I have serious GAS for the 50's for sure...I'm looking at the new Sire D5 coming next month I hope
looks like only $70 more
looks like only $70 more
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Help with P Bass decision...
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Yess sir! omg that roasted maple neck, that thing is NSFW
I'm getting gas for the Sire P5 with the same burst color coming next month also
Edit: for what its worth, It looks like the bridges on these two models would support through body string ferrels. So you could easily add them later.
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My main is a split-coil P, so that’s where my heads at. But on a recent amp-browsing trip I picked up the Squier 50s P and it was fabulous. Didn’t try on a strap but the neck and tone were hypnotic. Hard to walk out without it.
Neither! If you're getting a Fender Precision, you want the most freak-nastiest gnarlyest snarlingest-azz P bass ever made which is this one:
Fender Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass - 3-Color Sunburst
But seriously, I'd go for your first option.
L
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Neither! If you're getting a Fender Precision, you want the most freak-nastiest gnarlyest snarling-azz P bass ever made which is this one:
Fender Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass - 3-Color Sunburst
But seriously, I'd go for your first option.
L
I bet that thing has awesome mwah!
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The single coil pickup has one polepiece per string, directly under the strings, as opposed to the two-polepiece per string design of the split coil pickup. The 50s has a punchier attack, the split coil is beefier. In practice the difference is minimal, especially with flats, and amp/pedal EQ can do a lot.
There are hum-canceling pickups for the 50s but they cost a pretty penny.
I wish I could record it, but I don't have any equipment for that anymore. Spent all my money on the bass
. But in fingerstyle funk in, like, C major, or G or F, on the split P soloed, that string slap against the board is like nothing I've ever heard before.... It is freak, deak, snarly nasty.....L
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My 50s P CV Squire with single coil PU does not hum and has a contoured body.
I don't know how it would compare to other models but I like it as is.
I don't know how it would compare to other models but I like it as is.
JeezyMcNuggles
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I am partial to 60's CV's I am about to put another together any day now, good luck deciding.
I really like my 50s CV. I replaced the heavy China bridge with a 70s style and added Fender reverse tuners. Then I sold my 73 Jazz because the CV blew it away. The neck Is phenomenal
Honestly, contrary to what some responses have indicated, I find the tone of single coil Ps to be very different from the split coil. I even have a Sting Precision MIJ with a stacked Fralin split coil, and that’s very different from a standard split coil. Without getting into trying to describe those differences, I would suggest the somewhat impracticable option of trying to A/B them side by side, if you can make that happen. Maybe find someone (like me) who is in your area and who has both and who would let you compare them. After playing post ‘57 split coil Ps with flats for years, my current P sound is the Sting bass with the Fralin pup and rounds.
The '50s P bass, of course, by a longshot.
In Blonde.
Missed out on an LPB one and still regret it.
In Blonde.
Missed out on an LPB one and still regret it.
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The single coil version does hum, which can be an issue in certain gigs - I couldn't use one (church gigs - we have to be able to play very quietly, and hum would destroy the vibe).
Aside from that, the single soil is more "attacky" - it's hard to get a good sound (or at least a sound that I like) out of (my experience). The split coil is a bit more "compressed" - it's hard to get a bad sound out of - the big difference to me is that the difference makes me WANT to play a split coil (I don't want to play a single coil), so I'll practice more, which is what really makes the difference.
Aside from that, the single soil is more "attacky" - it's hard to get a good sound (or at least a sound that I like) out of (my experience). The split coil is a bit more "compressed" - it's hard to get a bad sound out of - the big difference to me is that the difference makes me WANT to play a split coil (I don't want to play a single coil), so I'll practice more, which is what really makes the difference.
Thanks everyone with the responses and insights. I went in a different direction and pre-ordered the Sire D5 from Sweetwater
I found some recent videos on youtube with the D5. The tone sounded so good, (p sound/warm punchy/ articulate), in my price range, and also gorgeous. If it hums and becomes an issue, i'll gladly swap out the P/U with a Seymour Duncan or Fralin.
