What's the deal with all the P basses?

[Alex1984]

The first few times, the Jazz is still my favourite. Stingray's also a classic.

[ggvicviper]

Originally Posted by chef wong

I played a Precision a couple days ago after not handling one for some time. It was really uncomfortable. I wish Fender would come out with a Precision bass featuring a Jazz neck and additional J bridge pickup. I'd want it with just the two volumes..no tone knob. So many bassists have a desire for this. Why can't Fender U.S. do it, or have they already?

G&L does this, it's called the SB-2.

[kedo]

I find that I get in the way of myself on a Jazz bass. I just start flailing around wiggling my fingers and turning knobs and whatnot.

With a Precision i just turn up and play.

[hoketus]

Originally Posted by AMJBASS

In a studio mix as well. They just have a sound that slots perfectly in the mix with minimal tweaking. Its a sound that doesn't get in the way of other instruments, and fits perfectly with the kick drum.

+1. Sound guys love them. Engineers love them. They're well-constructed and simple in design. What's not to like?

[peledog]

P basses satisfy the ears of engineers. Sometimes they don't satisfy the ears of bass players. By itself, the P bass is boxy sounding. For whatever reason, that is easier to mix. So, do you give in to what others tell you, or go for your own sound? The genius of the P bass is in its simplicity, but it is limiting and caters to most popular music. If, as a bassist, you plan to expand your tone, it will be limiting. Our role is simple in a band context, but personally, I'm tired of others telling how my sound should be. The sound should be what's best for the song, or the band. Guitarists love to suck up all the low mids, then complain that they can't hear because the bass is covering that frequency. Sorry bud, learn to play within the context of a band with limited frequency space. Which goes back to why the P bass' genius is in its simplicity and where it sits in a live/recorded mix. You, as a bassist will just have to live with that tone - if you go by what others tell you. If the tone inside your head is different, you will not be satisfied with the P bass. Hence J basses, extender range, humbuckers, P/J, piezo, preamps, etc.

[grrg63]

Originally Posted by peledog

P basses satisfy the ears of engineers. Sometimes they don't satisfy the ears of bass players.

Judging by their popularity, they far more often than not, do.

Originally Posted by peledog

By itself, the P bass is boxy sounding

Whatever "boxy sounding" is, thats what all the knobs on your amp are for.

Originally Posted by peledog

The genius of the P bass is in its simplicity, but it is limiting and caters to most popular music.

You're all over the place with that one, and since the Pbass has been used to make practically every kind of music imaginable, I think any limitations are yours.

[peledog]

And hook, line and sinker....

[pinz]

Originally Posted by peledog

Which goes back to why the P bass' genius is in its simplicity and where it sits in a live/recorded mix. You, as a bassist will just have to live with that tone - if you go by what others tell you. If the tone inside your head is different, you will not be satisfied with the P bass.

+1 yes !

[Im_telling_tim]

I go by the saying "If its not a Jazz or Precision you're making a poor decision"

[Margus Alviste]

Try out the old Ibanez Roadster basses with P+J pickups. Really amazing basses! Especially for the money.

[Interius]

This thread made me painfully aware of what my next family member is gonna be.

[IronLung1986]

Originally Posted by peledog

So, do you give in to what others tell you, or go for your own sound?

If I did what everyone told me I'd be playing all my "cool" looking basses, like my bongo, rickenbacker, warwick, whatever. The people I play with (good musicians, not boneheads) have almost never expressed opinions on what type of bass I should play, but they always get excited when I use something other than the P bass. I've certainly never felt pressured to use the P, and I genuinely prefer it in almost any situation.

[Rip Topaz]

I started playing bass in 1981, and used active Ibanez basses for most of that. At the end of last year, my tone search led me to P-basses. I now own 3, and I can honestly say that for the first time since I started, EVERY tone that I hear in my head is easily attainable on a P-bass, WITHOUT knob twiddling.
I have never once called the P limiting. By changing right hand position, I can get a tone for any song I play.

[Swipter]

Well I can say that last night I got my jazz as close to s P sound as you can get at practice...and to be honest I didn't like the sound at all. It did blend well. The others, on the other hand, loved it. I also loved playing with real musicians for a change, one lead guitar and drummer.

[Bur]

Originally Posted by chef wong

I played a Precision a couple days ago after not handling one for some time. It was really uncomfortable. I wish Fender would come out with a Precision bass featuring a Jazz neck and additional J bridge pickup. I'd want it with just the two volumes..no tone knob. So many bassists have a desire for this. Why can't Fender U.S. do it, or have they already?

They already have. You are talking exactly about Fender Precision Special Deluxe - pres with jazz neck & additional bridge j-pup with pup blend & eq on board

http://www.zzounds.com/item--FEN135762

They are all around the ebay etc, but everywhere are active ones... Recently I bought a passive one (pic.), now waiting it to arrive, can't find much info on passive ones. May be someone knows if this "special deluxe" model "delivers" or not? It's obvious that everything shall get straight when I listen to it by myself, but I just wonder in advance. Also would like a practical advice, Dude that sold me this pres special, had sanded the fingerboard. So, how do you think is it ok to play unfinished maple? Got a lack of knowledge in such kind of questions.

[obimark]

My P_bass pumps it out. Period. Plain and simple, its deep, massive, and can be bright too. It growls, zings and zangs. It has two knobs, One I don't even change very often. THe other is the volume.
What is possibly not to like. Granted I am far from a solo bassist, I like to play classic rock, 80s new wave, funk and motown in a BAND (or at least alongside a recording).

Now if I played completely solo, and wanted to do little loops, and slap 32nd notes and double thumps on the street corner, with twenty effects on, it may or may not be the right bass, BUT hell it probably will even work just fine for THAT.

[obimark]

BUR- I owned the passive P-Bass special you describe. It delivers but too me it was a different tone than the P-Bass (not bad or good, just different). I too HATE battery operated basses, just no NEED IME> not if you have a good amp.

[Bur]

Originally Posted by obimark

BUR- I owned the passive P-Bass special you describe. It delivers but too me it was a different tone than the P-Bass (not bad or good, just different). I too HATE battery operated basses, just no NEED IME> not if you have a good amp.

Even with single pres pup? Interesting what could be the reason of this difference in sound, I mean in a bass itself?

[bluesbasshound]

P Bass = Rocco & Duck,
Early recordings!
Thump, Fundamental Frequently,
Seems to fit well with Kick Drum.
J Bass = Jaco & John Paul,
Upper mid harmonics, versatile with 2 single coils, good bridge "burp" tones,
Both standard industry weapons!
Also both basses bring strong characteristics differing with Flats or Round Strings.
Just my .02 worth!

[Kevin aka Kebo]

My .02
* The statement of a Pbass sucking is the DUMBEST thing I read in any thread on any forum. Basically its an ignorant statement without any reason or merit. 99% of your records were recorded with either a P or a J. That should sum it up..

* Diff - Think Buick vs Ford vs Chevy vs Honda etc etc.... Its what YOU LIKE, not anyone else.. Its like the diff between a Boxster and a Chevelle. Both cool, both different.