Need experienced Bass player opinions

[MickM]

This caught my eye on CL. American P-Bass body with Jazz bass neck. Looks like it's a top load or thru-body.
Overall what do you guys think? Are the necks interchangeable like guitar necks? The asking price?

MINT Fender 2017 USA American Pro Precision Bass w/ am pro Jazz Neck...

Mint, hardly used 2017 fender american pro p-bass with 2019 american pro Jazz bass neck...best of both worlds...olympic white finish...i also have a new fender rumble 15 bass combo amp for $70...

harrisburg.craigslist.org

 

[Killing Floor]

Generally the neck heel and the pocket are the same between P and J.

That’s a very common swap. The P pickup is the standard, really it’s the body mounting position that makes that tone. But the J necks are thinner and more comfortable to some people. It looks like a good bass. If you’re a guitarist (duh, I know, just saying) you’ll probably like that neck since it’s closer in feel. There are tons of P basses with J necks.

Can you try it out?

 

[ahiddentableau]

Looks like a nice bass to me. Price seems in line with what I'd expect. I don't think it's a screaming deal but it's not a rip off by any means. Plus olympic white is a great colour for any Fender guitar, so it's got it in the looks department.

I agree with what Killing Floor said above. Should be compatible with other necks, and I am a fan of P basses with the J neck. They seem more comfortable to me coming over from the guitar, especially if you don't have huge hands. Some people say it hurts the tone a bit just like what they say about fat necks on guitars, but I don't hear much of that myself.

 

[MickM]

Generally the neck heel and the pocket are the same between P and J.

That’s a very common swap. The P pickup is the standard, really it’s the body mounting position that makes that tone. But the J necks are thinner and more comfortable to some people. It looks like a good bass. If you’re a guitarist (duh, I know, just saying) you’ll probably like that neck since it’s closer in feel. There are tons of P basses with J necks.

Can you try it out?

In order to try it out I'd have to meet up with the guy who says in the ad that he'll deliver but he is a good 3 hrs away and I'm not ready to drive half way if he wants to. I thought his town was more like 40-45 min and I can't imagine him driving the entire distance without a for sure sale.

 

[marshman]

I actually prefer P necks and pickups, but that is a pretty common mod.

And advertising that for sale in Harrisburg given where the map shows him at is a bit sketchy.

 

[Bassdawg]

Like others have said - That neck swap is common in the bass world. Many (myself included) find Jazz profile necks to be more comfortable. I'm primarily a bassist - and if I were to look to buy or build a P-Bass it would probably be similar to that.

The price is fair as long as the mechanics are all there, IE neck is true, trussrod is functional, pots are good etc. It looks to be well cared for & has a hard shell case which is nice. It has a sculpted body - another nod to the more comfortable Jazz Bass build profile.

I buy a fair amount of instruments used & online - so driving halfway & meeting up at a parking lot would not bother me. I would bring a small headphone amp & a set of cans to play it through unless you have a battery powered amp. Personally if I were driving all that way I would definitely be buying unless it was grossly misrepresented in some fashion.

Good luck !

 

[MickM]

I actually prefer P necks and pickups, but that is a pretty common mod.

And advertising that for sale in Harrisburg given where the map shows him at is a bit sketchy.

Like others have said - That neck swap is common in the bass world. Many (myself included) find Jazz profile necks to be more comfortable. I'm primarily a bassist - and if I were to look to buy or build a P-Bass it would probably be similar to that.

The price is fair as long as the mechanics are all there, IE neck is true, trussrod is functional, pots are good etc. It looks to be well cared for & has a hard shell case which is nice. It has a sculpted body - another nod to the more comfortable Jazz Bass build profile.

I buy a fair amount of instruments used & online - so driving halfway & meeting up at a parking lot would not bother me. I would bring a small headphone amp & a set of cans to play it through unless you have a battery powered amp. Personally if I were driving all that way I would definitely be buying unless it was grossly misrepresented in some fashion.

Good luck !

I forgot to ask you guys if you know when they started drilling P bodies for string thru loading? I have a '72 P Bass that doesn't have that option.

 

[5595bassman]

As Bassdawg, I find Jazz Bass neck profile to be more comfortable.

Fender produced some P-Bass models with a J-Bass neck size.

Late '90's there was the USA made California Series Precision Bass Special. Those were stock Precision with a Jazz neck profile and an added bridge PU. Pots are V-V-T as on a JB. https://guitarpoint.de/en/bass/1998-fender-precision-bass-special-white/

This model was replaced with the MIM Deluxe Series Precision Bass Special. Same features.

I have a 2000 MIM.

Squier also made some P/J basses. I have a CIK 1996 Squier Pro Tone Series and a CII 2010 Squier Standard Series. Both do not wear "Special" in their model name.

There was also some MIJ or CIJ. They were called Precison Bass Lyte IIRC.

 

[Digital Larry]

I'm with everyone else, don't like P-Bass necks but do like the sound. I got a Fender Aerodyne "Jazz" bass with P/J pickups, nice compromise and looks slick.

 

[WingedWords]

I forgot to ask you guys if you know when they started drilling P bodies for string thru loading? I have a '72 P Bass that doesn't have that option.

I don't claim to be an authority, but what I've picked up over the years is that the P Bass from its introduction to the revamp in 1957 was string through. It then stayed top loading until 1995. Certainly my 96 American Standard is string through (and with smaller ferrules than the 50s basses.)

After the mid 90s, I've no knowledge.

 

[Sgt Pepper]

I actually prefer P necks and pickups, but that is a pretty common mod.

Me too. I have a Jazz bass but prefer my Precision, but could be because I have played a Precision for 40 years and owned and played a Jazz bass only a couple of years. Plenty of people like the Jazz better though.