Vs

P BASS VS J BASS
The Ultimate Buyers Guide

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FENDER PRECISION BASS HEADSTOCK
It’s an amazing testament to Leo Fender’s ideas and design that despite all the world’s MACHINEHEADS Check for major
cracks or damage.
Open gear
advancements, the P-Bass is still one of the best-selling instruments in music today. This is the machineheads work
forever unless abused.
bass guitar that started it all. In just its raw state it offers such a wide range of different tones, Look out for sloppy
repairs with oversized
and depending what kind of music you play, by using the tone control you can near enough retaining screws.
make it sound any way you want it to. Often copied, but never bettered, the Precision’s
erstwhile simplicity in terms of construction and electronics means that it’s robust enough to
handle all the rigours of worldwide road life and still come up with the goods. Plus, studio
engineers absolutely love them.
NECK/FRETBOARD
Should be near
straight when looking
along the edge

BUYING TIPS towards the body.

Check fret wear.

Well, original spec is always best: try to buy one as it left the factory, especially if it’s a USA
model, though well-fitted pickup upgrades on Japanese versions are also a good thing. More
recent USA models are strung-through from the rear of the body, arguably improving tone, as
per ‘50s models, but – overall – a good original P-bass is a bass for life.
BODY
Look for bad
repairs or paint PICKUP
jobs. Check that the

THINGS TO REMEMBER…
Should be original:
volume and tone check the condition
controls work OK. of the height
adjustment screws.
 They can be heavy with wide necks and wide string spacing.
 Check the headstock for major cracks (the odd battle scar is OK).
 Extra retro-fitted pickups will reduce rather than increase value.
BRIDGE
 Look for bad paint jobs and make sure the neck plate retains the four main screws. Original bridges
look flimsy, but they
 For price: mid-late ‘70s give vintage-esque tones, but watch build quality. work surprisingly
well. Check
condition of the
adjusting screws.

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FENDER JAZZ BASS HEADSTOCK
Leo’s brilliant
assymetric design.
Launched in 1960 as an ‘upmarket’ Precision, the Fender Jazz set a scorching pace which no other bass Dents, chips and battle
scars welcome.
has managed to emulate. While few knew quite what to make of the Fender Precision when it was
launched in 1951, by the time the Jazz Bass was released a decade later the Fender brand had reached a
global audience. John Entwistle was an early UK endorsee, as was Noel Redding, who was rarely seen
without his sunburst Jazz Bass with the Jimi Hendrix Experience. The Beatles used a Jazz Bass on Abbey
Road, Larry Graham pioneered his new slap technique on a Jazz with Sly Stone, and then there’s Jaco, NECK PLATE
Check the main
Marcus Miller… the list goes on and on. In summary, a legend, easily set for another 60 years. neck screws to
NECK/FRETBOARD see if they’ve
been used a lot.

BUYING TIPS
Pre-CBS versions had unbound The condition of
rosewood boards with clay the cross-head
dots. Bound edges and block slots will indicate
The first sought-after Jazz Bass used two stacked volume/tone dual concentric controls, which was inlays were introduced in the repeated neck
mid-’60s. removal. Ask why.
later changed to independent volume controls for each pickup and a master tone control. The
early ‘60s ‘stack knob’ models fetch serious money. Some unbelievably sloppy neck fits in over-
machined body recesses did for the mid-‘70s models. Plus, quality lightweight wood choice was
non-existent. Some good ones got through (just ask Marcus Miller) but choose carefully. Fender
have since re-discovered the value of a good Jazz Bass, and quality reissues are abound. Japanese
versions of the ’62 dot neck are great value, and they come in cool custom colours like Sonic Blue!
PICKUP
Two single-coil
BODY double-poled units.
The bridge pickup

THINGS TO REMEMBER… Chrome cover

plates on bridge
and pickup are nice
on its own offers
funk tone heaven!

 A Jazz Bass will sound perfect with any decent valve amp. to have. Also check
the neck/body joint
 Pre-CBS versions are often cited as the best basses ever made. is tight and secure.
CONTROLS
 Check production quality on late ‘70s models. The first Jazz Bass used
two stacked volume/
 For value: reissues of the 1962 ‘dot neck’ Jazz are really great buys. tone knobs, which was
changed in the early
 As ever, originality and condition is all important. ‘60s to two volume and
a master tone.

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