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Craving a P Bass.... Choices, Choices.....

Big Ginger Bass

Big Ginger Bass

Jul 8, 2009
28
4
Swindon
#1
Hi guys,

So I may have just got a 6 string Ibanez SR last month, but I'm already GAS'ing for something else - Just a humble P Bass!

I have a MIM Standard Jazz (Lake Placid Blue, Maple Neck) that I love, but is it worth going the same route with a P? As in MIM Standard.

I hear a lot of squiers are quite competitive in quality for less money...

There's the sort of Fender P I'd be looking at, simple, effective, good looking -

Fender P Bass.jpg



How ever I hear things like the Squier VM series especially are near on par to some peoples ears.... My only concern about is the J Pickup at the bridge - Though truth be told I can just roll it off if I want a pure P sound and it adds some clarity of the bass.


The VM I'd likely be looking at...

squier-vintage-modified-precision-bass-pj-candy-apple-red.jpg



Though I do like the maple neck of the Fender, I see the 5 String VM Squier has a maple neck and just the P Split pick up..... How is the 5 string in terms of B string clarity and such, I play a 5 and 6 string so am no stranger to it by any means.


I know there's probably some other options you guys can mention/recommend that I likely haven't even looked at.... so help with my P Bass GAS in adding another one to the family!

Many Thanks :D
 
#2
I have a Fender American Standard P, and it's been awesome, but I just picked up a G&L Tribute SB-2, and I'm more than impressed with it. It's a p/j style bass with a modified P-style body, and a jazz width neck with a 12" radius fretboard. The neck is a little thicker front-to-back so it still feels substantial. The controls are volume/volume with no tone control, but the MFD pickups are very responsive to slight volume changes. If you turn the bass' volumes down and your amps volume up, it goes from aggressive to vintage just like that.
 
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#5
I know quite a few people swear by the VM Squier P & J Basses.....

So is it worth the extra money for a MIM Fender do people think? Or would I just be paying for the name on the headstock?

I have a Fender MIM Standard Jazz that I adore, but still remember playing a Squier Deluxe Active Jazz in my local music shop through a Fender Rumble 75 combo (Which is now my combo actually!) and being absolutely blown away by it! :)
 
#8
Tbone76 said:
I have a Fender American Standard P, and it's been awesome, but I just picked up a G&L Tribute SB-2, and I'm more than impressed with it. It's a p/j style bass with a modified P-style body, and a jazz width neck with a 12" radius fretboard. The neck is a little thicker front-to-back so it still feels substantial. The controls are volume/volume with no tone control, but the MFD pickups are very responsive to slight volume changes. If you turn the bass' volumes down and your amps volume up, it goes from aggressive to vintage just like that.
Click to expand...

I agree that the Tribute SB-2 hits way above its weight class. It's a truly fantastic bass. If the OP is looking for a five though, the SB-2 won't work.
 
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#9
Another vote for the g&l. But I'm unsure of pricing and availability in the UK.

However, all the vintage modified basses I've played have been really good. I've always wanted the CV 60s PBass in Fiesta red and the rosewood board. You might also want to check out the classic vibe series as well if you're set on the Fender headstock shape.

Check out the peavey fury if you can too. At least here in the US they can be had for Super cheap and are great basses.
 
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#10
I have two mim P's and love them both to the point that I haven't even though about another bass for a few years now. Maybe I just got lucky and got two good ones but they sure do the trick for me. I played a Squier about a year ago and it played fine. It was run through an amp that I was unfamiliar with and I didn't get a chance to run it through my rig so I can't really speak for the tone of the thing. Go hit a music store , play them both and get whatever floats your boat.:thumbsup:
 
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#11
GeneralElectric said:
Another vote for the g&l. But I'm unsure of pricing and availability in the UK.

However, all the vintage modified basses I've played have been really good. I've always wanted the CV 60s PBass in Fiesta red and the rosewood board. You might also want to check out the classic vibe series as well if you're set on the Fender headstock shape.

Check out the peavey fury if you can too. At least here in the US they can be had for Super cheap and are great basses.
Click to expand...

