Fender Precision or Jazz Bass for all around use?

[PheelTheMusic]

I don't have any basses in my studio at the moment and I'm looking to buy one to just have one around for general multi-genre use. It seems that the Fender P and Jazz Basses would be a great way to go in the sub $500 range which is all I'm looking to spend.

Do any of you have any recommendations for whether the Precision or Jazz Bass would be the better multi-purpose instrument? I've played the Jazz Bass and really like the neck feel so this is where I've been leaning. Anyone selling one for cheap???

[Tapeworm]

I think of the P-Bass as an industry standard.

[BudgetMC]

As a studio bass, I'd go P-Bass between the two. But, don't overlook a number of other good bases in the lower end price range. Carvin's jump to mind, for example.

[travisbrown]

I prefer J-Basses, but I think the P-Bass is a better all around bass to have in the studio. If you get a PJ setup, you get all the sound of a P-Bass and a little of the J-Bass. Having one of each is better, but...

P-Basses are about as plug-and-play as you can get with a bass. I rarely have to do much to get them to fit in a mix.

If you've got $500, buy a beat up old one rather than a cheaper new one.

[travisbrown]

A friend was working on a project with Phil Madiera producing. The upright bass player was having some intonation problems. Finally Phil smacks on the talkback and sighs, "For the love of Pete, would somebody get him a P-Bass."

[Little Pie]

A P-J setup is very handy if you're just getting one bass...
I'd say a P-Bass is a little more forgiving than a Jazz Bass if it's getting used by non bass players...
It's a little more plug and play...

[druhms]

+1 on the P Bass.
Druhms

[vernier]

P-bass is easy to duplicate the sound from session to session.

[leddy]

Man I gotta disagree. You can kind of make a Jazz sound like a Prec., but not the other way around. A Jazz is more versatile, IMO. The Geddy Lee Jazz model is consistently rated very highly. It's maybe slightly more than $500, but I think it would see way more use than any P bass. YMMV.

[travisbrown]

I agree that the Geddy Lee is a stellar bass (as is the Marcus Miller), but you have to tell me how to get a JB to sound like a PB. I have a JB, and a PJB, and used to have a PB. The JB sounds like a JB, no way around it. I can't get that round 1/4 pound pickup sound out of it.

Amd I've never heard Getty sound like he's playing a P-Bass.

[Ricey]

i switched to the jazz from the precision. not that i think the jazz can sound like a precision, but with both pickups full up, it's a more 'pure' tone to record IMO

edit: really, any well-made bass with the jazz pickup config can get you there - only other bass i think that sounds different than either and also kills everytime in the studio is Leo Fender's Stingray(MusicMan)

[PheelTheMusic]

Thanks for all the replies!

Can anyone point me to a Fender bass with both J and P pickups which DOESNT have active electronics? I can get a great deal on this bass but I really don't want to go active. Maybe active will be alright???

[sedohr]

I bought a new J-bass with an S-1 button which somehow combines the two pick ups and gives a sound more like a P-bass. You know what ? I have that button constantly on. So I might as well have bought a P-bass.

Kalli

[travisbrown]

Originally Posted by Ricey

...only other bass i think that sounds different than either and also kills everytime in the studio is Leo Fender's Stingray(MusicMan)

Agreed. Musicman Stingray or Sterling would be my second choice. That Stingray records really well every time.

[johnbohn]

I prefer J-Basses, but I think the P-Bass is a better all around bass to have in the studio. If you get a PJ setup, you get all the sound of a P-Bass and a little of the J-Bass. Having one of each is better, but...

P-Basses are about as plug-and-play as you can get with a bass. I rarely have to do much to get them to fit in a mix.

If you've got $500, buy a beat up old one rather than a cheaper new one.

+1, couldn't agree more.

[allencollins]

Originally Posted by Tapeworm

I think of the P-Bass as an industry standard.

Don't get me started. It is not the industry standard. Maybe in 1962 I wish you guys would wake up.

From Mcartney to Jack Bruce to Chris Squire to Geddy to Tony Levin to Les Claypool none of the greats played p-basses. Sure go dig up some obscure photo YOUR WRONG! Don't waste your time. They are crap

[bobwarren]

Allencollins idea of a standard bass is a hot pink, reverse headstock, Jackson Dinky bass with EMG's fresh of a Poison reunion/nostalgia tour. Active sucks!!!

[rcm]

Originally Posted by allencollins

Don't get me started. It is not the industry standard. Maybe in 1962 I wish you guys would wake up.

