Ok so let’s get the yeah I’m evil I’ve fed the fender beast bit out of the way. I’m old fashioned and old so that’s just how it is. I may want something modern, active and looks like a coffee table in the future but not just yet.
Anyhow I digress….. according to the specs, the necks on my jazz bass and p bass are the same apart from nut width - the p being a tad wider, and I’m a girl with girly hands so why oh why do I always feel more at home on the p bass and play it for longer. I always thought the jazz neck was supposed to be superior but for some reason the p neck just feels more comfy, sort of more shallow, flatter maybe. Something to hang onto perhaps? Does anyone else share this weird bass kink? Photo of the ladies just because, well they are pretty.
Firstly, they are very pretty. Fender may be behaving like a bunch of absolute bellends right now but they still make lovely instruments. I know there’ll be lots of people who will tell you that you can get a better bass from blah blah blah and you’re only paying for the name but there’s a lot of famous bass players still playing Fender. I’ve got a P and a J and was expecting to prefer the J neck due to being blessed with sausage fingers. However I still reach for the P first because the neck feels great to play.
Secondly, it doesn’t matter what the stats say about nut width, fretboard radius, etc, all that matters is how it feels in your hands and the smile it puts on your face.
I’m glad I’m not the only one! Strange how certain guitars I guess like certain dogs just seem to say yep, we belong together. Maybe as I become a better player I’ll mature into my jazz bass more. Still I consider myself very privileged to have the choice of course.
Love the purple! I have the same line up- a Fender P and Fender J. I find the P neck feels like I’m playing a 2x4- wide enough that I could use it as a Charcuterie board- haha. The Jazz neck just feels super fast after first playing the P for a few years. It’s all about personal preference. When I bumped the P (my first bass) from my regular rotation and went to the Jazz for everyday- when I finally went back to the P it was so clear what the diff was. I was shocked at how much wider the neck felt on the P. Not in a good way though. I still love it, but now I understand the difference.
It’s the only purple one I’ve ever seen and well, it was like that scene in Wayne’s world!
Yep could entirely be that experience and playing style kinda thing too , I’ve not played all that long so my playing doesn’t include the nuances that the jazz will enhance. All in good time I’m sure.
Might be weight and balance too as the p is little lighter.
Then as a guitarist/guitarish I was more into teles than strats and teles are more plank-like.
It’s interesting getting the different perspectives
This is a rare thing, to notice the difference and prefer it, or favor it. I actually fell in love with the MusicMan stingray, which even wider than P bass. It makes playing Jazz neck profile like driving a sport car, but in the end I love the SUV for daily driving.
I also feel like that lol. I have a Squier P and a Yamaha PJ and the Yammy is my go-to. But to each their own! As others have said, whatever makes you want to pick it up!
I have slender hands (still size 11 according to Held Gloves), but when I garabbed my P, the scale felt shorter to the point that I grabbed a tape measure, even though I was convinced before I measured that they were both 34", and they are.
Going to finish the last few modules on my J, but I will do my second round with the P, most likely.
Haven’t played on a regular P with any consistency. My P+ Meteora neck is closer to a Jazz, I think, and I like it fine, but the Wattplower has a slender short scale neck and I love it a lot a lot. OTOH, I do have to watch to not push the E string off the side when fretting a new riff. Hadn’t thought of that as a function of the neck. Assumed it’s a matter of my poor skill. Perhaps it is both!
I’m 6’ and 15 stone, yet my wife (5’ 10") has bigger hands and feet than me. My best mate’s 19 year old daughter, all 5’ 6" of her, has bigger hands than me!
Whilst I prefer the neck on my Fender P as well, it doesn’t stop me liking the necks on my other basses. We like what we like, and I think it just boils down to what we’re comfortable with.
You can get one for starting at $245 from Warmoth. That was the price for a custom J Bass neck that’s maple with purpleheart fretboard. The price will go up from there based on different neck wood options, stainless steel vs nickel or fretless, inlays, nut, etc.
My only Fender bass is the 2006(?) Jazz Special in my avatar. Not sure of the measurements and honestly just like the feel of it. I love my Ibanez’ too with their stick like necks. My 1982 Ibanez Roadster is more like a bat but sounds oh so sweet.
