No one has mentioned the Squier FSR Classic Vibe'70s Precision Bass. One heck of a great Precision under $400.
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Alternative to Fender P
- Thread starter BobDeRosa
- Start date
No one has mentioned the Squier FSR Classic Vibe'70s Precision Bass. One heck of a great Precision under $400.
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
[QUOTE = "BobDeRosa, post: 22964317, membro: 221502"] Sei un bassista P che si è innamorato di una P non-Fender e lo consigliamo vivamente? Niente contro Fender (adoro il mio MIM del '94), ma sono rimasto davvero colpito da ciò che ho visto e sentito sul Lakland 44-64 (sia USA che Skyline) e sul G&L LB-100 (sia USA che Tribute ). Qualcuno può commentare uno o entrambi? Grazie m
take a vintage Gibson grabber
Lakland and G&L make great instruments. Can't go wrong with either brand. I prefer the 5 string Laklands with 35" scale as it gives that extra something something over being just another riff on a classic design.
Some of my favorite P derivatives are the Ibanez RB630 (P), RB650 (P/J), RB760 (80s P/J), Blazer BL700 or BL800, Peavey Fury (mid 80s 2nd Gen/split coil version), Peavey Forum (P/J) and the Peavey Foundation S (80s style P/J). All of which are US or Japanese made and easily found for under $500, often with hard case.
However, since you already have a P you like, and it seems you are looking for a $1000-ish 4 string, perhaps a true alternative would be a G&L L1000 or Peavey T45? Not only do these have a P-ish feel, they also have a similar tone via a series-wired humbucker in the P sweet spot. The bonus is there are a bunch more cool tones on tap via passive electronics and coil splitting. It's also easy to find these US made beasts for roughly the price of a new Lakland Skyline or Tribute: L1000 tend to sit around $600-1000 and T45s around $500.
Some of my favorite P derivatives are the Ibanez RB630 (P), RB650 (P/J), RB760 (80s P/J), Blazer BL700 or BL800, Peavey Fury (mid 80s 2nd Gen/split coil version), Peavey Forum (P/J) and the Peavey Foundation S (80s style P/J). All of which are US or Japanese made and easily found for under $500, often with hard case.
However, since you already have a P you like, and it seems you are looking for a $1000-ish 4 string, perhaps a true alternative would be a G&L L1000 or Peavey T45? Not only do these have a P-ish feel, they also have a similar tone via a series-wired humbucker in the P sweet spot. The bonus is there are a bunch more cool tones on tap via passive electronics and coil splitting. It's also easy to find these US made beasts for roughly the price of a new Lakland Skyline or Tribute: L1000 tend to sit around $600-1000 and T45s around $500.
Wowwww....i keep forgetting what fsr stands for ? Grat looking bass...
For filling the p-bass niche, I'm happy with my much-upgraded MIM P which also happens to have been my first bass. Here's a few non-Fender options I like very much.
-Every Lakland P (USA and Skyline) I've played has been great. If I wanted a 34" classic Fender-style P-bass at either the 1k or 2k+ price points it'd be my first choice for sure.
-I recently had the pleasure of playing a passive Lowdown bass with a P pup. It was fantastic.
LowDown Bass Guitars
He makes both Fender Style "Classic" instruments and "Hybrid" and "Custom" instruments in his style. I think it was a "Hybrid" that I played.
If I were looking for a mostly traditional P-bass in my preferred 35" scale I'd have Tim build me one.
-For those looking for a P-bass vibe but something a bit different, SEREK has a number of passive basses with a single Bi-Sonic or B-Ninety in the P position. The Armitage and Lincoln models:
Link Removed
I adore the way Jake mixes Ric and Epiphone/Gibson styling.
-On the used, budget end I encourage folks looking at a Squire or MIM Fender to at least see if an ESP/LTD "Vintage 214" or "Vintage 204"(Factory reliced version) is available. Very nice P-clones that are nearly as good as a MIM, but at the price of a Squire. OOP for a couple years now but worth looking for. Very comfortable P style neck, and the P/J setup is a prime candidate for a Geezer setup. These were also available fretless, making it just about the only unlined Fretless P-bass available for less than a grand. My Vintage 214 Fretless with Geezers was fantastic. I'd still have it if I hadn't bought a Wendler.
-On the new budget end I am extremely impressed with the Ibanez Talman Basses. The TMB 100 is a shockingly good P/J instrument for $200. I can't think of any other fender-esque' instrument that comes close at that price point in terms of tone and build quality. Also a prime candidate for the EMG Geezer setup . For $350 you could have all the bass you'd ever need.
-One last oddity, My Wendler is passive with a Piezo and Mag pup. The Mag pup is a P-style under a soapbar in the mid position.
NBD: Wendler Electrocoustic (Custom Cedar-Bodied 35" Fretless)
Has a fantastic tone and it was the reason I sold my LTD Vintage 214 fretless. It does everything I could ever want a fretless P to do.
It's 35" with a long body but the strap position makes the left hand reach exactly the same. Also it's only 5.8 pounds...
-Every Lakland P (USA and Skyline) I've played has been great. If I wanted a 34" classic Fender-style P-bass at either the 1k or 2k+ price points it'd be my first choice for sure.
-I recently had the pleasure of playing a passive Lowdown bass with a P pup. It was fantastic.
LowDown Bass Guitars
He makes both Fender Style "Classic" instruments and "Hybrid" and "Custom" instruments in his style. I think it was a "Hybrid" that I played.
