10 Best P Basses with Jazz Necks in 2023 (A Taste of Both Worlds!)

For a very long time, in the world of bass guitars, there has always been a versus between jazz and precision basses. However, none of these two amazing basses has so far managed to win [even slightly] this age-long versus.

This is because both basses have their place in history and practical usage. There are two opposite edges that perform their unique functions amazingly well. With different neck profiles, neck widths, and unique tonal characters, it is impossible to place one above the other.

The precision bass has a thick body and a very chunky neck profile; it has that powerful, full-range, boomy and “cutting” sound that works just fine for different styles and genres.

However, it has its setbacks, too. The P Bass is a big instrument; it is quite chunky in nature. Introduced in 1960, the Jazz Bass (J Bass), on the other hand, leans a lot more towards ergonomics. Its neck profile, shape and body contours are designed to give the utmost comfort to the player.

It features a slimmer neck that allows the player more freehand and some more speed. Tonally, the Jazz bass gives you more powerful mid and high frequencies, unlike the P Bass which focuses a lot more on the lows.

However, there are players who still prefer the P Bass the same way they are players who will go all out for the J Bass. On the other side, there are also players who would love to have a taste of both worlds—call it greed if you wish—-after all, you can always have it all if you wish to.

These players would love to have the tone of the P Bass but the neck, ergonomics and feel of the J Bass. Fortunately, for folks like this, there are some amazing P Basses with Jazz necks.

In this article, we will bring to you 10 amazing P Basses with Jazz necks. It doesn’t matter your style or level of play, there will be something for you. Just read on!

Table of Contents

10 P Basses with Jazz Necks

Review of 10 P Basses with Jazz Necks

Fender Deluxe Active Precision Bass Special

Getting a P Bass with a jazz neck straight from the factory can be difficult. Luckily Fender released the Deluxe Active Precision Bass Special as a hybrid P Bass.

The Deluxe Active Precision has a C-shaped jazz neck with a 1.5-inch nut. It also comes with 2 pickups, a vintage-style split-coil Precision Bass pickup in the middle position and a Vintage Noiseless Jazz Bass pickup at the bridge.

Thanks to this configuration, the tones on the Fender Deluxe are much brighter than the standard Fender P Bass. The neck is smooth and easy to navigate, even for quick, nimble playing, and the pickups are completely noiseless.

The control system includes a three-band active EQ with treble, mid, and bass controls that let you mould your sound however desired. Not to mention, each control comes with a boost that lets you shape it or cut it out completely.

You can get a clear feel of the tone and the sound of this bass in the youtube video below:

Pros	Cons
Both P Bass and Jazz bass pickups	Expensive
Versatile sound	Hard to find
Great sustain

Fender Custom Shop Postmodern Precision Bass

The Fender Custom Shop Postmodern P Bass is another great release from Fender with a jazz neck. Several P Basses in the Postmodern series come with a jazz neck, like the journey relick and the NOS.

The Postmodern series is known for blending different bass components from vintage and modern basses to get the ultimate blend.

The Custom Shop Postmodern P Bass has an Adler P Bass body and a 60s quarter-sawn Jazz Bass neck. The neck feels great, smooth to handle, and pretty thin with a 9.5 radius. It is gentle on the wrists.

This P Bass is sometimes referred to as the ultimate gigging bass with its 62 P Bass pickup that brings the thunder tone Fender is known for and is a monster for gigging and recording.

The rosewood fret has medium jumbo frets and hand-wound Texas Special bridge pickup. With this bass, you only get 2 controls; the volume and the tone.

Thanks to the RSD bass bridge, this bass has a good sustain on the notes. You can string through the bridge or the body.

This bass is great for multiple playing techniques and genres, and you can get a nice old-school P Bass sound or a bright, jazzy sound.

Pros	Cons
Great sustain	Expensive
Lots of tone versatility	Only 2 controls for the volume and the tone.

Duff McKagan Precision Bass

If you’re a serious rock head, then the name Duff Mckagan must have sparked something in you.

