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Looking in P-basses-- after all these years..

alaskaleftybass

alaskaleftybass

Will Hanbury, Jr.
In Memoriam
Mar 21, 2012
9,920
22,352
Sitka, Alaska
#1
I made the switch to Ibanez basses in 1980. My Ibanez basses have been excellent performers.
After being a regular member of TB for so many years I'm finally succumbing to the temptation of buying another P-bass. I know it's a different world now for Fender since the 80's. So I have some questions I hope you can help with.

Sidebar: From the early 70's to the first part of the 80's my most loved bass was a Fender P-bass in sunburst. I literally wore it down to 'roadworn.' But the dead spots on the neck always bothered me. Normally was a very weak D and G, or sometimes a very weak A.

Is it possible to get an authentic Fender P-bass with a narrow neck? I've been playing super fast 38mm necks for over 30 years. I know the Jazz is similar in size but I would rather have the shorter length of the P-bass.

Also, has Fender more or less taken care of the issues of dead spots on the neck? That was really a problem in the 70's when I owned several Fenders.

Also, what are the new pickups like on the new P-basses? Are they good right out of the box?

Finally, MIA and MIM? How much better are the MIA's?

For those of you interested in friendly help, thank you in advance. :bassist:
 
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#4
image.jpeg
I've recently got a new-ish pair,a '13 Am.Std.J,and a '14 MIM P bass. The j neck feels a bit narrow at the nut compared to the P,but both necks feel similar to me. I haven't owned a real Fender since 1975,most times since then when i've tried one out,i didn't much like them! These 2 are very nice,seems like Fender has stepped up its game in recent years,with great fit,finish,and hardware details. The custom shop pickups in these basses sound great. As far as downsides, Both basses are a bit lacking in the fret dressing,with the Mexican one being the worse of the 2.
 
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#9
I tried to get along with P-basses in the mid '70s but thought they were lifeless, unwieldy beasts with fat chunky necks that couldn't be heard through the mix. And this is coming from a guy that was use to an EB-0. Figure that.
I went the Rickenbacker route, then Stingray, L2K, and Spectors before giving Fenders another chance in the mid '90s.
I'm glad I did. I chalk it up to that my tastes had not matured to the point of really being able to appreciate the simple perfection that is the P-Bass. A lot of folks have said it and I'll say it again....Leo got it right.
 
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#10
alaskaleftybass said:
Wow. Nice looking setup. After thinking about it, I'm sure I could adapt to the wider neck without a problem. That will make it easier for me to find a stock lefty Fender ratherthan having to go custom....
Click to expand...

The MIM standard necks are pretty nice too. I like the thickness and width of those necks. I think they make lefty necks too but not sure.

There's always Stratosphere on eBay
 
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#14
If you've been playing an Ibanez since the 80's (Soundgear?), there might not be a P bass neck that doesn't feel huge to you. As a lefty, the narrowest nut you are going to get is about 41mm. That may not sound like much more than 38mm, but your hands will have to be the judge.

Others will disagree, but the P bass hasn't really changed much. There are some construction improvements and changes to hardware, but the marketing spin really makes more of that than what it is. Dead spots are still there. Their severity varies from bass to bass and with the reinforce necks I would hope it is less of a problem than when you last owner a Fender.
 
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#16
wvbass said:
If you've been playing an Ibanez since the 80's (Soundgear?), there might not be a P bass neck that doesn't feel huge to you. As a lefty, the narrowest nut you are going to get is about 41mm. That may not sound like much more than 38mm, but your hands will have to be the judge.

Others will disagree, but the P bass hasn't really changed much. There are some construction improvements and changes to hardware, but the marketing spin really makes more of that than what it is. Dead spots are still there. Their severity varies from bass to bass and with the reinforce necks I would hope it is less of a problem than when you last owner a Fender.
Click to expand...


+1, and then some. Leo got it right, except for the dead spots, which nobody except Lady Luck can get right.

However, I have had enough success with Fenders and Magnatone Hurricanes to make an inductive leap that a fat) finger clamped down HARD just north of the nut at either three or nine of the clock goes a long way toward turning dead spots into usable notes. Miscellaneous bits from a hardware store placed elsewhere on the back of the headstock sometimes can get you the rest of the way.
 
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#18
GretschWretch said:
+1, and then some. Leo got it right, except for the dead spots, which nobody except Lady Luck can get right.

However, I have had enough success with Fenders and Magnatone Hurricanes to make an inductive leap that a fat) finger clamped down HARD just north of the nut at either three or nine of the clock goes a long way toward turning dead spots into usable notes. Miscellaneous bits from a hardware store placed elsewhere on the back of the headstock sometimes can get you the rest of the way.
Click to expand...
But then my Fat Finger gets in the way of my Hipshot. :facepalm:
 
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