Precision Bass vs Jazz Bass... can you tell the difference?

[@marcamarco1869]

the jazz bass Neck Pick up with the full tone configuration sounds so like the P

[@nicolasbechara9120]

Is that what he's done on the last Thanks

[@brendanredler3666]

@@nicolasbechara9120 Correct. Only one that fooled me!

[@SevanStick]

Ahaaaaaa! Finally one person got it! I applaud you.

[@musenw8834]

It is possible. even riff 2 (stand by me) sounds more like a J bass than the P bass. Riff 3 also sounds very difficult to tell if it's either bass Riff 4 is clear cut jazz bass Riff 5 sounds more P than J, so yeap. you're right that a jazz bass can get close to a P bass sound with just the neck

[@musenw8834]

One of the reasons is that in a studio mix, most of the higher frequencies are drowned out, and the low frequencies of both basses remain.

[@oldschoolebm666]

Damn.. I missed all of them.:) And I have both basses... it goes to show how playing dynamics and the tone knob can make any Bass very versatile. Great video!!

[@RICK-te3qh]

I own, record and gig on both the P/J basses and i messed up huge on my guesses.. txs huge this was fun!

[@Bob-hb3qb]

Me too my man!! I thought, oh this will be easy im playing 40 years.

[@nigelchang2412]

3/5 right. Well played - just goes to show that i) double blind testing is a great way to remove G.A.S. from the equation and ii) a lot of an instrument's tone is dependent on your fingers. I was really convinced that I needed a P to go with my J - not so much now. Thanks for the straight up 'consumer advice'.

[@wesleybragisson]

G.A.S. ?

[@rvlewis1950]

@@wesleybragisson gear acquisition syndrome. A desire to buy more gear

[@brockbah2048]

I got all of them right, was hoping the last one was a J bass trying to imitate a P bass and I nailed it- thankfully since I ordered a P bass just hours ago 😁

[@Inferno5150]

4/5 . . . . the last one fooled me. This was fun!

[@LukeLendrum]

3/5 You tricked me good with Riff 1 and 5. You're getting a great P like tone from your J. After I rewound to riff 1 it was really obvious that it was a single pickup but without a comparison I couldn't hear it. Great video.

[@samforbes9055]

Nice playing. When you roll off the high end on a jazz bass it’s almost impossible to distinguish it to a P bass. The jazz bass really stands out with treble and mid range turned up, then its distinctive sound really shows. P bases are pulsive and ballsy rhythm machines. Jazz bases are more expressive more tone options. I got the first one wrong but was later able to recognize the jazz bass and got the rest right.

[@danielirvine7468]

I thought I was going to aces this one but you got me doubting on a couple this was fun thanks

[@lobsterthepigeon8349]

Great video! Both basses sound awesome. 5/5 - J has a certain bite, you can't get rid of it even with low tone and foam at the bridge. The P is thick and juicy - less bite, more bass. Maybe I should swap my Ibanez SR for one, I just love its sound and simplicity

[@billmartin1010]

I went 5 for 5. P-bass clear with strong attack. J-bass fluffy. Even if I play them both, trying to play them the same way, I get P-bass clarity and J-bass fluffiness around the edges.

[@marksr12]

Great video! I only guessed at half correct...kinda solves the "which one to purchase" dilemma cause sound great! Nice playing.

[@lovejoy2830]

This was fun! Also a good exercise for the ears. Good work. Thank you!

[@francescominnella]

This video demonstrates what I have thought for a very long time and that is that the Jazz Bass is the most versatile bass there is.

[@Project_2501]

The last one really got me! It sounds SO MUCH like a P-Bass - I could have sworn it was one!

[@emiliomier]

well i dont really know the difference about a p bass and a j bass so i guessed random and i got the last one right

[@Hic_Rhodus]

Yep. Same with me. Last one was the curve ball. The first 4 seemed fairly straight forward... if you have a preference for one or the other of them. (There is a point where the two bass sounds "P" and "J" intersect and overlap. But nonetheless, both struggle to reach across into the "pure P" or the "pure J" sound of the other.)

[@musenw8834]

@@emiliomier J basses tend to be brighter than P basses. But here it's tough because of the fact that a jazz bass neck pickup alone can sound almost like a P bass. The only difference is that P basses are thicker in tone

[@amysedai]

Same here, I got all but the last one.

