Jazz basses, what's the point?

[bnt]

Nate Navarro just dropped a P vs J bass battle video. P is the clear victor in my ears: 

 

 

[Cairobill]

I love a jazz at home and used to tour with a Stingray and a 70s J as a backup. Whenever I switched to the J the bottom end and any thump fell out of the band. I'm pretty sure it was driver error but it always struck me as a potential issue. Doesn't stop me buying them and selling them though!!! I love the sound for recording. 

[Bassman108]

Try a P bass 👍

[Bagman]

On 20/05/2025 at 10:34, 80Hz said:

I’ve been trying to come up with an unpopular opinion here, but the truth is I pick up my Jazz and say, ah, this sounds nice and plays great. Then I pick up my P and say… well, sounds nice, plays great!

 

There’s a lot to be said for knowing each sound well and when to deploy it. There’s so much territory can be covered with two pickups (or one!) with different strings and playing techniques. It’s also fine to stick everything on full and not overthink it😁

 

This reminds me that I’ve never actually had flats on my Jazzes. Some homework to do there.

I use LaBella FS 105 E on my 71 Jazz

smooth as a baby's bottom 

[Russ]

Actually been finding myself wanting a late-80s Longhorn (b*ner) Jazz as of late. They're over 30 years old so they're classed as "vintage" now and they're still quite affordable. 

[HeadlessBassist]

18 minutes ago, Russ said:

Actually been finding myself wanting a late-80s Longhorn (b*ner) Jazz as of late. They're over 30 years old so they're classed as "vintage" now and they're still quite affordable. 

 

I've been eyeing up that Mexican Roadworn Jazz on Marketplace, and also that lovely Japanese Hybrid II Jazz. Obviously I need another Jazz bass like I need a hole in the head - I've got two very good ones that earn me a large proportion of my living - that should be enough, but they're just the goto working bass for me. I'm drawn to them like a magnet!

[Bagman]

23 minutes ago, Russ said:

Actually been finding myself wanting a late-80s Longhorn (b*ner) Jazz as of late. They're over 30 years old so they're classed as "vintage" now and they're still quite affordable. 

I sold mine about 3 years ago (?) 

 

Heavy instrument, but had good balance playing standing up. Mine (and the other ones exported to Asia Oceania) didn't have the TBX circuit 

 

I pretty much used it with  flats (Chromes) Diamond Comp and Sadowsky preamp 

[chris_b]

I've been told by a bass playing friend that I make my PJ5 and Jazz basses sound very similar. Sorted!!

[HeadlessBassist]

2 minutes ago, chris_b said:

I've been told by a bass playing friend that I make my PJ5 and Jazz basses sound very similar. Sorted!!

 

You know what they say - A lot of the tone is in the fingers. 

[TheGhostofJaco]

Kind of an old topic, but I find a lot of people do not set their J's up right. In other words, you don't want either volume knob on full unless you want a heavily scooped sound. The J takes more time and tweaking, in my experience. The P is it's own thing and many times works better, especially for rock music where you need to mainly punch. If it is a band where you need to cut through the upper mids, a J with some hair on it, can really do the job quite well. This is why both basses are a staple in every pro bassists collection. They suit different situations.

 

That said, if I could only have 1 it's the J. It's more versatile and fits my playstyle better.

[jd56hawk]

I've been keeping my basses at a friend's house for the past few months so Ive been going to Guitar Center two or three times a week.

Played quite a few P basses, several Squier Sonics, a few of the new Fender Standard Precisions,  a couple of Player IIs, and some of the American P basses, too. 

I'm not talking about just playing a few scales, I'm talking about playing along to my ipod, half a dozen songs or more...really getting a feel for the basses.

I currently don't own a P bass, so I was getting familiar with the typical Fender stock...and I was definitely surprised by quite a few. Would've grabbed a Sonic had I found one in Graffiti Yellow. Could've walked away with a Candy Cola Fender Standard, too. 

The P bass has been getting the job done for over 70 years.

However, I just picked up my Jazz bass last week...moved into a new place...and the minute I plugged it in I knew why it was special.

Extremely comfortable, it almost plays itself, and the tone palette is truly full spectrum...the Turbo Switch is a big plus.

