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Maple vs RW P?

E

ETThompson

Jan 3, 2011
257
29
#1
Justin & everyone,

Well, the lovely maple neck '73 P Bass I just got (partly influenced by your saying you loved your maple neck one), probably needs to be returned - it has no fret material left, my shop says it's basically already in need of a re-fret (and that that's much more expensive on maple necks). :crying: I'd so quickly fallen in love!

So...I'm maybe back in the market, or will be pretty soon. Since I'm gonna be trying to decide whether to keep looking for a maple neck (which seems to be less common and harder to find) or should I be looking at the RW necks? I guess maybe I should make a point of trying to play more of the RW ones so I have some experience, but if you had to pick one - which would it be? (for me, this will be my one main bass for the near future...)

Thanks Eric
 
#2
They're both cool. I don't really care about the fingerboard, I just go for the whole package with a bass. I have a maple neck P bass that's dark as hell, so I don't always buy the contention that maple is categorically brighter than RW. I don't know which I'd pick, it depends on the body color too. I go for aesthetics a lot as well as tone.

JMJ
 
#3
Thanks JMJ. I know it has been said a million times but it is so cool that you are on here and so accessible.

I think you hit the nail on the head for me about the total package. *That* is why I’m so reluctant to let go of this bass, even though it looks stupid for me on paper. It’s especially true for someone like me who just doesn’t get a chance to try out dozens of vintage basses. I don’t like Guitar Center, but it is one place that usually has a few vintage instruments around. This particular P bass really spoke to me, maybe others would too but this one is a known quantity. I probably will still have to let it go, but it is painful.

I’m also *totally* with you on the importance of aesthetics. I’m an architect so I really care about visual stuff, and this P had that nailed for me too - a beautiful but very 70’s sunburst, just the right amount of gorgeous light checking like a ming vase, some honest ‘wear’ to make it look not precious, lovely amber color on the peghead, etc, and the maple neck was part of that overall aesthetic.

Oh well, guess I just have to be resigned to it taking a long time to find the right one…lots of looking, trying, etc. Meanwhile, I’m bass-less! (I sold my other ones to finance this)

--Eric
 

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