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2 Precision Basses for a 2 bass quiver?

Fretbuzzard

Fretbuzzard

Jun 1, 2019
29
64
SE Wisconsin
#1
I've been playing bass guitar for a few years (long-time guitarist) and I've got an itch to expand beyond my one bass setup. I've got a bass that I love and plan to hang on to - an American proII precision with a maple fretboard. It's currently wearing flats, and one of the reasons I'm considering adding a bass to my arsenal is that I would like to have round wound tones available. I play a little bit of everything, and as much as I love the flat wound sound, sometimes it doesn't quite cut it. I'm actually considering picking up an AO 60s P-bass, putting the flats on that, and repurposing my proII as my round wound rock machine.

Is this silly? Should I take the chance to branch out and add a Rickenbacker, a Music Man, or even a Jazz to the mix? Maybe add a short scale for the flats with round wounds on my current P-bass? On the one hand, two P-basses, one with flats and the other with rounds, covers a ton of the ground that I'm interested in. On the other hand, diversity is the spice of life. What say you?
 
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#4
chris_b said:
I use a passive P bass with flats and an active Jazz bass with rounds. So that's both ends of the bass spectrum taken care of. I have gigs where one sounds better than the other.

Using basses that do different jobs isn't silly, just common sense.
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I second that but my active with rounds is an Ibanez BTB745. I am spoiled though I have all those other basses passive with flats too! Lol
 
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#5
Fretbuzzard said:
I've been playing bass guitar for a few years (long-time guitarist) and I've got an itch to expand beyond my one bass setup. I've got a bass that I love and plan to hang on to - an American proII precision with a maple fretboard. It's currently wearing flats, and one of the reasons I'm considering adding a bass to my arsenal is that I would like to have round wound tones available. I play a little bit of everything, and as much as I love the flat wound sound, sometimes it doesn't quite cut it. I'm actually considering picking up an AO 60s P-bass, putting the flats on that, and repurposing my proII as my round wound rock machine.

Is this silly? Should I take the chance to branch out and add a Rickenbacker, a Music Man, or even a Jazz to the mix? Maybe add a short scale for the flats with round wounds on my current P-bass? On the one hand, two P-basses, one with flats and the other with rounds, covers a ton of the ground that I'm interested in. On the other hand, diversity is the spice of life. What say you?
Click to expand...
Why not go with a Jazz bass, isn't that the "logical" choice?
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#6
I would absolutely expand with roundwounds and I would absolutely branch out to a different bass type.
I have nothing against P-basses or P-basses w/ rounds. I guess I do have something against owning multiples of one type when I could be trying out something really different instead. As you say: variety is the spice of life.
As in all things, YMMV.
 
#8
CallMeAl said:
My main is a P with rounds, I love that sound. But, I also find a bridge pickup incredibly useful from time to time. I’d consider a PJ or a Jazz. Best thing- go out and play some basses, see what speaks to you.
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Oh for sure. I'm lucky to live relatively close to some shops that generally stock a good variety of basses. When I was first picking up the instrument I played a bunch of designs, looked into what my favorite players favored, and zeroed in on the precision. Now that I have that as a home base, though, I suppose it might be worth branching out...
 
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#9
Great idea. I also like CallMeAl’s thought on the PJ adding a little more versatility but not wandering far from pbass territory. I’ve loved flats from time to time but always end up going back to the rounds, just my thing I suppose.
 
#10
as a formerly dedicated P basser it sounds like you're heading in my direction, even MORE P bassy!
I love a rounds sound but prefer flats and a velvet to v aggressive low tone, fingers or thumbpick.
my suggestion, as always since I found it is the bottom rung bolt-on Epi Thunderbird Std. IV.
think Bruce / Pappalardi, the unique PU allow classic Gibson 'Bird approximations with P flavors.
the kicker is, I rarely to never use a bridge PU, I could live there happily on this bass if needed.
Epi Thunderbird Std. IV - Google Search
 
#11
Fretbuzzard said:
I've been playing bass guitar for a few years (long-time guitarist) and I've got an itch to expand beyond my one bass setup. I've got a bass that I love and plan to hang on to - an American proII precision with a maple fretboard. It's currently wearing flats, and one of the reasons I'm considering adding a bass to my arsenal is that I would like to have round wound tones available. I play a little bit of everything, and as much as I love the flat wound sound, sometimes it doesn't quite cut it. I'm actually considering picking up an AO 60s P-bass, putting the flats on that, and repurposing my proII as my round wound rock machine.

