Can a Jazz Bass sound like a Precision Bass?

Short answer: Not exactly, but can get close.

This is a very frequently asked question, and is usually answered as:

• Solo / emphasize the neck pickup
• Get a stronger neck pickup
• Run pickups in series
• Boost your low-mids

In my experience, those approaches can make a J bass occupy the same sonic spectrum like a P bass. But it won’t sound the same.

Compared to a P pickup, Jazz pickups are thin pickups with a different placement, which means that they capture a narrower & different sonic spectrum and have different natural overtones. That means a different timbre / tone.

To a certain extent, neck difference affects the output as well.

But if that’s close enough for you, fine! Many players get by just fine that way.

Here is a much more detailed explanation.

Advertisement