Yeah if you're not buying from a reputable seller and don't know what you're doing, it's not a good idea buying anything vintage/collectible.
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I wanna P (but I need some help)
- Thread starter tb-player
- Start date
Yeah if you're not buying from a reputable seller and don't know what you're doing, it's not a good idea buying anything vintage/collectible.
Yeah so at "any price" pre-CBS tops my list (I've got two '64 P-basses). Next, I'd go Fender Custom Shop -- if I was going to stay with Fender (I've got two of those too). But if not Fender, I'd be shopping Mike Lull and Lakland. Both these companies make wonderful P-basses and every one I've played has been a great bass. Really wish Mike Lull was still around, always loved talking bass with him at the NAMM shows and (personally) his would be my next P-bass if I was buying new. His company has carried on that tradition btw -- great instruments.
Do you have experience with Fullerton reissues?
I have a jazz and have played a couple of Ps , which were both great basses.
so you want a p bass with a j neck.. that a p body A neck 1.50".. I would just go play all the squier j basses you can.. play unplugged.. only focus on the neck.. buy the one with the best neck.. the find the p bass with a color you like and the electronics.. buy both.. switch the necks.. and sell it the j bass with p neck on here.. for whatever you got in it.. I look at the used section of guitar center. samash. or music go round or local shop pawn shops.. and switching necks isn't hard.. an a lot of the time you can sell the parts for more than the whole..
Nope, only P-bass reissues from the AVRI line (their 57 and 62) that were great but were from early 2000s. Sold both only when I bought my first '64 P. But I read good stuff about the Fullertons here and how they were part of the post-CBS comeback so I'm sure they're great.
A few not mentioned here (but no personal experience) are an Alembic, a New York Bassworks, and a Low End. I would think the Alembic neck would be pretty fast and may even have no taper up the neck. Of course, all of these are or can be custom.
I managed to score an 84 and will be buried with it.
Same way I felt about the 83 J I have, until the daughter informed me that she wants it AND my 79 fretless Jazz on my demise.
I'm pretty happy with my American Original '60s Precision (with Chromes). I'd recommend it if the wide nut width suits you. Made me sell most of my other basses; except one stunt P with rounds.
Like many have said here, there are a ton of great builders and companies out there that would be happy to make you a custom P-inspired bass for any number of price points with any number of features. I'm a VERY big fan of my custom Sadowsky 5 with a 1.75" neck width, Super P and Super J pickups and the Sadowsky pre (which I run flat but turned on) and it's pretty much become the ONLY bass I play (at least live).
Lakland makes some really cool P's, I briefly owned a 44-64 (aka Duck Dunn model) but it sounded a bit more "modern and clear" than the Fender '62 AVRI that I also had which sounded a bit more "vintage and greasy". Ended up getting rid of both of them and finally lucked my way into a '72 Fender P with an "A" neck which has completely satisfied my need for a vintage Fender P (though it currently lives at a good buddy's studio).
I'd bet that a Low End P on a 33" scale would sound pretty cool too, as would a Devon (and he's got a ton of cool, unique options).
Lakland makes some really cool P's, I briefly owned a 44-64 (aka Duck Dunn model) but it sounded a bit more "modern and clear" than the Fender '62 AVRI that I also had which sounded a bit more "vintage and greasy". Ended up getting rid of both of them and finally lucked my way into a '72 Fender P with an "A" neck which has completely satisfied my need for a vintage Fender P (though it currently lives at a good buddy's studio).
I'd bet that a Low End P on a 33" scale would sound pretty cool too, as would a Devon (and he's got a ton of cool, unique options).
Every man and his dog copies the Fender P. All these companies ride on the back of Fender’s success. You won’t be happy until you buy the real McCoy. Get yourself the legendary Fender P and live happily ever after.
The Lakland P is an amazing bass. It seems to have a slightly brighter tonality than a good vintage P, but rolling off a little more tone than normal closes the gap, or you could replace the pickup with something like a kloppman if you really need. But the neck, fit, finish and playability of a lakland will be at the very top. It sounds great right out of the box too, don’t get me wrong.
Here's my take:
Lakland : Solid bass, amazing neck, great sound. Mine had big lows and nice highs. A little scooped sounding but overall a nice and punchy instrument.
Sadowsky : Felt amazing, light, beautiful neck. Frets were a little larger. Perfectly even sound and smooth lows. A little polite / clean sounding.
Olinto (my favorite): The end all be all of Ps for me. Handmade by Mas Hino who clearly has a love of the vintage fender lineage. Old school, characterful sound. Pickup has a lot of bass mids and treble pretty evenly, very punchy. These basses each feel slightly different because they're more handmade. It has that special rich sound in recordings.
Moollon : I've only played one and I didn't love it. But all my friends who have one sound fantastic. I'm sure they're great, the one I tried just had been neglected so it played poorly. Hard to get a good feeling for it because of that.
Fender : I have a US P bass that is great. I've played custom shops that were great and some that were bad. Gotta search for one that is good, but they're the classics for a reason. Doesn't have the expensive feeling or sound that my Olinto has, but it still sounds good.
Hope that helps.
Lakland : Solid bass, amazing neck, great sound. Mine had big lows and nice highs. A little scooped sounding but overall a nice and punchy instrument.
Sadowsky : Felt amazing, light, beautiful neck. Frets were a little larger. Perfectly even sound and smooth lows. A little polite / clean sounding.
Olinto (my favorite): The end all be all of Ps for me. Handmade by Mas Hino who clearly has a love of the vintage fender lineage. Old school, characterful sound. Pickup has a lot of bass mids and treble pretty evenly, very punchy. These basses each feel slightly different because they're more handmade. It has that special rich sound in recordings.
Moollon : I've only played one and I didn't love it. But all my friends who have one sound fantastic. I'm sure they're great, the one I tried just had been neglected so it played poorly. Hard to get a good feeling for it because of that.
Fender : I have a US P bass that is great. I've played custom shops that were great and some that were bad. Gotta search for one that is good, but they're the classics for a reason. Doesn't have the expensive feeling or sound that my Olinto has, but it still sounds good.
Hope that helps.
I found a 71 fender P that is light and has the thin (er) "C" neck on it. Plays amazing! I would also look at Sadowsky as I love my NYC Will Lee jazz. Good solid build.
A P bass is a simple affair and rather hard to do wrong.
As long as the neck is straight, the rod is moving and the woods used are acceptable,
Any P shaped bass will do IMO.
'Electronics' feels a bit like stretching the term, for a single Pickup and two pots - which means that you can easily swap out the entire innards of a cheap P for top notch stuff without breaking the bank - or breaking a sweat.
I wanted a certain color and had the choice between a Custom Shop (2nd hand, as new for a good price) and a MiM model. I went with the MiM and swapped the PU for an aguilar.
This is the last P bass I ever need to buy. And it's by far the cheapest bass in my active roster.
As long as the neck is straight, the rod is moving and the woods used are acceptable,
Any P shaped bass will do IMO.
'Electronics' feels a bit like stretching the term, for a single Pickup and two pots - which means that you can easily swap out the entire innards of a cheap P for top notch stuff without breaking the bank - or breaking a sweat.
I wanted a certain color and had the choice between a Custom Shop (2nd hand, as new for a good price) and a MiM model. I went with the MiM and swapped the PU for an aguilar.
This is the last P bass I ever need to buy. And it's by far the cheapest bass in my active roster.
