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Need help choosing a P-Bass....
- Thread starter bordinco90
- Start date
Relax, sweetheart. HH neck pickup sounds quite convincing of a P bass so for a couple hundred more bucks he can get an extremely well-built instrument with a lot of versatility including a good p bass sound and a lot of eq. If he hates it he can sell it for what he paid, or return it if he buys used from a big store. He didnt seem absolutely enthusiastic about any of the three he cited so merely offering an alternative that he might not know.
Of the options presented, I would go with the Fender Waters sig. Classic P bass, but hopped up a bit for some extra grunt.
I faced a similar quandary a little over a year ago. Was really wanting a "professional" 5 string Precision style. Had fallen in love with an American Precision 5 several years prior after playing it at the local GC. Couldn't justify buying at the time, but now couldn't find one locally. I really liked the idea of what the Lakland Skyline P5 offered, particularly the string through body bridge and the 35" scale, but it was foreign made for the same price as an American made Fender. Additionally nobody in Nashville had one to demo, and any attempt to get one was a special order, so if I didn't like it I was stuck with it. Also was looking into a Yamaha BB1025 since I love my BB415, but nobody seemed to have one or were even able/willing to special order them.
One night, while cruising through the Sweetwater website, I looked at their Demo section and saw an American Fender Precision 5. It was $200 less than usual because of a 2" scratch by the neck plate. I took it as a sign and called them the next day. Have been absolutely happy with it ever since and rarely if ever pick up one of my other basses.
Oddly enough, two months later, while at the local Sam Ash, there was a used Lakland P5 on the wall, exactly the one that I had been contemplating. After playing it for several minutes, I walked away still satisfied with my decision to go with the Fender.
Your mileage may vary....
I faced a similar quandary a little over a year ago. Was really wanting a "professional" 5 string Precision style. Had fallen in love with an American Precision 5 several years prior after playing it at the local GC. Couldn't justify buying at the time, but now couldn't find one locally. I really liked the idea of what the Lakland Skyline P5 offered, particularly the string through body bridge and the 35" scale, but it was foreign made for the same price as an American made Fender. Additionally nobody in Nashville had one to demo, and any attempt to get one was a special order, so if I didn't like it I was stuck with it. Also was looking into a Yamaha BB1025 since I love my BB415, but nobody seemed to have one or were even able/willing to special order them.
One night, while cruising through the Sweetwater website, I looked at their Demo section and saw an American Fender Precision 5. It was $200 less than usual because of a 2" scratch by the neck plate. I took it as a sign and called them the next day. Have been absolutely happy with it ever since and rarely if ever pick up one of my other basses.
Oddly enough, two months later, while at the local Sam Ash, there was a used Lakland P5 on the wall, exactly the one that I had been contemplating. After playing it for several minutes, I walked away still satisfied with my decision to go with the Fender.
Your mileage may vary....
I agree with J-Bassomatic. If you want a precision bass, get a Fender. Nothing wrong with the other basses mentioned in the post, but if you want the original, it should have the original name.
I've never played any of those that you listed. I have a Fender American Standard P. There are a bajillion terrific basses out there, but if you really want a P bass, Fender is the way to go. It's the original, and everything else is a copy. Been that way since it's invention. This is just my opinion based on my limited experience. When it comes to P basses, I'm pretty adamant about Fender being the "real deal".
I once bought untested and online based on reviews etc and would never do that again. Unless you try a bass you can't really know if you like it or what the quality of that specific build is. I recently bought a Fender P Bass but tried dozens. While a Fender P bass has a fairly standard feel and tone they all have their own nuances. There are even fairly substantial variances within the P Bass family, like neck radiuses and fret heights, that make one model drastically different to play than another model. But what is nice about Fender is there are many around to try.
I would get the Carvin! The old - fashioned truss rod adjustment on the Fender is a dealbreaker for me. I never want to deal with that...
Tell yourself whatever you want, but you're still wrong - and IMO it's irresponsible to mislead someone into potentially making an expensive purchase that is contrary to their stated goals...
FWIW, I've probably owned several dozen P Basses. currently own 5 - and gigged with this for a couple years:
Attachments
I bought a 50's classic P from, I think, musician's friend, when it was on sale; mine was a flawless "blemished" instrument so it was even less expensive. It's been a terrific bass (not my primary, as I am more of a jazz guy, but it's been great to have a nice P in the stable). I have had no neck or truss issues with it, other than the well-known fact that the 50's classic has a wide neck (wider than modern P basses by a little bit). As they say, that's not a bug, that's a feature. You may have decided against a 50's classic based on your less-than-satisfactory purchase of a used one, which would be understandable. I don't think it's anything inherent to the model, however; and buying new, you'd have some protections that buying used does not garner you.
For now. They recently halted production and you know what that means. Prices will skyrocket because they're not making them anymore.
Get a used USA std black p bass with maple neck/fingerboard. Put a solid black pg on. I believe they started putting graphite reinforcements sometime in the late 90's.
Regardless of the type of bass you think you want. Let's leave out the way it looks for a moment. Is it fair to say that what you want is that fat mid punch that P basses are famous for? I would definitely add G&L to your list but any number of basses will get you that sound if that's what you are looking for. The point here is that you need to play a large number of basses to determine for yourself what it is you want. To say that X bass will give you that is only part of the picture. Play as many basses of the P type as you can. They will all play a little different and sound a little different. I've been doing some blindfold tests with some bass player friends of mine. I bring them in , blindfold them and play a number of different P type basses and ask them which one they like best (sound wise). Most have picked the cheapest of the basses as having the best tone. I'm not going to tell you what kind of bass it is but it cost about $200.00.
+1. If I were you, I would look for a Am Std Precision. You can find one either lightly used, or a new 2016 model heavily discounted. You should be able to come in well under $1000.
I'm in my local music store trying out the Dee Dee Ramone sig. It plays great, but the neck was very warped. It has a notch in the PG so adjusting it was very easy
Just offering an idea that is a good substitute (and I have a P bass, too) and, essentially, free if it's not for him. How you find that "irresponsible" is beyond me. Must be a medical condition you have but here's a trophy for you.
I played an AVRI 58 yesterday. If I were in the market for a P. That's what I'd buy.
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