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Making P Bass Copies

Make A P Bass

  • Warmoth

    Votes: 61 39.1%

  • Mighty Mite

    Votes: 13 8.3%

  • Get A Fender

    Votes: 82 52.6%
  • Total voters
    156
#3
Ah wasn't aware of USACG, thank you for that. Someone here also mentioned Stewart McDonald. Options, options.

EDIT: used Rics in the 80s, Fender P and FrankenSquire in the 90s, Fender P / Blazer P / FrankenSquire up until around 2008 or so. Couldn't handle the heavy weight anymore on the shoulder. Switched to lighter SX P and J copies (cost-effective replacements that kept me working while taking care of a teenager). Have several latest SXs that I've been using for hole-in-the-wall gigs and want a couple of nicer basses (Alder bodies) for the better gigs starting to come my way.
 
#5
If money isn't a concern, go Warmoth. You'll get a fantastic bass built from the best quality parts you can find. Plan on spending between $1200 and $1500 for a nice one with some figured or exotic wood.
Or
If money is a concern, go Squier. If you haven't tried one of their new basses in the last couple of years you're in for a treat. For under $350 you can buy a Fender type bass that will hang with just about any Fender MIA out there.
I've done both the Warmoth and Squier thing in response to a string of lackluster Fenders as of late and have no regrets.
 
#7
Great replies, great info, thank you.

Unfortunately money is a semi-concern for the next few months, unless a few more high dollar gigs come my way. But I'm ready for something different.

I might have to adopt a spending plan of Squiers (CV series?) now and custom builds by the end of the year....:cool:

Probably going to also replace the necks on the SX Ps and make them both fretless (unlined), the original fretted necks didn't age too well thanks to some drunks :)
 
#9
I voted Mighty Mite because I knew before looking at the results that no one would choose it. I just can't stand the thought of those poor guys getting blanked.

However, I do like their bodies and have used them 2 times years ago. They weigh a ton. They're swamp ash and they are cut to fender spec. The sea foam green is a spectacular color. Plus and everyone seems to like things heavy. At least that's my casual observation in reading some of the blogs.

Now an upscale fender and a Warmoth are all going to be a cut above a mighty mite in terms of would quality, figuring and construction. But if you can't afford to pay any more that $800. Then let's face it. You're not going to be building a Warmoth (at least with new parts) and you might not even want an $800 fender.

So Mighty Mite, might just be the one for you. It's not a bad thing. It could be good.
 
#13
I prefer modding.
Find the best import fender you can (cough cough, japanese!)
Make your wish list of hardware and make it yours
Send it off to get plek'd
If your patient and have a good eye for deals, the right bass and components will fall into place for you.
 
#14
Probably the best out there, but not the only at all: a Praha neck is truly reliable. I've put one of those 21 fret hard rock maple necks into original Squier VM 20 big blocks fret weak maple neck placement

(and original Bartolini singles in Duncan Designed placements)

Now: that's what "upgrade" means to me!

Cheers,
Wallace
 
#16
If it were me, I'd get a new Squier CV P Bass, but order myself a Mighty Mite or maybe a Warmoth Jazz neck.

I used to be a huge Fender P bass nut and swore that their thicker necks were perfect for my big hands. I got myself a fretless jazz though, and now the neck on the P feels like a baseball bat and I can hardly play it at all.
 
#17
Yeah, sorry man: I write from Italy.

I think you can order it yourself: anyway there's an OEM in Prague, Czech republic, who ordinarily assemble components for Euro Spectors and, beside it provide "Fender" replacements

Link Removed

Cheers,
Wallace
 
#19
InLeoWeTrust said:
I voted Fender, because I can't imagine what it is about "Fender quality of late" that you could be unhappy with - or that could be bested by a parts bass.
Click to expand...

Seriously... Fender's quality control is universally agreed to have improved *substantially* since about 2007, across all lines but starting with the Squier Vintage Modifieds, which were about the quality of previous years' MIMs when they were introduced. The American Standards post-2008 are very well received, and the Mexican Standards received upgrades and quality boosts I think around 2009 or 2010. Not counting all the side lines - the Classics, the Road Worns, the Modern Players, the Pawn Shops, etc. What's not to like???
 

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