Engineers and Precision Basses. The truth comes out.

[tb-player]

Last week, I had a session with a very seasoned sound engineer. I’ve known him a long time and he always digs the tone of my basses… until now.

I normally play something with 2 pickups, like a jazz or jazz-adjacent bass. They’re versatile and I like the tone. This time, I decided to bring my righteous Olinto Precision bass, since we all know sound engineers prefer to mix a P, right? Ummm… not exactly.

We had a good session. When it was done the sound engineer and I were talking and I asked him how much he was digging that beautiful bass. His response was very ‘meh’. He then proceeded to go into a deep dive about frequencies & such that I didn’t quite understand. But in the end, he definitely preferred something with a bit more ‘zing’ in the higher frequencies.

So I asked him, “what about all the stories we hear about some pro bassist who went to the studio with his fancy boutique bass and the engineer had him play the whole session on the in-house p-bass… and the rest is history?”

He laughed and said, “That’s not because the p-bass is better. It’s because the engineer is lazy and doesn’t want to waste time dialing in a new bass tone.”

That was a humbling and enlightening response. And also more proof that the only person bass tone matters to is the bassist.



Disclaimer- Yes, I recognize this is only one guy’s opinion. But it’s a pretty good one.

 

[mongo2]

I ran into a similar situation at a session years ago where I was looking foward to using my then newish Hofner Ignition Club bass.

The engineer saw it and asked me if I want to use his '60s J bass instead. I declined but he asked again so we decuded he would record and listen to me on both and choose which I would use. He quickly chose the Hofner and after the session he offered to buy it from me on the spot. I declined and still have it.

 

[tb-player]

I ran into a similar situation at a session years ago where I was looking foward to using my then newish Hofner Ignition Club bass.

The engineer saw it and asked me if I want to use his '60s J bass instead. I declined but he asked again so we decuded he would record and listen to me on both and choose which I would use. He quickly chose the Hofner and after the session he offered to buy it from me on the spot. I declined and still have it.

That’s a cool story. A little communication goes a long way.

 

[g-dude]

Last week, I had a session with a very seasoned sound engineer. I’ve known him a long time and he always digs the tone of my basses… until now.

I normally play something with 2 pickups, like a jazz or jazz-adjacent bass. They’re versatile and I like the tone. This time, I decided to bring my righteous Olinto Precision bass, since we all know sound engineers prefer to mix a P, right? Ummm… not exactly.

We had a good session. When it was done the sound engineer and I were talking and I asked him how much he was digging that beautiful bass. His response was very ‘meh’. He then proceeded to go into a deep dive about frequencies & such that I didn’t quite understand. But in the end, he definitely preferred something with a bit more ‘zing’ in the higher frequencies.

So I asked him, “what about all the stories we hear about some pro bassist who went to the studio with his fancy boutique bass and the engineer had him play the whole session on the in-house p-bass… and the rest is history?”

He laughed and said, “That’s not because the p-bass is better. It’s because the engineer is lazy and doesn’t want to waste time dialing in a new bass tone.”

That was a humbling and enlightening response. And also more proof that the only person bass tone matters to is the bassist.



Disclaimer- Yes, I recognize this is only one guy’s opinion. But it’s a pretty good one.

This is what gets me about all the "sits well in the mix" bro-science regarding certain specific instruments. There's no scientific bass-is for it.

Also, it assumes all music is supposed to sound the same or has the same instrumentation. It doesn't.

Heck, amplify an upright using a clip on mic aimed at an F-hole and try tell me it doesn't sound deeper than a four string electric.

 

[tb-player]

This is what gets me about all the "sits well in the mix" bro-science regarding certain specific instruments. There's no scientific bass-is for it.

Also, it assumes all music is supposed to sound the same or has the same instrumentation. It doesn't.

Heck, amplify an upright using a clip on mic aimed at an F-hole and try tell me it doesn't sound deeper than a four string electric.