[@dclipper8052]

Wow, I was wrong on every single one...

[@studiopierrot4745]

he switched pick up and finger position every time so....

[@gurnbass]

Nice comparison. I was completely fooled by the last riff after getting the first easily.

[@dimitris470]

Well yes... Play a J with the neck's pickup or the p sharply near the bridge and the sound becomes less distinct as each of them. Especially if you heavily mute the strings or compress the sound. I m mostly a p guy but I think the J is a more versatile instrument. Especially with the options we have today in electronics.

[@covenant117]

5/5, I am a guitar player but soon I will get a P Bass for my solo project

[@RodMcDonald01]

Great concept! Thank you for this vid!

[@boochbass]

You just blew up a lot of myths.... great work!!!

[@theroadhogs6227]

Great vid! Shows that it's very difficult to tell the difference between them in a band context when the jazz is played on the neck pickup. Too many vids have jazz basses with either both pickups up full (which I like) or with just the bridge pickup on (which I don't), which doesn't tell the full story...!

[@jasonbafile]

The Roadhogs Plus so many are ALL slapping 🤮

[@bobt5778]

Then the sound guy DI's it and all the tone is lost...

[@musenw8834]

Especially in terms of frequencies, electric 🎸 mids would easily blend together with any high mids and highs of the bass 🎸. And so it narrows down to the playing. If you can play the same bass line on a P bass and a J bass, the lows for the bass tones are not that different..

[@musenw8834]

@@jasonbafile and the tones are too bright. Because of that, there's less low end boost. Which is what can make a song powerful/heavy or light sounding.

[@rinpin145]

This video helped me make up my mind on which I would get. Thank you so much, very informative!

[@bobt5778]

Well, which did you get?

[@bernardm3066]

Last one was the hardest sounds a lot like a P. I usually tell P Bass apart when listening to low notes. This is where it really differentiates from the Jazz i think (and this is where I love the sound of P it makes the lower notes growl and sound really full). I have a Mexican J btw but i think I will end up getting a P too..

[@lolkvadim]

2/5, you've done a good job making the Jazz sound like a P Bass with your right hand... they're a little easier to tell apart in a mix with loud, heavy guitars, the P Bass cuts through the mix better in my experience. The neck pickup on a Jazz has a warmer sound imo, sounds kind of "wooden" compared to a P Bass.

[@gregoirenoteris1609]

5/5, but #4 and #5 had me hesitating a lot. Great vid 😉

[@Peter-Alexander]

I don't play bass (yet) but still managed 3 out of 5. Missed nr 3 and nr 5. Great video, it was fun!

[@lllazarrr]

I love blind tests! Awesome video

[@bobt5778]

I'm really just here for the riffs. Great stuff!

[@1sortedman]

Ultra clever choice of playing technique (damping muting) deliberatley employed to baffle experienced and novices alike, still managed to fool me on two ocassions despite the fact that ive played J basses on and off for nearly 40 years,,,,

[@marcos.1767]

Well done, my kids are dancing!

[@cuneytsonmez]

Second visit after nine months, 2/5 this time. What a progress?!

[@adumbberg]

You can get a P bass sound with a J bass. Hard to get a J bass sound with a P bass. J basses are more versatile and look better. Good video- nice work!

[@4eversonic]

That was a tough challenge! This vid def showcases the versatility of the J bass. Makes me wish I’d never sold mine.

[@kijekuyo9494]

I'm not usually good at this, but i was only wrong on #5. Like Sergio, I was fooled. I like the sound of both, but I play a Jazz for the feel, balance, and playability.

[@farmerlister3863]

Let's recognize, that you did your best to make the J sound like P 😉.

[@cuneytsonmez]

Forth and last visit. 3/5!!! That's enough for me. My first visit was about a year ago. I watched this and bought a AVRI 75 JB. I was very happy but couldn't get the idea of having a Pbass out of my head since then. I've bought a JV series 1982 Japan Pbass today. I'm an idiot or desperately in love with the both. Either way, I'm happy now.

