Just received my first P Bass... - Page 2

Deaky · #21 04-05-2012, 02:00 AM

The Steve Harris flats are basically just Rotosound Jazz flats in a heavier gauge. You can also buy them in a lighter gauge such as 45-105 or even better 40-100. I use them On my P bass deluxe bass and they sound great.

StrangerDanger · #22 04-05-2012, 02:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdelamont

PlaysFor Dogs, anywhere I can hear a good quality sound file of the LaBellas? Been wanting to try them but I'd hate pony up real money for strings I might possibly hate. Don't mean to sound cheap, but the economy sucks and every little bit helps, y'know?

P bass w LaBellas? Try James Jamerson.

LaBellas are very high tension. I like DAddario Chromes light gauge. But get the super longs if you want to string thru the body.

Nice bass!

billgwx · #23 04-05-2012, 03:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StrangerDanger

LaBellas are very high tension. I like DAddario Chromes light gauge.

Depends what gauge you're using. I find La Bella 760FL's to be slightly lower tension than Chromes light gauge.

spaz21387 · #24 04-05-2012, 03:36 AM

I love my p basses... Theres a reason I own 4 p basses. Im a big fan of ernie ball strings on my basses dr neons are great too but spendy.

ynot12 · #25 04-05-2012, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deaky

The Steve Harris flats are basically just Rotosound Jazz flats in a heavier gauge. You can also buy them in a lighter gauge such as 45-105 or even better 40-100. I use them On my P bass deluxe bass and they sound great.

I didn't know these were the same. Very good to know. I'm now just counting the minutes until everyone leaves the house today so I can plug in, turn it up, and really see what this bass can do. Sure looks pretty sitting there, though!

**jarrydee** · #26 04-05-2012, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdelamont

The plastic film will come off around the screws but you'll have to remove the knobs and the screw and washer around the input jack. It's a stupid way of putting the plastic on, really. You shouldn't have to take your brand-new bass apart just to pull off the plastic. Also, peel it all the way off up to the edge of the input jack, then FLIP IT OVER to unscrew the jack and pull the end off. Then replace the washer and re-thread the jack before flipping it back face up. Otherwise the jack assembly will fall down into the body and you'll have to take the whole pickguard off. 13 little, easily losable screws.
If all this sounds like a pain in the a**, that's because it is. I don't why the don't make the holes on the plastic bigger than the knobs and the jack.
On the other hand, that plastic will last a good month or three right where it is.

+1...I had to remove the knobs and washers to get mine all the way off!

pudgychef · #27 04-05-2012, 07:29 AM

nice bass!

I had a 2011 P-Deluxe for a while but found the setting I wanted to use the most (passive, P-pickup soloed) lacked (imho, ime, ymmv) that 'something' in the tone you get with a straight passive p......

The blended settings and active stuff sounded very nice - very comfy bass to play gorgeous to look at,...but was more 'p' than 'P' in that one setting.....(imho, ime, etc)

ynot12 · #28 04-05-2012, 08:47 AM

Ok, the wife just left and it's work from home Thursday. Time to give this bass a good playing. :-)

ahc · #29 04-05-2012, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ynot12

Thanks for the tips, guys. Appreciate it. I'll look into the GHS Pressurewounds and D'addarios. I also just remembered I have a new set of DR Hi Beams for my Spector 5 string stashed. Has anyone used Hi Beams on a P Bass?

Absolutely. DR Hi Beams sound great on a Precision. And with your Deluxe, you should be able to produce a great Jazz Bass bridge pickup "burp", too.

NKBassman · #30 04-05-2012, 09:24 AM

My favorite strings on a P are Rotosound RS66, but that'd be about as opposite from a flatwound sound as you can get...

ynot12 · #31 04-05-2012, 09:43 AM

Ok, so I got to plug it in and play it and a couple observations that I really need some help with.

First, the bass is giving me all kinds of static when in active mode and even in passive mode, just not as bad. When I touch the bridge/stings/knobs it stops. What's the deal here? Is it shielding/grounding or is this normal for these basses?

Thanks for all of the helpful responses so far, guys.

