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Every true bassist needs a P-bass

"Every true bassist needs a P bass."

  • Yes--and it should be the first bass you buy. No substitutes.

    Votes: 39 4.6%

  • Yes, eventually you need a P bass, but it doesn't have to be the first one.

    Votes: 178 20.9%

  • Yes, but you can get a P/J and have virtually the same thing.

    Votes: 69 8.1%

  • No, that's nonsense.

    Votes: 566 66.4%
  • Total voters
    852
#201
MtManiac said:
1) it isn't 1972 anymore
2) this never happens, if it ever did, it definitely does not now
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it actually works out great for me because
1) When people want a p bass, I can provide one
2) I love Fender Precision Basses!!
3) If I'm known as someone who has a couple nice P basses, I end up getting more work

it's a win-win-win! :)
 
#202
I've been in the studio with: guitar (acoustic and electric), drum kit, Fender Rhodes, Hammond organ, sax (tenor and alto and bari), trumpet, trombone, timbales, congas, bongos, oud, accordion, vocals, drum machines, acoustic piano, cowbell (yes, more please), violin, melodica, upright bass, Ampeg Baby Bass, vibraphone etc.

The engineer was able to get a good sound out of all of them, and when I brought out my jazz bass, they just figured out which knobs to turn to make it sound good.

I am not a 'studio guy' and I love the P Bass. But, a good engineer should be able to get a good tone out of any instrument, including non-P basses.
 
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#204
Smooth_bass88 said:
it actually works out great for me because
1) When people want a p bass, I can provide one
2) I love Fender Precision Basses!!
3) If I'm known as someone who has a couple nice P basses, I end up getting more work

it's a win-win-win! :)
Click to expand...
I'm glad it's still working out for you!

I own no less than four Fender P basses currently, two of them are 5's, as well as a reverse split coil PJ 5. I also own a stingray HH 5, two HH Dimensions (a 4 and a 5), a Tbird, and two Jazzes. They all sound awesome and they all absolutely have their place, which is why I have them. I'm not looking for work, I have all I can handle. I too love my Fender P's but literally no one in 41 years of playing has ever asked me to play a P bass.
 
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#208
Honestly this just seems like your teacher was making an off hand remark about the nature of the bass instrument and how for a lot of people the Pbass basically encapsulates what people commonly think of with bass.

But lets be real, even among pbasses there is so much variety in sound that no one person can actually define what a pbass should sound like. Is it James Jamerson, or is it JJ Burnel? Completely different tonal spectrums.

This is why it always confuses me when people say that is what someone needs or should have.
 
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#209
Paris_Tuileries_Garden_Facepalm_statue.jpg
 
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#210
Everyone needs to play one good PBass (and it doesn't need to be a Fender bass or pickup) in a mix to see if it's their thing. If it's not, they don't need one.

There's nothing wrong with having a PJ as a substitute for a PBass because they will get plenty close enough to emulate a regular P. Some PJs will sound better than a regular P if it has the right pickup.

I'd come nearer saying everyone needs a Jazz Bass with a series / parallel switch. That gives even more options than a PJ and still gets very close to a standard P.
 
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#211
It is undeniable that the pbass has a significant impact on the sound and role of the electric bass, especially thanks to the influence of the bass genius: James Jamerson.

So, while technique is fundamental, the role that an iconic instrument like the Precision Bass can play in how music is perceived and interpreted cannot be underestimated.
 
#214
Absolutely true. This is exactly why I consider myself to be a false bassist.
That said, I can tell you from experience that even a false bassist can make a living playing bass full-time. I did just that for two years straight, about a decade ago, but ultimately moved on to a super lame non-music career that I love... you know, being a false bassist and all, just makes sense that I'd find financial stability and happiness in a lame job, which also allows me to play bass for fun in my down-time (like any good false bassist would). Just comes with the territory and also why I wear my "not a true bassist" shame-t-shirt with pride, every Monday.
 
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#216
MtManiac said:
I'm glad it's still working out for you!

I own no less than four Fender P basses currently, two of them are 5's, as well as a reverse split coil PJ 5. I also own a stingray HH 5, two HH Dimensions (a 4 and a 5), a Tbird, and two Jazzes. They all sound awesome and they all absolutely have their place, which is why I have them. I'm not looking for work, I have all I can handle. I too love my Fender P's but literally no one in 41 years of playing has ever asked me to play a P bass.
Click to expand...
But I'm still gassing for a Sean Hurley P
 
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