Who plays a Fender Precision Bass?

It would be trite to say that everyone plays a Fender Precision Bass but, really, everyone plays a Precision Bass. The P Bass has become ‘the’ iconic electric bass guitar and, for many bassists, if they can only take one bass to a session, they take a P Bass. One of the most iconic players to use a P Bass was James Jamerson, who cut hundreds of hit Motown songs using one. The P Bass has been used extensively in everything from punk to metal, prog to pop.

Which Fender Precision Bass is best?

Finding the perfect Precision Bass for you is a very personal process. The first question to ask yourself is if you want something which feels and sounds like a vintage instrument or a modern one. For old school kicks, the American Original Series is wonderful, with instruments from the 50s and 60s replicated with love and plenty of mojo .If you’d prefer something all singing and dancing with passive and active circuits and an emphasis on versatility, the American Ultra Series is the one for you.

Why is it called a Precision Bass?

It is called a Precision Bass because of the frets. When the Precision Bass was introduced in 1951, its main market was double bass players. Having frets was seen to give a more precise intonation of each note whilst also giving a brighter sound.

What is the difference between a Fender Precision and Jazz Bass?

In the series of Fender basses, there are several differences between a Fender Precision Bass and a Fender Jazz Bass. For starters, the body shapes are different. The Fender Jazz Bass is an offset model which means that the waist of the body is asymmetrical. In terms of sound, a P Bass has one split coil neck pickup which is famous for an authoritative, rumbling bass. The Jazz Bass has two pickups, which are brighter, and is known for having a cutting upper midrange. The P Bass has a chunky neck with a wide nut width whereas the Jazz Bass has a slim neck with a narrow nut width.