The Duff McKagan Precision Bass is a signature model bass guitar inspired by and designed in collaboration with Duff McKagan, the bassist of the legendary rock band Guns N’ Roses.

This Bass guitar is based on the ‘80s Jazz Bass Special he used while recording Appetite for Destruction. The slim jazz neck is pretty stable, and the frets sit comfortably on it.

This P Bass is built to meet all the demands of rock music and playing techniques. The Duff McKagan Precision Bass typically features a solid body made of alder or ash.

The bass has a custom Seymour Duncan pickup in the middle position. This pickup is specially designed to deliver a powerful and punchy tone reminiscent of Duff McKagan’s signature sound.

It also comes with a cool switch feature that tunes your lowest string to with er E or automatically.

Pros	Cons
Both P Bass and Jazz bass pickups	Expensive
Automatic E and D tuner switch

Kiesel Carvin PB4

The Kiesel Carvin PB4 is a custom bass made by Kiesel, formerly known as Carvin. The PB4 model is designed to provide a modern take on the classic Precision Bass (P Bass) design, offering enhanced features and customization possibilities.

One of the standout features of Kiesel Guitars is that you can customize your bass when you order it with extensive customization options.

You can choose from various finishes, woods, neck profiles, fingerboard materials, pickups, electronics, hardware, and other customization options. It allows players to tailor the instrument to their preferences and needs, including adding a jazz neck.

Additional features include a Carvin Guitars bass bridge with adjustable lockdown saddles and strings-through-body or top loading. This bass is more of a jazz bass than a P Bass and comes with a J pickup on the bridge, giving it more range.

It also comes in a very attractive lime green colour that is fretless if you fancy that kind of thing.

The mail order and delivery period can be a challenge to many players since this bass is custom-made, but luckily, Kiesel offers a 10-day trial to ensure that the bass you get is the right fit for you.

You can get a quick preview of how it sounds in the youtube video below. Review Demo – Carvin PB4 Bass

Pros	Cons
Very customizable on purchase	Expensive
Excellent sustain on notes	It may take a long time to be delivered

Squier Standard Precision Bass Special

It’s a wonder how a bass can simultaneously be standard and special. Nevertheless, the Squier Standard Precision Bass special is good for a P Bass with a jazz neck.

This bass is the definition of the best of both worlds. Since Squier is a subsidiary of Fender, you can expect the same quality and style as Fender for a cheaper price, and it has all the best qualities of a P Bass and a Jazz bass.

The Standard Precision Bass Special typically has a maple neck, known for its stability and bright tonal qualities.

The neck profile is usually a modern “C” shape, offering a comfortable playing experience for various hand sizes. It also has a split-coil Precision Bass pickup in the middle position and a single-coil Jazz Bass pickup in the bridge position.

If you’re on a budget but still looking for a good P Bass with jazz, this is the perfect option.

You can get a feel of both the highs and lows of the bass in the youtube video below:

Pros	Cons
Affordable	Materials are not high-end like the Fender counterparts.
Great for beginners and intermediate players

Fender MIM P Bass Special

The Fender MIM P Bass is part of the Player series of Fender produced in their factory in Ensenada, Mexico. The MIM is an affordable yet high-quality instrument that captures the essence of classic Fender designs.

This P Bass comes with a slim, maple Jazz Bass neck profile which, combined with the P Bass body, offers players a unique blend of features and characteristics from both bass models.

This bass comes with both a P pickup and a J pickup. The P Bass pickups give a nice classic P Bass tone, while the J pickups add more to the top ends, especially if you enjoy slapping. When blended, you’ll get lovely tones for a good bass solo.

However, some reviews online describe these 2 pickups as lacking in harmony. If you ever decide to get one, you might want to switch out the pickups for a better one.

