Is bassist-life possible without a Precision?

[CraigG]

I don't have one nor have I needed one. They are decent instruments but I don't intend to get one. I have played many styles and gigs over the past 35 years and never needed a P; and none of the folks I have worked with during that time were disappointed in the least.

 

[vin*tone]

I get by.

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[jim777]

Once I played a Smith I determined that IT was the only bass I actually NEEDED to have. All the others were either convenient or fun or both, but I only needed the Smith.

 

[Bass Viking]

The question should be "Is the bassist life possible without a Fender?" I believe every bassist should at least own one or the other, as to both basses can pretty much cover any genre
of music. Some like a P, some a J.

Wrongo. People should own whatever feels and sounds good to them and Fenders are not the only basses that are versatile.

When they start making their living playing music or are studio musicians then they might need a Fender in their arsenal.

 

[P-BASSLOVER]

When they start making their living playing music or are studio musicians then they might need a Fender in their arsenal.
BINGO!

 

[P-BASSLOVER]

I get by.

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Nice 63C Ric!
I dig the fatter flared out necks on them!!

 

[slackinatthebas]

i personally hate p basses. i know, you guys'll probably flame the poo out of me, but i hate the neck, and i hate the sound. the new p deluxe though, with the jazz neck? i do like those. i love my j pickups... nice and bright.

 

[kjpollo]

28 years and still no P-bass in my stable...though I must admit that I'm seriously tempted by the new Squier VM white P with the black pickguard. I like what I've seen online but I've yet to see one in person.

 

[Earwigger]

I sold my P a while ago and have not looked back. There are better basses that do the same kind of sound, like the G&L 2000 series.

 

[Bass Viking]

I totally agree, but sometimes it's hard when everyone is saying you're not a real bass player without a P or J in your stable. My Yamaha seems to get me through all my gigs, but I sometimes wonder if it would sound better with a P.

It's usually those who like Fenders that are saying that. I may love my Sadowsky or Ken Smith but I don't go around saying everyone should own one, because I know better. Not everyone likes the same things and there are plenty of alternatives out there.

By the way, Lee Sklar used a Yamaha on many recording sessions. If I remember correctly, it was his bass of choice at one point although I think he plays Dingwalls now.

 

[spade2you]

By the way, Lee Sklar used a Yamaha on many recording sessions. If I remember correctly, it was his bass of choice at one point although I think he plays Dingwalls now.

....and Pino did a hell of a lot with his fretless Ray. Both combined probably recorded half of the tunes ever recorded.

 

[Michael Case]

I have to take a P.

 

[Bass Viking]

There is a forum member here who does studio stuff and has about 1,000 tunes under his belt using....a.........FODERA!

Who is it? I must have heard of him but can't think of who it could be.

 

[john turner]

Or at least play one long enough to know they can't stand them.

+1. i'm a jazz bass guy, as far as fenders go.

 

[Honk'n_down-low]

It's only possible to live without a P Bass if you're Victor Wooten, Michael Manring, Jaco Pastorius, Todd Johnson, Matt Garrison, Stanley Clarke, Brian Bromberg, Steve Bailey, Hadrien Feraud, Jim Stinnett, Dave Buda, Marcus Miller, John Patitucci, Stu Hamm, Geddy Lee, Roscoe Beck. Of course those guys don't get any gigs.

But if you want it- go for it!

Dirty little secret some of those guys have P's or have had P's.

P-Liscious

 

[spade2you]

Who is it? I must have heard of him but can't think of who it could be.

Rushphile and his Imperial Elite 5.

 

[Human Bass]

I assure you guys that 95% of the big names that dont play a P as the main bass, have at least one at home to fiddle around.

 

[spade2you]

Dirty little secret some of those guys have P's or have had P's.

P-Liscious

Kinda funny that Vic and Stu have had P pickups in their basses for decades, but can't be counted anywhere close to a P-bass.

 

[Bongolation]

Funny, I was thinking about this today.

I try as hard as I can to resolve clear value judgments about stuff so as to simplify my path, y'know?

As far as bass playing is concerned, I have no (0) interest in pop music in which a Precision and an SVT would not be considered a proper gigging pro rig.

That doesn't mean that a P and an SVT would necessarily be required or "best," but they do define a broad style and philosophy of bass (as opposed to "post-Jaco horizon-expanding bass guitar").

If you can't play it fine on a Precision, I don't want to listen to it.

If I see a band in which the bass player has a six-string, through-neck with twelve knobs and a spalted Gambian skunkwood top running to an expanded rack-unit head with fifty lights, I can safely say that with about a 99% certainty I never want to hear that group's music. Run!

 

[Ampeg SVT]

I can say yes, I like jazzes much more.