Precision vs Jazz Basses: Early Vintage vs American Professional Series | Reverb Shootout Demo

[@hoist8111]

I'm not even a huge fan of P-basses, but I'd do things that my family would disown me for that '58 Precision

[@GeorgiaBoy1961]

Clive, I used to own a Fender reissue 58 P-Bass with gold anodized pick-guard, and that sucker sounded so good.... I sold it in a fit of temporary insanity and have regretted it ever since. I was played more guitar at the time I sold it and wanted a new arch-top, and you can figure out the rest... moral of the story, the '58s sound awesome, not just the old ones, but the reissue ones, too. Mine was made in the mid-1980s.

[@MuammarHamed]

Lmao!!! 😂 I don't blame you my friend I would too

[@zanderascher8205]

GeorgiaBoy1961 I have the Vintera 50s P, it’s Ana amazing bass, definitely not as cool as a real vintage but the gold pickguard is awesome

[@theviper5952]

Innit

[@donnix1192]

@@zanderascher8205 I do too, I really like my Fender Vintera 50s precision, especially for the price tag of 1000$ new it really catches the sound and vibe of a 1957-59 precision bass. I love the gold pick guard and maple fretboard, I opted for the sea foam green. What color did you go with.

[@tonecontrol]

That vintage Jazz has some serious tone going on.

[@ethanlancaster76]

Adrian Figallo the one bass to rule them all!

[@del5582]

I am on team p-bass, but there is something really special about that guitar.

[@heyitsvonage2768]

I'm shopping for my first bass right now, and was so sure I was getting a P Bass until I heard that specific Jazz Bass. Now I gotta start my research all over again!

[@seabass3257]

@@heyitsvonage2768 i got a p bass realized I liked the jazz bass tone better and got a jazz bass

[@The10000lbGorilla]

*That* Vintage PBass + Flatwounds = Pure bliss That is the tone I hear in my head when I write.

[@Chrissummerill]

The10000lbGorilla the best of the 4 for sure.

[@simonr7097]

Yeah that tone is classic. Flatwound strings should get more love, they really complement most vintage basses. After all, these are the strings that those basses were designed for.

[@kimseniorb]

@@simonr7097 what strings are those? orange/red silk makes me think its either TI or Labella

[@Terribleguitarist89]

My old man set me up with flats when I switched to bass from electric... wouldn't play any other way now... that P-bass was killer with flatwounds.

[@omagodosgraves]

IRON MAIDEN STYLE

[@dasbear10]

Love em all, but that 61 jazz with flats is my kind of tone.

[@MoPower2112]

ya man that was my favorite!

[@flowerdoodle2438]

dasbear10 Same here.

[@juancitolimon8743]

me enamore

[@rasakiayodele7479]

Anyone know what particular flats are on it? The silks are like a light blue-green.

[@WoutervanTiel]

Yeah that flatwound vintage J really jumped out

[@nocuh]

I'm all about the neck pickup on a J-bass with flats, playing right up by the fretboard with fingers. *THICC*

[@SamuelginTV]

I love my J-bass with flats too. sooooo smooth.

[@joshuaxlucas]

Love of my life for basses

[@ethanlancaster76]

Agreed, but I prefer both pickups full on and then I can move towards the bridge if I need more cut or to solo.

[@draxlerchronicles5851]

Did you actually just say 'THICC' 😂

[@anyone-f2r]

nah cur You like a bass with a big, fat ass? 😂

[@pedrooficina]

That's amazing! The sound of the jazz bass '61 is truly exceptional, capturing the essence of the recorded version of Ramble On

[@Luigiman555]

Riff 1 4:09 New P-Bass 4:16 New J-Bass 4:23 Vintage J-Bass 4:29 Vintage P-Bass Riff 2 4:39 New P-Bass 4:49 New J-Bass 4:59 Vintage J-Bass 5:09 Vintage P-Bass Riff 3 5:20 New P-Bass 5:28 New J-Bass 5:35 Vintage J-Bass 5:44 Vintage P-Bass Riff 4 5:53 New P-Bass 6:06 New J-Bass 6:20 Vintage J-Bass 6:32 Vintage P-Bass

[@vijaycharan3771]

Legend 🙌🏾

[@almerinofirmino6832]

❤

[@johnnys2096]

Thank you for playing a jazz bass and NOT only slapping. getting sick of that, whenever i see a jazz someones slapping and half of the time it dosent even sound good.

