High end...passive...old school....simple...but not a P Bass....

[Nedmundo]

Another just occurred to me: the Veillette Retro Singlecut, which received a very positive review in Bass Player a few years ago. Veillettes are beautiful instruments, and this one has two Citron humbuckers, and you can take the tone control completely out of the circuit.

www.veilletteguitars.com

Edit: Why the #$*& did I have to think about the Veillette? Now I have GAS.

 

[NickyBass]

Good ideas so far. I'm not really in the market right now, but I wanted to see what is out there. I'm content with my basses, but I think it would be cool to eventually pick up a passive 'P bass' with a 'modern' look, but no top. Maybe base the woods on my older Fenders. Alder body, one peice maple neck, Brazilian rosewood board, etc.

 

[Ric5]

how about this?

or this?

 

[SundanceChile]

Epiphone Jack Cassidy, or Lakland Decade with Darkstars.

 

[Makten]

Framus Soulman:

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[Honk'n_down-low]

G&L L1000 comes to mind - not as old as a P-Bass - but fits the other requirements.

 

[thisSNsucks]

G&L L1000 comes to mind - not as old as a P-Bass - but fits the other requirements.

I was just gonna post the same response. I'm totally in love with those basses.

 

[emjazz]

Here you go Nicky.

http://www.bassnw.com/Used Basses/rick_turner_electroline_EL434PM.htm

 

[steve21]

I second and third Bud LeCompte.

 

[Expendable Bass]

More like a J-bass, but they're nice basses none the less. Passive and simple. A Carvin B4.

 

[BurningSkies]

I don't think anyone's mentioned this, but Sheldon Dingwall's Afterburner 1 basses fit into the simple/passive/p-inspired/high end category quite well.

Under the soapbar shells are P style split coils. He's now winding them in series, although mine has parallel wiring. The controls are: Volume, passive tone, 5 way selector (Neck, series N/B, parallel N/B, Bridge). Simple easy and great sounding.

 

[Kenny Allyn]

Hit up Bud. He'll do what you want.

Hey I was gonna say that ... two of those are mine, Bud really has a handle on making what I want in a custom bass.
The idea was to make a bass with a vintage vibe but with but not a copy more of an interpretation of classic designs.

Fred Hammon of Dark Star pickups playing the P4T at Summer NAMM

Bud and Fred with the original Dark Star VB bass.

... Both basses are excellent examples of the single pickup in a bass other than a P ... that Rob Allen is Badd Azz too!

 

[MarkusBass]

The Decade is the shiznit!!!! I'm glad they don't make it in a five or my wife would throttle me!

+1 on Decade. Getting one myself!

 

[Yvon]

Fred Hammon of Dark Star pickups playing the P4T at Summer NAMM

I like that one a lot!
5 string with either a DS pick up (when they are available) or a P

Soon I hope!

 

[Buskman]

Fritz Bros. Bass:

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[DeviantMoose]

I would love to have a Marleaux Votan myself...I'm sure they'd do a passive one. Great looking bass.

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I don't think they have any pure passive votan basses but they all have a passive/active switch.

 

[emjazz]

I don't think they have any pure passive votan basses but they all have a passive/active switch.

This is one of the few non 6 string basses that I would love to have......they good great.

 

[Joe Smithberger]

www.veilletteguitars.com

Why the #$*& did I have to think about the Veillette? Now I have GAS.

I am with you there. The Archtop has my full attention...mmmm... 5 string with TI flats...

 

[macmrkt]

We're very interested in high-quality handmade passive basses. It's a subject that doesn't get covered much, but we think it's increasing in popularity. It may be part of the evolution of basses and amps in general. What's most fascinating, is that a number of the best luthiers would recommend passive over active if they were openly asked.

 

[3toes]

The Decade is the shiznit!!!! I'm glad they don't make it in a five or my wife would throttle me!

Prepare to be throttled. They showed one at NAMM this winter