John Brown Posted September 25, 2002 Share Posted September 25, 2002 WHat is the difference between a Fender P Bass, and a Fender Jazz Bass? Is the Jazz Bass Humbucked? or vice versa? What exactly is a split coil pick-up. I am looking for a more jingly jangly fender bass, which one would be more suitable? Thanks. John Brown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattC Posted September 25, 2002 Share Posted September 25, 2002 Everybody go ahead and add to this, but: The jass bass has a single puckup that is stretched across the strings. A P-bass has 2 pickups, each optimized for the strings that it picks up. Also, it is easier to adjust the PU height for a particular string. ...think funky thoughts... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcr Posted September 25, 2002 Share Posted September 25, 2002 I'd say there are 3 basic differences. (1) The P bass has a "split" pickup--two halves offset, side by side, & they hum-cancel--while the J bass has two single coil pickups (typically; you can also get "stacked" humbucking pickups that will drop into a regular J bass pickup slot). (2) The P bass has a somewhat chunkier neck with a more rounded shape on the back, while the J has a thinner neck & less rounded. (3) The P typically has a "darker" sound, fairly heavy, while the J has a "brighter" sound. This is very, very rough, & you'd probably do best to A/B them to hear (& feel) the difference for yourself. (Keep in mind that body & fingerboard woods also contribute to sound; do a search for threads on that topic.) Single coils tend to have a "janglier" sound than humbuckers, so the J bass tends to sound "janglier" than the P bass. The Rickenbacker is also a good example of this. There are also "hybrids"; e.g., the Lakland & the Carvin are available with a J-style pickup in the neck position, & a humbucker in the bridge position, which can be switched between humbucking & single-coil mode. This allows for a wide range of tonal possibilities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Brown Posted September 25, 2002 Author Share Posted September 25, 2002 Thanks alot for the info, I think I'll head down to the local music store and give them a try. I like the feel of the Jazz Bass, but the salesman told me it had humbuckers, and that wasn't what I was looking for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcr Posted September 25, 2002 Share Posted September 25, 2002 It's possible that some specific model had a humbucker, but a J bass with single coils should be easy to find, as that's the norm in a J bass. Or you just had a clueless salesperson...but no, surely not that!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patrick_dont_fret Posted September 25, 2002 Share Posted September 25, 2002 You can get a humbucker type tone on the Jazz if you turn both volumes up full, that way both are activated. This isn't in replacement for humbuckers, but it kinda sounds like a humbucker. That's what I've heard, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patrick_dont_fret Posted September 25, 2002 Share Posted September 25, 2002 You can get a humbucker type tone on the Jazz if you turn both volumes up full, that way both are activated. This isn't in replacement for humbuckers, but it kinda sounds like a humbucker. That's what I've heard, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wickerman Posted September 25, 2002 Share Posted September 25, 2002 Personally, I really like the US Deluxe Precision. I know, it's VERY pricey but it gives you the best of both worlds at the very top end Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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