Is this silly? Should I take the chance to branch out and add a Rickenbacker, a Music Man, or even a Jazz to the mix? Maybe add a short scale for the flats with round wounds on my current P-bass? On the one hand, two P-basses, one with flats and the other with rounds, covers a ton of the ground that I'm interested in. On the other hand, diversity is the spice of life. What say you?
Click to expand...
I own 5 basses: a 72 precision with rounds, a 63 with flats, a CS 63 with flats, and 2 Spector euros with rounds. But, I would be happy forever to only have my 63 with flats and my 72 with rounds. I say get another p and put rounds on one of them. That’s all you’ll ever need IMHO. Good luck
 
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#12
Of course, if you want to go with something instead of another Precision, there's a zillion choices out there.

If you're happy with the one you have now with flats, I'd leave it alone.

If I were going to get another PBass with the intention of having something really bright sounding with roundwounds, I'd consider a PJ like an American Ultra or Player Plus. Adding the J plus Roundwounds would offer you a big range of tones, a complete other set of tones than a trad PBass with flats.

My real first choice would be a barely used Fender PJ that would have everything else I wanted, and then swap the electronics (if it had the PJ routs and a 4-hole + side-jack control layout and a battery box) and swap everything under the hood for an EMG PJ set plugged into their BTS Control. These have a totally modern sound, easy to install, and would have a very sophisticated roundwound tone.

My two cents.
 
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#14
I have two P basses. I originally thought I would have one with rounds and one with flats, but when I changed from flats I switched both to rounds. They have differences but my advice would be (as others have said) to branch out. Or check out some PJ configurations at least.
 
#15
Fretbuzzard said:
I've been playing bass guitar for a few years (long-time guitarist) and I've got an itch to expand beyond my one bass setup. I've got a bass that I love and plan to hang on to - an American proII precision with a maple fretboard. It's currently wearing flats, and one of the reasons I'm considering adding a bass to my arsenal is that I would like to have round wound tones available. I play a little bit of everything, and as much as I love the flat wound sound, sometimes it doesn't quite cut it. I'm actually considering picking up an AO 60s P-bass, putting the flats on that, and repurposing my proII as my round wound rock machine.

Is this silly? Should I take the chance to branch out and add a Rickenbacker, a Music Man, or even a Jazz to the mix? Maybe add a short scale for the flats with round wounds on my current P-bass? On the one hand, two P-basses, one with flats and the other with rounds, covers a ton of the ground that I'm interested in. On the other hand, diversity is the spice of life. What say you?
Click to expand...

Do you gig? Do you need rounds and flats for different gigs?

If you need to gig, get another P with a different string set.

If you don't gig, just change your strings when you want a different sound. (Or stick with rounds and use mutes and technique to change the sound.) Consider using the money to branch out - consider trying a bass with a different pickup configuration, a bass with more than four strings, or even a fretless bass.
 
#16
A good PJ would be a nice option. I’m going to suggest a Yamaha BB with rounds. Keep flats on your current PBass.


If decide to get another PBass, get something with a rosewood fingerboard and put flats on it. Alder / rosewood/ flats and a 60’s voiced pickup is nice and smooth.
Ash/ maple/ rounds/ and a mid-late 70’s voiced pickup is big and bold.


 
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#18
Fretbuzzard said:
I've been playing bass guitar for a few years (long-time guitarist) and I've got an itch to expand beyond my one bass setup. I've got a bass that I love and plan to hang on to - an American proII precision with a maple fretboard. It's currently wearing flats, and one of the reasons I'm considering adding a bass to my arsenal is that I would like to have round wound tones available. I play a little bit of everything, and as much as I love the flat wound sound, sometimes it doesn't quite cut it. I'm actually considering picking up an AO 60s P-bass, putting the flats on that, and repurposing my proII as my round wound rock machine.

Is this silly? Should I take the chance to branch out and add a Rickenbacker, a Music Man, or even a Jazz to the mix? Maybe add a short scale for the flats with round wounds on my current P-bass? On the one hand, two P-basses, one with flats and the other with rounds, covers a ton of the ground that I'm interested in. On the other hand, diversity is the spice of life. What say you?
Click to expand...
Nothing is better than a P-bass as a GP bass.
If I were in your shoes I would think about adding a J-bass to my Arsenal bit a Rick or a MM, but going towards an AO ‘60s P-bass, which I own, is a good idea as well.
In this case, however, I’d put the roundwound strings on it keeping the Am. Pro. II with the flats on.
The PV ‘63 pickup in fact is very warm and zingy rounds may be well paired to the warmth of the bass’ pickup.
The AO ‘60s P-bass with (presumably) roundwound strings on sounds exactly like the ‘65 P-bass on the following video:

 

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