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I'm sure the various bass players on this forum will tell you otherwise, but the real difference between a p-bass and a j-bass is that one has a "p" in front of the word "bass" and the other has a "j". The bass guitar is a simple and jolly thing. Rather like bass playes. So long as it has frets and only four strings (none of this 6-string bass shit, per-lease!) it'll be fine.

Either combo in your links looked okay - but make sure that the amp has a "gain" control or else get a distortion peddle. That's the best way to get a truly nasty growl out of the instrument, which is why God gave us the bass guitar in the first place.

a guitar nerd writes again:

i can't really advise as to what you should get beyond a bit of general advice which is: go to a shop and try a few things before ordering. i'm sure you find some good deals and even if you do decide to buy sight unseen off the internet you will have a chance to do a bit of comparison first.

the difference between p and j is thus:

the "p" stands for precision. and J"" stands for jazz.

before leo fender introduced the solid bodied electric guitar as we know it in the form of the esquire and telecaster (then called broadcaster) he made and sold lap-steel guitars but also introduced the first fretted electric bass guitar in the late 40s. this was known as the precision bass. or p-bass for short. precision refers to the fact that it had frets as opposed to the fretess upright basses that were all that was available at the time.

the original design had an uncountoured slab body shaped a bit like a telecaster and one single coil pickup, but was quickly modified to the shape it still retains today like an elongated stratocaster with two cutaways and smooth contours for your ribs and forearm) and with a single powerfull split humbucker pickup.

the "j" is for "jazz" bass. the j-bass came later (late 50s i think) and has the same body shape but instead of the wonking split humbucker it has 2 lower-output single coil pickups, with seperate volume contols, a much narrower neck (strings closer together) and a darker coloured rosewood fretboard. jazz players didn't really take to it preferring to stick with their uprights but it still did alright and probably sells more than the p-bass these days.

basically:

p-bass -

alder or ash offset double cut-away body with contours.
bolt-on maple neck with maple slab fingerboard. wide string spacing.
one split humbucker pickup
one volume and one tone control
4 saddle fully adjustable chrome bridge

simple, powerful and a warm thumpy bottom end. used by james jamerson, sid vicious and pretty much everyone in between.

j - bass

body same as the p-bass
narrower bolt-on maple neck with rosewood fingerboard
two single coil pickups
dedicated seperate volume controls on chrome plate.
same bridge as the p bass.

versatile, glassy and sweet sounding. famously used by twiddly prog jazz nerd jaco pastorius, john paul jones from led zep and pretty much everybody in any band i've seen in the last 10 years. i can only assume because they look slightly cooler than p-basses.

personally though i think you can't really beat the solid bottom end thump you get from a p-bass (i'm trying to find a good second hand one at the moment). but j basses are way cool too. jlord has a very nice one.

good luck with your hunt.

al.

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Back off Warchild, seriously.

http://elvers.bandcamp.com/

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GREENFORD ROCK CITY!

Well, I'm sure I'd feel much worse if I weren't under such heavy sedation.

As long as there's sex and drugs, I can do without the Rock 'n' Roll....

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I made my mind up back in Chelsea, when I go I'm going like Elsie

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GREENFORD ROCK CITY!

Well, I'm sure I'd feel much worse if I weren't under such heavy sedation.

As long as there's sex and drugs, I can do without the Rock 'n' Roll....

a single coil pickup has a lower output and cleaner glassier tone but as a design they are prone to picking up interferance from lights and wiring etc. not really a problem with basses to be honest but there you go. the j bass has two of these one more bassy and one more trebly and you can mix them together with the two volume controls making it arguably more versatile.

the "problem" of pickups errr.. picking up hum was got round by having basically 2 single coils stuck together with opposite polarities. this gives higher output (they're louder) and cancels out hum. they "buck" it. hence "humbucker". the p bass one of these type pickups. with one volume control.

there is no inherrant "better" for a beginner as such. just go with whatever feels and sounds best to you, i really can't advise further than that. they're both great designs.

_________________
Back off Warchild, seriously.

http://elvers.bandcamp.com/

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sometimes I write things....

_________________
Back off Warchild, seriously.

http://elvers.bandcamp.com/

It should be pointed out that Fender aren't the only people in the world who make basses - nor are the Jazz or Precision the only two types of bass out there.

There's also this, for example:



And let's not forget these:



They'll set you back a bit, however, but they are fun to play.

And I have one of these:



I don't like the looks, but it didn't cost much and it's easy as hell to play.

too right. i've got one of these.

_________________
Back off Warchild, seriously.

http://elvers.bandcamp.com/

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Tall, moustachioed alcoholic - plays firewood with a bow.

Yeah, but they probably didn't want to play the bass. They may have had it thrust upon them. McCartney took it up because nobody else wanted to and he's one of the finest rock bassists who ever lived.

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If Ian Curtis had lived, and enjoyed the ale…

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