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Let me see your Single-Coil Precisions!

mel0dic.bassist

mel0dic.bassist

Guest
Jul 9, 2014
350
198
Canada
#1
I always thought that single-coiled Precisions would sound hollow and thin, but after watching this video of Alkaline Trio, I was blown away at how fat, thick, and dirty/grindy, yet defined and clear they can sound. Definitely spiked my GAS for a Precision with a single in it.

If I could describe what a P-Bass sounds like, to me, this would be it. This is what a Precision SHOULD sound like, again, to me.

I'm not sure what model he's playing, obviously modeled after a 50's Precision. I love the tone he's getting. I also love Slab bodies.

Gah I want one!

 
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#2
I had a single coil P years ago that was anemic, and I let it go pretty quickly. Got a good deal on a CV50s body (avatar) a while back. Added a MityMight neck and Quarter Pounders, and lo and behold, am gigging it regularly, with all the boom and tone I could ask for.
 
#3
See, that's what I was worried about, being thin (kind of like a cheap neck Jazz pickup solo'd). I'm sure the Fender Bassman he's playing through is probably helping a lot, and the bass he's playing seems to be a higher end-ish bass.

I'd definitely go with a QP single as my choice as well.
 
#4
My 51/55 P bass, sports a Seymour Duncan custom shop single coil stack. I always found original Fender single coil pu's to be raw, edgy, and open sounding compared to the split coils. The SD custom stack adds an overall smoothness and really enjoy the expansive full throated tone.
P1150293.jpg
 
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#7
I briefly (as in one week) owned a Fender Custom Shop '54(?) Precision and really dug the old-school single pickup P sound; mine was nice and raw but could clean up a bit with a lighter attack or just roar with a heavier technique. I returned it to GC after my local tech did a setup because that particular instrument turned out to have more neck dive than a Gibson Thunderbird (body was insanely light) and the stock pickup had way too much single cycle hum (common for single cool pickups solo'd but not acceptable for an instrument at that price point). I'd still love to have another singlecoil-pickup P as they definitely have a strong vibe/mojo to their sound and look.
 
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#9
This is a '57 that I bought in 1968 from Duke Spinner's. I think it was about $140.

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It was spraycanned spinach green when I got it, and I stripped it and did the nitro black. That of course was before black became the tedious cliche that it is now. I sent the neck to Fender to be refinished and they just took a new 1969 neck off the stack and sent it to me. When I am king of the world, I will find and kill the person who took my original 1957 neck.

That scratch in the arm relief was when the drummer's cymbal fell over and bit it.

I don't own it any more. It wasn't really that good a player.
 
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#18
I love every bass in this thread.. Although similar, they are all very different and have their own personality.

I think I might try and find a CV Squier to drop a QP single in and take care of my GAS on the cheap.

I'm still trying to figure out how a Dusty Hill signature model is $4500+ CDN..
 
#20
Man, you Florida guys...seems like there's no shortage of gigs down there. Lots of threads here with live shots seem to include a high percentage of Floridians.

My sister lives in Ft. Walton Beach.

I have been to 46 of the 50 US states. Florida is one of those I have never set foot in.

Gonna have to remedy that someday. My wife and I really want to see the Keys, but there's a lot of the state proper I want to travel around.
 

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