I GET IT. P BASSES ARE AWESOME.

[static0verdrive]

I really want to like P basses, but I can never seem to get one to not be buried below everything else in an awful way. Hopefully one day it will click with me, too.

I always hear about how great of a bass it is for rock, but I just get walked all over when I play one. Am I doing something wrong?

This is the primary reason I prefer having the bridge pickup.

 

[pedroims]

This is the primary reason I prefer having the bridge pickup.

My experience is the opposite, the times when I get compliments of my sound is when I play my P, everybody can hear it and feel it, the band is : electric, two acoustic, drums, keyboards, three backing vocals and lead vocals, in the other hand , when I play my jazz ( bridge pickup favored) people dont notice the bass.

 

[Alexander]

I have zero problems sitting in the mix with my PBass. I really push the mids, though. And with my single coil PBass? Forget about it. Has just an added definition and brightness that doesn't just sit in the mix. It OWNS the mix.

I don't need no stinking bridge pickup

 

[Josh Thatguy]

I'm not going to search 13 prior pages to see if this has been mentioned, but Geddy Lee used a Pbass for the entire first album. Most people assume it was a Ric... but He didn't own a Ric until after the release of the initial Rush album.
What I'm saying is: if you think a Pbass in one generic, vanilla, no-personality tone, give THAT album a listen, and drool at the grind and flavors He pulled out with His fingerstyle.

(Yes, I've capitalized all references to Geddy, such as "He" and "His," because Geddy Lee is a deity!)

 

[Fingerpickingood]

I'm not going to search 13 prior pages to see if this has been mentioned, but Geddy Lee used a Pbass for the entire first album. Most people assume it was a Ric... but He didn't own a Ric until after the release of the initial Rush album.
What I'm saying is: if you think a Pbass in one generic, vanilla, no-personality tone, give THAT album a listen, and drool at the grind and flavors He pulled out with His fingerstyle.

(Yes, I've capitalized all references to Geddy, such as "He" and "His," because Geddy Lee is a deity!)

ALL HAIL!!!

 

[Rib 13]

I'm not going to search 13 prior pages to see if this has been mentioned, but Geddy Lee used a Pbass for the entire first album.

That P-Bass has an extra J pickup modded at the bridge, defeating the entire classic P-Bass sound of just a solitary split pickup....

...nothing to see here, folks....move along.....

 

[Josh Thatguy]

That P-Bass has an extra J pickup modded at the bridge, defeating the entire classic P-Bass sound of just a solitary split pickup....

...nothing to see here, folks....move along.....

Strange, I hadn't seen that in the bootleg videos of the live performances of the era, or the video from the middle-school performance that's included as extra footage in the documentary DVD. Guess I need to watch that stuff a little closer on a bigger screen at the office tonight...

 

[Rib 13]

Strange, I hadn't seen that in the bootleg videos of the live performances of the era, or the video from the middle-school performance that's included as extra footage in the documentary DVD. Guess I need to watch that stuff a little closer on a bigger screen at the office tonight...

its in an awkward spot right at the bridge....its the same bass he later modded into the teardrop...The pickup was added not too long before the LP was recorded so it depends when your footage is dated from

 

[Herrick]

I like Ps. One Pickup to Rule Them All.

 

[Josh Thatguy]

its in an awkward spot right at the bridge....its the same bass he later modded into the teardrop...The pickup was added not too long before the LP was recorded so it depends when your footage is dated from

And obviously, that photo is from quite some later when Geddy DID own several Rickenbackers and had modded the P bass in question.
I present the video from Laura Secord Secondary School filmed on April 1, 1974. Bear in mind the first Rush album was released March 1, 1974. I think it's an absolutely safe assumption that the P-bass in the video was the one used for recording the initial album, since the band had yet to score any big endorsement deals.
To make it very simple, watch in HD, fast forward to the 30:57 mark and a few seconds after, watch Geddy's flamenco technique during Working Man, and notice there is clearly NO j-pickup installed at the time.
RUSH, the first album, was recorded with a Precision bass without modifications. Aggressive playing and fingerstyle, great eq'ing, tube grind, yes. Rickenbacker-type growl, yes. J p'up? No.

