Educate Me: J-Bass vs P-Bass

[CTN]

I'm looking into buying a starter bass for recording purposes, and although I love the shape, feel and playability of a Jazz Bass, I don't know much about the sound and functionality.

Also, P-basses seem to be a lot more common around here on craigslist/kijiji than J's so I'm wondering if it might be worth going with a P instead of a J.

Gonna be using it for blues, rock, some metal.

[gibson175]

P basses have a slightly wider neck at the nut. They also generally only have one split pickup. The split makes the P bass pickup hum cancelling, so its very popular for rock players because of its straightforward growl and strong mids. The Jazz has 2 single coil pickups that offer more articulation and a slightly hollower but also deeper sound in the neck. Generally tho, Jbass players run both pickups together which gives a hum cancelling effect and a deeper tone than either pickup run on its own.
There are pickups out there that offer a split design in a j bass shaped pickup (bartolini) which offer a lot of flexibilty, or of course you can get a P bass that has a j bridge pickup. A lot of jazz bass players rave about the SD antiquityII pickups (true singles) for a vintage tone with added bass.
Both basses can cover a lot of territory depending on the type of strings you choose and the pickups.
Blues, rock and metal tho, my first instinct would be a P bass and roundwound strings.

[jtougas]

Well, either one'll do the trick...

I personally prefer Precisions for their grunt and punch, but Jazzes have a slightly brighter tone and growl from the single coils that come in handy as well.

Which is why my ultimate favorite is a PJ setup, but that's not what you asked.

[ItsaBass]

Precision: Wide neck, one split single coil. "Square" body.
Jazz: Neck with a lot of taper down to a very narrow 1.5 inch nut. Two single coil pickups. "Leaning" body.

You've gotta play some to know which you like better. For me it is the P pickup hands down, the P neck hands down, the P body shape hand down. So, no brainer for me. But you might feel differently.

[Powdered Toast Man]

Pretty much what everyone else said. The cool thing about J basses is that you can get a lot of tonal versatility out of them. Also, for the price of a push/pull pot and some soldering you can add a switch that changes the pickups from parallel to series. Best $10 mod ever.

[CTN]

Interesting. I'm definitely leaning towards the Jazz bass now, as I like clarity and a bit of brightness in bass tones.

Are the scale lengths the same?

[ImmortalSix]

They are. I own a P Bass and am building a J Bass because I don't like the P.

J is versatile to me, P is one trick pony that is very hard to dial that fundamental P tone out of. If you love that tone it's great. If you love lots of tones, J.

[Bass_Medic_05]

Well, either one'll do the trick...

I personally prefer Precisions for their grunt and punch, but Jazzes have a slightly brighter tone and growl from the single coils that come in handy as well.

Which is why my ultimate favorite is a PJ setup, but that's not what you asked.

I agree, although I prefer the Jazz bass for being more versital.

[Fender_Punk]

A Jazz bass with the stock bridge pickup and a replacement P-bass split-pickup and accommodating pickguard achieves the best of both worlds. Personally, I like the narrower string spacing and offset body of the Jazz, and I also love really dig the tone.

I bought a used Chinese-made Squier Affinity Jazz Bass in new condition for $150 and it's served me very well. have gigged with it many times and get compliments on the tone (which is largely due to playing ability and the amp).

[Powdered Toast Man]

I also feel I must point out that the SD Quarter Pounder set for Jazz Bass are the best bass pickups ever made. Add the series/parallel push/pull mod and it's a ridiculous tone monster. I kid you not, I have not had a bassist yet who has not picked up my J Bass and had a "Whoa!" reaction upon plugging it in.

[CTN]

I think I'd better take some antacid. GAS rising....

[Powdered Toast Man]

I think I'd better take some antacid. GAS rising....

*evil chuckle*

[jtougas]

Pretty much what everyone else said. The cool thing about J basses is that you can get a lot of tonal versatility out of them. Also, for the price of a push/pull pot and some soldering you can add a switch that changes the pickups from parallel to series. Best $10 mod ever.

Heh - funny you mention that: I'm going to be putting exactly that circuit into a PJ with Quarterpounders... ash body, maple neck.

[malymal86]

Pbass with SD pup and a jazz neck=Heaven!

[Fender_Punk]

Don't forget: flat-wound strings! Feels great on the fingers and sounds better IMO

[dr. ad]

PJFTW

[dr. ad]

you want one of these mate

[MetalManiac]

I agree, although I prefer the Jazz bass for being more versital.

Holy hell, youve got almost 20 basses!

[Mont97]

you want one of these mate

You beat me to it!!!!

If I played bass, I'd rock that

[dr. ad]

shame there aren't any 5-string PJ basses in production (that i can find)
i've costed one via warmoth at around 1K