Average Man's Pino?

[SteveC]

So, if you don't want to spend $4,000 on a P bass, what gets you that Pino sound (other than Pino playing it) in a Precision bass?

 

[Dr. Cheese]

What is really special about Pino's sound other than his phrasing and note choice? When I hear Pino, it sounds like a great player on a P-bass with flats and the tone turned down. You ought to be able to do that on any decent P-bass.

 

[SteveC]

What is really special about Pino's sound other than his phrasing and note choice? When I hear Pino, it sounds like a great player on a P-bass with flats and the tone turned down. You ought to be able to do that on any decent P-bass.

That's what I'm thinking. TI flats, roll the tone back and learn to really play.

My wife loves that tone so this may be my chance to give a Precison a real try. I've never given one a chance so maybe this time after seeing Pino live....

 

[chilliwilli]

Just about any alder p bass with a rosewood board will get you close. Just get one that feels nice. He uses TI flats too.

 

[fender68]

Alot of it is in his hands. It's the man himself.

 

[Ballin'bass]

Yea, it's definitely Pino, not the bass.

The only thing about his famous '62 precision is it looks super cool (and I'm sure it plays great too). But he could do that on my P bass (roadworn with maple fb) just as easily.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Getting a CS bass will not make you sound like Pino. He could pick up a Squier Affinity and still sound like him.

As a great golfer I play with would say, you can't buy a swing...

 

[lz4005]

Pino is an exceptionally good bass player, but there's absolutely nothing special about his fretted tone.

 

[SteveC]

Yea, it's definitely Pino, not the bass.

The only thing about his famous '62 precision is it looks super cool (and I'm sure it plays great too). But he could do that on my P bass (roadworn with maple fb) just as easily.

I often wonder just how much difference the fingerboard makes to the sound. Some say maple is brighter. I don't know. Maybe.

Getting a CS bass will not make you sound like Pino. He could pick up a Squier Affinity and still sound like him.

As a great golfer I play with would say, you can't buy a swing...

I'm not looking to buy his sound. I am fully aware that owning a bass (Pino, Geddy, etc.) will not make me sound like the guy. I'm just wondering if there are pickups that are closer than others, a certain model that may be close - like a 62 reissue or something, stuff like that. I am not a Fender guy at all. I've never played a Precision for long. I have modern, active, multi-string basses.

There are so many models of Fender that it's nearly impossible to keep track of all the changes/variations in even a simple bass like the Precision. I mean, volume, tone, 20 frets, alder, maple/rosewood...how many actual, really audible differences can there be?

 

[UNICORN BASS]

You said it yourself, you need to sit down in a music store and pick what you like.

 

[Ballin'bass]

I often wonder just how much difference the fingerboard makes to the sound. Some say maple is brighter. I don't know. Maybe.



I'm not looking to buy his sound. I am fully aware that owning a bass (Pino, Geddy, etc.) will not make me sound like the guy. I'm just wondering if there are pickups that are closer than others, a certain model that may be close - like a 62 reissue or something, stuff like that. I am not a Fender guy at all. I've never played a Precision for long. I have modern, active, multi-string basses.

There are so many models of Fender that it's nearly impossible to keep track of all the changes/variations in even a simple bass like the Precision. I mean, volume, tone, 20 frets, alder, maple/rosewood...how many actual, really audible differences can there be?

I think in any case, the way you attack the strings with your fingers has far more of an effect on your tone than the fingerboard. Either way, if you gave Pino my bass... It'd sound like Pino.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I often wonder just how much difference the fingerboard makes to the sound. Some say maple is brighter. I don't know. Maybe.



I'm not looking to buy his sound. I am fully aware that owning a bass (Pino, Geddy, etc.) will not make me sound like the guy. I'm just wondering if there are pickups that are closer than others, a certain model that may be close - like a 62 reissue or something, stuff like that. I am not a Fender guy at all. I've never played a Precision for long. I have modern, active, multi-string basses.

There are so many models of Fender that it's nearly impossible to keep track of all the changes/variations in even a simple bass like the Precision. I mean, volume, tone, 20 frets, alder, maple/rosewood...how many actual, really audible differences can there be?

The relative brightness of maple will not keep a P-bass with flats from sounding like a P-bass with flats, especially if you do not play near the bridge and you turn down the tone pot.

 

[mark beem]

I got my "poor man's Pino" from @StreetScenes for around $650 IIRC

90's MIM Precision body and neck (refinished in Fiesta Red and light aging)
Fender '62 "Original Bass" pickup (not sure how different these are from the FCS model)
Hipshot Vintage Bridge and tuners

Sounds fantastic!

 

[Rockbobmel]

This with flats.

 

[bassdude51]

It's all about the color! (a MIJ '62 Fender P)

 

[chris_b]

Pino on your bass will sound like Pino. You on Pino's bass will sound like you.

I know it's unfair but that's it.

Buy the best bass you can afford and have as many lessons as it takes.

 

[gully_jones]

It's definitely in his hands. But, I think more importantly it's in his ears. If you aspire to play like him, work on becoming a better musician not just a better bass player.

 

[rogerbmiller]

A regular P bass.

 

[two fingers]

Go back through his career. He makes a P bass sound incredible. He makes a fretless Ray sound incredible. You could hand that dude a 2X4 with a rubber band pulled across two nails and he would make it sound...well.. at least pretty good anyway.

Yeah just get any P bass and similar strings.....and practice, my friend. Practice.


(Not knocking you. I would have to practice too.)

 

[Korladis]

I don't think there's really anything that different about his P-bass from most P-basses.