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Need help choosing a P-Bass....
- Thread starter bordinco90
- Start date
Have a look at this used LB-100. They are great basses.
G&L LB100 Precision Bass *Nitro* 2016 3TB
And there are two more for under $1000 here in the TB classifieds.
I know you said you didn't want to buy from GC, but IME you can get some smoking deals that way, with zero risk: you have it shipped to your house, and if there's ANYTHING wrong with it, you can return it to your local GC and get all your money back... If I were in your position, that's exactly what I'd do - or, build what I wanted from parts - I'll post a couple examples:
2009 Highway One I bought that way, then changed to my preferences - got about $500 into it:
Parts P with a 2011 American Special neck, and 50's reissue body - got about the same into this one:
They are high quality instruments, but IME/IMO, do not sound enough like a Fender P Bass for my liking...
Sure. I'd recommend going to music stores in your area and seeing if they have any, then. You get to try before you buy, and you could end up with more bang for your buck. I've never bought an instrument without playing it first, and I'm a fan of supporting local spots when at all possible. Just my two cents.
If it were me I'd get a used American Standard Fender.
It had to have been accidentally passed through without being inspected or something. Within 15 minutes of opening the box I was in utter disbelief, myself.
Are you familiar with the 1983 Fender Precision Elite II ? I have one that I just decided to sell. It's a pretty awesome P bass, unlike any other. It has a long list of significant improvements over a standard P Bass. The book value is $1,650 to $2,150 depending on condition. It has a few minor cosmetic issues from playing in a ska band with it for a couple of years, but it plays awesome, sounds amazing, and looks extremely cool. I just bought a Fodera and have moved more toward jazz and funk so the P bass doesn't suit my musical needs any more. Given the cosmetic items, I figured I would sell it a bit below book value, especially if I sell it through here. You can PM me if interested.
I voted Lakland. While the Skylines are built overseas, the electronics and all are exactly the same as the US models (except the 55-01) and are finished here in the US. Plus, they are plekked I think. I have owned lots of Laklands, all 5's, most of the Skylines, all of them beyond top notch. the only reason I don't anymore is that I no longer play 35" 5 strings.
I also have owned many Carvins, before the new management, and they were great basses. But their resale sucks if you don't like it. Since they only install Carvin pickups, you should verify that the routes are standard size in case you want to swap them.
As always, try and find any of the 3 choices used and save yourself alot of money. If you could get a used US Fender P-bass for the price of a new Carvin/Kiesel, that's a no brainer for the Fender. But I'd still take the Lakland.
I also have owned many Carvins, before the new management, and they were great basses. But their resale sucks if you don't like it. Since they only install Carvin pickups, you should verify that the routes are standard size in case you want to swap them.
As always, try and find any of the 3 choices used and save yourself alot of money. If you could get a used US Fender P-bass for the price of a new Carvin/Kiesel, that's a no brainer for the Fender. But I'd still take the Lakland.
Yeah my local music store is really cool. I walk in there, they call me by name, and if I want to buy say an MIA P Bass. I can put a couple of hundred dollars down and they will hold it however long until I pay it.
I have that model Lakland. It is an amazing guitar. I am a gear snob who recently switched to bass. My other guitars are a parts J-bass, a 90s Nocaster, an 80s '57 Reissue Strat and a Martin HD-28.
I love Fender. I went with the Lakland because it already had all of the mods I would have to do with a Fender P-Bass. (Tuners, better pick-up, better bridge).
The only problem I have had is that I had to replace the volume pot.
I love Fender. I went with the Lakland because it already had all of the mods I would have to do with a Fender P-Bass. (Tuners, better pick-up, better bridge).
The only problem I have had is that I had to replace the volume pot.
I know right. My only issue with the Carvin is the Ibanez like neck profile.
??? The LB-100 does not sound enough like a P bass? The two I had sounded very much like my Fender American P bass.
