Fender Precision Bass thread

[Nobody]

So it's been a while since there was a thread dedicated to the Fender Precision bass. They are good basses. Do you also agree that they are good basses?

 

[ZenG]

I'm starting to......my first experience with a Fender -P wasn't all that good...possibly because the one I tried out was an "off" or a factory second or something....it had neck dive like you wouldn't believe. But I've picked up others since then and they didn't have this issue...

Somewhere down the road there's a P coming my way for sure......

 

[Nobody]

They are good.

 

[Dash Lashes]

 

[drTSTingray]

They are a good, steady instrument but experts say:-

1) you need to try loads before you find the right one - this implies variable (or poor) quality - I think this is dubious. I have heard loads of different types recorded playing the same thing - and they all sound very similar.
2) they often have dead spots which mean you can't play around the C area on the G string very effectively.
3) they are the best bass ever invented.

I personally find 3) rather difficult to believe since the current basic version was invented around 1957 and was never conceived as an instrument to support the countless genres which have appeared since. It certainly can be used in any genre but is it effective in any genre? That is very debatable as it is a simple bass with limited variation in tone and dynamic - I would say it is adequate but there are many better instruments. For basic, supporting bass they are a good choice - but some might say they are more at home on the plodding background type of bass.

I would hate to try and play one in a band with crunchy guitars or thick bass end keyboard as they would likely disappear.

For nostalgia value the only thing to beat them is a Jazz in a custom colour with matching headstock.

The Model T Ford of the bass world - gets you from A to B adequately - but I wouldn't be rushing to use one as my daily transport!!

 

[ukulelelab]

Oh yeah the ones made before 1968 should be sold. CNC was a lot better after that ;-)

 

[Nobody]

They are good for recording and good with tort.

 

[buldog5151bass]

So it's been a while since there was a thread dedicated to the Fender Precision bass. They are good basses. Do you also agree that they are good basses?

At least half a day ...

 

[Nobody]

Flats are smooth to the touch and P basses are smooth to the hearing.

 

[slobake]

It's what I play, I love my 50's Precision. Simple and reliable with a sweet tone.

 

[Nev375]

OK. Take it from the top!

This time with feeling!


And a 1... 2... 3... and...

 

[Rocky]

P basses are the best basses in the world! There is nothing better.. Period.. End of story.. God plays a P bass.. If you can't do it on a P bass either 1) you can't play it 2) it doesn't need or it shouldn't be played..

 

[Jason Brown]

Good thing Nobody is allowed to troll on talkbass.

 

[goodformetal]

This instrument you speak of...is it (my username)?

 

[RickBlair]

I bought a MIM P-bass for my son in the mid-90's. It's a good player and sounds good with the Bartolini pickup that I got from a Pedulla reject parts box.

Last week I played a 66 P-bass through a 60's Bassman amp that I assume was all stock. That was a whole different animal. Sweet sound with flats and it played effortlessly. Only problem I had with was that the shop wanted $6,500 for it.

Rick B.

 

[Nobody]

Good thing Nobody is allowed to troll on talkbass.

For over a decade!

p.s.
P basses are good.

 

[jg42]

P basses are the best basses in the world! There is nothing better.. Period.. End of story.. God plays a P bass.. If you can't do it on a P bass either 1) you can't play it 2) it doesn't need or it shouldn't be played..

So what does Satan play?

p.s. very growly.... ;-)

 

[sharkbait130]

With all the history involved in the P Bass , it definitely has its place in Americana. It all started when Patrick Henry said "Give me a P bass or give me death." Not too long after that , John Hancock signed the declaration of Independence with a quill made from a trimmed flatwound A string off of a P bass. This pissed off the British so bad that they invaded us and were doing pretty good until George Washington crossed the Delaware river with his troops using P basses for paddles and beat the British into submission using P basses thereby winning our independence. Abe Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address on the back of a P bass. It was the tonal vibration of two strings on a P bass that inspired Oppenheimer to invent the atomic bomb , bringing an end to WW2. Not too long after that , some guy named Leo got a hold of one and liked it so much he took out a patent on it. Bass players have been in love with the darn things ever since.
It's all true , I swear it. I hope you took notes cause there's gonna be a test on it later.
Oh , and as to the above post , Satan plays a P bass too. Only his has a white pick guard , round wounds and he plays it through a 20 watt solid state amp.

 

[nuhckes8]

This instrument you speak of...is it (my username)?

greatest username ever

 

[petrus61]