P bass or J bass

[Bass_Guardian]

I think the title says it all

[ezbass]

Ooh this old chestnut. A P/J solves the tone dilemma (up to a point) the width of neck is another matter altogether and more likely to influence your decision. What do you prefer wide or narrow?

EDIT For my part I prefer a wide neck and a P or P/P p/up config, but that's me. Get both?

Edited October 23, 2010 by ezbass

[Bass_Guardian]

[quote name='ezbass' post='997978' date='Oct 23 2010, 01:07 PM']Ooh this old chestnut. A P/J solves the tone dilemma (up to a point) the width of neck is another matter altogether and more likely to influence your decision. What do you prefer wide or narrow?[/quote]
I like a slim neck but not too fussy.

[PaulWarning]

P for me, I play in a 3 piece band and I find the P just fills the sound out better, I've got relatively big hands so the wide neck issue doesn't bother me.

[Bass_Guardian]

I heard that a P bass sounds pretty dull??

Is that true?

[ezbass]

[quote name='Bass_Guardian' post='997980' date='Oct 23 2010, 01:08 PM']I like a slim neck but not too fussy. [/quote]
Then the world is your oyster as P/Js tend to come with J width necks. The only exception I know to this is the Fret King Perception.

Here's some Fenders
[url="http://fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0135762355"]http://fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0135762355[/url]
[url="http://fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0146500323"]http://fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0146500323[/url]

[Bass_Guardian]

[quote name='ezbass' post='997988' date='Oct 23 2010, 01:16 PM']Then the world is your oyster as P/Js tend to come with J width necks. The only exception I know to this is the Fret King Perception.

Here's some Fenders
[url="http://fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0135762355"]http://fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0135762355[/url]
[url="http://fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0146500323"]http://fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0146500323[/url][/quote]

They are sexy basses but whats better???

[Ou7shined]

[quote name='Bass_Guardian' post='997980' date='Oct 23 2010, 01:08 PM']I like a slim neck but not too fussy. [/quote]
What have you been playing up until now and what style of music are you playing?

[Bass_Guardian]

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='998025' date='Oct 23 2010, 01:51 PM']What have you been playing up until now and what style of music are you playing?[/quote]
I had a yamaha rbx4 a2, my playing varies i suppose. Funk, slow rock that sort of thing.

[chris_b]

[quote name='Bass_Guardian' post='997983' date='Oct 23 2010, 01:13 PM']....I heard that a P bass sounds pretty dull?? Is that true?....[/quote]
Only if you're a dull player!

[PaulWarning]

[quote name='Bass_Guardian' post='997983' date='Oct 23 2010, 01:13 PM']I heard that a P bass sounds pretty dull??

Is that true?[/quote]

I wouldn't have said so, I use mine with the tone control full on, with Elixir strings and play with a pick so it certainly isn't dull, If you roll all the treble out and play with your fingers there will certainly be loads of bottom end there but I don't think I would call it dull

[Bass_Guardian]

Cool and no im not a dull player

Is there anyone on this forum that stays in ayrshire at all???

Until someone says otherwise i am the most un-dull bass player in all of Ayrshire ©

[gary mac]

I've got both.

A while back I loved my Jazz and didn't play the P for months. Decided I was a J bass chap.
Then picked up the P again and decided I'm more of a P bass chap.

So no help to you at all.


Thing is they are both good instruments, they wouldn't have been about for all these years otherwise.


My advise would be to visit a decent shop and try a few. Quality can vary greatly. Try them unplugged, try them plugged in and both sitting and standing with a strap.

[Bass_Guardian]

[quote name='gary mac' post='998057' date='Oct 23 2010, 02:10 PM']I've got both.

A while back I loved my Jazz and didn't play the P for months. Decided I was a J bass chap.
Then picked up the P again and decided I'm more of a P bass chap.

So no help to you at all.


Thing is they are both good instruments, they wouldn't have been about for all these years otherwise.


My advise would be to visit a decent shop and try a few. Quality can vary greatly. Try them unplugged, try them plugged in and both sitting and standing with a strap.[/quote]
Haha cheers mate, ill do that sometime next week hopefully.

[Ou7shined]

[quote name='Bass_Guardian' post='998034' date='Oct 23 2010, 01:57 PM']I had a yamaha rbx4 a2, my playing varies i suppose. Funk, slow rock that sort of thing.

[/quote]
If you are keeping the Yammy get a P, then you have one of each. If you are happy with what you've got but want to step up a level get a J.

[Bass_Guardian]

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='998068' date='Oct 23 2010, 02:17 PM']If you are keeping the Yammy get a P, then you have one of each. If you are happy with what you've got but want to step up a level get a J.[/quote]
I just recently sold the yammy and lookin to trade the rickenfaker i have, hopefully for a jazz or p bass.

[Count Bassie]

Which one occurs to you first, and hits you 'in the gut'? Which one does your head go to before you start thinking about it and get yourself in a twist? Get that one. Sounds like you'll be inclined to take full advantage of whatever each offers; they are both standard flavors each with their distinct character. Go get into one! And they keep decent re-sale value in case you change your mind... how ever many times...

[Count Bassie]

[quote name='Bass_Guardian' post='998079' date='Oct 23 2010, 09:23 AM']I just recently sold the yammy and lookin to trade the rickenfaker i have, hopefully for a jazz or p bass.[/quote]

What 'faker is it? Who made it? ([i]interest...[/i] )

[PaulWarning]

[quote name='gary mac' post='998057' date='Oct 23 2010, 02:10 PM']I've got both.

A while back I loved my Jazz and didn't play the P for months. Decided I was a J bass chap.
Then picked up the P again and decided I'm more of a P bass chap.

So no help to you at all.


Thing is they are both good instruments, they wouldn't have been about for all these years otherwise.


My advise would be to visit a decent shop and try a few. Quality can vary greatly. Try them unplugged, try them plugged in and both sitting and standing with a strap.[/quote]

It's good advice to visit a shop and try before you buy, not always possible if you're a cack handed player like me, but what should always be remembered is just because a bass sounds good when you're playing it on your own doesn't mean it will be good in a band situation

[Bass_Guardian]

Right, i play in a church band so hopefully u will know what type of music it is.

P or J?

[Ou7shined]

J

[Bass_Guardian]

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='998102' date='Oct 23 2010, 02:42 PM']J[/quote]
Thank u ou7shined. A straight answer for once

[Ou7shined]

[quote name='Bass_Guardian' post='998103' date='Oct 23 2010, 02:46 PM']Thank u ou7shined. A straight answer for once [/quote]
... maybe a P.


Only joking.
I'm basing my choice on what you've said before and also the fact that you may be playing where a bass with a more controllable tone favours the acoustic conditions.

[Bass_Guardian]

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='998118' date='Oct 23 2010, 02:58 PM']... maybe a P.


Only joking.
I'm basing my choice on what you've said before and also the fact that you may be playing where a bass with a more controllable tone favours the acoustic conditions.[/quote]
Thank you

But a P still appeals to me strangely, i want both!!!!

[ezbass]

[quote name='Bass_Guardian' post='997999' date='Oct 23 2010, 01:24 PM']They are sexy basses but whats better???[/quote]
What's better is what feels and sounds best to you. I know that this is sitting on the fence but it is a truism. For [b]my [/b]ears I really liked the Duff model over the active P special as I normally prefer the sound of a passive bass, especially P basses. I would've bought a Duff when I was looking but I didn't like the neck.