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Need Advice from Fender Precision players

#22
I think the best sounding P Basses are alder body/rosewood board.

I have a 20-year-old '62 P-Bass reissue and I love it, sounds great. They say the thin nitro finish helps...I cannot argue that. The tone knob on mine has a nice range to it. I've had people call me and ask for a p bass. Go get one!
 
#23
Bassman8416 said:
I have been reading lately, here on Talkbass, that the P/J combo will not give you that complete Precision tone, that its close, but not quite there.
Click to expand...

The instance I have seen was posted by people who don't understand electronics. They didn't understand that while full open in a pot doesn't mean infinity ohms (it means 250 or 500 Kohm) closing it down actually means 0 ohms and the pickup is dead-dead.

Electronically a P/J bass with the J off is equivalent. For the small route for the J bass to make a difference, or to argue that the magnetic fields of the two pickups can see each other in an audible way you would have to lean out the window pretty far. Not even I'm that crazy.

There is one condition, though, and that is if you connect the pots backwards (pickup toward middle lug on pot) to get better mixing between P and J then you will get a different sound with P alone if the P pot is between full open and total close. Full open pot is still equivalent but as you turn it down you have a different sound at the same pot position compared to pots connect forward (output at middle lug) which is default for plain P basses.

Bass-wise I'd just get a 2012 AVRI picked by color, unless you have a real problem with the wide nut.
 
#25
uOpt said:
The instance I have seen was posted by people who don't understand electronics. They didn't understand that while full open in a pot doesn't mean infinity ohms (it means 250 or 500 Kohm) closing it down actually means 0 ohms and the pickup is dead-dead.

Electronically a P/J bass with the J off is equivalent. For the small route for the J bass to make a difference, or to argue that the magnetic fields of the two pickups can see each other in an audible way you would have to lean out the window pretty far. Not even I'm that crazy.

There is one condition, though, and that is if you connect the pots backwards (pickup toward middle lug on pot) to get better mixing between P and J then you will get a different sound with P alone if the P pot is between full open and total close. Full open pot is still equivalent but as you turn it down you have a different sound at the same pot position compared to pots connect forward (output at middle lug) which is default for plain P basses.

Bass-wise I'd just get a 2012 AVRI picked by color, unless you have a real problem with the wide nut.
Click to expand...

Reminds me of the issue of people demanding true bypass then complaining when the DC leakage causes pops when you turn it on. Nature of the beast.
 
#30
awilkie84 said:
Personally, while a P-bass has a sound, it's something I can reproduce with my other basses. You don't NEED a P-bass, and anyone who tells you otherwise needs to stop being shallow.
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I agree with ya but when you are a gun for hire and the guy writing the check says "I want a P bass for this part" ya better give him a something that at least looks like a P bass.
 
#34
I agree that's it's to try a few before you buy

The thing I notice most between my 2004 P and my 2012 J is that the P has a bit of neck dive

Once you play a bass without neck dive you probably won't want to go back
To one that does

For me Mia should be your choice and don't under estimate how good a blonde neck can be

Hope that helps
R

Rossa
 
#37
If the job requires a full-size Fender logo on the headstock, then you already have all the advice you need.

If it's truly *the sound* you're going for above all else....

Find yourself a local shop with a USA Fender P and a Squier Classic Vibe P. Bring a friend. Have the friend blindfold you. You can figure out the rest. I'm not kidding.

Pick the one that sounds and feels right to you.
 
#38
Bassman8416 said:
Wow, alot of Precision players out there. I use Sweetwater because they have always been very honest and fair in the past. Plus they have let me return things if I was not happy for a full refund. I have been reading lately, here on Talkbass, that the P/J combo will not give you that complete Precision tone, that its close, but not quite there. I guess it does open up some tonal possibilities. They do have the Deluxe Precision these days. I hear its just not the same as a Precision though.
Click to expand...

Never believe anything you read on talkbass.

Of course, you're reading this post on talkbass.
 
#40
I'd go for a Mexican Fender "Classic '50" P-bass. More bass for the buck. Okay, you don't get a SKB-case with it (but a tweed case), but that's about it. Hardware is the same as on the American Vintage series, build quality is top-notch, and it sounds better (IMHO) than the AM.STD. It sure has a thick neck, and the vintage frets and small radius (7.25") isn't everyone's cup of tea, but sure try those basses out!


 

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