So, in reply to the question "Jazz basses, what's the point?"

The answer is simple...it's 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 than a P bass.

 

 

Edited May 28 by jd56hawk

[jezzaboy]

A few months back I bought a 60th aniv Mexican road worn Jazz form Bass Bros. Usually I buy a Jazz, keep it for a few weeks, sell on losing a few bob and repeat this at regular intervals. But this bass has got under my skin and I don`t know why. The "wear" on the top edge of the body looks like it was done with a sander and I`m not very keen on the concentric vol and tone set up but there is just something about it I love.

 

Must be getting mellow in my old age.

[TheGhostofJaco]

9 minutes ago, jezzaboy said:

A few months back I bought a 60th aniv Mexican road worn Jazz form Bass Bros. Usually I buy a Jazz, keep it for a few weeks, sell on losing a few bob and repeat this at regular intervals. But this bass has got under my skin and I don`t know why. The "wear" on the top edge of the body looks like it was done with a sander and I`m not very keen on the concentric vol and tone set up but there is just something about it I love.

 

Must be getting mellow in my old age.

it’s got that mojo!

[TheGhostofJaco]

On 22/05/2025 at 07:31, Belka said:

This might be a bit tangential but I have noticed from attending gigs over the last few years that P basses really tend to disappear in modern mixes (I'm talking decent sized gigs with a professional PA/soundman, not how bad your own P bass sounds down the Dog and Duck before anyone takes offence).

I don't think this is a fault of the P bass but of the way everything is mixed these days (all subs/bass drum, very little midrange). The whole reason the P sits in a recorded mix so well is due to its low midrange presence, and when these frequencies are not given enough prominence the sound turns to mud. Of course, while we should aim our ire at the soundmen or spectators who actually think that kind of mix sounds good, an easier solution would be to use a bass with a bridge pickup. Even with a rubbish mix you're more likely to hear some of the bass come through.

 

 

 

You all are right. The reason is because pro soundguys on the rock circuit are all about getting the band sounding as loud as possible, and that typically means the bass pays the price since they boost the shit out of the kick subs and attack and let the guitars dominate the mids. It sucks. Had a soundguy for a long tour that I spent a lot of time with and talked to other FOH guys and that was what they were all about. Their fear is coming on after another band and not being as loud, which I understand since loud is better to the average listener.

 

The best way to compete and try and get in there is to put more hair on your tone. Works really well with a J since it will cut at around 800hz. The P needs rounds. It also helps a lot to use a pick if at all possible.

Edited Thursday at 23:05 by TheGhostofJaco

[Marvin]

I've never had anyone question me playing a Jazz bass. It'd be tough if they did because I'll play what I feel comfortable playing. I can get a tone that works but also, as I get older my hands don't stretch as much as they used to. One finger per fret is very difficult and I find the extra nut width on a Precision harder work.

As others have said, you have to tweak a Jazz more, but that also gives more options, especially with the bridge pick up.

 

As for live sound, that's a real bug bear. Not so much for me, but as an audience member. Sound engineers seem to think the optimal mix is to sound like a car fitted with a huge sub in the boot, with windows wound up, parked 100m away.

[chris_b]

4 hours ago, Marvin said:

. . . . One finger per fret is very difficult and I find the extra nut width on a Precision harder work.

 

 

IMO unless you have a particularly wide span, you shouldn't be trying to use one finger per fret at the nut end of the bass.

 

There are a few threads discussing this.

[HeadlessBassist]

5 minutes ago, chris_b said:

 

IMO unless you have a particularly wide span, you shouldn't be trying to use one finger per fret at the nut end of the bass.

 

There are a few threads discussing this.

 

+100 percent. Double bass 1-2-4 fingering over three frets below the 7th position, then one finger per fret from 7th position upwards.

 

Keeping the LH thumb behind the neck helps with hand shape, too.

[Stub Mandrel]

11 hours ago, chris_b said:

 

IMO unless you have a particularly wide span, you shouldn't be trying to use one finger per fret at the nut end of the bass.

 

There are a few threads discussing this.

 

I use 1 finger per fret all the way to the nut... even on a 35" scale five string.

 

I do have fairly long fingers.