I'm primarily a jazz bass guy, but I tried that fiesta red CV P-bass a while ago and was very impressed. It was quite a surprise given my penchant for thin necks and jazz pickups.
 
#12
NWB said:
I'm primarily a jazz bass guy, but I tried that fiesta red CV P-bass a while ago and was very impressed. It was quite a surprise given my penchant for thin necks and jazz pickups.
Click to expand...

They were recently discontinued. I'm still debating pulling the trigger on a used one until I remember that I already own 4 very nice P basses. But you know, vanity is a killer...
 
#13
The Classic Vibe series is phenomenal in my experience. The VMs though I've found can be hit or miss. The last two VM necks I've had my hands on in a row were bowing hard or starting to have a ski jump. It may be a coincidence but it's made me a bit hesitant.

Lots of the CVs are still available on Ebay. I've been meaning to snag one of the 50s CV Precisions before they are gone forever. No one seems to sell them once they get one and if you've been paying attention the supply seems to have dried up at many of the online music stores.

If you want to be a bit adventurous you can pick up a "new" (as in the neck was just removed off a new or manufacturer refurb bass) loaded VM or CV body for about 150 then throw a MIM or other neck on it. It would cost less than a MIM but have really good features at that price.
 
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#14
NWB said:
I agree that the Tribute SB-2 hits way above its weight class. It's a truly fantastic bass. If the OP is looking for a five though, the SB-2 won't work.
Click to expand...

JWB - I wouldn't say I'm nessicarily wanting a 5 string, I have a nice Ibanez SR 605 with a wonderful thin neck...
I'd likely rather have a 4 in truth - but if there is a nice P Bass with a nice articulate B string without comprimising on any of the 4 string design I'd certainly consider it!
 
#17
I have vintage and new Fender Precisions. Fender/Squier make a great product at all price points theses days. I bought the P/J VM Precision to keep at work, fantastic bass price aside. I just bought a sand blasted Precision super cool and killer bass. You can't go wrong with the choices you mentioned.
 
#19
I have the the PJ above except in LP Blue. That is actually one of the reasons I got the squire because I like the color. I could have gone used I guess for a MIM P. I don't believe they currently make one in Lake Placid Blue. I don't think it will have the J pickup though.

I did't give the pickups a fair shake. I had ordered a set of Aguilar's to put in and did after having the bass a few days. Stock would have been fine. Aggies sound great though. I am also going to put in some new electronics this weekend. The stock is basically on or off. Not much in-between with pickup volume. Tone control is not bad though. New arrangement will be Volume, Blend, Tone.

I have built several guitars so I am not afraid to set one up. I adjusted the truss rod to straighten the neck out a little more and lowered the nut slots. Dropped the action some. I need to lower the E string nut slot a little more I think. Also I think the action could go down a little more but the saddles are bottomed out on the E and G strings. If I really want to see how low it can go I would have to shim the neck to raise it or maybe a different bridge? If I go lower I have found that there may be one or two high frets that will need some work. For the price range though, not bad fretwork.

What does this all mean? If you can do some set up work this bass can really rock. A lot of people can be put off in this price range because of the setup work or lack there of. I mean at less than $300 dollars can a company invest that much time and money in setup? I don't know if that is really feasible. I would be hard pressed to build that bass for only cost of materials for around $300. Not even considering my time. Yes the cliche saying "play as well as ones that cost 2X to 3X's as much" I do have a really nice Modulus that I can compare the playability to and it is pretty darn close.

Now I ask myself how much do I really want to put into a $275 dollar bass? Do I upgrade the bridge? Tuners? With that, pickups and new electronics, I would have as least as much as the bass costs by it's self. Still on the fence about it. Should I have bought a MIM? Don't know, I like this particular bass. It is a tool for me. I try not to get hung up in the mojo.

Sorry for the long post. Yes, I would recommend the squire :thumbsup:
 
#20
Keep an eye out for an inexpensive used squier. Throw in some quality electronics and a new pup. There are sooooo many options for P bass pups it's not even funny. I have tried a lot of different pups in my 30$ Affinity. It was a fun process too. Settled on a Nordstrand NP4 that sounds killer.
 

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