fender P-bass vs. Peavey zodiac bxp

[dclassb]

The peavey is just under 400$ whereas the fender(non-u.s. version) is about 50$ more. It would be really easy to find a used fender. Thats exactly that, no offense but, everyone and their grandma has a fender p-bass. The peavy looks great and has pj's. Although, the jazz standard might be the answer to the pj's. Another bass of mention is the ibanez ATK300. Fender's have a signature twang when there popped. Is a fenders tone sacred and vitually everything else just a bass?
its hard for me to compare these hands on in real time since the peavey's are hard to come by in music stores or craigslist.


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american standard

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the white & black looks good too, i wish they made the sunburst with a rosewood fretboard

 

[FL Knifemaker]

Having played both, I'd go with the Peavey HANDS DOWN

 

[savit260]

Having played both, I'd go with the Fender.

I was really wanting to like the Peavey, as it's a nice looking bass, and I prefer P style pickups to everything else, but it was just seriously lacking in tone compared to a good P bass, and the neck was much too skinny for my taste.

The Peavey did appear to be well made though, but the sound just didin't do it for me.

 

[FL Knifemaker]

Having played both, I'd go with the Fender.

I was really wanting to like the Peavey, as it's a nice looking bass, and I prefer P style pickups to everything else, but it was just seriously lacking in tone compared to a good P bass, and the neck was much too skinny for my taste.

The Peavey did appear to be well made though, but the sound just didin't do it for me.

The MIM Fender P sounded BETTER than the Peavey??

 

[Lia_G]

I'm a big PBass fan, and a CIJ '62 Reissue P is my main gigging bass. That might or might not be a step up from the MIM P's. Anyway, I played a Zodiac in a music store for a few minutes recently, and if you like the narrow neck, it could be a good instrument. I gigged with Peaveys a lot in the 90's, and the Zodiac is a pretty cool thing. Reminds me a bit of my old favorite Peavey Fury, with that skinny neck and the P pickup, although my Fury didn't have a J pickup in the bridge.

Anyway, my personal preference is a P bass, as I like the wider neck and prefer just a single P pickup. It's taken me years to get to where I appreciate them like I now do. And playing country and blues in Nashville, well, let's just say everyone likes it if you show up on a new gig with a P bass.

Either one could probably be very cool for you. Just depends on what you want. Oh, and if you can't find a Peavey to try, just check out a Fender Jazz alongside a P in a music store, just to get a feel for the difference in neck width, if nothing else. I think the Zodiac neck dimensions are pretty close to a Jazz ...

Good luck!

 

[savit260]

The MIM Fender P sounded BETTER than the Peavey??

Yup, When I read the specs on the new Peavey, I was pretty excited to try one out. Looked like it would be right up my alley, minus the neck specks. I don't care for J size, or super slim neck, but other than that, looked like a winner on paper anyway.

Just didn't sound like a good P style bass should IMO. Kind of constricted, tight and a little nasle. Not a tone I'd be happy with. I tried a couple and it was the same deal.

Nice build quality for the price though. Maybe a better pickup would help.

I definitly prefer the stock MIM sound, although that's not the best P tone around either, but it's more than passable.

For the record, I have nothing against Peavey either. I own an old T-20, and have always thought their stuff was a very good value.


For a little bit more money, I'd go with a Godin Freeway 4 for a good sounding, GREAT playing P/J style bass.

 

[Eilif]

I own the MIM precision, and have played both, and I preferred the color combos of the peavey, and they both seemed equally well made. However the Fender sounded better to me.

Like others here, I found that the MIM sounded more like a "P" should, and I know why. The P pickup on the Zodiac is a bit closer to the bridge than standard fender position. It gives the Zodiac a bit more bite, but I think it was just enough of a change to make it less desireable for me. I'm not sure why they did this, since the Zodiac already has a bridge pup to add treble snap. Also, I don't like thin necks.

If you are dead set on the P sound, I would go with the MIM. If you like the J sized neck and want a bit more bite the Zodiac is a fine bass.

 

[FL Knifemaker]

I play an 80's MIJ P bass primarily and didn't find the Zodiac's neck to be all that thin. Then again, I also play a Peavey Fury and B-Ninety which also have thinner necks than a P bass. I also played the Zodiac on the big Ampeg rig at GC, it seemed to have plenty of punch and bottom end. I don't care for the Fender MIM P basses at all. IMHO, they just have a cheap feel and I was never really impressed by the sound. As I mentioned in another thread, I thought the Squier VM P bass blew the Fender P's away, even the Am Standard. I guess we all have different ears

 

[bfc]

I would definitely go with the Peavey. For one, it looks awesome. Two, it sounds awesome (I have it in the sunburst finish). Three, Fenders are over-priced, overrated, and everyone has one. Four, the p/j configuration gives you more options than just a p-pickup. Five, the Peavey is more affordable. And finally, the Peavey is avaliable with a maple or a rosewood board. To get that on a new Fender, you have to go with the American Standard Series and pay over $1000.

