What is the difference between a Fender P Bass And Fender Precision Bass?

Answer 1

The main difference between a Jazz bass and a Precision bass is in the pickup design. A Jazz bass has a couple of thin, straight that sit perpendicular to the strings. A Precision bass on the other hand traditionally has one or more split-pickups sitting somewhere between the end of the fretboard and the bridge, usually closer to the end of the fretboard. This split pickup design puts the half of the pickup underneath the thicker strings closer to then fretboard and the half under the two thinner strings closer to the bridge, making the low strings sound fatter and the high strings sound brighter.

When it comes to the necks of the two basses, the difference is in the feel. Precision basses have thicker necks, usually a little more U shaped. Jazz bass necks are a little more C shaped. I personally feel that Jazz necks are more comfortable, and easier to play at faster speeds, but to each his/her own.

Of course with all the different possible combinations available in the making of a Bass Guitar, it is tough to say what definitively sets the two types of basses apart sonically. One might say that a Jazz bass tends to sound a little mellower than a Precision, but that probably wouldn't be true if the Jazz had a maple fretboard and the Precision was equipped with a rosewood one.

Answer 2

The Fender Jazz has a thinner neck made for quicker playing ability. The Fender precision has a fatter neck for stability and precision. The jazz bass has 2 j-pickups, the p-bass has 1 p-pickup. The Fender jazz bass has a brighter tone then the precision bass. The Precision bass body is straight. And The Fender Jazz Bass body is squiggly.

If I've gotten it correctly the precision bass was called the precision bass because it had frets and was therefore precise compared to an upright bass. I've owned both a precision and jazz bass at different times. I would say, in the end, you can get the same tone out of either one.

Answer 3

The Jazz Bass is a bass, marketed by Fender. It has a rounder, thinner neck than the Precision bass and is famous for its fantastic sound in mediums and its strong treble.

The Jazz bass (aka J bass) was the third design launched by Leo Fender (there were two slightly different designs of Precision bass (aka P bass) prior to this) and hit the market in 1960. It was intended to be a deluxe instrument with two pickups instead of one giving a wider tonal variation and a slimmer neck making it easier to play.

The voice of the instrument is more refined than the the Precision though both are considered to be classic designs. The Jazz tends to sound a little more defined then a Precision whilst also being capable of a wider variety of tones.

The flexibility of the Jazz bass has allowed a huge variety of players to create signature tones and styles with it from the biting, mid-heavy sound of Jaco Pastorius to the fat, bassy tone of Aston Barrett from Bob Marley and the Wailers.

It is one of the three classic bass guitar designs that any professional player will have in their collection (the others being the Precision and the Musicman Stingray ... all three designed by Leo Fender).

In the opinion of many players, engineers and producers alike it is the single finest design for a bass guitar. More versatile and easier to play than a Precision whilst giving a clear tone that allows each note to be heard and sit in the mix.

Answer 4

They're the same... People just sometimes call it a 'P Bass' to abbreviate it.

I agree utterly. Kudos.