[@JulesGuitar]

Obviously I’ve intentionally made it a little difficult with this video, and of course what it doesn’t convey is the difference in feel. Sounds like a good set up you’ve got... the 75 AVRI will inspire funkier lines with the thin neck and pickup spacing, whereas the JV will do more fat soul or rock. cheers

[@sergiofabrizi1304]

I missed the first and last test ... in the last I was absolutely sure it was precision .... damn!!

[@cuneytsonmez]

1 in 5 !!! Who gave you the right to ruin my "strong" belief that I'm an infallible fender afficianado?! I don't know why but I'm a 'only one gear' guy since I've heard the story of Rory Gallagher and his strat. Only one gear to get old with me and I used to have that contradiction; 'should I buy a Precision or Jazz Bass?' And still I couldn't make up my mind and buy one. This post clearly showed that, functionally I don't need a Precision. But I steel love that body shape and the thought of having tonnally no other pickup option. This may be limiting but it's nice to think that you've got only p-pickups and your fingers. You'll create the tonal variety. Anyway, thanks a lot for this highly enlightening post. (I have a Yamaha BB5000A by the way.)

[@JulesGuitar]

I know what you mean re Rory... Often I'll make a point of only playing one bass for 2 or 3 months, that way I'm thinking about the notes I'm playing, not the gear.

[@NeoBalkanacMan]

If I had to have one bass and only one, I'd pick the Precision bass because it fits in most mixes without a lot of effort, but since I don't , I know in 10 years I will have to dedicate an entire room for all the jazz basses I want to add to my collection lmao

[@cuneytsonmez]

@@NeoBalkanacMan You're right about the Precision in mixing. Besides it's unique tone I guess the best advantage is naturally having no humm and noise right? By the way, about a week after my comment above, I've bought a 75 JB USA FSR. I couldn't be happier.

[@NeoBalkanacMan]

@@cuneytsonmez Nice. I love Jazz basses more than I do Precisions. They just feel right when I play them, but when I want to record, sometimes they just don't fit the sounds I'm going for. Thankfully I got myself both so to avoid headache when I want to record. They both have their strengths. But If I want to jam with someone I prefer my jazz bass because I can move around the neck a lot faster than around a P style neck. Plus I've adjusted the bridge on my Jazz so it plays even smoother and faster. My P bass on the othet hand has higher tension and ticker strings. Which is good, because I can go lower with it than on my Jazz bass without sacraficing loudness. Plus the sound is mote consistant with higher tensions, it a bit of a chore to play but the P bass is my main axe when I'm more concerned with sounding the way other people expect me to sound rather than when I'm just playing for my own enjoyment...

[@maxnovello5882]

Got 5 out of 5 right, only the first sample made me a bit unsure for a while. Nice video anyway but IMHO, just other videos like this, it only shows that you can get a half J Bass sounding similar to a half P Bass at low "in-house" volume.

[@psuggitt]

I got three out of five and my instinct on #3 was right but I changed by guess at the last second. I have yet to buy my first bass guitar.

[@bobt5778]

I got all but riff #1. P just hits me a certain way, kind of in the gut - deeper than a J can get.

[@bobt5778]

Agreed!

[@shahiransafian]

surprisingly got all 5. really doubted myself there.

[@homunculusSZN]

Thanks for that Thin Lizzy to start that one off.

[@HaohanH7BranDy]

4of5 the last one wrong. Just learned the two bass sound tonight. Will get a p bass for my guitar project

[@rehtafsedaj777]

If you're looking for the most versatile bass,you go with the Jazz.It's a personal thing though,let's face it.I have a limited edition U.S. Jazz and it's the best.I would definitely recommend it. :)

[@donmanuel8917]

Perfect score. I guess this is what you get when you worked in a music insttument company selling specifically Fender guitars.

[@alxiroi]

3 out of 5. Not very familiar with the pick sound so... that was a BIG guess and the p played near the bridge sounded like a jazz to me. Nice Vid

[@LeGreatReySteven]

Lol! I actually got all of them right, but i was unsure once ;) Great video!

[@GeroLubovnik]

I missed the first one, but seemed to get dialed in right after. They are SO close. I was right on all but that first one, but could have been wrong on them all if done individually. I don't have a P in my collection but wonder why I'd ever need one?

[@NeoBalkanacMan]

Because They are a perfect instrument for recording purpouses.

