Jazz Bass vs. Precision Bass: which one should you choose? We know the correct answer (-s)! 🙂
For some experienced bassists, the discussion about P-Bass and Jazz Bass can be very short.
Get a P-Bass for the original punch and power.
Use a Jazz Bass for versatility in your sound, with a brighter, tighter tone. Better yet, put both in your collection and have them ready for different locations and band sounds.
However, if you are going to get just one of these two awesome icons in the world of electric bass, which one should you choose?
IN A HURRY? HERE ARE OUR TOP PICKS…
Best P-Basses:
Best J-Basses:
This instrument truly broke ground since there was no option for the bass player besides the acoustic, stand-up bass.
Prices of the Best P-Bass and J-Bass Guitars
You can invest in an original P-Bass from one of the few classic-guitar inventories, but you could also buy an excellent used car for about the same price. For example, a refinished original 1957 Precision Bass will set you back about $7,000. A 1966 version will be a bit less – $6,000. New, custom-shop versions from Fender come in at around $1,600.
The original Jazz Bass, 1965 original, will cost you approximately $7,500, while even the 1975 model brings around $3,000. As with the P-Bass, a new, custom-shop Jazz Bass costs about $1,600.
We also reviewed several budget options for you.
Top 3 Precision Basses:
Fender Standard Precision Bass (Editor’s Choice)
It is an affordable, professional-level instrument, perfect for the beginning player and the bass veteran. You get the classic electric bass tone with the modern technology of the split, single-coil pickup.
The neck is designed with the usual “C” shape for playing comfort. The Fender Standard Precision Bass has a push-pull switch as part of the tone knob, so you can split the coil to get single-coil tone.
Consider this an affordable version of a music-industry classic. Finally, you get the “muscle” you desire with a rich bottom the band will appreciate. This model gives you outstanding design to display style and deliver the performance you need and deserve. Available with maple fingerboard or rosewood fingerboard. Mexico.
Pros
- Great sound
- Fast neck
Cons
- With one specific bass–bowed neck, bad pickguard
- Needed neck adjustment
Fender Player Precision Electric Bass Guitar
It offers an uncompromised sonic boom with a punch and clear, powerful sound. It is authentic, and the Fender style gives a smooth playing feel. The thundering bass assists you in showcasing your creativity. It comes with an innovative spirit while maintaining the brand’s heritage.
You can easily personalize your taste and playing style with action adjustment. The maple neck is C-shaped with comfortable contours. A smooth and glossy finish is perfect for different playing styles. Its jumbo frets have a 9.5” radius that offers impressive playability. These are versatile and boast a flat surface, making them ideal for chording and soloing.
It features a traditional Fender tone that honors brand mainstays. You get the essence of Fender design from quietest chord to loudest ones. This bass is durable and reliable that can beat everyone. It is packed with high-end features and came into existence for fantastic performance.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Sounds good
- Superior craftsmanship
Cons
- Bridge upgrade if you want more woody sound
Fender Squier Vintage Modified Precision Bass PJ
The keyword in this product title is “modified.” The Fender Squier Vintage Modified Precision Bass PJ provides plenty of bottom-end punch, like the Precision Bass, and gives you the Jazz Bass tonal versatility with the single-coil bridge pickup.
It’s the best of both Fender worlds. This bass delivers the great look and feel you expect with the “C” style neck and rosewood fingerboard.
It comes with a three-ply black pickguard, the classic bridge, and vintage tuners. In addition, you can get this modified version in one of three colors – candy-apple red, Lake Placid Blue, and three-color sunburst. Finally, made in Indonesia, you can order this Squier bass in a five-string version.
Pros
- Good bass for the money
- Sound quality
- Lightweight
Cons
- Tuners not tight/accurate
- Cable jack defects
Fender Squier Affinity Series Precision Bass PJ
When you select the Fender Squier Affinity Series Precision Bass PJ, you’re choosing a good value in bass guitar. You get the classic tone of the P-Bass and the added tight sound of the Jazz Bass, thanks to the standard split single-coil pickup and the single-coil of the J-Bass.
This series has a two-color headstock logo, three-ply pickguard in black – white – black, and separate volume controls for each pickup. The Affinity PJ is offered in Olympic white, black, and metallic red. They are imported from China.
Pros
- Good bass for the price
- Friendly “feel.”
- Two pickups = Best of both worlds
Cons
- Needed major attention for setup
- Packaging problems
Top 3 Jazz Basses:
Fender Standard Jazz Bass (Editor’s Choice)
If you’re ready to move up to a professional-level instrument and the Jazz Bass is on your radar, this will be a great choice. Because it’s designed around the classic J-Bass, it has two single-coil pickups for the clear tone you want. In addition, it’s available in a range of vintage Fender colors and offers reduced hum due to the shielded body cavities.
With the Fender Standard Jazz Bass, you get the critical technical improvements in a classic design, delivering style, versatility, rich tone, and great value for the investment you make. It can be the right bass for players at every experience level.
Pros
- Ready to play
- Sound mimics traditional Jazz Bass
Cons
- Minor issues with frets/neck
- Pickups lack sound power
Fender Player Jazz Electric Bass Guitar
Get ready to be amazed at the punchy and clear sound of Fender. The singing high and guttural growl is a timeless beauty.
It maintains the heritage and innovative spirit. In addition, it is power-packed with Fender bass tone.
It is versatile as it is a Jazz bass. The version looks beautiful and features top-notch build quality.
The strap is well made that manages weight issues.
It comes with player-friendly attributes and is made to perform. The modern neck is created for performance and comfort. The bass is packed with high-end features and came into existence for fantastic performance.