[@TheXtremeDrums]

Johnny S True, slapping in bass have become the equivalent of people furiously tapping a la van halen un guitar, very annoying and usually not good

[@smeagolmazurenko5238]

Cheshire CAT Scan ^this^

[@christianhenry4173]

First off The slap bass tone was used on a jazz bass so you can complain about it it's ok not every bass player is into slap music just like some basses don't use the ghost note techniques.

[@josephdrach2276]

Johnny S,I agree about the all too frequent slapping.Then there's the demos that avoid playing way down on the A and E strings and even less common the use of the open E string and it's first four notes.Damn! It's a bass guitar,not a guitar.Lets hear how it sounds with deep notes.Lets hear it do some bass playing with lots of bass in it.Not just high register,chords,and slapping.

[@hoompaloompaa]

@RecluseAndHisGuitar not better. But different

[@seansagers2540]

Not noted, but certainly a factor in all of the basses' respective tones, was that sweet Ampeg sitting behind you. Certainly helps add to that vintage vibe.

[@GeorgiaBoy1961]

Duck Dunn and James Jamerson approve....

[@jdanielcramer]

I had to part with mine 🥺 couldn’t lift it.

[@LRS905]

There isn't a single episode, explained by Jeremy, that I don't enjoy. These bits are always informative, entertaining and over all, very talent filled. Good job Reverb!

[@bengunderman5382]

The real magic of the j-bass emerges when you blend the pickups, neither full on but in different combinations. Try the neck just shy of full on and the bridge just shy of off

[@lunarvalleyprophet7593]

That '58 P-Bass with Flatwounds has such an unreal sound to it!

[@Blockheadgamer97]

The 58 P bass with flatwounds 😩😩😩 I neeeeeeeeed

[@beatlesrgear]

Weeellllll.... for the low price of only $50,000........................

[@tripptunes]

Awesome video. Would love to see how a PJ Special bass holds up to these comparisons.

[@1959buddyh]

Nothing beats the pure noiseless thump of flatwounds!!!!!

[@anthonyleblanc3102]

That '58 Precision is incomparable. That tone, that growl, that sustain. Unbelievable.

[@thebreakfastmenu]

I'm usually a P bass guy, but that 61 Jazz Bass has captured my heart

[@7easton7]

'58 P was the best sounding of the bunch imo.

[@ireneruthfox]

I agree. But the 61 Jazz is not to shabby either.

[@UneedaMedicalSupply]

The '58 Precision has a nice growl to it. Sounds awesome

[@meow7791]

Yeah, in my opinion, sounds fuller, nicer, a bit thicker, really dig it.

[@joebartlett3255]

Imagine what it would sound like with SS rounds. I bet it’s gnarly.

[@nobodys.shapeshifter]

The new P bass sounds very similar to the new J bass. The vintage basses were worlds apart.

[@barondavis5692]

I was thinking the exact same thing.

[@fenderjazz6213]

Definitely the 61 jazz for ramble on.I don't know what JPJ used for the recording but when you just played it , that's the sound I remember!

[@bentpolski]

Nothing like a Fender P Bass or a Fender Jazz Bass. However my all time Favorite IMHO is My JAZZZZZZZZ. The neck and t he 2 pickups do it for me. Great Video by the way! Very enlightening! Thank You!

[@fotomule]

Thank you for making a very pro video that stays on topic and finally thanks for not shouting and speedtalking like many do today. Your calm voice fit the topic perfectly.

