OP - I have a question about the necessity of purchasing an American P. I currently own a MIM '50s Lacquer and it really is a terrific bass. Not as refined around the edges, but it suits me very well. My question is: If my MIM is the bass I fall in love with and enjoy playing, IF I were to ever be in a studio or touring artist's band situation, will I run into THEIR prejudice that I need an American P, or generally is that not an issue?
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GAS free guide to Bass purchasing
- Thread starter AngelCrusher
- Start date
You would most likely be OK. For touring you would be fine. I just suggest the American P since it eliminates any prejudice and ensures that you will win gigs if you are the best fit and other players have American Ps. The MIM introduces a slight risk factor there, but it's slight. Make sure it records well. Talk to respected producers you know and see if they can give it a shot on a mix. Get their feedback and go from there.
Nothing wrong with a Music Man. Play what you love. They are very common basses and work fine. The P Bass ups your chances of getting more work but a Music Man is not exactly an obscure bass to engineers.
Well, obviously major and minor scales and then learn modes after that. Focus on Chord tones first.
I suppose this would work for many people. I wanted it to work for me. I just felt limited with the P. I played jazz basses for quite a while and I suppose I could have been fine with one of them if I chose.
For the playing I do in church and filling in with some jazz groups that tend to do contemporary stuff, I find a fretted 5 and fretless 5 cover my bass needs.
Of course, I am not on a path that the OP indicated so I guess I can do what I want.
For the playing I do in church and filling in with some jazz groups that tend to do contemporary stuff, I find a fretted 5 and fretless 5 cover my bass needs.
Of course, I am not on a path that the OP indicated so I guess I can do what I want.
Yes you can. And I much prefer a J as well if it is any consolation. In fact, you can pretty much follow my guide and use a Fender J instead but my belief is that the P will win you the most gigs, especially for sessions.
GAS free guide to bass buying - leave Talkbass and never come back! 
It is a known FACT that TalkBass induces GAS in four out of five bass players. And if you don't belive that, I'll post it again.
It is a known FACT that TalkBass induces GAS in four out of five bass players. And if you don't belive that, I'll post it again.
I rarely do studio work, but when I do I always bring my 1974 P and it almost always gets used.
I haven't gigged or rehearsed with the P in a few years, but it is ready if I need it. Also, if I audition for a new band, the P comes along in a double gigbag with a 5er. Band Leaders and studio engineers generally want a P, so I bring one. Might not get played, but they know I am making an effort to please.
I only gig with active 5ers and don't see a need for anything else in in my band settings.
I haven't gigged or rehearsed with the P in a few years, but it is ready if I need it. Also, if I audition for a new band, the P comes along in a double gigbag with a 5er. Band Leaders and studio engineers generally want a P, so I bring one. Might not get played, but they know I am making an effort to please.
I only gig with active 5ers and don't see a need for anything else in in my band settings.
This is fascinating, in that it confirms something I recently came to believe: Playing a Precision (of whatever origin) will get you in the door like nothing else. I gave up my beloved Birdsong short-scale a while back, I loved it, but the guys who do the hiring want to see a Precision. I own three now--a '97 California Series, a '51 reissue, and a 5-string "crafted in Indonesia" Squier (which, by the way, sounds and plays great without any modification). And while I'm exactly the same player I was last year, I'm now busier than I've ever been. Go figure.
I suppose I could have learned to like a P if I would have given it more time. If my gigging/professional life depended on it I would. (Un)Fortunately, I am not in a situation where what I play matters to the people I play with. I've always had and liked a more "modern" tone I guess so my soap bar Roscoe fretted 5 and close spaced J pup fretless 5 work. I use a SS amp as well, though I am more curious these days about a more tube-like sound. Maybe to team down my modern basses a bit.
Fortunately, we all have a multitude of choices. I wish I would have found mine sooner. It would have saved me a lot of money. But now that I have "settled" on my pair of Roscoe basses, I barely look in the classifieds any more.
Fortunately, we all have a multitude of choices. I wish I would have found mine sooner. It would have saved me a lot of money. But now that I have "settled" on my pair of Roscoe basses, I barely look in the classifieds any more.
GAS free guide to bass buying - leave Talkbass and never come back!
This. For Sure.
It just goes to show that people at all levels listen with their eyes.
Reread the title of the thread. What you want is a different thread. Try reading up on some of the posts in the technique section. Best of luck to you.
I lived off an American P for years. I also have found that a complete inventory is as you describe, 1 P, 1 J 5. Had you posted this 40 years ago, it would have saved me a ton of money.
I do have a few other basses, but that is just because I want to and I can. It is no longer a business capital expendature, but a "because I can" purchase. But, at the end of the day, no matter what I fantasize about, it is the P and/or the J that end up at the gigs.
I do have a few other basses, but that is just because I want to and I can. It is no longer a business capital expendature, but a "because I can" purchase. But, at the end of the day, no matter what I fantasize about, it is the P and/or the J that end up at the gigs.
I agree and I will do so. In fairness, Op gave me the go ahead to ask those questions.
I take exception to this Fender is a must.
I know the powere that be say Fender P or we don't want you and you can't fight City Hall, but I'll put my two G&L 2500s one fretless up against any bass out there.
Most likely you won't land what the op calls pro gigs with out a. Vintage P, but that doesn't make it right.
I know the powere that be say Fender P or we don't want you and you can't fight City Hall, but I'll put my two G&L 2500s one fretless up against any bass out there.
Most likely you won't land what the op calls pro gigs with out a. Vintage P, but that doesn't make it right.
Back in my misspent youth I studied with a couple of the members of the National Symphony Orchestra. One of them use to say, 'Never give them an excuse to not hire you.' That lesson has served me well my entire life. A Ric may be my bass of choice but if I was auditioning for a blues band, you better believe I'd show up with my vintage P repro with flats.
