Yes - I considered myself a PBass guy until a couple years ago when I got my 67 Jazz. I knew immediately it was special. I still have my 59 PBass, but it usually stays in the closet.
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Loving the P-Bass but favouring a Jazz Bass for live gigs?
- Thread starter Syl_Funky_bass
- Start date
When you are recording you should play the instrument that works well in there. When you are performing you should play the instrument that works well up there. Those are different environments and different functions, therefore it is logical that an instrument may work better in one place than in the other.
There are too many people here and elsewhere who declare that only their preferred instrument works and that all others are trash. Those people are usually ignoring that there are many musicians successfully recording and performing with those other instruments. Use your ears and your understanding and you’ll choose well.
There are too many people here and elsewhere who declare that only their preferred instrument works and that all others are trash. Those people are usually ignoring that there are many musicians successfully recording and performing with those other instruments. Use your ears and your understanding and you’ll choose well.
Play what you have. Play what you like.
I'd seriously doubt any member of your band, let alone your audience would know the difference between a P or a J, flats or rounds.
The only person at your gig who even knows the difference between bright and dark bass tones is named You.
If you want to experiment with strings and only 1 bass try a set of TI flats on one. They are obviously rich flats but they have brighter overtones and when you dial up the tone/treble they will slap quite nicely.
I'd seriously doubt any member of your band, let alone your audience would know the difference between a P or a J, flats or rounds.
The only person at your gig who even knows the difference between bright and dark bass tones is named You.
If you want to experiment with strings and only 1 bass try a set of TI flats on one. They are obviously rich flats but they have brighter overtones and when you dial up the tone/treble they will slap quite nicely.
I switch between an upright and a P bass. I pretty much use the P for a song or two because I brought it. Nobody cares when I switch because I do it quickly, with the volume knob on the P already set to match the upright. It’s nice to have a backup, just in case, might as well carry both
If you like the J-bass, play it. Change strings, and throw a foam mute under the strings if you need to when you want thump instead of bright.
Problem solved.
Problem solved.
I think the deal with the preference of JB for gigs is the nice built in mid hump as opposed to the gradual bloom of the PB which makes easier to hear in the ensemble. Having been primarily a PB player for decades, and when I bought my son a JB, I noticed that difference. About 16 years ago I got a PJ and that solved any need to switch instruments.
Depends on the band. Right now it’s mostly blues trio and country. P bass fits. Every so often a heavier blues song comes along where it’s nice to have a PJ but not necessary.
Ive been in heavier bands (larger blues bands, funk, heavy rock) where a bridge pickup is necessary; either PJ or J is cool with me!
Ive been in heavier bands (larger blues bands, funk, heavy rock) where a bridge pickup is necessary; either PJ or J is cool with me!
Using one bass for gigs and another for recording is a fairly common thing. I prefer to gig with my MMSR5 but record with either my p-bass 5 or j-bass 5 or even my Lak 5502 depending on the project.
My limited experience with these style basses is that I owned a P/J: a swiss-army knife of tone and style. I felt that it both sat well in the mix and loved it for live playing. I regret having sold it. I have several j-style basses now and and a Ray. All great. None of them will ever replace that p/J. This is why I want another P/J.
I remember awhile ago there being a "P Bass for recording/ Jazz for live" discussion... my band mates prefer my P Bass on stage, but knowledgeable listeners often tell me the Jazz (fretless) projects better to the audience... most of the stages i play with 6 or more members, im barely left with enough room for 1 bass and small rig
I'll swap basses if it's necessary, not just because I want something different to entertain myself. As long as you're not adding dead space between songs, go for it.
I always bring both to shows.
Sometimes the rooms might just be too boomy and you really need to enhance the mids. In the boomy type loud rooms a
P Bass pretty much gets lost and a J Bass usually solves the problem.
Sometimes the rooms might just be too boomy and you really need to enhance the mids. In the boomy type loud rooms a
P Bass pretty much gets lost and a J Bass usually solves the problem.
I hugely favor Gibson thunderbird’s and Rickenbacker basses, but if I had to grab and go on stage, I would very likely grab my jazz. It is easily a backup if I take two.
Agreed. Switching is not a prob at all. ESPECIAILLY easy if it's a planned switch, and the band can"vamp" for you , as someone already mentioned, during the change. We play outdoor gigs almost exclusively, and changing temperatures and sun exposure require tune-ups mid-set as well.
Same as me, before I (stupidly) sold my DB. And . . . the visual of switching between the two in itself is interesting for many in the audience.
Right. Or you can switch during any song where the bass doesn't start playing on the first bar (which is a lot of songs). Or while any other band member talks to the crowd, even if only briefly enough to introduce the next tune.
Geri O
Endorsing Artist, Mike Lull Guitars and Basses
And let the front-person or bandleader know, don’t wait on me to kick it off.
In the horn band I’m in (where I very seldom switch basses in a set), the bandleader, instead of kicking off the tune, was yelling at me, Let’s GO, let’s GO! for all of 5 seconds. I told the drummer, kick it off now! Later, I told him, never ever wait on me or anyone else, kick the tune off. He was happy to oblige and the bandleader, as good and experienced as he is, learned something that night.
In the horn band I’m in (where I very seldom switch basses in a set), the bandleader, instead of kicking off the tune, was yelling at me, Let’s GO, let’s GO! for all of 5 seconds. I told the drummer, kick it off now! Later, I told him, never ever wait on me or anyone else, kick the tune off. He was happy to oblige and the bandleader, as good and experienced as he is, learned something that night.
And for those feeling adventurous, they make a lot of other basses besides Ps and Js. 
you could structure your set lists so any songs requiring bass changes all occur in the same set so you could change basses on break between sets.
Or…
You can put an A/B Box in your chain and just drop the P, pick up the J and stomp the switch.
Or…
You could put in a tuner pedal with a bypass and stomp it, unplug, switch basses, plug in, stomp it, and play.
Or…
If you want to get silly, set up two separate rigs with standby switches, then flip the standby on the rig you are using, swap basses, flip the standby switch on the bass you picked up, and play.
I use a J bass and I’ve played everything from hillbilly string band to guitar driven r&r and have yet to have anyone gripe or ask me to play a different bass.
my only experience with being asked to bring two basses was a BL who wanted to know if I had another bass. He said it looked more professional if there were extra instruments on stage.
Or…
You can put an A/B Box in your chain and just drop the P, pick up the J and stomp the switch.
Or…
You could put in a tuner pedal with a bypass and stomp it, unplug, switch basses, plug in, stomp it, and play.
Or…
If you want to get silly, set up two separate rigs with standby switches, then flip the standby on the rig you are using, swap basses, flip the standby switch on the bass you picked up, and play.
I use a J bass and I’ve played everything from hillbilly string band to guitar driven r&r and have yet to have anyone gripe or ask me to play a different bass.
my only experience with being asked to bring two basses was a BL who wanted to know if I had another bass. He said it looked more professional if there were extra instruments on stage.