Loving the P-Bass but favouring a Jazz Bass for live gigs?

[Syl_Funky_bass]

Are there any other bass players who own one or several Precision basses and love them for their great (recording) qualities but still favour Jazz basses for live playing (for versatility reasons)?

I have a 4-string & a 5-string Precision both strung with TI flats. I love how they sound and sit in the mix and use them for 75% of the recordings I do
BUT
for the remaining 25% of songs where I need more brightness and bite, I prefer using one of my Jazz basses (4 or 5-string).
I feel that in a live context getting a sound close to a "P-Bass with flats" sound using a Jazz bass is easier than getting a bright slap sound with some bite using a P-Bass with flats...
Of course here I'm talking about a live situation where I'm only using one bass. I tend to consider it more as a hassle having to switch basses in the middle of a set, with all the risks and loss of time related to it. I might be wrong though...

 

[two fingers]

Just like what you like and don't sweat it.

 

[Jeremy Crockett]

Use what you need/like in the situations that call for what you have.

 

[Syl_Funky_bass]

Just like what you like and don't sweat it.

Sorry, I don't get your answer...
Thanks anyways.

 

[Syl_Funky_bass]

What I'm asking:

1. Are there any other players here in the same situation as me.
+
2. Implicit question concerning switching instruments live and experiences.

 

[Syl_Funky_bass]

I sure feel free to like what I like. Thanks for the tip anyways.

 

[two fingers]

Sorry, I over simplified.

1) Nobody will be in the identical same situation as you.

2) Nobody will sweat your switching basses. It'll be fine. Figure out how to do it fairly quickly. Guitar players do it all the time and nobody stresses over it (other than over-thinking bass players).

But the bigger point is this. If you prefer your J basses live, what's the problem? If your J basses get close enough for rock n roll to a thumpy P bass (and they do) just play the Js and don't sweat it.

 

[buldog5151bass]

P bass with flats is great for what it is, but it's limited. P bass with nickel rounds handles almost everything (same with a Jazz).

 

[Nedmundo]

Overall, I think it's similar for me, but not quite the same. I usually prefer J-basses over P-basses, whether live or recording, but I use P-basses a slightly higher percentage of the time for recording. I've sometimes considered selling my one P-bass, a G&L SB-2, but then something comes up for which it is absolutely perfect, and I come to my senses. For example, in 2019 I was in a Stones cover band project, and had it succeeded, I think I would have played the SB-2 the vast majority of the time.

 

[Syl_Funky_bass]

Sorry, I over simplified.

1) Nobody will be in the identical same situation as you.

2) Nobody will sweat your switching basses. It'll be fine. Figure out how to do it fairly quickly. Guitar players do it all the time and nobody stresses over it (other than over-thinking bass players).

But the bigger point is this. If you prefer your J basses live, what's the problem? If your J basses get close enough for rock n roll to a thumpy P bass (and they do) just play the Js and don't sweat it.

Thanks!

 

[jeffb28451]

Yes. Have USA ‘62 Vintage with flats that I really like, but multiple j basses with rounds for live. I have various amps and cabs and MAYBE , in a really bright room with decent acoustics, I’d use the p, but Js are my live, “ go to” basses. I don’t quite understand why folks seem to be having a problem with your question, but that’s my $.02 worth.

 

[Jefenator]

I have experienced basses that sound great on recordings but seem kind of dead, onstage.

There are things you can do about that, though. My P-bass seems annoyingly tame through certain amps, but with a "bright" circuit and some tube distortion it's a whole different beast.

My J can get more lively without outboard assistance, and it is my overall favorite for tone. But I do enjoy the simplicity of one pickup / vol / tone so I still play entire gigs on just the P.

I've been known to switch basses mid-set - it is certainly doable. I probably wouldn't do it just to go between a P and a J - I would use it for more pronounced changes, like fretted & fretless, active 5-string & hollowbody. Or of course going acoustic on some songs with an upright or ABG.

 

[Al Rivera]

This is why I like my p/j basses! Sometimes a precision is just not enough, especially in live situations.

 

[fretlessbass]

I tend to feel the opposite (although my P- and J- basses are G&Ls):
Usually prefer the P bass live most of the time.
I’ll often bring both to the sound check; strap on the J first, then the P: I almost always end up gigging the latter.
The one consistent exception is when I do big band gigs: The JB2 always cuts better to me with all those horns, probably because Ps have a lot of the same accentuated mids as the horns.
BTW: I never use flats; when I need thump, and I often do, I go for palm muting:
I love the sound of flats; I just need more flexibility tone-wise, and never do the kind of gigs where bass switching would be tolerated!

 

[bassdude51]

Strings!

D'Addario Chromes. GHS Pressure Wounds. Go with the lightest gauge they make. I also use TI Flats for nearly all of my basses. Recently, I tried a set of GHS Pressure Wounds 40-96 on a Jack Casady Bass. WOW! Best of both worlds. Round wound brightness (subdued) and easier on the fingers than rounds. I use the passive tone knob for getting my flat or flatish sound.

(D'Addario Chromes are flats with a slight bright edge. It can controlled with the tone knob.)

Strings!

 

[bassliner50]

My Jazz was always prone to hum from ambient electric induction. There for I use my Precision strung with .050-.105 Stainless Steel. Very satisfying.

 

[lermgalieu]

I get where you’re coming from. P bass is a no-brainer for a majority of what I record these days. Fits well with almost everything my rock band does too. But the J works fine for those songs in a live situation, and as you say, it has some other tones on tap as needed.

 

[Geri O]

It’s really easy to have both basses with you on live gigs and switch as you see fit. On my gigs, I’ll carry two of the 3 basses I own. Usually a Jazz style bass or a Stingray (it’s getting heavy, so not sure how much longer that will last) and a Precision-style bass. On my little pedalboard, I have a DI, a tuner and I use a TC Mini-Spark for a little gain boost for the Stingray, if it’s there. The guys in all the bands know that I may switch basses at some point and are really good about vamping the intro for a few seconds until I’m ready to go.

Personally, I use stainless steel strings on everything (and I will play slap-style on a P bass, thank you very much…), but set up the basses your way.

Switching basses on the gig can be really easy and quick. And believe it or not, I can and sometimes do an entire gig on one bass.

 

[Jeff K]

I'm just the opposite, although I do LOVE Jazz Basses. Love the neck width, the look, and the sound. When I'm sitting at home playing along with a CD or something, I usually grab a Jazz.

But if I'm playing out with a band, I almost always grab a P-Bass. Just seems to sit better in a band situation (to my ears). But of course it's all subjective. Few things in life sounded better than John Paul Jones's Jazz in "What Is And What Should Never Be" or "The Lemon Song"!!

 

[MCS4]

I'm just going to jump in to confirm that switching basses during a gig is no big deal as long as you prepare yourself during setup to make it easy and fast. It shouldn't take more than a few seconds.