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Every true bassist needs a P-bass
- Thread starter Greenman72
- Start date
I guess I'm not a true bassist since I've never owned one. I also don't relic my basses so I have no proof I've played them a lot.
songwriter21
I have an obsession for wood. The musical kind.
Every True Bassist(tm) needs a bass with strings. If you only have 1 you have to pass a test, but if you have 2+. you're in automatically.
Every Trve Bassists needs to play bass when cold. If it's summer, you must sit in a freezer. You must plug into a potato first, then run to the amp. There are no exceptions for either.
Every Trve Bassists needs to play bass when cold. If it's summer, you must sit in a freezer. You must plug into a potato first, then run to the amp. There are no exceptions for either.
I bought one a few years ago. The last time I had one was the late 80s.
It has not become my #1 bass. But it has that distinct P sound, it does its thing, and I'm glad I have it.
No idea whether or not I am a "true" bass player.
In fairness to the OP's teacher - I do think that the moment a player begins working with people he or she doesn't know, whether in a studio or on pick-up gigs, the chances someone will ask for a P-bass increase. The reasons why have been debated here for a couple decades now.
It has not become my #1 bass. But it has that distinct P sound, it does its thing, and I'm glad I have it.
No idea whether or not I am a "true" bass player.
In fairness to the OP's teacher - I do think that the moment a player begins working with people he or she doesn't know, whether in a studio or on pick-up gigs, the chances someone will ask for a P-bass increase. The reasons why have been debated here for a couple decades now.
From 1999 to 2017 the only bass I owned was a '77 P. Still love that bass, but after almost 20 years playing it exclusively, I decided to stretch out and explore other options. I find it strange - here in New Orleans, the PBass "love" borders on the cultish. If you don't play a P, you get questioned and criticized and all sorts of negativity. Screw that. So many colors, it would be silly to use only one.
Not every member of TB has weighted in yet. We have lots of pages to go...
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The premise is bunk but I'll play
Got started in 2007. First bass was an Ibanez PJ, Korean-made I think, that came with a little combo amp, instrument cable, and a strap. I never much cared for the aesthetics of the bass and besides, I'm one of those insufferable snobs who cares where things are made. I knew I'd replace it one day with a USA Fender.
Jaco was one of the first bassists to blow my mind and I always thought the split coil pickup was kind of ugly. "Great reasons" to pick up a beautiful "used" American Standard Jazz in slate blue with the plastic cling wrap still over the pickguard and tuners.
Except I could never really get the sound in my head with that bass. Constantly fiddling with the bridge and neck volumes. One on, one off, a blend of the two, didn't matter. In 2010 I wired up the S1 mod which was a fun exercise in tinkering, came out nicely, and provided a temporary measure of novelty. But still not that sound.
Jamerson was next to blow my mind. One night I played my neighbor's tour-beat Precision with a cracked neck and that was it: that gloriously woody, slightly hollow tone. The elegant simplicity of one volume, one tone. The additional real estate down at the nut. All of a sudden the split coil looked sexy to me.
I bought an LB-100. Then another. Then another. Then an RB620. Now I'm building a Musikraft/MJT number. All Ps, all the time. All strung with flats; all 21 frets, interestingly; and even a little tort mixed in. I'm a walking cliche and I don't care because I'm happy.
Ultimately I converted the Jazz to fretless, knowing there was no going back. Again, fun for the tinker, turned out well, and provided some novelty. But I sold it for a song to that same neighbor.
Conclusion: play everyday and do what you want!
I would say this. Play the bass that gets you excited about music. If it feels right to you, you'll likely play more and better. For live performances, most average audience members won't care what bass you're playing anyways. Band mates might have more detailed opinions, but as long as your rig do a "respectable" range vintage and modern tones, they won't care too much. However, that being said, P Basses are in many ways the quintessential tone for a lot of folks ears. It's a tone while might be seen as "generic", it fits basically any and all genres and will likely be more pleasing in the mix that some hotrod boutique instrument. I believe that any well rounded collection would include a quality P Bass sample. The big question is, should you have two? One with flats and one with rounds? Per Talkbass gear gassing protocol, the answer is you need all the basses and all the strings!
Have owned several … never totally got into the split pickup version, however a 54 style might be nice
After 16 pages, 316 posts, and almost a year, I wonder if OP ever got a new bass teacher. 
Yeah, but only because that one died.After 16 pages, 316 posts, and almost a year, I wonder if OP ever got a new bass teacher.
And you believed him?
Let me guess, he also told you real bassists don't use picks, right?
