I think I committed a Talkbass sin,

[Snert]

"Anyone else been down this road?"

Yes.

FTFY.
But I didn't buy an MM.

 

[Hurricane Jimmie]

So Anyway, you're feeling confused and conflicted over your tone and guilty for trying to get out of a rut by purchasing different equipment.

Hey Brother....You were made for Talk Bass!

BTW- Don't accept advice from your wife unless she's green-lighting a new purchase.

 

[jd56hawk]

I think I committed a Talkbass sin,
I don't like the sound of a P bass. Owned 2 Fender P basses, different strings, pickups, 3 different amps, angling the cab. It just does not have the sound I like. Wife said that it was muddy.
I played one at our gigs for a couple of years until I bought a active EQ bass. (another sin) I did not like it but it sound was great. Sold it, then I bought a Sterling Ray4 for $269 new as a beater because the joint we played at was pretty rough.
(here comes the next sin)
I sold the p bass, playing the Ray 4 at every gig. Thought I would try a Fender Jazz. Bought from GC, sounded good at store, played at my gig friday night. Again, not the sound I like. During the break I swapped back to the ray4, guitar player looks at me & said " I like the sound of that one better" Jazz was used, so its going back to GC.
Anyone else been down this road?
(No bashing please, just others who experienced the same thing or some humor)

You do realize the Ray 4 is one of the most popular beginner basses here, right?
Liking one is hardly a sin.
Other than that, 9 put of 10 bassists never even heard of my favorite bass and I wouldn't trade it for any Fender.

 

[stringthrough]

I don't know, man, you might need counceling.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

You do realize the Ray 4 is one of the most popular beginner basses here, right?
Liking one is hardly a sin.

You do realize the Ray 4 is one of the most popular beginner basses here, right?
Liking one is hardly a sin.
Other than that, 9 put of 10 bassists never even heard of my favorite bass and I wouldn't trade it for any Fender.

I dont want to be considered a beginner because I play a beginner bass!! funny, I have a pro bassist friend, plays in a great cover band. Big following. I have seen him with 2 different Foderas, 2 different warriors, last week they were this really cool restaurant/bar place was packed, crowd was really rocking, he was playing a Squier affinity ! we were bass chatting, he said, "oh, I paid $120 for that one" pointing to the bass on stage,,,

 

[bigdaddybass12]

I don't know, man, you might need counceling.

Hello, my name is "bigdaddybass", I dont like the way a p bass sounds

 

[Cal03]

I'm not at all obsessed with P-basses, so I don't see anything wrong here. I understand how important the P was to recorded music, but I'm not really interested one way or another. If you're confessing a sin I guess I must be guilty too!

-Cal.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

I'm right there with you. I have five basses but don't have a P. For a couple reasons:

1. I'm not a session guy, so no one asks me for a "P-bass tone"
2. I like a 1.5" nut width on a 4-string, so stock P necks never feel comfortable to me (I know I could change them, but...)
3. In the cover band and monthly jam sessions I play in, if the tune has a P tone, I roll on the neck pickup and eq accordingly. Does it sound exactly like a P? No. Is it in the same zipcode? Yes. Does the audience notice in either case? Probably 98% do not - the other 2% are other bass players.
4. I really like playing the 2-pickup basses I have and don't see a need I can't cover with one of them.

Everyone should play what they like to play.....

You said it all !!! Fits me to the bill !!!

 

[coy garcia]

P bass love has more to do with how many great classic recordings have been done with them.

 

[India_Sierra]

P basses just don't work for the music I play. I need a lot of articulation and punch; a degree of clarity that puts the bass on an equal footing with the other instruments. Aside from the Yamaha Attitude bass I've never known a P bass or anything without a bridge picking that could achieve that.

So, the Precision isn't for everyone and you don't need to feel bad if it isn't. If you're a P player you're almost lucky. You could walk into any guitar shop in the land and walk out with an instrument that meets your ear's desire!

 

[Crackle]

I personally am a Fender guy through and through. Jazz basses and especially Precision basses. I couldn't care less about things like G&L L-2500s, Foderas, Dingwalls, Gibson EB-3s, etc. But there is a reason there is a market for those basses.

 

[jd56hawk]

I dont want to be considered a beginner because I play a beginner bass!! funny, I have a pro bassist friend, plays in a great cover band. Big following. I have seen him with 2 different Foderas, 2 different warriors, last week they were this really cool restaurant/bar place was packed, crowd was really rocking, he was playing a Squier affinity ! we were bass chatting, he said, "oh, I paid $120 for that one" pointing to the bass on stage,,,

Sure, but certain basses are marketed for beginners.
Sire originally based their entire philosophy on it.
Of course, a beginner can play a Ritter and a pro can play a Glarry.
I've yet to actually see it, but...

 

[TheReceder]

This bass is routinely on stage with me, just cause the action is exactly what I like.

 

[red_bassist]

Variety is the spice of life

 

[DJ Bebop]

I personally am a Fender guy through and through. Jazz basses and especially Precision basses. I couldn't care less about things like G&L L-2500s, Foderas, Dingwalls, Gibson EB-3s, etc. But there is a reason there is a market for those basses.

"Young people's market"

 

[Paul New]

Oh well. Some people don't like steak or ice cream.

 

[DOMIT]

I think I committed a Talkbass sin,
I don't like the sound of a P bass. Owned 2 Fender P basses, different strings, pickups, 3 different amps, angling the cab. It just does not have the sound I like. Wife said that it was muddy.
I played one at our gigs for a couple of years until I bought a active EQ bass. (another sin) I did not like it but it sound was great. Sold it, then I bought a Sterling Ray4 for $269 new as a beater because the joint we played at was pretty rough.
(here comes the next sin)
I sold the p bass, playing the Ray 4 at every gig. Thought I would try a Fender Jazz. Bought from GC, sounded good at store, played at my gig friday night. Again, not the sound I like. During the break I swapped back to the ray4, guitar player looks at me & said " I like the sound of that one better" Jazz was used, so its going back to GC.
Anyone else been down this road?
(No bashing please, just others who experienced the same thing or some humor)

Soooooo... my take on this:

I too like the sound of the cheap MM imports better than any model of Fender I have played but 1 - the old "P-Lyte". Active makes a huge difference in my book.

 

[Knavery]

I'm still trying to figure out what this sin was... Sorry did not read the rest of the posts. Bottom line is you play what works for you and the band.

 

[DOMIT]

I'm guilty of the same sin - - and have never looked back. I played a P bass for 10 years (late 60s version) but found I wanted more tone flexibility and something that was more comfortable.

In '79, I bought a new Ric 4001 - - and I still have it and play it after 43 years. I have other nice basses too - - including a G&L L-2500, a MusicMan Stingray and a Warwick Streamer.

At the end of the day, you should play what you like and one that delivers the sound, tone and feel that lets you play your best. If it's a Fender, that's fine, but if it's something else, that's good too.

When I stopped playing a Fender, my sound and playing both improved.

I absolutely adore the farty tone of a Rick. That, the growl of a Warwick, and the snarl of a Musicman are the sounds I prefer.

But I play B.C. Rich.

 

[Michael Stanley 2112]

Ten "Our Fenders" and Ten "Hail Leos" and drop a dollar in the poor box, on your way out.

Full act of contrition (consists of buying [at least] a Squier P-Bass and Fender Bassman amp. [Re-issue is acceptable]).

Go, my son and sin no more.