There have just been so many stories about the p-bass in studios that it’s become a sort of bass lore.

Of course, listen to most of the tunes coming out of Nashville and there’s a definite “sound” as it pertains to bass tone. So I’m not saying it’s not real. I’m just saying that a lot of it may have to do with engineers who are more focused on guitar and vocal tone while the bass tone is on precision autopilot.

 

[g-dude]

There have just been so many stories about the p-bass in studios that it’s become a sort of bass lore.

Of course, listen to most of the tunes coming out of Nashville and there’s a definite “sound” as it pertains to bass tone. So I’m not saying it’s not real. I’m just saying that a lot of it may have to do with engineers who are more focused on guitar and vocal tone while the bass tone is on precision autopilot.

Meanwhile the lyricists are focused on pickup trucks, red solo cups, and nonsense.

 

[tb-player]

Meanwhile the lyricists are focused on pickup trucks, red solo cups, and nonsense.

Haha. Yeah, that’s for another thread.

Although, the other day I heard a country song that made me literally laugh out loud. To the tune of “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine” the country artist sang, “This Miller Lite of mine, I’m gonna drink all night.”

I thought it was a joke. But no, he was totally serious.

Nonsense indeed.

 

[micguy]

In over 40 years as a bassist, no Engineer, Band Leader, or other musician has ever commented that I need to play a Precision, or even a Fender (I've never owned a Fender bass). It's an old, tired myth that might have had some validity in the 1950's, but we have had consoles with EQ in them since the 60's. Mr's McCartney and Squire seemed to do just fine without using Fenders - they both shot the myth fatally.

If you want to hire someone who plays a LOT on a P bass with flats and a foam mute, you can hire Sean Hurley - that is his thing (and he does it VERY well). He will bring his P bass, but even he brings a few other basses to every session, because that isn't always the right answer.

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

We had a good session. When it was done the sound engineer and I were talking and I asked him how much he was digging that beautiful bass. His response was very ‘meh’. He then proceeded to go into a deep dive about frequencies & such that I didn’t quite understand. But in the end, he definitely preferred something with a bit more ‘zing’ in the higher frequencies.

All this tells us is what that one engineer prefers. He likes "zing." OK. My response is, "What does the song need and let's use the right tool to get there." That engineer is just as closed minded as he thinks the lazy-I'd-rather-just-use-a-P crowd is.

 

[devnulljp]

Meanwhile the lyricists are focused on pickup trucks, red solo cups, and nonsense.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

Last week, I had a session with a very seasoned sound engineer. I’ve known him a long time and he always digs the tone of my basses… until now.

I normally play something with 2 pickups, like a jazz or jazz-adjacent bass. They’re versatile and I like the tone. This time, I decided to bring my righteous Olinto Precision bass, since we all know sound engineers prefer to mix a P, right? Ummm… not exactly.

We had a good session. When it was done the sound engineer and I were talking and I asked him how much he was digging that beautiful bass. His response was very ‘meh’. He then proceeded to go into a deep dive about frequencies & such that I didn’t quite understand. But in the end, he definitely preferred something with a bit more ‘zing’ in the higher frequencies.

So I asked him, “what about all the stories we hear about some pro bassist who went to the studio with his fancy boutique bass and the engineer had him play the whole session on the in-house p-bass… and the rest is history?”

He laughed and said, “That’s not because the p-bass is better. It’s because the engineer is lazy and doesn’t want to waste time dialing in a new bass tone.”

That was a humbling and enlightening response. And also more proof that the only person bass tone matters to is the bassist.



Disclaimer- Yes, I recognize this is only one guy’s opinion. But it’s a pretty good one.

And that's exactly why I nearly always bring a P-bass for gigs unless I know the engineer. Bringing a P-bass is the tried and tested, safe option that even the most useless/lazy engineers should be able to get a great sound out of. It's like the bass equivalent of an SM57/58. There may be technically better mics out there but nothing beats them for a quick sound check and a problem-free gig.