[@marontesla2982]

dont even know how, but i chose right every single time... wow

[@frankperricone2065]

Hey I have both 70's Fenders, I got 4 out 5, got the first one wrong, and I can dial my J to almost sound like my P but I can't get my P to sound like J. I think they are to different animals

[@csmotores4365]

Missed about half. Great video!

[@ronviejo4994]

I would like to see this again but with flats. I got two right but it was 100% guessing.

[@JCtheGeek2187]

Been playing bass for over 30 years and own both a Precision and a Jazz. Pretty pleased with myself that I got them all correct. The old saying is true, "P basses thump, J basses growl". :-)

[@simons.2948]

Great choice of riffs 👍

[@grishakuritsyn]

5/5, it was fun and challenging.

[@pinoycommuter8635]

I got all. But I almost got the last one wrong. I was thinking P bass early on the riff but then I heard some of those Jazz’s snap.

[@azdcxdf]

Got 4 right 2nd one was tricky for me with this palm mute Damn, I love Precision sound. Must get one...

[@skatamartin4970]

got 4/5 right, although i'm a rock guy and usually P-Basses are used for rock i like the j bass better for the clarity and the mids and treble.

[@SnarkyRC]

Nice. I've always used a Jazz bass for rock and metal. It's all preference really.

[@pjmuck]

I have to admit, I was fooled more than once, and I am very familiar with both basses. #4 I swore was a P. Good job.

[@kindofadrumchannel]

Then, you need this- 'Fool me once, shame on...shame on you. Fool me-you can't get fooled again.'

[@scooterwood2034]

3/5. riff 3 and 4 got me.

[@StillWeRide]

I love the bridges they use on these americans... they just look so good. Nice modern tweak.

[@jimmyalber]

Both basses sound great, and I have owned both, but prefer the neck and feel of the Jazz bass.

[@HarimauStef]

4 out of 5. Both sound great 😊

[@Acelander]

5/5, but I hesitated on the 4, because you used the neck pickup. Best regards from Spain =D

[@TubeDupe]

If I'm not mistaken, the J-bass has split coil or at least dual magnet pickups which isn't the classic configuration.

[@JulesGuitar]

These are the standard jazz pickups as per the original... they have two pole pieces on each string, but it's still single coil

[@CurtisGabrielMusic]

Wow. Very surprising! Only 2 out of 5

[@THE-REVERENT]

I supprised myself and got them all right:)

[@0bm31770]

I got the first 2 but missed the rest.

[@Nikolai-l1i]

I missed 2, great video though. I have no excuse for the two i missed as i have a P bass, lol!

[@melody8757]

4/5, the last one got me.

[@balazsi.8459]

The 5th was hard, and not from the tone but from the playstyle i know it is jazz bass. The slimmer neck makes you able to play like that more easily.í And i only failed at the 1st one. I forgot that you can turn up the tone :) Thanks for the vid :)

[@leswhite3524]

LOL another good find on the toob!! I missed one so now I have to watch it again! Edit: which I did... The second I guessed J with tone rolled off. I think I'm gonna hot-rod my Squid PJ and call it a day. But what do I know? I'm just a drummer...

[@TariasNiniel]

Big strenght of the J-Bass is that it has so many different sounds ... In lot of comparison videos they use like 1 setting for J-Bass (often brigde pickup with tone full up) and compare it to 1 setting of the P-bass ... and people might think J-bass is just "funky and snappy" ... but when you use both pickups or just the neck and at the same time and roll the tone down (maybe even the treble on your amp) you get close to the deep voice of a P-bass. Thats why i love jazzbasses ^^ coz you have a lot of tonal choises (also the one the P-bass is loved for). I mean compare samples 2 and 5... theyre preatty close to each other 5 has just more attack (but that also could also be due to playing technique for the way differnt song ^^ ) . Exept tone ... i also prefer the slimmer jazzzbass neck, but thats just personal ^^ but for me there is a reason leo-fender first wanted to market the Jazz-bass as a "Premium-Precison-bass" :D for me its an upgrade ^^ (+ really no other bass sounds like a Jazzbass on only bridge pickup in my opinion [not a lot experience with coilsplit bass humbuckers though] ^^ ) What neck do you personally prefer? Thicker-P or Slimmer-J?