 

[Rib 13]

And obviously, that photo is from quite some later when Geddy DID own several Rickenbackers and had modded the P bass in question.
I present the video from Laura Secord Secondary School filmed on April 1, 1974. Bear in mind the first Rush album was released March 1, 1974. I think it's an absolutely safe assumption that the P-bass in the video was the one used for recording the initial album, since the band had yet to score any big endorsement deals.
To make it very simple, watch in HD, fast forward to the 30:57 mark and a few seconds after, watch Geddy's flamenco technique during Working Man, and notice there is clearly NO j-pickup installed at the time.
RUSH, the first album, was recorded with a Precision bass without modifications. Aggressive playing and fingerstyle, great eq'ing, tube grind, yes. Rickenbacker-type growl, yes. J p'up? No.

awesome....thank you for the correction....

 

[bordinco90]

I played P Basses most of my life and always had the same complaint...it needs a bridge pickup. So I sold my single split P versions, got p/js, sold them, got more single pickups versions, sold them and round and round we go. I always want a P Bass, until I have one, and then I want something lighter and more versatile. Now for the first time since I began playing in the early 80s I have zero Fender basses. And, of course, I'm looking for a P Bass.

Lol same here. I had a P bass and wanted something different. I sold off my P bass, I have been through many five strings (Ibanez BTB675, Ibanez SR405, SBMM Ray35, Peavey Millennium AC BXP5, and Schecter 5 string). I did not like the sound or feel of all the 5 string basses that I have bought. I now have a MIM 50s Pbass and now I am fixing to buy the real deal American Standard P bass. The P basses just sound better with most music IMO.

 

[BoogieZK]

I know from first-hand experience that's incorrect. As examples, World Coming Down was done with one of the three older Esh basses, and Life Is Killing Me basslines were recorded entirely with his custom Fernandes Tremor(s). In fact, by the time WCD was being written, he didn't even own the Alembic anymore.

I'm not trying to sound like a douche, I'm just setting the record straight. My source for the information is Peter, as he was a close friend of mine during the creations and recordings of the albums I've mentioned.

OK so next time, turn 7 times my tongue before talking.
I read somewhere what i was saying but if you went to the source, i take what you say.

I Am not against the pbass sound, i Am against the idea that if someone wants a good sound, the first response is always Fender, always pbass and always ampeg.

I don't have heavy arguments, facts or story. And the Bass history is against my point of view.

 

[static0verdrive]

My experience is the opposite, the times when I get compliments of my sound is when I play my P, everybody can hear it and feel it, the band is : electric, two acoustic, drums, keyboards, three backing vocals and lead vocals, in the other hand , when I play my jazz ( bridge pickup favored) people dont notice the bass.

Gotcha - but I never favour either except occasionally the neck pickup by a little... both on all the way or I lose a lot of lows.

 

[Charlzm]

... i Am against the idea that if someone wants a good sound, the first response is always Fender, always pbass and always ampeg.

Exactly. When I first started playing in 1981, I was 16 and this was all I heard - "Fender, Ampeg".
My immediate reaction was, "Well those are straight out, then!"
And as I began to find the guys who spoke to me (Geddy, Squire, Berlin, etc...) I realized none of them did the "P Bass through Ampeg" thing.
It works well for many people; it's just not my thing.

 

[BoogieZK]

What I exactly think is:
A precision bass is producing a bass guitar sound centered on the high bass frequency.

This sound is easily cutting through any mix especially Rock, punk, metal or any low mids filled music.

Why people tend to think "Precision Bass Sound" is the GOT TO sound?? Because few amateur bands works on their sound.
Many amateur bands and musicians think the sound as a personal sound before band sound.

The bass guitar is the most difficult instrument to mix through Guitars too boomy, rooms absorbing bass........
So the PBass is a easy cheap choice. No need to understand what is happening in the sound, it works almost every time.

 

[georgiagoodie]

I prefer my Ps with a J neck.
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[georgiagoodie]

I suppose you could consider this a "P" Bass, of some type...
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[Mediocrity Man]

I just sold a P/J and replaced it with a Precision. I don't miss the Jazz pup at all. Never would have figured that.

 

[Mediocrity Man]

I prefer my Ps with a J neck.
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Me too!