want a Ric sooo bad I can taste it but I hear so many negatives about them. I trust Scott and would love to hear his take on this for sure. I just bought my first P bass and I’m blown away by how different it sounds and makes me play. It does fit better in the mix too!
Rick Brown
A
Lot of the problems that go around only apply to the older 4001. Modern Rics have almost none of those problems. The bridge is still the same, which a lot of people complain about. It is a little harder to set up, but it does its job perfectly well, and I doubt you’re gonna adjust it very often. The double truss rod is still there, but they’re not so hard to adjust as the earlier 4001. You adjust them just the same as a normal truss rod, just there’s two of them. Every other common complaint I have heard about them only applies to 4001s. Some people say they are too fragile, but I have no idea where they get that from. Maybe an older basses thing again, but I know mine is a tank (and I’ve seen many Ric owners say the same).
As someone who has played newer and older Rics (4001 from the mid 70s and 4003 from 2012), I can absolutely back this up. Still not sure where the whole "fragile" thing is coming from, both of mine have seen plenty of use and abuse, and they're both still fine. I will say that the newer ones absolutely hold their intonation better, but that's nothing that swapping out some old machine heads and bridge hardware couldn't fix on the 4001.
Also, I know a lot of people like to complain about the tone of Rics, and how the only reason to get one is if you're trying to sound like one of the prog rock greats. I call bs on this, because you can absolutely get a wider range of sounds by playing with the tone knobs. I've found a sound appropriate for jazz that I've used many times, and if you go with the 4003, you have the tone circuit that changes over to the 4001 sound. With more than 10 seconds of thought, you've basically got at least 3 different "instruments" in one, and probably more.
If possible, find out if a shop near you has them in stock and you can play one. I will say the one negative that nobody can dispute is that Ric has a constant backlog of orders, so if you can find one and buy it in person, you've at least got that guarantee. I was fortunate to have one ordered on black friday 2012 and got it by the end of january 2013, but that isn't always typical.
Cheers!
Rics play very nicely and are comfortable on your body. They're higher maintenance than Fender in my experience and less versatile sonically. Ric's sound stands out from the band while Fender blends in with the band.
I agree with Sax4Zero that one can create more variety in timbre on Ric than is commonly thought. I use a variety of right hand positions as well as volume, tone and toggle switch settings to sound about any way I want to. They're fine instruments. The downside is they have more moving parts than most other bass designs, including the removable bridge, more bells and whistles despite having passive electronics. That leads to more things that can go wrong and maintenance is a pain.. Aami, you sound like me when I was younger. I had an old Precision and just couldn't wait to find a Ric or a Jazz. My advice from 40 yrs of experience playing Ric, Gibson, Ibanez and Fender: if your Precision bass works, play it and don't chase your tail.
Scott, which flats do you have on the P Bass?
I just bought my very first truly P-bass bass. I had humbucker basses and PJs (which were incorrectly positioned P pickups) and of course many jazz basses. Even the PJ ones had jazz necks etc. so I literally never played a pure P one. Until now. Oh my god.... I am in love with the tone and the feel. So after so much time I found out that I am a P guy :D
SO - at the 2:00 minute mark I noticed an ALEMBIC ELAN (Fretless?) in the background... when do we get to see that one??? The Alembic Elan is my 'go-to' bass!