P vs J for a three piece band...

[Rip Van Dan]

I posted a couple months back about how much I've been loving my P bass in the band setting. That hasn't changed. However, I'm wondering what people think about the P vs J thing in different scenarios.
For example, I play weekly with a band that has a lead guitar, rhythm/acoustic guitar, a keyboardist, drummer and singer. I also play play weekly with another band that is just a guitarist, a drummer and a singer. And I've been using the P for both for a couple months now.
I love the P in the band with more members. I feel like it hits the fundamentals needed for the setting. But I'm a little less in love with the P in the three piece band. Especially when the guitarist is switching up his pedal sounds to transition songs, or when the guitar is playing a lead/solo and the bass and drums are holding it down. (As opposed to bass, drums, rhythm guitar and keys holding it down.) I personally think a J might sound a little better in that situation. I'm going to experiment a bit, but what does TB say?
Why do you guys like/dislike a P for a small band setting?

Also, I'm looking at expanding my effects usage in the three-piece band. I just don't dig the effects I have with a P bass and flats, as much as I do with a good old J and rounds. We'll see...

Well, since I've only used a passive Jazz Bass since 1966 and since I've played in 2-pc., 3-pc, 4-pc, 5-pc., and 6-pc groups, I like the way it sounds in all of them. I'd go for the Jazz Bass (surprise!!). As an added benefit, it has better neck tan th P-bass too!

 

[wvbass]

Every P guy is going to say P in this situation. Actually P guy will say P in every situation. Power trio? P. Acoustic duo? P. Jaco tribute band? P. Heavy metal instrumental band? P with flats. And so on.
I have and gig both regularly but for my power trio (+singer) I greatly prefer my Stingray. If I had to pick I'd say PJ or Jazz, not a regular P.

P guy here. Nothing wrong with a 'Ray. That's a P bass's baby brother.

Neither P nor J.

Reverse Thunderbird alternating with a Non-reverse Thunderbird.

I like this idea, too. I think they sit somewhere between a P and a J with a band.

Well, since I've only used a passive Jazz Bass since 1966 and since I've played in 2-pc., 3-pc, 4-pc, 5-pc., and 6-pc groups, I like the way it sounds in all of them. I'd go for the Jazz Bass (surprise!!). As an added benefit, it has better neck tan th P-bass too!

A better neck? Easy now! Then again, I forget...what did Noel Redding and John Paul Jones play?

 

[GranSportMan]

There you, you have it all covered with this setup. But man, start bringing the P-bass to some gigs as well.

LOL! Yeah, my Jazz is pretty roached but it plays like butter. I really do like my P too.

 

[GranSportMan]

P/J. Go for it! View attachment 1097434

How do you find the PJ necks in terms of width at the nut and throughout? Are they more like a Jazz or a P? I've never tried one.

 

[MrLenny1]

J bass.
2 PU's and round wounds are more
versatile IMHO.

 

[DD Gunz]

Let's talk about this some more. You know, see how long we can kick this can down the street.

 

[mexicanyella]

Though this horse is now beat to a bloody pulp, I'll chime in anyway. I own a P with TI Rounds, a J with TI flats and a PJ with DR Pure Blue rounds on them. I did a test using Ultimate Guitar's Tab Pro, removing all instruments except for guitar and drums, I played several rock songs from The Doors, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Creedence and several more. I found all three basses did just fine, but more important was the amp. I used my GK MB800 first and then my Mesa Walkabout. The Walkabout with the gain at noon added enough grain and overtones to better fill the mix. But, if I had to choose one of the basses, it was the P with TI Rounds. There's huge love for TI flats on TB, but I rarely see their Rounds mentioned and they're just fantastic. So, the moral of the story is, to better fill the mix, think about adding some hair to your tone.

Definitely this (again factoring in my limited experience). Because I'm fumbling around, trying to get up to speed on what works for me in a band with bass gear, I am cranking the schatz out of my older Peavey TKO 115/Scorpion, and once I said Foog it and quit being a pansy with the gain knob, wow, a little dirt on a P sounds pretty cool against a distorted guitar.

"A little dirt" in this case doesn't sound like metally bass clank fuzz; it's just a little more harmonic activity up top and more slam down low. With a passive P, high gain input and pre gain dimed, using the EQ settings I've arrived at through extensive research, it's pretty loud but not mushed out or fuzzy. I guess the gain on the older TKO is pretty conservative. I do notice increasing compression as I crank it up and wonder if that's DDT in action or just the Scorpion being pushed hard. But after I play like that for awhile if I go back to a cleaner, lower-gain sound I really miss that gain being up there.

Re: neck width; I thought my P's neck felt like a big ole log at first, but now even my short-ish, thick fingers feel at home on it and when I play a bass with a narrower and/or thinner neck it feels weird and cramped. I guess you can get used to just about anything if you remove some options and just make yourself do it.

 

[Scootbass1]

I have gone a few years without a Fender in the herd so I decided to assemble one to my preferences. I ended up putting a lawsuit Modulus J bass neck with a 21 fret overhang fretboard on a fully loaded Fender Duff body and a Hipshot KickAss bridge. So I ended up with a nice passive P/J bass that has an ultra stable neck. I like Jazz bass necks and the P/J configuration. I use the pickups individually and together, depends on what sounds best for the song. Here is a phone pic of the bass.