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Finally made a DECISION about my new bass.

Sparkdog

Sparkdog

Sep 18, 2006
1,572
970
Burbank, CA
#1
And it's pretty fantastic! I've been on the hunt for a new PJ and it had to check a bunch of boxes for me:

- Reverse P pickup, it's the only thing that gets the tone I want.
- Hot J pickup at the bridge.
- Great neck.
- Light weight.
- Perfect balance, both in terms of tone and how it hangs on a strap.
- Cool color.

This one has all of those things and more, really fine instrument. Thanks to the helpful TB folks who pointed me at it!

Reverend Artist Page.jpg
 
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#3
I'm fascinated by the "reverse P" fan club. My go-to live bass has a reverse P. I'm not sure I attribute my love of this bass to the reverse P, though. It is more about the way it plays and the way it feels hanging from a strap, and the active EMG's it sports.

I'm a P bass fan, so I adore the traditional placement. I'm going to have to explore this "reverse P" thing some more so that I can form an actual opinion. The only thing I know right now is that a backwards P pickup feels funny under my fingers.

EDIT: Also, I'm jealous! I wanna be on a manufacturer's website too!
 
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#6
wvbass said:
I'm fascinated by the "reverse P" fan club. My go-to live bass has a reverse P. I'm not sure I attribute my love of this bass to the reverse P, though. It is more about the way it plays and the way it feels hanging from a strap, and the active EMG's it sports.

I'm a P bass fan, so I adore the traditional placement. I'm going to have to explore this "reverse P" thing some more so that I can form an actual opinion. The only thing I know right now is that a backwards P pickup feels funny under my fingers.

EDIT: Also, I'm jealous! I wanna be on a manufacturer's website too!
Click to expand...
I've played an awful lot of P Basses over the years, including some holy grail pre-CBS ones owned by studio cats I know. A handful of them are truly balanced across all 4 strings, meaning the D and G strings sound as fat and full as the E and A strings, but the vast majority of them are thin sounding on those upper strings, to my ears at least. And it's not a dead spot issue as some on this site have suggested...its apparent with open strings as well as fretted notes. Provided you have good wood and pickups, the reverse P really evens out the response and adds fat fundamentals to the upper strings.
 
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#8
Sparkdog said:
I've played an awful lot of P Basses over the years, including some holy grail pre-CBS ones owned by studio cats I know. A handful of them are truly balanced across all 4 strings, meaning the D and G strings sound as fat and full as the E and A strings, but the vast majority of them are thin sounding on those upper strings, to my ears at least. And it's not a dead spot issue as some on this site have suggested...its apparent with open strings as well as fretted notes. Provided you have good wood and pickups, the reverse P really evens out the response and adds fat fundamentals to the upper strings.
Click to expand...
I hear you! The funny thing is, I'm in a little different camp. When I play a P bass (which is my absolute, all-time favorite, go-to bass) I play differently than I do any other bass. I think maybe it is because of that uneven-ness across the strings. The E and A are more "meat and potatoes" and the D and G are more "flavor." That can be a disadvantage in some contexts, but when you use it a certain way, it is a big winner, IMO. It definitely colors my playing, because you want to hit certain notes at certain positions on certain strings precisely because they sound more (or less) full.

On the other hand, my reverse P, and EMG-equipped Spector, may well be the absolute most fun bass I've ever used on stage. I think it is largely GAS that keeps me on the quest to find a competent #2. Well, that and the Spector has a bright and present rock tone. For vintage-y tones, I have to look elsewhere. At least, that's what I tell myself. :D
 
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#11
Congrats! When you're ready to get a backup, check out the Harley Benton PM Enhanced. Wire in a split for the bridge MM pup and you're there. But my experience with my 5 string version (on the left) says, you might not even want to split it.

IMGP4638a.jpg
 
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#12
Sparkdog said:
And it's pretty fantastic! I've been on the hunt for a new PJ and it had to check a bunch of boxes for me:

- Reverse P pickup, it's the only thing that gets the tone I want.
- Hot J pickup at the bridge.
- Great neck.
- Light weight.
- Perfect balance, both in terms of tone and how it hangs on a strap.
- Cool color.

This one has all of those things and more, really fine instrument. Thanks to the helpful TB folks who pointed me at it!

View attachment 3402328
Click to expand...
Very nice...I like the reverse Ps as well. I knew Munk as well the guy next to you on the site.
 
#16
wvbass said:
I'm fascinated by the "reverse P" fan club. My go-to live bass has a reverse P. I'm not sure I attribute my love of this bass to the reverse P, though. It is more about the way it plays and the way it feels hanging from a strap, and the active EMG's it sports.

I'm a P bass fan, so I adore the traditional placement. I'm going to have to explore this "reverse P" thing some more so that I can form an actual opinion. The only thing I know right now is that a backwards P pickup feels funny under my fingers.

EDIT: Also, I'm jealous! I wanna be on a manufacturer's website too!
Click to expand...
Then get it out from under your fingers; put it at the neck.
 

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