[@JulesGuitar]

I'm more comfortable with a Jazz neck, but the P inspires me to play in different way.

[@TariasNiniel]

Thank you for your answer

[@nmo_d5s]

I got 5/5. P bass has a low end growl and j bass has a high end punch that p bass doesn't have.

[@jakefoxx7978]

Got them all right! I play Stand By Me differently but I think the notes you hit are closer to sounding like the original version (not that I don't enjoy the brighter sound I get out of my Squier JB 👌).

[@horowizard]

Impossible. Stand By Me is an Upright. Check the original recording. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqi9f39thrt9oKc

[@Borisibz]

the sound is in the player's right hand

[@menderisskyle8841]

i'm not even a bassist but i got it all correct

[@visiblesailorsstorys8918]

no you didnt 😑😑

[@PhullyNo1]

@@visiblesailorsstorys8918 no way

[@WeZte]

well done!

[@borrachanoasfaltomoto]

Esponjinha em baixo das cordas junto ao captador da ponte (2:40): o efeito mais barato que já vi! Grande ideia para me enganar! kkkk Talvez eu use isso um dia! Parabéns! Ótimo vídeo!

[@fabienkrajcarz425]

Just watched the video to know whether I "needed" a P or a J (I am a guitar player), because I thought there was quite a big difference between them... now I think the only thing I have to choose is the color...

[@JulesGuitar]

Neck shape is one of the biggest differences... P bass feels much wider, which might be more of an adjustment for a guitar player.

[@fabienkrajcarz425]

@@JulesGuitar great, very useful. Thanks.

[@horowizard]

5 out of 5 correct. I can always tell. P Bass has a Throaty sound. J Bass has a Silvery sound.

[@horowizard]

@ghost mall Oh yes, it certainly is.

[@jdmarino]

5/5 This surprised me since I don't own a jazz bass.

[@monkeeee]

Wow I actually did better than I thought I would. The P bass has a bit more pop when you first play the note. (I have no idea if this is the right term but that’s how I hear it)

[@ec-hi1br]

PB for ever, because is more warm, more body, is simple but a rich sound. !

[@jimmyalber]

3 and 5 surprised me. I had them wrong.

[@claudiobs918]

Missed the 4th... the sponge mute technique... oh you

[@nadabom272]

Got 5/5 right. I don't even play bass, but I am watching a lot o videos to know what kind of bass I want to buy

[@pang8193]

Thanks 5/5

[@zsujsk]

dancing in the moonlight~

[@shadowhunter2846]

Everybodys feeling warm and bright

[@vegasspaceprogram6623]

The jazz bass sounds slightly sharper than the p bass.... p bass feels deeper and rounder...

[@danielemorasso3528]

4/5... not bad!!!

[@fotovidamusika]

wow it all sounded like a Pbass to me and i don't even own a Pbass. I only have a Jbass and a Stingray. I want a P though

[@bobbadfinger2]

Just missed first one. Not bad at all.

[@quasar5509]

Awesome video!

[@emzee1148]

They were all really obvious except for the last one. Very interesting. What settings for making the j-bass sound so p-bass?

[@JulesGuitar]

Neck pickup + really old strings!

[@fernandomilan8754]

Got only number 4 right

[@Casual_Shots]

What strings were you using on the jazz bass? Loved the tone!

[@JulesGuitar]

Both basses had old fender roundwounds, at least two years old

[@zr2700]

The first three were easy. The last two were a bit tricky but I got the last one right. Number 4 I got wrong... that kinda threw me off a bit!

[@migueljimenez1939]

I own a Jazz bass so I am familiar on how it sounds and I am hearing the video with headphones...in every single case it was more a guess than a choice and only 1 or 2 times I was right....🤷‍♂️ In other videos I manage to spot the difference...did you only used front pickup and rolled back the tone? I am interested to make my jazz bass sound as close as possible to a P bass. Great video! 🤘

[@JulesGuitar]

Think I mostly used the neck pickup alone. Both basses had pretty old strings which I think makes the both sound quite vintage. To me they sound different when I'm playing and the P has more output, but once recorded and I really don't hear much difference. My jazz bass is naturally more dark sounding than some others I've played. Anyway, glad you liked the video.