[tauzero]

20 hours ago, chris_b said:

 

IMO unless you have a particularly wide span, you shouldn't be trying to use one finger per fret at the nut end of the bass.

 

There are a few threads discussing this.

 

I've got short fingers and if I'm playing a walking bass line, I use one finger per fret wherever I'm playing. I think that's the only time though, mostly I use 1, 2, 3 or 1, 2, 4 over three frets.

[bnt]

I find myself doing 1-finger per fret low down, but with some movement of the hand too. Not a huge fan, though.

 

I've been thinking about what we mean by a "Jazz Bass". The sound of the bridge single coil does nothing for me, so Is it still a "Jazz Bass" if I replace it with a humbucker? Harley Benton (Thomann) makes the  MJ-4 (link) which has a MusicMan style humbucker in the bridge position. Is that still a Jazz? If I had one of those, or any cheaper J-type, I'd replace the electronics and would look for a humbucker for the neck position. (DiMarzio makes a split humbucker for Jazz, for example.) Still a Jazz? 🤔

Edited yesterday at 12:31 by bnt

[Stub Mandrel]

4 hours ago, bnt said:

I find myself doing 1-finger per fret low down, but with some movement of the hand too. Not a huge fan, though.

 

I've been thinking about what we mean by a "Jazz Bass". The sound of the bridge single coil does nothing for me, so Is it still a "Jazz Bass" if I replace it with a humbucker? Harley Benton (Thomann) makes the  MJ-4 (link) which has a MusicMan style humbucker in the bridge position. Is that still a Jazz? If I had one of those, or any cheaper J-type, I'd replace the electronics and would look for a humbucker for the neck position. (DiMarzio makes a split humbucker for Jazz, for example.) Still a Jazz? 🤔

 

You need a 'proper' jazz pup pair to get the full range of jazz sounds. That's why PJs don't cut it.

[HeadlessBassist]

5 hours ago, bnt said:

I find myself doing 1-finger per fret low down, but with some movement of the hand too. Not a huge fan, though.

 

I've been thinking about what we mean by a "Jazz Bass". The sound of the bridge single coil does nothing for me, so Is it still a "Jazz Bass" if I replace it with a humbucker? Harley Benton (Thomann) makes the  MJ-4 (link) which has a MusicMan style humbucker in the bridge position. Is that still a Jazz? If I had one of those, or any cheaper J-type, I'd replace the electronics and would look for a humbucker for the neck position. (DiMarzio makes a split humbucker for Jazz, for example.) Still a Jazz? 🤔

 

As the learned Stub Mandrel said, you need the two J-type pickups to get the full range of Jazz bass sounds, although a short scale P&J will get you there. My American Performer Mustang does a monstrous Jaco sound on it's back J pickup. SM was perfectly correct - usually, the P&J configuration cancel each other out to a degree and give you a rather 'plinky' sound.

 

The humbucker can work in the bridge position combined with a split coil up front, though. Try one of those Sandberg premium basses with this setup combined with a good onboard preamp and it sounds fantastic. Basses with HS combinations (humbucker at the bridge and single coil J at the neck) never sound that punchy to me. 

[Woodinblack]

19 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said:

I use 1 finger per fret all the way to the nut... even on a 35" scale five string.

 

Well, at the next bass bash you can try it on the 42" scale bass!

[Stub Mandrel]

49 minutes ago, Woodinblack said:

 

Well, at the next bass bash you can try it on the 42" scale bass!

 

That's about 30% more stretch!

[Delberthot]

The way I see the difference between P and Jazz is that I always think that a P bass sound blooms. it's like a lazy sound, not punchy and fast transients, the sound slowly forms. A Jazz on the other hand is more punchy and faster attack.

 

YMMV but that's how I see both basses. I don't see one as being better than another, in fact one of the best bass sounds I've ever heard is this one at 1:51:

 

 

 

 

I've been reading this thread on and off since it started and two videos always came to mind when thinking about the difference between P and Jazz and that is Rush playing Roll the Bones Live:

 

Precision:

 

 

 

Jazz:

 

 

 

The Jazz to me clearly sounds the most suited to the song. It's not that the Precision is bad, it just doesn't work for me here just like I don't think a Jazz would have worked on Dragon Attack above