To start, I am a P bass guy. Not because I had a clue, but in the early 70s, after playing guitar from 12 to 18 yrs old, I bought a 57-58 Precision as my first bass, because our bass player quit and the other guitarist (lead vocals) said he wouldn't play bass.
I did the standard family, career, keep a guitar around, serious for a year, off for a year, learn to read, learn my scales, off for several years, played in hobby/jam bands, nothing for several years. But I kept my hand in, casually.
In my day job career, we have mandatory retirement at 56. In my early 50s, I realized this was my chance to do what I had always wanted. Bass felt like home to me. Due to JPJ and Jaco, I bought an MIM Jazz bass. It was okay. Started working on bringing my skills up, bought and worked through the Ed Friedland books (thank you Ed).
The Roadworn Precision caught my eye, reminding me of my first. Sweet magic to my ears!
Auditioned with a couple bands with it, compliments on my tone, but I guess I wasn't quite there yet.
Got into parts basses, always Precision variations, satisfied with a Dirnt based build and an upscale AVHR PJ build, both of which I can never sell. Couldn't possibly get what they are worth (to me!)
But this is a G&L story. About 4 years ago, I bought the most beautiful ASAT bass I had ever seen, online! Honestly, purchased only because it was so everything I found beautiful in a bass (or guitar).
I really connected to the quality of the G&L. It's hard to describe, but it just feels "better executed" than the Fenders. I should mention, there were a dozen other Fenders, guitars and basses, than the significant (and best of breed!) I've thought worth mentioning!
But the ASAT was heavy, 10 lbs. 6 oz., and the controls and switches were more complex than I cared to deal with! (duuuuh)
I somewhat sorted out the sound I wanted, but didn't want to deal with the weight(!)
Through a series of trades, I ended up with the the G&L L2000 twin of my ASAT, at a more acceptable 8lb 12oz. Beautiful bass, but still didn't quite capture that true "P" bass sound.
To make a long story longer, I auditioned for and am in a Variety cover band. Great Pro vocalist, great pro guitarist, pretty good drummer, other "guest" musicians, and What The Hell Am I Doing Here???
I'm working my ass off to keep up. New song for rehearsal a couple months back. I learn it in native key of, say, F#. Vocalist: "gee, that doesn't work for me, try this...Doo doo de doo". Okay, three steps down. Boom! Everybody jumps there! I move up, easy, but too high. Example, but frequently occurring...
Jonny (me) needs a 5 string! I have an American Standard Jazz 5 that takes care of the key changes, but isn't quite the "me" sound.
Series of swaps, sold 2 or 3 Fenders sitting in their cases, got the most beautiful L2500 I ever saw! All the good stuff! Ash, quartersawn, factory "K mod", wood bound, maple... But I find myself locked into the "it's not a Precision bass" mindset. And it weighs 11 lbs.! I mess around with it, put it in its beautiful case, and decide to sell/trade it down the road.
Jonny (me) needs a 5 string!! I find an "Excellent" condition American Standard Precision V at Guitar Center used site. I bought it, safe in their return policy. I've had it now for about 6 weeks, and mostly played nothing else. It totally has that "P" sound, which is the root of how I hear my vibe. It has my "Fender Look" 3TSB and tort, though it is my only RW fretboard bass. I put up a TB classified ad to swap the neck for maple.
I sold myself on this bass. This is the one! Maple would look better, but RW is okay! Add a J pickup later! (I am a modder, this is normal for me).
BUT! "gee, that doesn't work for me, try this...Doo doo de doo".
This bass isn't really smoking down in Dmaj... Kinda "clanky". I have built about 10 parts basses. I understand set-up. I research. I buy stuff. I file, I fill. String through, string in bridge. More relief, less relief. Witness points.
My Jazz V is better, but not hitting the tone I love.
I bring the L2500 out of hibernation. No clank! The B string is as solid as the E string! Fool around with the settings. Neck pickup on, middle switch in series, back switch in passive, bass at 50%, treble rolled off. Not bad.
Brought the bass to band practice (nobody noticed! I commented that the guitarist was playing a Sterling SUB, as opposed to one of his boutique teles. "Yeah, picked it up for $100, just wanted to try it out." ) No comment on this gorgeous $2200 MSRP bass I've brought in. Guitarist works/teaches at 2 music stores..........
I started off as above, in passive, and wasn't really connecting with my sound in the mix. I moved the switch forward to active (no treble boost) and it came alive! I was running through my practice rig, a GK MB200/NEO112, and it was a bit overdriven at first, but engaging the active pad settled it right in.