[@Potato-pn8sg]

I don't even play bass. I don't know why I'm here.

[@Rhythmicons]

Taste.

[@tankslapper4686]

Do you like it tho?

[@Dr.Turkey]

time to start

[@Crip2Knyght]

potato i dont play bass either but after watching this video im seriously considering buying one and learning how to play lol

[@brushot]

Ur here because uou want to start playing bass.

[@headknocker8999]

I agree that the 61 with flats sound the best & of course it feels the best too!!

[@KevinReginaldCooke]

Would have been nice to hear the basses with similar strings... Of course a modern p-bass with rounds vs a vintage p-bass with flats is going to sound radically different. What I'd have personally been more interested to hear was the american pro with flats vs vintage p-bass with flats, for example.

[@bentpolski]

Great Video! I owned both but use my Jazz for almost everything! It's all about the neck and the 2 pickups for me.

[@ka-bar5060]

One point of correction, the P-Bass does not have a single humbucker pickup as you state at the beginning. It has a single-coil pickup that is split in two and thus it self-cancels, but it is still only one single-coil. You don't want to confuse new players into thinking that has a humbucker because it doesn't. A humbucker has two stacked single-coil pickups that by their nature self-cancel. Otherwise, a good video showcasing the granddaddies of the electric bass world.

[@borisbishoff2505]

that old p-bass was in the chicago music excange video. Now that I think of it, their editing is also very similar...

[@Reverb]

No conspiracies here, we're just good friends, Boris! :) Thanks for watching!

[@borisbishoff2505]

I thought so! Thats really cool

[@AJbassist]

i am pretty sure reverb, is run in partnership with cme

[@kimseniorb]

@@Reverb please tell me what strings were on the 58? I mean like PLEASE P L E A S E tell me?? damn

[@basswars7060]

I'm surprised that flatwounds are not more popular. They sound great. Both the 58 Precision and 61 Jazz kill it. I have the American Standard J and P, and now I have to get some flatwounds. Any suggestions?

[@hs5942]

Labella

[@akunaccount6089]

the 61 jazz bass sounds like a bass that never change the strings for so many years.. :D

[@MaceoLaban]

Yeah, And that's the way you do it!

[@LinkLayerLogic]

I love the p-bass, but I gotta say that vintage jazz with the flatwounds has some of the best tone you can get.

[@Wheelly1]

Thank you. Great video. Personally, I liked the old P very much. But I understand that a good modern P is just much more useful in handling and tuning. And the price difference is sufficient to pay for many lessons from the best teachers.

[@rickenbacker40011]

That vintage jazz bass had the best tone!

[@thenewyorkpauls]

That one sounded best to me too

[@MrWumbologist]

My big takeaway from this is to use flatwounds

[@FrancescoBignardi]

I’ve played Fender Jazz Deluxe for a decade and I completely love it. But the sound of that p bass with flatwounds is just... WOW

[@matthewd6306]

That 58 Pbass sounds amazing.

[@nervedamage3097]

The J with flats had an awesome upright double bass type sound to it. Great video as I just bought a P bass!

[@SirEnVo]

in an ideal world you would have both. But if I had to pick 1 I would pick the P bass because love it's punchy beefy sound and honestly fits almost every genre (not to say the jazz bass doesn't but is a lot warmer and mellow tone)

[@andrewpappas9311]

Those vintage Precision and Jazz Basses sounded so good, man, the Jazz Bass on Ramble On made it sound a lot more authentic to John Paul Jones' playing

[@treiko1160]

well, he kind of murdered that riff with aggravated circumstances...

[@beatlesrgear]

@@treiko1160 Yes, he did! His playing was about as smooth as a barnacle covered rock.......... :(

[@cheeher3212]

the newer jazz bass sounds better to my ears. but honestly they should have had flatwound and round wound for both the new and old

[@EJNVT]

that '61 jazz sounds so good!

[@TheProgGuy]

I thought 1960-61 J-basses only had the stacked two knobs and not the modern three? Even on your website it claims the three knobs were introduced mid 1962.