Sire Marcus Miller D5 Alder 4-string Bass Guitar - Tobacco Sunburst - that burst and roasted maple neck
Cheers everyone and happy jamming
I found some recent videos on youtube with the D5. The tone sounded so good, (p sound/warm punchy/ articulate), in my price range, and also gorgeous. If it hums and becomes an issue, i'll gladly swap out the P/U with a Seymour Duncan or Fralin.
Sire Marcus Miller D5 Alder 4-string Bass Guitar - Tobacco Sunburst - that burst and roasted maple neck
Cheers everyone and happy jamming
They are so different. Get both: the 60s in white and the 50s in 2TSB.
D
That's two very different sounding basses. At least they SHOULD be if they're anything like the models they're based on. In my experience the Squier CVs are usually "in the ballpark" rather than 100% true to the 50s/60s/70s Fender models they're based on. The single coil CVs are still VERY different from the split coil CVs though (as they should be). I think some people may think single coil and split coil P-basses are similar instruments because they're both Precision basses. They're not.
A split coil P-bass is the classic P-bass tone IMO. It's all about the wonderful mid presence. A split coil P-bass will work great with most genres and sit nicely in the mix. It may be a cliche but it's hard to find a bass that sits better in the mix than a passive, split coil P-bass. It's a mixing engineers dream and an industry standard for a reason.
The 50s single coil P-bass is different. It doesn't have the same mid range presence as the split coils. It can sound GREAT of course but if you're not careful it can be boomy and get lost in the mix (especially on stage). Single coil P-basses are very cool instruments but less versatile than split coil P-basses IMO. The single coil can also be noisy in many environments because they're lacking the hum-cancelling of the split coils. The dynamics of single coil P-basses are also quite different from split coil P-basses. The single coil feels less compressed with a more aggressive attack. It can get a bit clanky if you play it like a split coil. If you're used to a split coil P-bass you might find a single coil P-bass a bit unfamiliar at first. Personally I find the dynamics of split coil P-basses a lot easier to control but that's probably because I play my split coil P-basses a lot more often and only use my single coil P-bass occasionally in the studio.
My advice would be to get the 60s split coil version unless you're 100% certain you want the 50s single coil version. The 60s version is a lot more versatile IMO and probably closer to the tone and feel you think of as a "classic P-bass". A split coil P-bass is a great choice if you own ONE bass. You can play pretty much anything with a passive, split coil P-bass. A single coil P-bass is something I would rather recommend as a second or third bass (unless you're specifically looking for THAT tone/feel of course).
A split coil P-bass is the classic P-bass tone IMO. It's all about the wonderful mid presence. A split coil P-bass will work great with most genres and sit nicely in the mix. It may be a cliche but it's hard to find a bass that sits better in the mix than a passive, split coil P-bass. It's a mixing engineers dream and an industry standard for a reason.
The 50s single coil P-bass is different. It doesn't have the same mid range presence as the split coils. It can sound GREAT of course but if you're not careful it can be boomy and get lost in the mix (especially on stage). Single coil P-basses are very cool instruments but less versatile than split coil P-basses IMO. The single coil can also be noisy in many environments because they're lacking the hum-cancelling of the split coils. The dynamics of single coil P-basses are also quite different from split coil P-basses. The single coil feels less compressed with a more aggressive attack. It can get a bit clanky if you play it like a split coil. If you're used to a split coil P-bass you might find a single coil P-bass a bit unfamiliar at first. Personally I find the dynamics of split coil P-basses a lot easier to control but that's probably because I play my split coil P-basses a lot more often and only use my single coil P-bass occasionally in the studio.
My advice would be to get the 60s split coil version unless you're 100% certain you want the 50s single coil version. The 60s version is a lot more versatile IMO and probably closer to the tone and feel you think of as a "classic P-bass". A split coil P-bass is a great choice if you own ONE bass. You can play pretty much anything with a passive, split coil P-bass. A single coil P-bass is something I would rather recommend as a second or third bass (unless you're specifically looking for THAT tone/feel of course).
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