Jazz Precision difference

[Gareth John]

Hi, I'm thinking of doing some recordings and will need to learn bass. I like the look of the Fender classic series 50's precision and classic jazz. What styles of music are each suited to? I don't have music shops on my door step so I can't just go try them all out. I'd like your opinion on weather the extra pick up on a jazz is worth it, can you pop and slap on a precision and what gauge strings should I be thinking of.
Thank you for your time,
Gareth

[Tim Armstrong]

If I can generalize, the difference between a P-Bass and a Jazz Bass is kinda like the difference between a Tele and a Strat.

Both are excellent instruments, and can cover a lot of ground. P-Basses are a little more basic, with great fundamental tone and very simple controls, oh and the split pickup is humbucking, so it won't, uh, hum. Jazz Basses have a wider range of tones, and a slightly narrower neck (which guitarists and small-handed folks often dig), and the pickups are single-coil.

You can't go wrong with either, I think...

Cheers, Tim

[Mike Simpson]

I have a MIM J bass and I'm pretty happy with it. I can turn down the bridge pickup and the tone and get similar to a smoother, rounder P bass sound. I never owned a P bass but I have been in bands with bass players that use them.

I just liked the J bass... don't know why... I don't think you can go wrong with either one.

[4mal]

Out of 4 basses in the house - 2 are PJ's, 1 is a J, 1 is a humbucker style... The PJ is really best of both worlds but there is a dark side ... with many PJ's the P overpowers the J. It can mean some pickup swapping to get a good balanced set. For my money the Lawrence P-46 and J-45 are well balanced, quiet and record well. They are quiet and clear but still very much traditional Fender sounding. About $110 the set IIRC and a real bargain for that IMO.

In the 90's Fender made a bass called the Precision Special. They've had that name on a few different basses. the one I'm thinking of has rear mounted controls a 22 fret neck and a slightly undersized body. It ships with stacked Volume /Blend and Bass / Treble controls. It looks like ...


These sell for $300 tops, in a case or HD gig bag. The pre isn't bad but - I prefer passisve so mine is re-wired to stacked vol/tone for each pickup in the same fashion as the 62 J. The necks are pure J. These guys are sleepers. Great, super easy playing basses... They came with indestructible poly finishes in trans Red, White and solid Black. Great bang for the buck and worthy of a few mods*. Mine weighs in at 8 lbs! Hardly even know there's a bass hanging there ...

These basses are aka Cowpoke basses as someone once remarked, "that pickguard looks like it belongs on a western shirt".

mods ...
This one sports the Lawrence pickup set
a round over job on the fret board edges for a more vintage 'played' feel
62 RI stack knob style controls (pot's, knobs & caps from www.wymoreguitars.com - John is a great guy and a good source for Allparts stuff among other things)

2 switches
1 split P dark switch
2 J straight to the jack

Both are essentially send the 'hot' from the pickup through a small resistor and .047 cap) to take the edge off. The P goes to the Volume Control, the J goes to the jack. The effect on the J is a slight volume boost and slight treble reduction. The switches are work in progress...

There are plenty of other PJ's out there. This is one of the better ones that Fender has produced IMO. and as they are virtually forgotten - they're a steal when you find 'em. I've had two. Got stupid and sold the first. This one is staying. As far as the mod's thing goes... these are cool basses as delivered from Fender. I was looking for a bass to play Dr Science and Jimmy with. It's a totally gig worthy instrument with or without the mods and it gives you the option of P or J pickups soloed or a blend. A J bass has a sound all it's own as does the P. The PJ is a real useful bridge between the two.

If I were going to choose just one to take to a session - it would be a PJ (well it might be a G&L L2000 but that 's another kettle of non-Fender Fish...)

oh yeah, out of those 4 basses. Three J necks and one P. Guitar players always find J necks easier to transition to and to double with. I preferred the P neck until I started doubling. The J neck is smaller and it's just easier to go back and forth for me... In new Fender basses - I would have a look at the Reggie Hamilton. J bass with a PJ pickup set ...

[Vince a]

I have a Jazz bass with an S-1 switch . . . I can depress it and get a sound similar to a P Bass . . . similar, but not quite a P bass!

[broadcaster]

Originally Posted by Gareth John

Hi, I'm thinking of doing some recordings and will need to learn bass. I like the look of the Fender classic series 50's precision and classic jazz. What styles of music are each suited to? I don't have music shops on my door step so I can't just go try them all out. I'd like your opinion on weather the extra pick up on a jazz is worth it, can you pop and slap on a precision and what gauge strings should I be thinking of.
Thank you for your time,
Gareth

Both basses can cover almost any type of music. Alot depends on string type(rounds, flats, etc), Your amp and player technique. The P will give you more low-mid thump and the jazz can do low, deep and/or mid-range snarly with it's two pickup combination. Neck feel is a important consideration between the two. I personally prefer a more meaty neck, whether be it a P or J, which is what the Classic re-issues sport.

I say go for the Classic (Fender Mex) versions. IME, they are both fabulous playing-sounding basses for not much dough, especially used. I know it is subjective but, I think they are very cool looking, old school basses.

You can slap and pop a P or a J with any type of string selection. In the past I always used heavier gauge strings, thinking better tone would result. I now use the medium-light gauges because they sound just as big and are easier to bend which means more fun and additional tone control, to me.

Have fun with whatever bass you get.

[Gareth John]

Hey thank you all for your comments, It's much appreciated. I guess I'll have to go for whatever I fancy on the day then. Hope i don't get major GAS on basses now

[Dr. T]

Originally Posted by Gareth John

Hey thank you all for your comments, It's much appreciated. I guess I'll have to go for whatever I fancy on the day then. Hope i don't get major GAS on basses now

Well, you can always hope...

[Guitar_Ninja]

+1 on the PJ combo.

When I was first getting into home recording a few years I ago I needed a bass guitar for the same reason.

I ended up picking up an Ibanez GSR-200, which has both the P and J, with a dedicated volume control for each and a shared tone knob.

With both styles of pickup you can cover a lot of ground and even blend the two together. On top of that it'll give you an idea of which pickup type you prefer.

Personally I like the P-Bass split humbucker.

It has a warmer sound to it and also no hum.

For some reason I can live with hum with a guitar but I can't stand it with a bass guitar. Must be the low frequencies or something.

[graphs]

i agree that you can't go wrong with either. a Jazz will get you just about any bass sound you want *except a Precision tone.

if you're recording and don't have a lot of bass experience, maybe just keep it simple...a buddy of mine once said, "The only bass you need is a P-bass." i tend to agree for the most part.