Gougedeye · #32 04-05-2012, 10:01 AM

Great bass, congrats! The noise you're experiencing sounds like a ground issue. I have a 2010 American Deluxe 5er. It seems that Fender did a poor job of shielding some of their newer basses. My bass was so noisy, it was almost unplayable. I got some copper shielding tape and shielded every cavity in the bass and now it is dead silent. Also, check your ground screw. As for strings, stick with the 7250s that are on it, if you like them, or I have had great luck and an on going love affair with DR Sunbeams.

nickrs540 · #33 04-05-2012, 10:12 AM

That is a beauty you got there. I never understood the obession with Precisions till i got one my self. I never really liked fenders too much when I first started playing bass, I always thought they were too generic looking. I only played metal and my first bass was a warlock haha.

Just this last year I thought I'd take the plunge and I would try a Fender. So I traded an electric piano I had for a Fender MIM P, and some other bass gear I was looking for. Even though the P had rounds on it when I first played I still really enjoyed. I actually fell in love with this bass once I put flats on it..........What a difference. Now I couldn't imagine me playing a classic rock, country, jazz, or any gig (other then my metal ones) for that matter without it. It might be just a MIM, but I wouldn't trade it for the world.

I use DR flats which I don't see too mant people using. They are probably my favorite playing string. Perfect amount of tension. There was one rough spot around the octave on the G string, but it never bothers me. I'm going into the studio tonight to test em' out for reals, so we will see if the sounds is exactly what I'm craving. I would be very annoyed if I need to get new flats. I have really bonded with these over the couple months of playing em'.

Rip Topaz · #34 04-05-2012, 10:36 AM

That's the cool thing about P's. You don't appreciate the simplicity until you really get to know one.

I had spent most of my playing career going from one bass to the next, never finding "my" sound. I tried everything from T-birds, to Traben, to Ibanez, to BC Rich, to you name it. Never really gave me the time I was hearing in my head.

That finally changed this year. Now I own 3. And all with flats.

BillMason · #35 04-05-2012, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ynot12

Ok, so I got to plug it in and play it and a couple observations that I really need some help with.

First, the bass is giving me all kinds of static when in active mode and even in passive mode, just not as bad. When I touch the bridge/stings/knobs it stops. What's the deal here? Is it shielding/grounding or is this normal for these basses?

Thanks for all of the helpful responses so far, guys.

That sucks. Definitely a grounding issue if you ask me. It's possible/likely that your ground wire has become disconnected, and needs to be resoldered. Not what one should expect to do with a new bass, but it happened to me about one month in when I bought a new 2008 American Standard P bass. Luckily I could fix it myself no prob - if you're not confident with solder, it's a trip to the service depot.

You shouldn't need to shield your cavities, that's rather extreme in my opinion and shouldn't be required in any case as your pickups are not dual single-coils, you have a spilt coil and a stacked single coil. Shielding is more typically on a Jazz bass.

-

Rip Topaz · #36 04-05-2012, 10:42 AM

Don't stress it. My MIA has zero factory shielding.

A couple minutes with a roll of copper tape when you change your strings will help.

BillMason · #37 04-05-2012, 10:42 AM

Having said that you should probably just take it in anyway - assuming Fender tracks warranty repair claims against quality control, it's useful data for them to have that they'll never have if it's fixed by an owner.

Rip Topaz · #38 04-05-2012, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillMason

Having said that you should probably just take it in anyway - assuming Fender tracks warranty repair claims against quality control, it's useful data for them to have that they'll never have if it's fixed by an owner.

This is true. Maybe if enough people take their basses to an authorized repair person for shielding, Fender will start doing it before they leave the factory.

BillMason · #39 04-05-2012, 10:45 AM

Oh, and gorgeous bass by the way!! Black on black with maple is my absolute favourite colour combo for a P bass, and after my American Standard was stolen I was tempted to replace it with one of these, exactly like yours. I ended up getting a great deal on a used American Vintage, but still lust after the black on black with maple P bass. :-)

BillMason · #40 04-05-2012, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ynot12

Ok, so I got to plug it in and play it and a couple observations that I really need some help with.

First, the bass is giving me all kinds of static when in active mode and even in passive mode, just not as bad. When I touch the bridge/stings/knobs it stops. What's the deal here? Is it shielding/grounding or is this normal for these basses?

Thanks for all of the helpful responses so far, guys.

Bottom line is your bass shouldn't be making noise, and it's covered by warranty. Sorry you have that experience with a new bass. :-(