[@OldHickory357]

They changed halfway through 61

[@beatlesrgear]

Approximately in the beginning of September 1962 is when Fender changed over from 2 stacked knobs to 3 regular knobs. No 1960 or 1961 J Bass has 3 knobs.

[@KleyDeJong]

Thinner necks aren't generally more comfortable. It is personal preference.

[@iwillnevergetone5]

exactly. thinner is more of a hassle for me. i love a nice chunky neck

[@kingstumble]

Well said,but it's the width rather than the depth which is important to me. I find a Precision much easier to play than a Jazz.

[@fender68able]

Me too.

[@EvanBradleyEDB]

To me it sounded like he was referencing the thinner nut width of the Jazz, which most people do associate with being easier to play, rather than the actual thickness of the neck

[@j.d.leslie8458]

Evan Bradley Jazz has narrower nut than precision.

[@chrisd1932]

That 61 jazz is my dream tone

[@NickiTedesco]

Love these tone comparisons! Jeremy K...you're the man!

[@anyone-f2r]

The last year of felt mutes on the jazz bass were in 1963. There’s a black and white video of Led Zep performing how many more times (1969) with the felt mutes on his ‘63 jazz bass still on.

[@shawnhuff6024]

I've got a fender elite Jass bass American deluxe black I really feel comfortable with the jazz bass style

[@titanuranus]

Thanks for doing this video. Each bass and string type had its own voice, it's own song to sing.

[@ACLCproductions]

Great review!! Love the side by side comparisons!

[@thomasfioriglio]

Wow, great comparison. Flatwounds sound so much better. Now, hmmm, flats on a Jazz or on a Precision? I just picked up a Classic 60s Lacquer Jazz to go along with my Classic 50s. Both have flats, now to decide which has the better tone.

[@alxiroi]

Jazz with flats... that's the sound i've been looking for... Thanks you :) :)

[@enzogreco1816]

If you put the same flatwounds on that 2017 p.bass you'll get about the same tone i bet of that 58' precision.

[@MikeJamesMusic]

I have an American fender frettless bass I bought new a few years ago. I swapped out the noisy thin stock Fender single coils "Jazz" pickups for "Bartolini b-axis J44J-L/S B-Axis 4-string J-Bass Pickup Set" these are a split coil humbucker pickup. It's now the only bass I own. It does it all for me. P-Basses are a one trick pony. Though it's a good trick.

[@NerdNoiseRadio]

P and J are both indispensible instruments in any bassists lineup, I feel! I love em both. Of the four instruments in this video the 61 J-Bass was my favorite, and other than for the picking riffs, I preferred both with flats. In my collection, I have a "real" J, and a P "substitute". I have a 2008 American Standard J-Bass with roundwounds, which I've kept on forever and have let get dark sounding. And while I don't have a proper P-Bass, I have a 1984 (83?) MIJ Electra Westone X-700JB Futura Bass (Matsumoku made) which definitely doesn't look anything at all like a P-Bass in terms of body shape and cosmetics (if you're unfamiliar, go Google it - it's pretty wild), but it is functionally a P-Bass clone with a P-Bass shaped/sized neck/fretboard, and P-style electronics, which I've modified with a late 2000's American standard P pickup. It has Labella "Jamerson" flats on it and a makeshift foam mute. So, the thing looks 80's metal, but sounds 60's Motown. While I can't afford to splurge on an American Standard (or even Mexican Standard) P-Bass, or an additional MIA/MIM J-Bass, I do toy with the idea of maybe picking up a couple Squiers (in the vintage vibe series), so that I can have round and flat tones out of each instrument, or maybe even a third J-Bass to "Jaco" (as opposed to just buying the Squier "Jaco" with the plastic fretboard). Maybe it'll never happen, or maybe It'll be a half measure, like I only get one Squier, and forget the rest. Only time will tell. :-) But to conclude, I don't think one can declare a winner, outside their own personal preference between the two. P is more iconic and prolific, J is more diverse and flexible. Which one wins? Only the individual can decide for themselves. My winner, personally? For looks and feel, I prefer the P-Bass. For sound? I prefer the J-Bass. Overall? I prefer the J, but your mileage may vary, of course. Cheers!