If you’re curious about how this bass sounds, then check out the video below:

Pros	Cons
Great value for money	Discontinued model, so it’s hard to find
Nice blend of tones	The stock pickguard might be too bulky
Flexible sound

Mike Lull P 4

Designed by Mike Lull himself, the Mike Lull P4 Bass offers the option of a jazz neck, which is a notable departure from the standard P Bass neck.

It allows for faster and more agile playing, particularly suited for players with sleeker neck profiles. It is also considered one of the most comfortable necks on a P Bass.

The fingerboard is usually rosewood or maple, providing a smooth playing surface. The bass is equipped with custom-wound pickups designed by Mike Lull himself.

The P4 model often features a split-coil Precision Bass pickup in the middle, delivering the iconic fat and punchy P Bass tone. This P Bass also has extra features you won’t find on most basses, like the hipshot Ultralite tuners and an adjustable bridge.

You can get a pretty good idea of what it sounds like in the Youtube video below:

Pros	Cons
Comfortable neck	Expensive
Both P Bass and Jazz bass pickups

Peavey Fury P Bass

Peavey is a renowned American manufacturer of musical instruments, including bass guitars, and has had a wide variety of bass guitar models over the years, catering to different musical styles and player preferences.

However, the Peavey Fury is their only P Bass with a jazz neck. The P Bass body of the Peavey Fury is made from Western Poplar, and it comes with a jazz bass neck with a 1.5-inch nut and adjustable torsion rod strings that are strong and durable.

The bass also has a split coil humbucking pickup that provides high power, great response, and overtones from the strings.

It has 2 controls for the volume and tone, which is all you need in a P Bass. You can adjust the torsion rod, pickup, and string intonation to suit your playing style.

Pros	Cons
Affordable	Not a lot of controls
Solid tone, thanks to the humbucking pickup

Lakland Skyline 44-60 Custom

The 44-64 model pays homage to the classic P Bass design, incorporating modern features and craftsmanship.

This model features an ash P Bass body with a flat sawn maple jazz neck that will have your hands feeling comfortable wrapped around.

The neck has a maple fretboard with 20 frets, Pearloid/Abalone Block Inlays, and a 1.5-inch nut width.

It combines the classic P Bass design with a sleeker and faster-playing jazz neck profile, offering a blend of vintage and modern characteristics.

It has Lakland Vintage J Single-Coil Pickup at the neck and another at the bridge. Therefore, it may not offer much tonal variety, but lack of volume won’t be an issue. It also has the option for the strings through the body or the bridge.

Unlike the traditional P Bass sound, this bass has a much cleaner sound, but the pickups grow more than a modern Fender. It’s something you need to consider if it fits your preferences.

Pros	Cons
String through body or bridge option	Pricey
Comfortable slim neck	Not a lot of tonal variety
	Pretty heavy

Lakland Duck Dunn

Lakeland also offers another P Bass model with the Jazz bass neck called the Lakland Duck Dunn, modelled after famous bassist Duck, a key member of the Blues Brothers Band and one of the world’s preeminent players.

The sleek design of this bass comes with an Alder P Bass body and a tung oiled maple jazz neck with a 1.5 nut width.

These 2 combined maintain the enormous punch that P Basses with a split pickup is known for and the comfort of a slimmer neck.

The split pickup is a hand-wound pickup that delivers a solid bass tone that can only be described as “Pure P Bass”.

This bass is a great selection in our list of P Basses with a jazz neck and is worth a try.

Pros	Cons
Strings through the body or top-loading options	Pricey
The neck is very comfortable.	Frets might be too thin for some players.
	Pretty heavy for a bass

Difference Between P Bass and Jazz Bass; How Different Are Their Necks?

The P Bass, short for Precision Bass, and the Jazz Bass, are popular bass guitars first introduced by Fender. There are some notable differences between them, the main one being the shape of the neck.

Leo Fender came up with the Precision bass ( P Bass) in 1951 and named it so because of its precise intonation enabled by its fretted neck.

The Jazz Bass was introduced in 1960 and leaned more toward ergonomics. Its neck profile, shape, and body contours are designed to give the utmost comfort to the player.

