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Anyone recognize this P Bass copy?

#21
Grolsch washers, directly from Holland:
upload_2017-10-24_4-2-37.png
 
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#22
Matt Dean said:
This... any P bass will do.
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two fingers said:
It just sounds like a P bass with a little chorus on it. Sure, it sounds great in that context, but I don't think there's any "magic sauce" to that particular P bass copy. Get yourself a P bass and a chorus pedal and you can replicate that tone easily.
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This P bass has a maple cap neck (no skunk stripe), with a Jazz width nut :nailbiting:
upload_2017-10-24_4-25-16.png
 
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#24
Find a Custom, or find a Memphis, Ventura, Lyle, Univox, Aria... or others from the late 70s. They are probably all the same Matsumoku P bass, or darn close.
I'm now preparing for the MIJ experts to correct me.

They're great! I have two. Both were less then $100, and to my ears both sounded better than the MIJ Fender P I compared them to.
 
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#28
Johnny Crab said:
Possibly DiMarzio patent-applied for pickups?
A lot of basses from Japan seem to have had them.
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Indeed, that's exactly right. Sounds like DiMarzio model P. These pickups record like champs and always sit in the mix beautifully.
Their tone and winding has never varied so a brand new one sounds exactly like one with the sticker Patent-Applied. I checked with DiMarzio on this point and they were very forthcoming in affirming this. Also they do reply to customer inquiry which I like!
 
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#30
bholder said:
Hmmm, must investigate this Tortoise. :cool:
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I saw Tortoise live a few years ago - they had 3 members who played drums at various times in the show (not at the same time) and all three were great drummers with different styles of playing. They kept switching from keys/synth, vibes, marimbas, guitar and drums the whole night. I think the only member who stayed on one instrument was the bass player (David Pajo) who played a P and a Bass VI (not at the same time :)) They have many recordings but I'm fond of "millions now living will never die" '96
 
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#31
DanAdams said:
Find a Custom, or find a Memphis, Ventura, Lyle, Univox, Aria... or others from the late 70s. They are probably all the same Matsumoku P bass, or darn close.
Click to expand...

Agreed on the Memphis. I scored one this time last year, and it's been fantastic. Very punchy and put together really well. It even had the brass grounding plate under the pickups.

The trick is finding a natural finish one so you can see the wood. The sunburst Memphii seem to be plywood. Also, make sure it's an MIJ - the brand was sold a few times after the early 80s and the quality dropped off the cliff. If it has a script logo, it's worth taking a look.

More Memphis love:
Memphis Bass Club
 
#32
JIO said:
I saw Tortoise live a few years ago - they had 3 members who played drums at various times in the show (not at the same time) and all three were great drummers with different styles of playing. They kept switching from keys/synth, vibes, marimbas, guitar and drums the whole night. I think the only member who stayed on one instrument was the bass player (David Pajo) who played a P and a Bass VI (not at the same time :)) They have many recordings but I'm fond of "millions now living will never die" '96
Click to expand...
Several spin off bands from them as well. 5ive Style, Heroic Doses, Pullman. All worth looking into.
 
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#33
ATLbassist said:
Agreed on the Memphis. I scored one this time last year, and it's been fantastic. Very punchy and put together really well. It even had the brass grounding plate under the pickups.

The trick is finding a natural finish one so you can see the wood. The sunburst Memphii seem to be plywood. Also, make sure it's an MIJ - the brand was sold a few times after the early 80s and the quality dropped off the cliff. If it has a script logo, it's worth taking a look.

More Memphis love:
Memphis Bass Club
Click to expand...

Awesome. Sounds like the mid 80's MIJ 70's P reissue I just got. Thinner neck, ash body, clear finish. Fully expected I'd need to change the pickup, but I don't. It has the insanely cool Disco low mids that just punch through mixes and sound warm.

Cool thing about old Jbass 70's copies is they have the mojo, but they play very fast and are usually quite light.
 
#34
Laurent said:
Indeed, that's exactly right. Sounds like DiMarzio model P. These pickups record like champs and always sit in the mix beautifully.
Their tone and winding has never varied so a brand new one sounds exactly like one with the sticker Patent-Applied. I checked with DiMarzio on this point and they were very forthcoming in affirming this. Also they do reply to customer inquiry which I like!
Click to expand...
are you 100% sure about that?
I think the old 70s DiMarzios with that sticker were Alnico.
The new ones a clearly Ceramic.
 

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