Every true bassist needs a P-bass

[Dr. Keebs]

The P bass will always have a place in any genre. Does a bass player need one? No. It’s traditionalist romanticization, which is also perfectly fine. Just not necessary or applicable to every player.

I LOVE P basses, though I don’t have one at the moment.

 

[Cleezmo]

Totally disagree. That's like saying "Every true motorcyclist needs a Harley", or "Every true guitarist needs a strat/LP/tele". Nope, nope, and nope.

Unless you're a studio musician and producers/artists consistently request a P, no one NEEDS to own a P. Or a Jazz, or a Stingray, or....you get the picture.

 

[KohanMike]

Since starting to play bass in mid 2014, I only play bass uke, but did find a 24" scale mini P bass copy that I used for a few years, but recently sold it, along with 28 of my others, with nerve damage to my neck spinal cord. Now I only play one kind, a Hadean violin/Hofner 21" scale copy.

 

[Greenman72]

My bass teacher told me that "Every true bassist needs a P Bass."

Well, I can't seem to edit my original post. However, I should note that this is more or less hyperbole, and he didn't really say it this forcefully. He said something to the effect of "eventually, if you stay with the bass long enough and get good enough, you're going to need a P bass someday."

Again, this is just food for thought and fun. Don't take it too seriously. (Like when people say "fire your teacher". I don't take them seriously.)

 

[Michael Stanley 2112]

My favorite bass is a "lowly" little RGB300, but you best believe I have a P-bass and a copy which sounds just like it.

Even if only for the "shutting the engineer up" factor, I'm glad I have that weapon in my quiver.

 

[WillyW]

 

[SoulReflection]

My bass teacher told me that "Every true bassist needs a P Bass."
Agree or disagree?

Hey, P Bass haters, its feeding time!

 

[Grinderman]

No true Scotsman is without a P bass.

 

[GretschWretch]

How about these?

View attachment 5350921

View attachment 5350922

I've had a history of bad experiences with bad music teachers.

You can get them as refrigerator magnets as well.

 

[Kubicki Fan]

Could be that the teacher merely tried to evoke a sense of curiosity toward the Pbass, using provocative or hyperbolic language (that is en vogue). No need to read too much into it without context.

 

[Sharko]

I mean, I have a p bass and I’m still not a true bassist

 

[Liko]

Hey, P Bass haters, its feeding time!

 

[GretschWretch]

I would have said every bass player needs to have owned a Precision at one time. It's sort of like a rite of passage, especially for Boomers and early X-ers. Now whether one stays with a P or moves on is entirely another matter.

 

[Heiwa]

"eventually, if you stay with the bass long enough and get good enough, you're going to need a P bass someday."

If one P pickup is an award for being a great bassist, the PP guys are like bass gods then

 

[Jefenator]

Sounds like your teacher gets a kickback from Fender.

I mean, I like them and think they're relevant. But I probably wouldn't tell a student what you quoted.

I would tell them they have to double on upright.

 

[Liko]

Sounds like your teacher gets a kickback from Fender.

Well then, OP can give him a good kick in the teeth:

 

[micguy]

Somehow, I keep getting asked to play every weekend, and I've never owned an actual Fender bass (I did have a bass that had a Fender neck on it at one point, but it didn't have the Fender logo, and that is long gone). I'm sure, though, that once word gets around that I never owned a "real P", this short (47 year) period where obviously confused people want me to play with them will stop. It might be nice to take a couple weekends off....

 

[bassdog]

Every true bassist does not play above the 12 fret.

 

[DrBnz]

I'd change that a bit to say every bassist (at one point in their life) needs to hold and play a high quality / well setup P-bass. It is a unique experience. You get to hear that characteristic P-bass sound that everybody tries to cover. And to realize what a large, simple instrument it is. It feels like the #2 pencil you used in the elementary school. With flats, it sounds like you're playing on long thin metal tubes... a hollow, deep sound, yet very cool. Sure you can run it thru the pedal board, beat it up and sound outrageous, but its the simple mellow tone that melts the inner ear. Do you "need it".... NAH!!!!! not really. But it is fun to play with.

 

[Mike Vee]

You should do whatever you want. I only care about what I should have, not others.

For me, it's the PERFECT tone. I keep two: Rosewood with LaBellas (dark) and Maple with Fender 9050s (bright - or at least as bright as I ever want to go)