The P Bass usually has a wider neck with a chunky “C” shape, while the Jazz Bass has a slimmer neck with a more modern C shape. The P bass maintains consistency throughout the neck, while the j neck tapers off at the nut.

The neck on the P Bass has larger frets which can make it easier to play with a strong attack or fingerstyle technique.

On the other hand, the neck on the Jazz bass has smaller frets which can make it easier to play faster, more intricate basslines.

The P Bass also has a wider nut width, typically around 1.625 inches (41.28 mm), which provides more spacing between the strings. The Jazz Bass features a narrower nut width, typically around 1.5 inches (38.1 mm).

Another difference is in the pickups. J basses have single-coil pickups, while P basses have split-coil pickups.

The jazz bass may produce unwanted humming sounds, but in return, it has more tonal options than the P bass. In short, the difference between the P Bass and the J Bass is that the J bass has a slimmer neck and nut with smaller frets.

Can you put a Jazz Bass Neck on a P Bass?

Yes. Putting a Jazz Bass neck on a Precision Bass (P Bass) is possible. However, some modifications might be necessary to ensure a proper fit.

However, sometimes the neck pocket of a P Bass and a Jazz Bass have different dimensions, so simply swapping the necks may not result in a perfect fit.

Some woodworking and adjustments may be required to ensure the neck is properly aligned and securely attached to the body.

Thankfully, the scale length of the Jazz Bass and the P Bass is usually the same, so there should not be an issue with the overall length of the neck.

Keep in mind that changing the neck will have an impact on the overall feel, playability, and tone of the instrument.

The slimmer neck profile and different pickup placement of the Jazz Bass might alter the overall sound and response of the instrument compared to a standard P Bass.

Pros and Cons of P Basses with Jazz Necks

Using a Jazz Bass neck on a Precision Bass (P Bass) can have pros and cons. Here are some factors to consider:

Pros:

P Basses with jazz necks are designed to be easier to navigate and provide a smoother playing experience, particularly for players with smaller hands or those who prefer a more sleek and nimble neck.
Thanks to the thin nut, P Bassess, with a jazz neck, will typically have a narrower spacing, making it easier to access individual strings. It facilitates faster playing and makes executing complex bass lines or chords easier.
The shorter scale length can result in a more “floppy” feel and slightly looser string tension, making executing certain techniques like string bends and slapping easier.
The P Bass with a jazz neck is more versatile for various playing styles. Executing faster and more agile playing techniques on a P Bass with a jazz neck is easier.
The Jazz Bass neck’s different pickup placement, closer to the bridge, can result in a slightly brighter and more focused tone than the standard P Bass neck.

Cons:

While a Jazz Bass neck can offer a brighter tone, it may provide a different full-bodied, deep low-end response associated with the classic P Bass sound. Using a Jazz Bass neck might alter the instrument’s sonic character if you’re specifically looking for the P Bass’s thick and punchy tone.
They are usually very expensive and hard to find unless you modify your bass with a jazz neck.
The P Bass and Jazz Bass have different neck shapes, and swapping them can result in the parts not being in visual harmony. It’s something that most players can overlook. However, some players may prefer the traditional look of the P Bass neck on a P Bass body.
Installing a Jazz Bass neck on a P Bass might require modifications to ensure proper fit and alignment, which can involve woodworking, adjusting the neck pocket, and potentially repositioning the bridge or pickups. You may need a professional to handle this, which will cost you extra.
Unlike the standard P Bass neck, there’s less room on the jazz neck for players who prefer to fingerpick or have larger hands.

Conclusion

If you’re a player who enjoys the P Bass but has trouble with its thick neck, finding a P Bass with a Jazz neck is the perfect solution.

Jazz necks are slimmer than P Bass necks and are known to be more comfortable and great for beginners or fast and nimble playing techniques.

However, the search can be pretty hard since most of the P Basses with jazz necks are custom-made and hard to find, but lucky for you, we’ve made this guide with a list of the 10 best P Basses with jazz necks.