What's the deal with all the P basses?

[j.kernodle]

great post there ^

[Pet Sounds]

Originally Posted by Ezmar

That's because contrary to what conventional wisdom would say, lower mids cut better, because that range belongs exclusively to the bass. Upper mids and highs get eaten up by guitars and cymbals. Nothing wrong with having those frequencies, but they CANNOT cut. Can't slice through bread with bread, no matter how much bread you use. You just end up with a mangled mess, and everyone is sick of bread.

I love the way you put this!

[jasper383]

Originally Posted by Bald Steve

Everyone else seems to have the tone piece covered, so I'll go ahead and be the vapid one. And I can't believe I'm going to say this, but P-basses are also really "in" amongst the touring scene around LA now. You show up at an audition without one (preferrably road-worn - either artificially or real miles), you're nuts.

Basses go in and out of fashion.

5-10 years ago, it was all J Basses with aftermarket EQs, DR Hi Beams and Rotos.

Now it's P Basses with flats.

Which is not to say P Basses aren't great. They are.

[your idol]

play one and see what you think for yourself. i never think that Ps ever go away honestly

[Thrill-House]

P-basses are great because of the simplicity of the design combined with the fact that said design just works really well. Its not a complex instrument, its not hard to use, and at the same time they just sound great. Even with the tone knob turned all the way up or down, the sound is different yet still usable.

They, along with many other fender designs, are also very easy to repair and modify as well, allowing players to customize them to their specific tastes with little trouble. And on top of that, they are found and sold everywhere, so if for example you are on tour, and your p-bass dies or is rendered unplayable in some way, its very easy to find another one.

I went through a bunch of more modern-style basses before finally just settling for a P. I still have a few Ibanez's lying around, but the P is where its at. They really do live up to the hype.

[your idol]

Originally Posted by Thrill-House

P-basses are great because of the simplicity of the design combined with the fact that said design just works really well. Its not a complex instrument, its not hard to use, and at the same time they just sound great. Even with the tone knob turned all the way up or down, the sound is different yet still usable.

They, along with many other fender designs, are also very easy to repair and modify as well, allowing players to customize them to their specific tastes with little trouble. And on top of that, they are found and sold everywhere, so if for example you are on tour, and your p-bass dies or is rendered unplayable in some way, its very easy to find another one.

I went through a bunch of more modern-style basses before finally just settling for a P. I still have a few Ibanez's lying around, but the P is where its at. They really do live up to the hype.

this pretty much hits the nail on the head

[IPA]

I own 2 P-basses (plain ole MIM and sting) and I love them. The simplicity, the sound, the feel. Great basses.

Bought a Jazz a couple of weeks ago after wishing for one for a while, and I really don't care for it. It sounds like someone burping or dirbbling a basketball. It's like the 3rd J I've owned and will probably get rid of it soon or trade it for another P. I'm always attracted to J's, the sleek shape and the opportunity for a range of sounds, but then once I get them, I don't care for them. I guess I never learn.

The P is to me the perfect bass. Sound-wise, feel, looks, it's the perfect package.

[stanger503]

I've played a few, but the neck to me...makes me want to strangle babies. So in that regard, I've never been able to pay enough attention to the sound. I still might man up at some point and just get one and try and like it. Develop a taste for it, if you will.

[Vandy]

Hey folks . . .
Maple or rosewood?
And, when the discussion goes "fretless", what up? Is a P the way to go?

[Thrill-House]

Originally Posted by Vandy

Hey folks . . .
Maple or rosewood?
And, when the discussion goes "fretless", what up? Is a P the way to go?

Dont know much about fretless, but maple all the way!!!

[Bald Steve]

Originally Posted by jasper383

Basses go in and out of fashion.

5-10 years ago, it was all J Basses with aftermarket EQs, DR Hi Beams and Rotos.

Now it's P Basses with flats.

Which is not to say P Basses aren't great. They are.

Yup - like I said: 7/10 times they print the P-bass take.

[f64]

1) Right now P's are necessary with young female singers doing 60's and 70's tunes. They were used back then and it's easy to repro the sound.
2) Its the only bass you can disassemble and put back together totally drunk or stoned. In the morning you only need to tweak the intonation.
3) It takes finesse to play them. The lack of versatility with knobs and switches puts it back on your shoulders to alter what comes out. That's what really makes them great, but also scares some away.

[ScottTunes]

P bass is the "hum-bucking" version of the Jazz's "neck" (some say sweet spot) p'up. IMO/IME, if you have a P and a Rick, you've covered every sound possible with the instrument. The rest is up to your fingers.

And, by the way, I didn't care for a P neck either, until I played a 4003 for a while. That made the P neck seen almost delicate by comparison!

I bought an American made P, Jazz and 4003 18 months ago... Only the Jazz is for sale now. The other 2 are indispensable! I'm thinking of adding another of each to cover the "other" string sound as well!

[Thrill-House]

Maybe im wierd, but i found the P-bass neck just fine, and actually found the jazz neck a little strange-feeling.

[James Judson]

Part of the bass players job is rattle windows and beer mugs. P bass will do it every time.

Secondly a P bass sounds good no matter what the controls are set on. No sound check? Don't matter, that P bass will sound great. Any other bass could sound better but you will have to "fuss with them".

Sometimes I just don't need the fuss.

[peledog]

Originally Posted by Swipter

I see everyone looking to buy or trade for a P bass. Love my Jazz bass, never played a P bass. What's the difference? Why the P over a Jazz?

The public wants what the public gets.

[TimWatson]

Because in a live mix the P rules.

[sikamikanico]

For me, it's all about simplicity. Most, if not all aspects of it have been covered already. But ultimately, for me it is also a "spiritual" , or philosophical thing.

On the other hand, I have no idea why the trends are the way they are. For basses, maybe it's cyclical, I don't know, have not been around long enough! But, it could also be the bad economy - P's are easy to make, even the mass produced Chinese ones can sound pretty good and are easy to play with a good setup.

[RyanJD]

Originally Posted by waynobass

Paradoxically, a P-bass often cuts through a mix better than a Jazz.

Originally Posted by Ezmar

That's because contrary to what conventional wisdom would say, lower mids cut better, because that range belongs exclusively to the bass. Upper mids and highs get eaten up by guitars and cymbals. Nothing wrong with having those frequencies, but they CANNOT cut. Can't slice through bread with bread, no matter how much bread you use. You just end up with a mangled mess, and everyone is sick of bread.

/thread


I've been wanting to get another P for sometime now.
While I love my Jazz, I've always missed my Precision that I traded away.

[lowphatbass]

One of the original design goals of the P-bass was to deliver the maximum amount of usable volume given the relatively low powered amps and speakers of the day. What you don't get is as important as what you do get. Oddly enough this formula still works really well in many forms of popular music/mixes. Generally speaking a P-bass will compliment the kick drum without competing with it and carry enough body and definition to be well heard under guitars, keys and vocals.