[@mrvantagepro]

Interesting, for looks and feel, I prefer the J, but for sound, I prefer the P. But you can't lose with either.

[@Gordonsmusic911]

Excellent demo. It's definitely the '61 Jbass. It just has that TONE all over the neck. Could it be the flatwounds? (No disrespect to the other ones. They obviously hold their own.)

[@MaoistBanker]

Vintage jazz with tape wounds is my life goal tone sound

[@ClauGutierrezY]

I've been trying to push myself into. P-basses for ages, and call me what you want, but I keep gravitating towards the power, versatility and growl of a jazz bass. I guess you can get the best of both worlds with a J as the neck pick up sounds reasonably close to a P. I'm a MM Stingray guy anyway though 😁

[@McDoinky]

I think Jump Into the Fire was recorded using a Jazz Bass with tapewounds. I know Herbie Flowers used a j bass on nearly everything he’s ever done, and I’m pretty sure it was around those years that he used Rotosound 88 tapes

[@JoeSchuch]

An EXCELLENT survey of classic Fender Bass tone. Thanks!

[@andrewcoates4952]

My first proper bass after a cheap practice one was a P-bass. I judge everything else off of the P-bass now. I know the feel and tone of them and honestly love them. People give the P-bass hate in preference of the Jazz bass and i can most certainly see why, but i love the dull beefiness of them.

[@conterber]

Can you tell me which flatwound strings are you using on the 58' Pbass? They sound amazing.

[@kimseniorb]

did you find out?

[@Ralferator]

Sadly the all had very different strings like flats vs roundwounds - it would have been so interesting to compare all with the same strings.

[@ChrisPC11]

I'm an intermediate guitarist but for some reason, I've been getting a feeling that my higher calling is to be a bassist. I've been digging around for info on bass guitars and came across this video, which was no accident. I think I might go with a Precision Bass but I love the Jazz sound as well. Any recommendations?

[@CC-fi3pp]

I hope you joined our ranks my low frequency brethren.

[@Violetcas97]

I live for a Precision bass with flats.

[@omagodosgraves]

Harris

[@hdmw232]

Is it a very late 61 having 3 knobs and patent numbers ? My June 61 jazz is stack Knob and no pat numbers..

[@jay_thedog_man5169]

I’ll just take a mustang PJ bass. That’s my preferred bass. It has everything I like. Both a jazz and a precision pickup and offset body with a short scale. Just perfect 👌

[@gonzoUAE]

I loved this review and now I have fender flatwounds in my fender 70's jazz bass and I love it!!

[@ksdfg]

That 61 jazz is exactly what I want a good bass to sound......

[@bentpolski]

I must add The 61 Jazz Bass with The flatwounds! John Paul Jones sound exactly! I LOVE that 61!!!

[@bobbarker14]

What’s the signal chain? DI, pre-amp, cab mic? Any external drive added or is this clean?

[@francisdedumo3323]

That vintage Jazzbass is my kind of tone

[@sambaileyandthe]

What brand of flat wounds is he playing on the jazz bass ? Does it matter between different flatwound strings ?

[@altrock86]

I can’t believe it because I have always wanted a jazz bass. I have owned a couple basses in a pj configuration and always wanted a jazz bass but I really really like both p bass in this video

[@OHHnoYOUdidntMAN]

Will you guys ever do a sound tutorial on DIIV? They have an interesting pedalboard to say the least.