Why exactly is a bass that needs more time for dialling in the tone "better"???

In the studio I'm probably using (on average) 40% P-basses, 40% various vintage European short scale basses and 20% other basses. That's the stuff that works for my kind of tone and the songs/genres I'm usually involved in. If I'm not producing/engineering myself and I don't know much about the studio/engineer I always bring a P-bass though, at the very least as a backup for the reasons mentioned above.

Luckily I happen to love the tone of a good P-bass. If I could own only one bass it would 100% definitely be a P-bass. Sure, there are genres/songs where other basses would be a better choice but I have yet to be in a situation where a P-bass doesn't work. I can't say the same for all basses...

(And you should edit the title of this thread to "ONE engineer's opinion on Precision basses", just like this post is ONE person's opinion on P-basses).

 

[g-dude]

So what's funny is if you go back and watch old episodes of Hee Haw, it's amazing how unphotogenic country music folks could be and still be superstars. Unfortunately, there's no way that's going to happen anymore.

 

[5StringBlues]

So what's funny is if you go back and watch old episodes of Hee Haw, it's amazing how unphotogenic country music folks could be and still be superstars. Unfortunately, there's no way that's going to happen anymore.

I'm glad they found a way to balance that.




Link Removed

 

[scott sinner]

When I am on that side if the window I also prefer a bass with more upper frequencies. Simply, it is easier to unobtrusively cut high harmonics than add them.

 

[legalbass]

This is what gets me about all the "sits well in the mix" bro-science regarding certain specific instruments. There's no scientific bass-is for it.

Also, it assumes all music is supposed to sound the same or has the same instrumentation. It doesn't.

Heck, amplify an upright using a clip on mic aimed at an F-hole and try tell me it doesn't sound deeper than a four string electric.

I want to thank you -- sincerely -- for introducing me to the phrase "bro-science."

I shall put it to good use, my fellow P-bass skeptic.

 

[g-dude]

I want to thank you -- sincerely -- for introducing me to the phrase "bro-science."

I shall put it to good use, my fellow P-bass skeptic.

I didn’t coin the term, but just about every tip you hear in the gym aside from lift heavy and take a multivitamin tends to be bro-science.

Music is just as prone to it as anything else, with my favorite being 432hz tuning.

 

[legalbass]

I didn’t coin the term, but just about every tip you hear in the gym aside from lift heavy and take a multivitamin tends to be bro-science.

Music is just as prone to it as anything else, with my favorite being 432hz tuning.

...bro.

 

[jdjk7]

He laughed and said, “That’s not because the p-bass is better. It’s because the engineer is lazy and doesn’t want to waste time dialing in a new bass tone.”

That was a humbling and enlightening response. And also more proof that the only person bass tone matters to is the bassist.



Disclaimer- Yes, I recognize this is only one guy’s opinion. But it’s a pretty good one.

Meh. Bad advice. I'm sure he gets the job done and I'm sure the studio is happy with how much time and money he probably saves, but I wouldn't work with him.

I own a Fender Precision, I love it, it was my main bass for years and I would never part with it. However, it's not the single size that fits all.

 

[jamro217]

What style of music were you recording? If it was soul, country or Motown, "zing" is not required. As far as a P bass being the go-to instrument for sessions, it does cover most of the tonal range needed for the majority of genres. If it saves expensive studio time for the engineer to recalibrate his board settings in order to provide the perfect tone, consider that a bonus. Engineers may be great at what they do, but they may not be gearhead musicians who know the precise details of every bass that comes through the door. Do you mix a clanky 4001 the same as an EB-O? NO!!! How much time has been spent in studios over the years trying to get the "right drum sound"? Ka-ching, ka-ching, ka-ching. That song better be a hit for what it's costing you to record it!

 

[bigdaddybass12]

look at like this, you can play a $300 bass run it thru a EQ & it sound like a $3000 bass, or you can play a $3000 bass and make it sound like a $300 p bass