Replacement for P-bass

theweed42 · #1 05-01-2008, 08:52 PM

I've been using an old Japanese Fender P-bass for several years now. I dropped a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounder in it about a year ago. I absolutely love the tone. The catch? It's not mine, and the original owner now wants it back.

I've heard a lot of good things about G&L (our guitarist has an S-500) and I'd like to get one as a replacement.

My old bass had a great combination of vintage and modern - not quite as mushy as a vintage P but not quite as "modern" as a Stingray. I'm wondering, which G&L bass would have the best shot of getting that sound?

Jimtoonz · #2 05-01-2008, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theweed42

I've been using an old Japanese Fender P-bass for several years now. I dropped a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounder in it about a year ago. I absolutely love the tone. The catch? It's not mine, and the original owner now wants it back.

I've heard a lot of good things about G&L (our guitarist has an S-500) and I'd like to get one as a replacement.

My old bass had a great combination of vintage and modern - not quite as mushy as a vintage P but not quite as "modern" as a Stingray. I'm wondering, which G&L bass would have the best shot of getting that sound?

The SB-2 is often called "a P-bass on steroids". You might like that as a replacement for your P if you are wanting to stay in the passive arena.

I would also suggest that you consider an L-2000, as it falls in that territory you describe as between a P-bass and a 'Ray. It will do a close approximation of both, and a lot of things that neither of those can do.

quickervicar · #3 05-02-2008, 07:38 AM

^ +1

You can't beat the simplicity of a cranked SB-2. They're just "right."

You also can't beat the sound(s) of an L2k. ASAT is another possibility.

goatrider · #4 05-02-2008, 08:21 AM

The 2nd gen. SB-1 (late 80's) is my favorite P-Bass. Plus it has the nice thick neck like a P, the SB-2 has a thinner neck. The split MFD has a lot of power, much more than the QP's. An LB-100 is another choice, but I've never played one so I can't attest to its sound.

Nedmundo · #5 05-02-2008, 08:45 AM

I think the SB-2 is your best bet, because its split-coil produces very hot, thick, full range output, but still has some vintage P-bass vibe. I've heard players with Quarter Pounders in their P-basses, and the SB-2's split-coil is in that ballpark, but better to my ears because it has more texture and character. I'm with quickervicar -- it just sounds "right" for rock. And by adjusting the pickups' volumes, a wide range of tones is on tap. But if you want maximum versatility, the L-2000 is a great choice.

TimWilson · #6 05-02-2008, 08:58 AM

The ASATs are really great at getting an old-school, vintage tone, a modern slick slap sound or a combination of both at the flip of a switch.
I have a nice metallic gold one for sale...

ljazz · #7 05-02-2008, 11:52 AM

I have an SB2, and everything already mentioned about it here is true.... very nice indeed.

But ultimately, I find my old '87 SB1 to much more pleasing. The wider neck is much more comfortable for me to play, and there is a definite difference between the sb1 and sb2 (split pickup soloed). Perhaps the age of the sb1 has caused it to "mellow", or maybe they just did them a bit different then.

Anyway, you see older sb1's on the bay regularly..... definitely worth checking out. Roll off a bit of tone and volume, and you're into vintage Pbass territory.... crank them both up, and it's turns into something a bit more modern.

Ljazz

plankspanker13 · #8 05-03-2008, 10:35 AM

Don't discount the JB-2 if you're a heavy hitter either. My style tends to push a P-bass into clipping/compression territory on a wide variety of amps, but I can mash on a JB-2 without that happening. As always YMMV.

theweed42 · #9 05-04-2008, 01:17 PM

Thanks for all of the replies! It looks as though I won't be able to go wrong with whatever I pick.

I do have one more question though. I really do like having the versatility of active electronics. But whenever I've compared passive to active (p-bass to stingray), the active has always sounded much different. On one hand, it's more refined and detailed, but also thinner and weaker and not quite as "immediate." In other words, sounds great by itself, but gets lost and doesn't fill with a band.

My question is, is that because it's active and not passive, or is it just that I haven't found the right active instrument?

Nikoubis · #10 05-04-2008, 03:34 PM

Well, the L-2000 can run in passive mode if you prefer to. Passive mode or active mode, if you can't cut through a mix with an L-2000, chances are that the problem is not the bass.

And it has WAY more bottom end than any Musicman, except perhaps for the mighty Bongo.

DavePlaysBass · #11 05-10-2008, 11:06 PM

I have a L2K Tribute. I have also owned a L-2500 and a Climax. To my ears they are not a good P bass tone. They are what they are and are highly versatile. But if I had to choose, I keep the P bass. But I am sure others on this board would think differently.

If P bass is in your head, the SB-2 makes the most sense I think. Do you use the tone control much? The SB-2 does not come with one stock.

francisl2500 · #12 05-11-2008, 04:07 PM

I like the good and large possibilities of my L 2.5 trib. I can't do the same tone than my old 70 p bass but pretty near when i need it. But for anay gig for any style, i take my L2.5 to do all these job and use it as active or passive with many pups patern and it do a good good job and cut thrue any mixes.
Francis

loendmaestro · #13 05-11-2008, 06:22 PM

I've finally settled on just using the passive setting on my ASAT & I couldn't be happier. The active setting ended up being a little too much for me. After lots of experimentation I went passive. It's still zingy as all get out & the clarity & distinction of notes is unparalleled.

Either way though, G&L has so much to offer with so many models in so many configurations!

Eublet · #14 05-12-2008, 03:43 PM

I just picked up an SB-2 yesterday. Here's what I think...so far. I haven't gigged this bass yet...

The front pup solo'ed is P-ish for sure. It sounds great, but it's a variation on the P sound. Heck, there's a TON of variation in the sound of Fender P basses, so don't expect an SB-2 to nail some elusive P bass sound you might have in your head. It may or it may not.

I also have the dual stacked volume/tone knobs on mine, so I can contol each pup individually. If the sound of the SB-2 without the tone mods I have is anything like my bass with the knobs full on, I can tell you that I would not want to be without a tone control on an SB-2. It's a brighter P bass sound, more aggressive, with more clarity and very strong in the mids. It's still chunky sounding, but not as much as most P basses I would enjoy playing. The tone control fixes that to a very large degree, and makes the bass sound great. I love it's tone, and recommend it if you are looking for a P/J config that will sound awesome.

Still, if I wanted a traditionally GREAT sounding P bass, I would start auditioning as many P basses as I could get my hands on, and not worry about trying to get that special tone in an SB-2. Again the P's can sound very different, so finding the one you like is the key, not just picking up some bass with a split coil pup.

IMO.

DavePlaysBass · #15 05-13-2008, 06:59 PM

The SB-2 P is a little closer to the bridge than a typical P. Less thump and more growl might be expected.

Nedmundo · #16 05-14-2008, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavePlaysBass

The SB-2 P is a little closer to the bridge than a typical P. Less thump and more growl might be expected.

This is true. It's a slight difference, but my 2004 Fender with a Lindy Fralin pickup provides more pure "thump" than my SB-2, which is partly due to pickup placement and the tendency to pluck over the pickup.

In my case, it's also due to strings. My Precision has Dean Markley Blue Steels. You would think these would brighten things up, but they're lower tension than the GHS Boomers on my SB-2, so they provide thump. The Blue Steels are a fantastic match for a good P-bass, which I didn't expect.

I've been okay with the absence of a tone control on the SB-2. My amp's EQ works just fine.