If I were looking for a mostly traditional P-bass in my preferred 35" scale I'd have Tim build me one.
-For those looking for a P-bass vibe but something a bit different, SEREK has a number of passive basses with a single Bi-Sonic or B-Ninety in the P position. The Armitage and Lincoln models:
Link Removed
I adore the way Jake mixes Ric and Epiphone/Gibson styling.
-On the used, budget end I encourage folks looking at a Squire or MIM Fender to at least see if an ESP/LTD "Vintage 214" or "Vintage 204"(Factory reliced version) is available. Very nice P-clones that are nearly as good as a MIM, but at the price of a Squire. OOP for a couple years now but worth looking for. Very comfortable P style neck, and the P/J setup is a prime candidate for a Geezer setup. These were also available fretless, making it just about the only unlined Fretless P-bass available for less than a grand. My Vintage 214 Fretless with Geezers was fantastic. I'd still have it if I hadn't bought a Wendler.
-On the new budget end I am extremely impressed with the Ibanez Talman Basses. The TMB 100 is a shockingly good P/J instrument for $200. I can't think of any other fender-esque' instrument that comes close at that price point in terms of tone and build quality. Also a prime candidate for the EMG Geezer setup . For $350 you could have all the bass you'd ever need.
-One last oddity, My Wendler is passive with a Piezo and Mag pup. The Mag pup is a P-style under a soapbar in the mid position.
NBD: Wendler Electrocoustic (Custom Cedar-Bodied 35" Fretless)
Has a fantastic tone and it was the reason I sold my LTD Vintage 214 fretless. It does everything I could ever want a fretless P to do.
It's 35" with a long body but the strap position makes the left hand reach exactly the same. Also it's only 5.8 pounds...
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It makes them stand out... but I also dislike the look... a bit of an eyesore.
Those BBs seem to be so under appreciated. Yamaha makes great instruments.
I am new to this whole thing and have been playing practicing and taken lessons for a little over a year now. With that being said I know my .02 cents does not carry weight. However I have been looking for a P bass lately. I own a jazz bass{actually 2 fenders and a just completed Warmoth build} I literally last night ordered a G&L Fullerton Standard LB-100 in Emerald blue. from what I have read they are really great guitars. mine is not in hand yet. But should land in a few days. I wanted something a little different, as well.
- May 16, 2012
- 2,444
- 4,402
- Disclosures
- Owner, Tritone Jazz Fantasy Camps
Good for you! Please keep me updated as you get to know your LB-100. Thanks.
I had one of those BB Yamaha's. Great Basses. Sometimes wish I had kept it (too many basses)I know this will come as a complete surprise to you... but this is one P-Bass alternative that I love:
View attachment 3508650
- May 16, 2012
- 2,444
- 4,402
- Disclosures
- Owner, Tritone Jazz Fantasy Camps
I know this will come as a complete surprise to you
View attachment 3508650
Hey Andy, your response inspired me to think more deeply about why I wasn't using my BB400 as often as it deserves. Just as an experiment, I just replaced flats with rounds and I think it came alive with a completely different voice. I say "I think" because I just made the change and want to live with it for a while before declaring victory. Thanks again for raising my consciousness -- probably without even realizing you had done so.
Any of the better MIJ 80's/early 90's PJs are cool.
Closets seems to be opening up in my area, this 575 is up for $180.
Tons of room to do an electronics update to suit whatever taste.
Closets seems to be opening up in my area, this 575 is up for $180.
Tons of room to do an electronics update to suit whatever taste.
I mostly play J-basses and my G&L M-2500, but I love P-basses too and have owned several. My favorite Fender was an excellent 2004 Am. Series, black/black/maple, with a Lindy Fralin pickup. It was a main player for a few years.
Then I got a G&L SB-2, and that Fender and two other basses soon disappeared. Compared to the 2004 Fender, I mostly prefer the G&L for playability. It has a 1.5" nut, and 12" fretboard radius with Plek-leveled frets, which produces very low action with no buzz. It's fantastic, and works much better for me. I'm often palm-muting with a pick, and the G&L bridge is great for that too.
Tone-wise, the G&L's MFD split-coil is an absolute monster, and I prefer it to any Fender pickup I've tried. My Fender's Lindy Fralin pickup was amazing though, so I won't say the G&L is better, just different in ways I prefer most of the time. Current Fender pickups, and the split-coil in G&L's LB-100, are similar to the Fralin, and if I played out more often I could see adding an LB-100 to the herd.
For other non-Fender P-basses, I've been very impressed with Reverend's Thudergun and some Yamaha BBs I've tried over the years. Lakland Skylines too.
Then I got a G&L SB-2, and that Fender and two other basses soon disappeared. Compared to the 2004 Fender, I mostly prefer the G&L for playability. It has a 1.5" nut, and 12" fretboard radius with Plek-leveled frets, which produces very low action with no buzz. It's fantastic, and works much better for me. I'm often palm-muting with a pick, and the G&L bridge is great for that too.
Tone-wise, the G&L's MFD split-coil is an absolute monster, and I prefer it to any Fender pickup I've tried. My Fender's Lindy Fralin pickup was amazing though, so I won't say the G&L is better, just different in ways I prefer most of the time. Current Fender pickups, and the split-coil in G&L's LB-100, are similar to the Fralin, and if I played out more often I could see adding an LB-100 to the herd.
For other non-Fender P-basses, I've been very impressed with Reverend's Thudergun and some Yamaha BBs I've tried over the years. Lakland Skylines too.
