I’m glad you got the Aria. All the best fun with it. ![]()
It’s completely unsurprising that you can hear a difference - they are, after all, different basses. Not all P-basses sound alike either.
The question is, does your P/J (in this case, a BB734A) sound like a P-bass when biased to only the P pickup, and the answer is yes, very much so.
Also if you want to boost for more punch and thump, I recommend boosting the mids a bit - the characteristic P-bass sound is strong and rich in the low mids, and this is what gives them a lot of their punchy power.
Both of my P/J’s sound different than exactly what my P-bass sounded like, as they are different basses with different P pickups. But my P-bass also sounded a lot different from other P-basses, which also sound different from both of your BB’s.
P-basses aren’t a single sound, but rather there are tonal characteristics you can apply broadly to them and be accurate. I can guarantee that my MIJ Fender with a DiMarzio Model P in it definitely sounds different than, say, a MIA Fender with Fender CS pickups in it.
Can I make either the BB or the SBV sound like a P-bass? Absolutely. P-basses aren’t special for tone; they are just another bass with a P pickup.
The differentiating factor for them from most P/J is more in feel and heft than in tone.
But only a P is a true P ![]()
Yes. But again, it’s not really about the tone. Getting the P-bass tone is easy - it’s the overall feel, heft and simplicity that set them apart.
For a straight-up short scale P bass that’s not a Fender or Squire, the Schecter Banshee is really hard to beat. Great feel and tone. Mine gets a lot of use. I restrung it with La Bella DTFs .045-.105.
Here’s a little game - which one of these is a P-bass? I promise at least one is. Let’s get some replies and I’ll reveal. I am very curious if anyone can tell.
They all sound like P-basses to me ![]()
#1 and #4 sound the least P bassy to me. #2 and #3 sound the most P bassy.
@faydout? @MikeC? @Barney? Curious to hear your takes on which are an actual P-bass.
Like I said, they all sound like P-basses to me.
I’ve only got a P Bass because it looks cool @howard
I’m completely superficial ![]()
I agree with @TheMaartian, one and four sound the least P bassey. Two and three the most, and of those, #2 sounds the most like a P to me.
@MikeC, care to guess? Really curious if you can tell, as you feel a P-bass has a special tone different than a P/J.
what i was thinking lol
Getting some great takes here, thanks to everyone for chiming in ![]()
don’t have a p to compare, i like my jazz’s ![]()
I have no problem with being wrong… ![]()
I’m with you on that. I have 3 ex-wives. I’ve been wrong LOTS of times. ![]()
I wouldn’t look at it as being wrong! Like I said, these all sound very much like a P-bass to me, because effectively they all are P pickups in roughly the same place.
Here’s the reveal in a spoiler block, I think this is a really illustrative set of example tones.
Bass #1: Fender Japan Hybrid II Precision Bass, DiMarzio Model P, tone 100%
Bass #2: Yamaha BB734A, YGD v7 P pickup 100%, Passive, tone 100%
Bass #3: Yamaha BB734A, YGD v7 P pickup 100%, Active EQ flat
Bass #4: Warwick Rockbass Streamer LX4, MEC P pickup 100%, Active EQ flat
Interesting exercise ![]()
On my phone speaker, 2 and 3 sound most similar, i.e., similar instruments. I would guess 4.
What are the results?