From Mcartney to Jack Bruce to Chris Squire to Geddy to Tony Levin to Les Claypool none of the greats played p-basses. Sure go dig up some obscure photo YOUR WRONG! Don't waste your time. They are crap

As a guy that gets to record a lot of great session bass players (including part of the list above) The two most common basses I see guys showing up to session gigs with are the Fender P-bass and the Music Man.

Its almost funny how many guys I know that have signature basses with other companies and show up to session gigs with a P-bass. Your experience may be different. (BTW Tony Levin actually does primarily use his signature bass, but I have recorded him with about 15-20 different basses over the years)

[bobwarren]

Just kidding allencollins! I love american Spector basses with active EMG's! I do, however think the p-bass does a pretty good job recording with the right signal chain. I currently have an american Fender jazz bass that I love for certain things. But pretty much the Spector just gives me a good fundamental tone.

BTW, allencollins, I'm over in the Gainesville area. Didn't realize how close we were.

[initialsBB]

Originally Posted by allencollins

Don't get me started. It is not the industry standard. Maybe in 1962 I wish you guys would wake up.

[bilco]

The Jbass will get you a wider variety of tone possibilities I think, but I recently tried my son's Geddy Lee J and it's just not for me.

In the 35 years I have played bass I have owned Rickenbackers, Gibsons and an assortment of basses with active pickups. I always come back to the Pbass. It just sits in the mix well with a minimum of work.

Then again, I like flatwound strings, TI Jazz Flats, so take what I say with a grain of salt.

bilco

[leddy]

Originally Posted by travisbrown

I agree that the Geddy Lee is a stellar bass (as is the Marcus Miller), but you have to tell me how to get a JB to sound like a PB. I have a JB, and a PJB, and used to have a PB. The JB sounds like a JB, no way around it. I can't get that round 1/4 pound pickup sound out of it.

Amd I've never heard Getty sound like he's playing a P-Bass.

Well I did say "kind of". I guess I'm saying that you can turn "off" the bridge pickup on the jazz. You can't turn the bridge pickup "on" on a precision.

[pan60]

P-Bass

[A LaMere]

The answer to this question... totally depends on who you are in my opinion.

I've had different guys get different tones using the identical Fender Jazz bass... in my opinion, the player is going to matter just as much, maybe more than the actual bass. It's shocking how much bass tone will change from player to player to me...

If it were me, I'd prefer a P bass... because that's the sound I like the most.

If you're going to be the player... Pick the one that you like to play the best!

[johnnyjellybean]

Originally Posted by leddy

Man I gotta disagree. You can kind of make a Jazz sound like a Prec., but not the other way around. A Jazz is more versatile, IMO. The Geddy Lee Jazz model is consistently rated very highly. It's maybe slightly more than $500, but I think it would see way more use than any P bass. YMMV.

Never in a million years! A Jazz could never get that big mid sound that belongs to the P bass

[popmann]

You can kind of make a Jazz sound like a Prec., but not the other way around.

No way. I've got a JazzV, a Carvin fretless (w/humbucker bridge ala Musicman), and a 62RI P...the P is THE tone. The Carvin on bridge PU is THE fretless tone (simlar to a fretless MusicMan). The Jazz is a piss poor distant third in the recording tone department, IMO. The only thing it has going for it is the ability to hold the low end without anyone actually hearing the bass line.

If I could get a 5 string P (that sounded like the 62)...I wouldn't own a Jazz.

[codabass]

I've used a P-bass with a jazz neck for 30 years, still my standard. I walk over my Alembic to pick up the P/J bass when there's real work to be done.

[PRobb]

Originally Posted by bilco

The Jbass will get you a wider variety of tone possibilities I think, but I recently tried my son's Geddy Lee J and it's just not for me.

In the 35 years I have played bass I have owned Rickenbackers, Gibsons and an assortment of basses with active pickups. I always come back to the Pbass. It just sits in the mix well with a minimum of work.

Then again, I like flatwound strings, TI Jazz Flats, so take what I say with a grain of salt.

bilco

P with flats- YUMMY! That just sits all by itself in a very particular spot in the mix. Sounds like crud in solo, but in the mix you hear every note and it doesn't fight anything.

Not for every style, but when it works it's a beautiful thing.

[Tony Shepperd]

Best Sounding Bass I've Ever Recorded...

.:: Fender®.com ::.

[vernier]

I'd take a Squire Affinity P over the Geddy Lee or Marcus Miller J's.