Fender Jazz Bass vs Precision Bass

[Lewguitar]

I'm going to buy a bass for recording. I've always loved Jaco's Jazz Bass tone as well as the deep thump of James Jamerson's and Duck Dunn's Precision Bass.

The Jazz bass usually plays easier than the P-Bass - especially for guitarists.

Which bass do you guys prefer?

 

[Vetteboy]

Re: Fender Jazz Bass vs Precision Bass

I have a MIM jazz bass, nothing special. I get some pretty decent tones from it and it always felt a little more 'nimble' to play than a P-bass.

I do like the combo sound of a P- and J- pickup together though, and also the double Music Man style pickup. If I felt like investing more money in a bass, I'd probably pick up an older MM Sterling.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Fender Jazz Bass vs Precision Bass

I'm thinking of picking up a nice 80's Fender Squier bass and putting some Duncan's in it - maybe Vintage or maybe Quarter Pounders.

I'm leaning towards a P-Bass but I've always wanted to own a nice Jazz bass too.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Fender Jazz Bass vs Precision Bass

i like the p bass better. i think the jazz has a wider range of tones available but i prefer the tone of the p bass. get a duncan vintage or antiquity p pup and youll be fine for almost anything

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Fender Jazz Bass vs Precision Bass

i like the p bass better. i think the jazz has a wider range of tones available but i prefer the tone of the p bass. get a duncan vintage or antiquity p pup and youll be fine for almost anything

Probably a good call on the Antiquity. Do you like the Ant I or Ant II better when it comes to the P-Bass pickups? I have not tried any of the Antiquity Bass pickups.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Fender Jazz Bass vs Precision Bass

I actually like a mutt, Jazz neck for playability, precision body, P-Bass neck pickup and Jazz bridge. VVT like a Jazz. That way you can get the Precision thump but also some of the Jazz articulation. It's a compromise, but with a stack Jazz bridge it's also noise cancelling.

If you don't want to build one or find one of those mutts (fender made them but I forgot what they're called and when they were made) I'd probably go Jazz. Tough to go wrong with either, really.

 

[Rowan]

Re: Fender Jazz Bass vs Precision Bass

Thats a tough call. I love the P bass for funky, springy tones but a five string jazz just sounds beautiful and deep.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Fender Jazz Bass vs Precision Bass

i like the ant I but i think the ant II is classic fender and more versitile, nails that george porter 60's p bass tone

 

[ex-250]

Re: Fender Jazz Bass vs Precision Bass

without a doubt, p-bass. jazzes may look nicer, but i prefer the playability (thicker neck, wider spacing) and definitely the sound of a p-bass any day.

 

[NoOnesFang13]

Re: Fender Jazz Bass vs Precision Bass

personally i would go with somthing that has a p/j setup, obviously in a pbass unless u warmoth one. or a fender active deluxe jazz, they play themselves and are crazy versitile, with vintage sounding pickups.

from your decription it seems like you would want a p/j setup anyway. I would look into a p-bass special

 

[J Moose]

Re: Fender Jazz Bass vs Precision Bass

You'll get more tones out of a J bass then a P bass... fits into a wider variety of music. The P/J combo works... and a P-bass with flatwounds is great for old school R&B... the Duck Dunn/James Jammerson thing... but overall I'd take a good J over a P any day. Though, at one point in my life I had a Yamaha P and dropped a Quarter Pounder in there and it ruled. Sounded like a cannon!

Fenders made a lot of "weird" P/J basses over the years... some of 'em are quite nice. Put a BadAss bridge on and you'll be stylin' for sure.

 

[Robert S.]

Re: Fender Jazz Bass vs Precision Bass

I have a Jazz bass with SD Hot Stacks in it. I always liked the J bass thing better.

I am getting ready to cut it up and stick the active Duncans in it with the 3 band EQ. It should be slammin when I am done with it.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Fender Jazz Bass vs Precision Bass

I like the jazz bass. The neck just feels better in my hands, and it seems a lot more versatile tonewise. Plus it's a much sexier beast . . .

 

[Wattage]

Re: Fender Jazz Bass vs Precision Bass

I like the Fender Jazz Special, you get the best of both worlds.

P/J pickup config w/active circuit, Jazz neck, Precision body, MIJ

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Fender Jazz Bass vs Precision Bass

People say there are more tones to be had in a Jazz but in truth you can get a load of tones out of a Precision as well, just tweak that tone pot! On top of that I personally feel that the tones that come out of a Jazz are just not quite as "good" as those from a Precision...however this is simply opinion. To me the bridge pickup in a Jazz is simply too thin and weak to really be useful so in the end both basses become one pickup basses for me and for me the Precision sounds richer and fuller as well as deeper and brighter than a Jazz.

All this said the only bass I still own is a Jazz!:banghead: I had a nice sounding Precision but it got ripped off leaving me with a lone Jazz...nice enough bass, I miss the "bigness" of a Precision.

This all reminds me BTW...whats the forum fav in Jazz bass pickups...I need new ones for my Jazz...

 

[daemon barbeque]

Re: Fender Jazz Bass vs Precision Bass

I owned a P for a loong time.Never liked it.
Played my buddy's Jazz ...Man what I nice deep but present tone.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Fender Jazz Bass vs Precision Bass

This all reminds me BTW...whats the forum fav in Jazz bass pickups...I need new ones for my Jazz...

Quarter Pounders!

 

[J Moose]

Re: Fender Jazz Bass vs Precision Bass

Well in that light I can see why you'd prefer a P-bass... though I disagree on the tone variation there. Turning the tone pot down on a P goes from a clay like mud to thicker lava mud! hahaha

The voice of a J speaks a little more clearly & it's also pretty hard to get a 'good' slap/funk tone out of a P bass...

I find it easier to make a J sound like a P with the tone pot & favoring the neck pickup... add a series/parallel switch... done! One volume, blend pot & tone. Though one of the coolest P's I've played was a monstrosity with an EMG and 3-band eq.

As a player I love MusicMan's... though as an engineer the 'click' is really annoying... usually walks all over the hi-hat and top of the mix. Some guys can really work 'em though.

I also like Spectors...

People say there are more tones to be had in a Jazz but in truth you can get a load of tones out of a Precision as well, just tweak that tone pot! On top of that I personally feel that the tones that come out of a Jazz are just not quite as "good" as those from a Precision...however this is simply opinion. To me the bridge pickup in a Jazz is simply too thin and weak to really be useful so in the end both basses become one pickup basses for me and for me the Precision sounds richer and fuller as well as deeper and brighter than a Jazz.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Fender Jazz Bass vs Precision Bass

Quarter Pounders!

Not no, but hell no...

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Fender Jazz Bass vs Precision Bass

Well in that light I can see why you'd prefer a P-bass... though I disagree on the tone variation there. Turning the tone pot down on a P goes from a clay like mud to thicker lava mud! hahaha
The voice of a J speaks a little more clearly & it's also pretty hard to get a 'good' slap/funk tone out of a P bass...
I find it easier to make a J sound like a P with the tone pot & favoring the neck pickup... add a series/parallel switch... done! One volume, blend pot & tone. Though one of the coolest P's I've played was a monstrosity with an EMG and 3-band eq.
As a player I love MusicMan's... though as an engineer the 'click' is really annoying... usually walks all over the hi-hat and top of the mix. Some guys can really work 'em though.
I also like Spectors...

Same old story...
One mans clear is another mans thin!

J basses are cool but nothing sounds bigger and meaner (in old school terms) that a good P bass...

All this said, my next bass is gonna be a NON Split P style...those are mean sounding basses...