 

[MtManiac]

In my experience - never buy a bass if you can't play it first! They're both good instruments, you have to see which one you like best. In the case of extra pickups, extra features for price, etc. more is not always better - "better" can only be defined by you, your tastes.

Those Peaveys have skinny necks, like a Jazz bass. I played a Peavey for >20 years exclusively, and bought it pretty much for the neck width, but now gig a MIA P bass and a Squier Jazz, I like both a lot, but play the P bass more as I find it has a lot of b*lls in the mix. Going back to the Peavey on occasion has left me feeling like it was a total piece of crap - having said that, lots of people really like those old Peaveys, and the ones you're looking at are of a completely different model, so as they say - your mileage may vary!

EDIT, PS, I don't know why people are talking about MIMs in this thread, the picture above is an MIA.

 

[sitting bull]

I know this thread is old but as a new member here is my input anyway if anybody out there is interested!!

I have just bought a Peavey zodiac BXP and having owned a variety of Fenders (Japanese, vintage US & new Mex) and vintage Tokais I would say in my experience it is surprisingly much better than a Mex Fender and easily on a par with a vintage Tokai and almost any other good quality Fender.

For the price (I managed to find one new at a ridiculously stupid cheap price because of the British ignorance of Peavey instruments) I have got so much more than I ever hoped to expect. It is arguably the best value for maney bass I have ever bought. For a bass built in China the overall quality is nothing less than stunning!

I was originally looking for a second hand, good quality Fender on ebay but stumbled across the Peavey after I read a wonderful review of one in a UK guitar based magazine.

Man, am I glad I did!

 

[bassfreakah]

I was really thinking about getting one just because i want something with a maple neck. and i love the pj setup. I have an american fender. Anybody got anymore info on them.

 

[StuartV]

My bass teacher has a '59 P and a Zodiac BXP. He regularly gigs with the Peavey.

That said, I personally never would have bought his Zodiac, and after looking at his, I wouldn't buy any Zodiac with either playing it first or buying it somewhere that guaranteed they would pay return shipping if it arrived and I didn't like it.

My teacher's Zodiac has something installed incorrectly. Either the bridge is not on right or the J pickup route is off. When you look at it straight on from the front, the strings are not centered over the J pickup pole pieces like they should be. They're all off to one side.

My teacher is a fantastic player (has played with Roberta Flack, Herbie Hancock, Sinatra, etc.). But, he's not so savvy on gear. He just cares about what feels good and sounds good to him. He likes the feel of the Peavey and he was able to find settings that produce, in his words, a nice, even sound with a tone that he likes.

My $0.02, FWIW.

 

[nocontrols]

The MIM Fender P sounded BETTER than the Peavey??

Ha ha ha... Never. IMO, the Zodiac will sound better and I happen to like the thinner neck so I know I'd go for the Peavey in a heartbeat.

One drawback: The resale value on BXP Peavey's is not good at all. You might have a hard time getting your money back if you plan on getting rid of it in the future. This is not a problem for me, though, because I buy to play, not buy to sell but it might be a concern for some.

 

[nocontrols]

My teacher is a fantastic player (has played with Roberta Flack, Herbie Hancock, Sinatra, etc.). But, he's not so savvy on gear. He just cares about what feels good and sounds good to him. He likes the feel of the Peavey and he was able to find settings that produce, in his words, a nice, even sound with a tone that he likes.

Sounds like he's got all the gear savvy he needs. He's happy and he's definitely making it work for him. What else is there?

Also, that "defect" you mentioned is an aberration. And not a big enough deal to be a deal-breaker, apparently. Give your teacher a big thumbs-up for being an awesome player and getting such sweet gigs. I wish more people cared more about playing than kvetching over inconsequential trivia. If THAT'S what lack of gear sophistication looks like, I'll take it.

 

[bassfreakah]

Well that is a great selling point for me, the sound and the feel is what you are looking for in anything and is very hard to find these days with out spending a grand. I have had lots of problems with high price gear i guess you pay so much for it you expect it to be perfect and most of the time it is not. but to pay 300 for something and it havin the mojo and the sound. You guys know when you see a bad ass bass player with a cheap bass that makes him even cooler ya know!!!! I still like the 77 vm squier i wish i lived in hot lanta to go by guitar center and check them all out.

 

[Tommygunn]

On GCs used site there is the Peavey with QPs for like $150