Precision vs. Jazz

[sshoihet]

@MikeC

I can emulate a pretty fine P tone with my ceramic neck humbucker pup on one of my active basses and Alnico 5 magnets on the other active bass, switched to passive and using the volume and tone knobs only.

That said, their respective preamps can sure shape the tone to suit virtually any sound I want to achieve. Essentially, I never play my active basses passive.

There’s always this soap bar pup too

Yes, i never play my M7 passive either. It seems silly to me when people get an active bass and then say they only play it passive

[qenden]

just bought a Sire v7 jazz bass… my MIM P bass is going out the door

[Wombat-metal]

@qenden

just bought a Sire v7 jazz bass… my MIM P bass is going out the door

Just shows how subjective this is. I had a Sire v7 Jazz and hated it. I loved my 51 style P much more.

Really no right or wrong answer

(my v7 was a gen 1 and could have been a boat anchor it weighed so much) (and was purchased by a 14 year old girl and i think it weighed more than her)

[MikeC]

Gen 1 Sires were heavy. They took care of that with Gen 2. And the featherweight Sires introduced at the NAMM Show virtually float.

[howard]

Traditional Fender J’s are boat anchors. Modern ones are much better.

[qenden]

@Wombat-metal

my v7 was a gen 1 and could have been a boat anchor it weighed so much

Yes it’s a bit heavy but I like it…

@Wombat-metal

Really no right or wrong answer

Absolutely true…

[Al1885]

@Wombat-metal

The P I’m looking forward to

Me too, and mine is the 47th JD, is that cool or what?

Though I wish it’s a full P bass neck width but it’ll do.

[sadexpunk]

i assume that a proper P neck will be more difficult to play for those with smaller hands/less flexibility?
my first bass is a PJ with a narrower nut (1.5") but im told a proper P would sound better for the music i like. however, i still struggle with the 1 finger per fret in a lot of places so it may just be a case of be careful what you wish for.

[jimmyWishbone]

@sadexpunk

i still struggle with the 1 finger per fret

its just what it is and it’s not crucial.
You make it work for you and find ‘the way’.
Get 500 hours asap and then see what you think…
Repetition is how we get better at anything, some people call it practice…

[Whying_Dutchman]

@Wombat-metal

The P I’m looking forward to

Is it a Harley Benton DIY kit?

[Liffguard]

I played a Jazz for a while on the assumption that I’d find the thinner neck more comfortable. I recently got a Precision, partly out of curiosity, partly because I was spending way too much time looking for the “ideal” instrument and eventually decided that no one will ever be annoyed or disappointed if you turn up with a Precision. Anyway, turns out I actually prefer the thick baseball bat neck. I like the string spacing, I feel like I have more room to manoeuvre and more control. Everything just feels a bit more solid. It’s a bit more tricky at the high-end of the neck, but overall I apparently prefer the P neck to the J neck. And yes I also prefer the simplicity of the controls.

Oh, and the symmetrical body fits better on an instrument stand.

[faydout]

@sadexpunk

i assume that a proper P neck will be more difficult to play for those with smaller hands/less flexibility?

I don’t think so, unless the less flexibility is due to an injury. Otherwise you can work on the flexibility. Having smaller hands I’d think you could just not try and force 1 finger per fret and work on microshifting (simandl technique). Find a ruler, look at how small .15 inches is. That’s the difference between a J and P neck. It’s not some insurmountable obstacle imo.

[faydout]

@Liffguard

I also prefer the simplicity of the controls.

One of my favorite things about Precision basses is that you can just plug the thing in and it’s going to sound amazing (if you like the sound of a P bass). Every time. No knob tweaking, no fiddling. Just start playing. I love my basses with all the bells and whistles but I’m doing my 1 on 1 lessons on my P straight into my mixer (no pedalboard or preamp) to remove any distractions. Tbh, even outside of lessons I’ve been playing that way a lot lately.

[Wombat-metal]

No, it’s a Joe Dart III by Sterling, on sale for a couple more weeks (pre-order). It’s also short scale.

Joe Dart III

Ships in September

[Wombat-metal]

@sadexpunk

i assume that a proper P neck will be more difficult to play for those with smaller hands/less flexibility?
my first bass is a PJ with a narrower nut (1.5") but im told a proper P would sound better for the music i like. however, i still struggle with the 1 finger per fret in a lot of places so it may just be a case of be careful what you wish for.

The P neck lends itself to a different vibe, it just feels groovy, not sure how to explain it. But I don’t worry about ofpf. 40mm is actually my preferred nut width, but not as common.

[jjflynn1957]

@howard Where do you draw the line on “Traditional Fender J’s” as opposed to the “Modern ones?” Year? Style? Model? Other makes?

[Whying_Dutchman]

@Wombat-metal

No, it’s a Joe Dart III by Sterling

I know, I know - just kidding!
So, you don’t need your Offbeat anymore?

[Wombat-metal]

@Whying_Dutchman

So, you don’t need your Offbeat anymore?

My Offbeat is my main bass. But sometimes life calls for a P, and I don’t have a short scale one

[Wombat-metal]

Not to mention it’s a stingray body and neck, and both are cool to play

[JustTim]

Diving in a bit late… for me it’s pretty much Jazz. Or a Precision with a Jazz neck (I have two, a special deluxe Fender Precision P/J with a very thin neck, and a Charvel Pro Mod San Dimas).

For me, it pretty much all comes down to the neck. A “standard” Precision neck just isn’t for me.