First P bass

[truand85]

A P Bass Special Deluxe

 

[J Wilson]

Yes, they ARE that good.

I lucked upon one of these being sold NOS online a couple years ago from a small music store. I jumped on it as quick as I could get out my debit card.

Although they're REALLY killer as a stock instrument, I proceeded to mod mine into something unique using a Fender bass humbucker (friend had it lying around), Kickass bridge, tort PG, and new pot/cap/jack harness. The result was beyond what I could have imagined - hits WAAAAY above it's class.

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Skyline, I've thought of installing that replacement Hipshot bridge.

Was it really a drop-in install?

With its' much larger footprint, do you feel 'boxed in' by it, or the JB pickup install crowded it too far forward?

Any noticeable change in tone?

Hope you don't mind playing '20 Questions', but you're the first person I could ask about the PJ conversion and bridge update.

Thanks,

JW

 

[denton57]

I was never interested in a P until I joined TB and started wondering what I was missing. Bought a 78 on a whim in 07 for like $1000. Yes, they were that cheap back then. Sold that one and got a 75 for around the same money. Played that with a 73 SVT and matching cab for a while in 08. Tried a bunch of different ones for fun over the years. The best was a 71 body 70 neck that I assembled from the TB classifieds here. Wish I still had that. Had a couple good Nash’s and RI’s over the years...have an Oly White 18 AO now. One constant is the Lollar pickup and flats. First was LaBella but for the past few years, it’s been Pyramids.

The sound of a P with a tube head is just it.

 

[factory presets]

Ibanez Blazer. Playing the punk/funk skunk of the real 80s through a folded horn 2x12. In truth anything would've done the job through that rig. But I put a Dimarzio in and was able to hear an improvement. Played it till it got stolen. Moved on to an old Fender that sounded good but never played as well as the Ibby.

 

[CallMeAl]

Got a Squier P in 2018 for like $125.

It needed some loving, I ended up taking it down to the body and rebuilding. Tried a few pickups, settled on a Duncan SPB1.

I found I was addicted to J necks, had a Peavey neck on it for a bit, eventually got a Fender J neck for it.

I’ve had a few other PJs, including a G&L P-style, but none have overthrown this as my main bass:

pictured with Chromes, but I found I prefer the P with rounds thang. Currently strung with DR Pure Blues

 

[MegaSwing]

My first Precision was a ‘74 3TSB maple FB I got from my bass teacher in ‘76 for $200. I traded it within a year for two excellent guitars and a stereo system that lasted me until I got to college. But, good gravy, do I wish I still had that damn bass!

 

[BlueTalon]

My first P was an SX fretless. It was a dog -- not in the lovable animal sense, but in the piece-o-crap equipment sense. I ended up giving it to a school.

My 2nd P was a Wentz signature Squier with a jazz-style neck. I like it, and gigged with it occasionally for a couple of years, when I didn't want to bring an expensive bass to the gig. I still have it.

Frankly, I don't see what the fuss is all about. Ps are OK basses, nothing more.

 

[bmusic]

It was an American Deluxe model, with the push-button. Early 2000s, I guess…3TS and rosewood. It did the job ok, I guess, but eventually I got a 57 AVRI with flats (my first foray into that golden realm) that had more personality.

 

[Bodeeni]

My first P bass was a mid 70s Natural bought new or almost new. It was heavy and sounded decent. Got sold a few years later to a fellow player that may still have it.

 

[skyline_01]

Skyline, I've thought of installing that replacement Hipshot bridge.

Was it really a drop-in install?

With its' much larger footprint, do you feel 'boxed in' by it, or the JB pickup install crowded it too far forward?

Any noticeable change in tone?

Hope you don't mind playing '20 Questions', but you're the first person I could ask about the PJ conversion and bridge update.

Thanks,

JW

I don't mind at all!

There is a Kickass model that bolts directly to the Squier 5's, different from the Fender model. I think the model is 5K502, with the suffix "B" for black and "C" for chrome.

The fit in regard to an added bridge pickup seems just fine, no "boxing in" to speak of for me. My tech actually installed the pickup and did a full setup. The only small issue he noted was having to use shorter springs at the saddles in order to move them back far enough for proper intonation.

IMO, the sustain and attack improved to some degree with the bridge upgrade. It might add a tad more weight than the stock bridge but I think it's well worth it - no regrets here!

 

[CreepyGeezer]

You mat not believe this, but it was a 73 fender fretless that I paid $50 for. I still have it and am afraid to use it because it is so valuable, I'm afraid I might break it. I gig in my 2009 fender p. If I break it, I might br able to survive.

 

[Hot Rats]

It was a sunburst ash body with an all maple neck, black pickguard, late 70's Hondo II. It was awesome, lawsuit headstock, but I didn't know what I had and destroyed it somehow. Or maybe I gave it away. It's my one bass that I cannot remember what ultimately happened to it.
still have the receipt:

It looked like this:

 

[mellobud]

Almost 20yrs of playing before getting my 1st P.
Came from a pawn shop with crusty roundwounds on it.

G&L US LB100 in hugger orange
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[sylvanbass]

Mine was a 92 MIJ Fender in Candy Apple Red that I bought for $200 in 1994. It was stolen from my truck in the high school parking lot my senior year in 96. I seriously still miss that bass almost 30 years later. I knew who took it btw lol. It was a classmate and he finally admitted to it around 2010 or so. He took it to a pawnshop next town over and traded it for a rifle.

 

[J Wilson]

I don't mind at all!

There is a Kickass model that bolts directly to the Squier 5's, different from the Fender model. I think the model is 5K502, with the suffix "B" for black and "C" for chrome.

The fit in regard to an added bridge pickup seems just fine, no "boxing in" to speak of for me. My tech actually installed the pickup and did a full setup. The only small issue he noted was having to use shorter springs at the saddles in order to move them back far enough for proper intonation.

IMO, the sustain and attack improved to some degree with the bridge upgrade. It might add a tad more weight than the stock bridge but I think it's well worth it - no regrets here!

Thanks, Skyline !

 

[Ostie]

1986 Kramer Focus. Seemed like every bass back then cost $299.

 

[devnulljp]

Always stayed away from the PBass cos everyone played them. But on a whim, I bought a 78 PBass that popped up locally for a good price figuring I could always flip it, but I really liked it. Eventually sold it to fund a 62, but that's another story. Wish I still had it though.

 

[edencab]

my kit bass

 

[Michael Stanley 2112]

Always stayed away from the PBass cos everyone played them. But on a whim, I bought a 78 PBass that popped up locally for a good price figuring I could always flip it, but I really liked it. Eventually sold it to fund a 62, but that's another story. Wish I still had it though.
View attachment 4671135

That's a P Bass? Slightly modified, maybe?

 

[packhowitzer]

Samick (not my pic):

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