I'm home!! Not a NBD but my New #1!
I did the standard family, career, keep a guitar around, serious for a year, off for a year, learn to read, learn my scales, off for several years, played in hobby/jam bands, nothing for several years. But I kept my hand in, casually.
In my day job career, we have mandatory retirement at 56. In my early 50s, I realized this was my chance to do what I had always wanted. Bass felt like home to me. Due to JPJ and Jaco, I bought an MIM Jazz bass. It was okay. Started working on bringing my skills up, bought and worked through the Ed Friedland books (thank you Ed).
The Roadworn Precision caught my eye, reminding me of my first. Sweet magic to my ears!
Auditioned with a couple bands with it, compliments on my tone, but I guess I wasn't quite there yet.
Got into parts basses, always Precision variations, satisfied with a Dirnt based build and an upscale AVHR PJ build, both of which I can never sell. Couldn't possibly get what they are worth (to me!)
But this is a G&L story. About 4 years ago, I bought the most beautiful ASAT bass I had ever seen, online! Honestly, purchased only because it was so everything I found beautiful in a bass (or guitar).
I really connected to the quality of the G&L. It's hard to describe, but it just feels "better executed" than the Fenders. I should mention, there were a dozen other Fenders, guitars and basses, than the significant (and best of breed!) I've thought worth mentioning!
But the ASAT was heavy, 10 lbs. 6 oz., and the controls and switches were more complex than I cared to deal with! (duuuuh)
I somewhat sorted out the sound I wanted, but didn't want to deal with the weight(!)
Through a series of trades, I ended up with the the G&L L2000 twin of my ASAT, at a more acceptable 8lb 12oz. Beautiful bass, but still didn't quite capture that true "P" bass sound.
To make a long story longer, I auditioned for and am in a Variety cover band. Great Pro vocalist, great pro guitarist, pretty good drummer, other "guest" musicians, and What The Hell Am I Doing Here???
I'm working my ass off to keep up. New song for rehearsal a couple months back. I learn it in native key of, say, F#. Vocalist: "gee, that doesn't work for me, try this...Doo doo de doo". Okay, three steps down. Boom! Everybody jumps there! I move up, easy, but too high. Example, but frequently occurring...
Jonny (me) needs a 5 string! I have an American Standard Jazz 5 that takes care of the key changes, but isn't quite the "me" sound.
Series of swaps, sold 2 or 3 Fenders sitting in their cases, got the most beautiful L2500 I ever saw! All the good stuff! Ash, quartersawn, factory "K mod", wood bound, maple... But I find myself locked into the "it's not a Precision bass" mindset. And it weighs 11 lbs.! I mess around with it, put it in its beautiful case, and decide to sell/trade it down the road.
Jonny (me) needs a 5 string!! I find an "Excellent" condition American Standard Precision V at Guitar Center used site. I bought it, safe in their return policy. I've had it now for about 6 weeks, and mostly played nothing else. It totally has that "P" sound, which is the root of how I hear my vibe. It has my "Fender Look" 3TSB and tort, though it is my only RW fretboard bass. I put up a TB classified ad to swap the neck for maple.
I sold myself on this bass. This is the one! Maple would look better, but RW is okay! Add a J pickup later! (I am a modder, this is normal for me).
BUT! "gee, that doesn't work for me, try this...Doo doo de doo".
This bass isn't really smoking down in Dmaj... Kinda "clanky". I have built about 10 parts basses. I understand set-up. I research. I buy stuff. I file, I fill. String through, string in bridge. More relief, less relief. Witness points.
My Jazz V is better, but not hitting the tone I love.
I bring the L2500 out of hibernation. No clank! The B string is as solid as the E string! Fool around with the settings. Neck pickup on, middle switch in series, back switch in passive, bass at 50%, treble rolled off. Not bad.
Brought the bass to band practice (nobody noticed! I commented that the guitarist was playing a Sterling SUB, as opposed to one of his boutique teles. "Yeah, picked it up for $100, just wanted to try it out." ) No comment on this gorgeous $2200 MSRP bass I've brought in. Guitarist works/teaches at 2 music stores..........
I started off as above, in passive, and wasn't really connecting with my sound in the mix. I moved the switch forward to active (no treble boost) and it came alive! I was running through my practice rig, a GK MB200/NEO112, and it was a bit overdriven at first, but engaging the active pad settled it right in.
I'm home!! Not a NBD but my New #1!
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