Bridge is robust, and tone knobs have smooth and good feel. Simple and elegant, it holds timeless beauty and performance, making it a popular choice among guitar players. It is authentic, and the Fender style gives a smooth playing feel. So get this baby and enjoy the world of music with different tones of your choice.
Pros
- Great value
- Looks amazing
- Versatile tone
Cons
- None we could find
Fender Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Bass
As with the modified P-Bass mentioned earlier, the Fender Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Bass offers fantastic tone, this time with the J-Bass sound of two Fender-designed single-coil pickups.
The tinted, gloss neck has block inlays for a truly vintage appearance. Besides, you get the “70s sound,” but with the performance, you’d expect from a 21st-century bass.
The Vintage Modified was upgraded in 2013 to provide a slightly different look and feel from decades ago. The three-play, black pickguard, and knurled control knobs in chrome are a nice touch, as are the open-gear tuners. They are imported from Indonesia.
Pros
- Great sound for the money
- Solid construction
Cons
- Position markers painted on
- Tuner problems
Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazz Bass
With the Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazz Bass, you get two single-coil pickups for various tones, reaching from classic to contemporary. In addition, separate volume controls for neck and bridge pickup give you more control.
Playing comfort is vital with quality hardware and well-designed neck. You also get the rosewood fingerboard in this brown sunburst bass. It is imported from Indonesia.
Pros
- Good choice for someone starting on bass
- Great look; Finish is good
- Excellent tone
Cons
- Durability issues
- Loose knobs
- Chip in finish
How to Choose Between P-Bass and J-Bass
The P-Bass solved a significant problem bassists were having when they played live – people couldn’t hear them over the sound of amplified guitars. But, unfortunately, they didn’t have today’s technology, pickups attached to their acoustic bass, so players gradually changed to the Fender product.
The design was similar to the successful Telecaster guitar, though the bass had a double-cutaway. That pointed the way to the Stratocaster guitar, which came to the market a bit later.
What’s a Pickup?
The small-but-essential part of the electric bass, the pickup, was a single-coil design originally, though, in a matter of six years, the company brought out a P-Bass with split-coil pickup for a bit more power and punch.
The manufacturer also made the instrument with beveled edges to make it more comfortable to play while also adding eye appeal.
More changes were in the works for Fender, introducing a new bass design (original name – Deluxe). That was a “partner” to the Jazzmaster guitar, with the offset body and two single-coil pickups.
The pickup design difference produced a brighter sound, which some players characterize as “more focused.” Some acoustic-bass musicians changed the Jazz Bass, but it took a while for players in fusion, disco, funk, reggae, and rock to make the switch. The slap-bass technique was a significant driver in the popularity of the Jazz Bass.
This newer design also delivered a slender neck, especially at the nut. That was popular with guitarists who sometimes took over the bass role.
The company moved the bridge pickup closer to the bridge for more snap in future years. As a result, bassists could dial in their tone in a way they couldn’t before, even with the P-Bass.
Choices, Choices
Of course, there is no “right” or “wrong” when choosing between these two icons of the electric-instrument world. If you want to deliver the deep-bass sound of soul and have your fellow musicians appreciate the thump of the bottom end, go with the P-Bass.
However, if you must be ready to change tone and style during the gig, the Jazz Bass might be the better choice. Also, if you are a bass player with small hands, you might try the J-Bass’s narrower neck. Some players even put a Jazz neck on a P-Bas body for the best of both worlds.
Wrapping Up: Jazz Bass vs. Precision Bass
The Fender Precision Bass or P-Bass is now a collector’s item or is played primarily by professionals and semi-professional bassists who can afford to own an instrument from the 50s and 60s. Fortunately, several P-Bass variations have been made since then, including the Squier and the Affinity series.
The price difference is based on wood choice for the body or small details on the neck and frets. With some basses, changes in electronics separate one series or price range from another.
However, you can generally get the classic P-Bass sound: deep punch. There’s little doubt the Precision Bass changed how music is played, but it also changed how music is heard. The P-Bass is widely recognized for its large headstock, the split-coil, humbucking pickup, and contoured body that’s immediately recognized. This design is often copied (with slight modifications).
You can always depend on the warm tone and good mid-range with the P-Bass. The sound is simple yet effective. But with pickup switching and tone control, you also have sound flexibility.
There’s undoubtedly no clash with guitars when you have the classic Precision Bass in the mix. Most players are happy with the wide neck and the “C” shape, finding it quite comfortable. The P-Bass will cover almost any style.
Jazz Bass vs. Precision Bass: More Than 50 Years
The Fender Jazz Bass, which some insist should be called the J-Bass, brought the word “versatility” to the bottom line. The tone is sweet and tight. The narrow neck (compared to the P-Bass) makes playing more comfortable for smaller hands and those comfortable with the feel of a guitar. Two single-coil pickups put a lot of different tones at your disposal.
Of course, the name implies this bass is meant for playing jazz, and it’s great for that. But you can play in a rock band, back up a folk singer, deliver some reggae, or just about any other genre with this bass. If you’re into the “slap” tone, you probably want to stick with the Jazz Bass.
The Jazz Bass followed the P-Bass by about nine years, coming out in 1960. It was initially called the Deluxe model because Leo Fender felt it would be easier to play and have a brighter sound.
It did become a bass-player favorite during the 1970s, as musicians and listeners sought a funky sound. The bass player also stepped forward on stage with the Jazz Bass, as the instrument took on more than a background/support role.
Rock players such as John Paul Jones and Geddy Lee make excellent use of the Jazz Bass, as did jazz icon Jaco Pastorius. So when you need great tone and versatility, this is your instrument.