[@jaymeramirez7435]

Thanks for posting this. I literally didn’t know much about the differences between the two. I scored a new Classic Vibe Jazz Squier bass this past holiday. 50% off. Bought it cause of the deal. I noticed the differences between the vintage jazz and modern jazz. Wow. That vintage version is too bad ass! But i definitely would have been happy either way. I prefer the two pickups. Seems like I can do more with it. 🤷🏿 I’m so excited. I know the more expensive part is finding the right amp setup. I know this is gonna be very expensive.

[@richsackett3423]

Real bass player demoing basses. What a nice change of pace.

[@Johnnybravo2794]

Is a P-Bass neck really that much harder to play than a Jazz neck? Getting a new bass and am having a hard time choose between the two

[@joel_anderson_t]

I got both Precision and Jazz Basses at home. If your band has a Strat player, I’d go for the P-Bass due to their resemblance.

[@diego2112gaming]

The tone difference between all four is so pronounced and different, anyone who says they can't hear it is clearly deaf. Gods, I love the J-Bass. That '61 sounds just amazing. That said, I'd not trade my MiM '98 P-Bass for anything. At all. Love it. Beast of tone in that baby (but then again, I put '62 Reissue pups in it).

[@Rhythmicons]

It would have been nice to know if those are new strings also.

[@ArtisanLuthiers]

If not stock, what pickups are in each bass?

[@ricklazaroff]

I am so happy that flatwounds are so popular these days. Why? Well, I play a Jazz Bass with EMGs or the original passive p-ups and every time I'm in a recording studio or at a gig, the engineer or soundman proclaim "your bass sounds amazing." With my ancient rackmount Ashly pre-amp pretty well set flat coupled with my J Bass and roundwounds I'm good to go making soundmen very happy in every province of Canada, down to the southern border of that Russian colony called the USA and across the pond throughout Europe.

[@robertobrien2903]

I'd like to hear all of them with the same brand and gauge flat wound strings. I bet there wouldn't be that big a differences between the old ones and new ones .

[@jorgiewtf]

I like the look of the Jazz a little more but the sounds that come out of any p-bass is the growl of the Gods!

[@ewetoo]

What are the holes near the bridge pup, was that a bridge?

[@natebrown5387]

I'm curious what amp he's running through?

[@marcospintor1333]

A bass amp

[@robgray1999]

What kind of flatwounds are on the 61 Jazz?

[@timgomes4810]

is this jazz vs precision, old vs new or flat vs round? also.. SUCH TONES MAN!!!

[@NephtaliValdez]

Whats the recommendation for recording? Can I get a Jazz and fill the gap with pedals? I feel like I would get more versatility from a jazz~ bass.

[@larrylehman751]

What is the difference between precision and jazz necks

[@pacman1789]

Does anyone know which flatwounds he's using on the '61 Jazz?

[@profdrklenk]

YES, Ramble On!!! One of the best basslines ever

[@joegordon7196]

Dr Klenk And that’s exactly what it was played on-jazz bass & flats‼️

[@gissingsen]

Is a precision modern 'C' the same size neck as a Fender Jazz modern 'C'

[@dwightalfred]

Is the Jazz Bass the one that Verdine White plays?

[@user-tw7bs9on7c]

is it me or does a jazz bass sounder better with roundwounds and a p bass sounds better with flat rounds? or is that all down to personal preference?

[@keithklassen5320]

Tom Robinson Legally I'm required to tell you that it's all personal preference, but I totally agree with you.

[@matthewheinecke2621]

I'd totally hire Keith as my bass guitar attorney.

[@andrewmccombs7347]

It's not a personal preference. It's the truth, and anyone who disagrees will go to maximum murder jail very soon... but you won't know when!

[@jyexe525]

I don’t know between the precision American professional and the Sandberg VS4. I need help ^^

[@ThreeMiningHD]

Great Video though! What flats are on the '61 Jazz Bass?

[@Drumsholic]

whats the difference between Fenders Jazz bass American edition vs Made in Mexico edition???

[@sbentsen2714]

You know what this is a hard decision, I like them all!

[@eddieselph7817]

What string brand/gauge was on the vintage Jazz?