Portrait of Tracy on a P-Bass?

jtad · #1 03-05-2010, 04:15 PM

Well, the thing is, I made a bet with a friend that I could play PoT on a Precision Bass. Is it possible? If it is, any suggestions about EQ and knobs and stuff?
Thank you

4001 · #2 03-05-2010, 04:22 PM

Turn up the mids.

Audiophage · #3 03-05-2010, 04:30 PM

I've tried it and I've found some of the harmonics(particularly that Eb where you have to fret at the B on the A string and do your harmonic at Eb) to be troublesome because of the difference in the pickup position. You can test this out because when you play it acoustically the harmonic will sound a lot better than through an amp.

4001 · #4 03-05-2010, 04:35 PM

Well, the beauty of the Jazz Bass is that you can get tons of P-Bass like sound with the neck pickup but you cant get any Jazz Bass sounds out of a P-Bass.

Thats why I like the Jazz Bass.

**pacojas** · #5 03-05-2010, 04:46 PM

lmao,.. i just tried to play POT on a pbass at GC on monday. (I SUCKED BUTT) it's relatively easy on a jbass, though! gl.

JTE · #6 03-06-2010, 08:48 AM

Yeah, some of the nodes for the harmonics are right around the P bass' pickup so they don't come through the amp at all. I once worked up an intro for a song we were doing ("Help Me Make It Through The Night") using harmonics. I worked it up and practiced it unplugged. Got to the gig, and when I hit one harmonic, it didn't come out of the amp at all...

John

makkE · #7 03-06-2010, 05:55 PM

Hmmm... this might explain my confusion lately. I was strumming some 4th/5th fret harmonics lately - without amp.

I do it on an amp, and the 4th fret Harmonics are non-exsistant? Is this due to the p-bass I use?

GeneralElectric · #8 03-06-2010, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by makkE

Hmmm... this might explain my confusion lately. I was strumming some 4th/5th fret harmonics lately - without amp.

I do it on an amp, and the 4th fret Harmonics are non-exsistant? Is this due to the p-bass I use?

I make them fine.

I have no trouble doing most of the harmonics in Portrait of Tracy on a P-bass except that damned D#!

ugly_bassplayer · #9 03-06-2010, 07:26 PM

I used to play that song a few years ago & I guarantee you that I could play that on any bass.
Yes you can play it on a P or any other bass for that matter.
But I agree that the J bass bridge PU helps those harmonics pop out more.

Thunderthumbs73 · #10 03-06-2010, 07:27 PM

What is this world coming to? "Portrait of Tracy" on a Precision Bass? Like we're gonna do Flea or Les Claypool on a Rickenbacker now?

But seriously, why not? Go for it.