P-Bass Alternatives

[wvbass]

To me, the G&L L-1000 is the next evolutionary step of the P bass. Past that, any old Fender P will do.

 

[richwag]

I'm considering adding a P-Bass (or a P-Bass-style alternative) to the family.

The Fender Player Precision ($699) seems a little underwhelming to me on the hardware front - tuners, pickups, bridge - so I'm looking at a couple of alternatives.

I'm considering the G&L Tribute LB-100 ($549) which of course most closely matches the original Precision in terms of pickup configuration, controls, etc.

The G&L Tribute SB-2 ($599) adds the flexibility of a P/J configuration.

The Schecter CV-4 ($599) is a double P-style pickup design with a bunch of series/parallel/split options. I currently have a Schecter Omen Extreme and I really like it; I've always been very impressed with Schecters for quality and value for money.

Does anyone have any opinions or insights on any of these instruments?

Jim

I have a USA SB-2 and it’s a great bass. Jazz width neck. The MFD pickups are hotter than what you’d find on a p bass.

What really sets it apart is the MFD bridge pickup. It sits far back and it also super hot. When you dial it in, it lends this real grind that brings it forward in the mix.

So you can do a p bass thing (though it sounds a bit different). But you can also do a really hot grindy rock sound with the bridge pickup.

I highly recommend it.

 

[Kawai2g4b]

I second the G&L SB-2. The SB-1 is a great choice if you don’t need that bridge pickup.

 

[hollowman]

Vintage Tokai Hard Puncher (spaghetti logo)..

 

[IvanBassist]

I'm considering adding a P-Bass (or a P-Bass-style alternative) to the family.

The Fender Player Precision ($699) seems a little underwhelming to me on the hardware front - tuners, pickups, bridge - so I'm looking at a couple of alternatives.

I'm considering the G&L Tribute LB-100 ($549) which of course most closely matches the original Precision in terms of pickup configuration, controls, etc.

The G&L Tribute SB-2 ($599) adds the flexibility of a P/J configuration.

The Schecter CV-4 ($599) is a double P-style pickup design with a bunch of series/parallel/split options. I currently have a Schecter Omen Extreme and I really like it; I've always been very impressed with Schecters for quality and value for money.

Does anyone have any opinions or insights on any of these instruments?

Jim

i’ve tested those 2 G&L basses (the USA version of the LB-100, though):

 

[Nunovsky]

I'm considering adding a P-Bass (or a P-Bass-style alternative) to the family.

The Fender Player Precision ($699) seems a little underwhelming to me on the hardware front - tuners, pickups, bridge - so I'm looking at a couple of alternatives.

I'm considering the G&L Tribute LB-100 ($549) which of course most closely matches the original Precision in terms of pickup configuration, controls, etc.

The G&L Tribute SB-2 ($599) adds the flexibility of a P/J configuration.

The Schecter CV-4 ($599) is a double P-style pickup design with a bunch of series/parallel/split options. I currently have a Schecter Omen Extreme and I really like it; I've always been very impressed with Schecters for quality and value for money.

Does anyone have any opinions or insights on any of these instruments?

Jim

Yamaha BB434. Best P-style bass for the money. Get one and thank me later.

 

[BobDeRosa]

Don't leave Yamahas out of the mix. Very well made and extremely good value for the money.

 

[flashgod]

I would go for an Ashdown:
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or a Lakland:
Lakland Skyline 44-64 Custom PJ Candy Apple Red Laurel Fingerboard Electric Bass Guitar

Basically the same basses, because Lakin had the hands on both

 

[MtManiac]

the Schecter is likely a great choice, everything they do is worthy.
for the lower end of your budget this Epiphone 'Bird is a P killer and for my tastes cleans up on J tones as well at the bridge minus the high end, just beef across the board, then dial up the bass in any configuration and it's all over. I'm a P guy, now they just watch with the rest of my ignored quiver.
View attachment 4118030

I too am a P guy, and last Sept bought my first Tbird, a Vintage Pro (now called Original). My P’s have not left their cases since.

The neck pickup solo with easy right hand attack sounds remarkably P-like, but when you add the bridge pickup, it doesn’t give you that nasally burpy J bridge tone, it just adds some higher harmonics to what is already great tone.

With a stronger attack though, it takes on a whole other character that any P I’ve used cannot do at all - it snarls, it sounds rude and aggressive as f**k. Awesome and amazing.

The ergonomics however leave a lot to be desired. I don’t have a problem with neck dive at all, but the way the top of the body leans away from me, and the position of the nut/headstock to the left away from my left shoulder make it a beast to play. I’ve considered getting an embassy pro to reclaim some of the P ergonomics and keep that tone, but they don’t look nearly as cool as a Tbird.

I still love my P’s, and once the novelty has worn off the Tbird for me (will likely take one gig with it, whenever that’ll be again), I expect I’ll gravitate back to the P.

OP - there’s nothing wrong with a Player P, they’re basically the same specs as a 70s P bass, and definitely in the same ballpark playability- and quality-wise as the other three options you’ve selected. Besides which it is actually a Fender, versus an unoriginal copy of one. I don’t think you’re gaining anything looking at Schecter or G&L. But if you do go the copy route, try to buy one used so you will at least break even when you sell it later to buy a Fender.

 

[Kukulkan61]

View attachment 4118399
G&L Tribute LB-100. Great precision style bass.
View attachment 4118400
Harley Benton PB-50 (custom neck though). Another very good P style bass.
View attachment 4118401
Squier Classic Vibe Precision bass.
All of these are better than the Fender Players series IMO. I own and play them all.

I agree, the Player series didn’t impress me much I hate to say since I’m a Loyal Fender Player, the LB100 I had was one nice bass and the CIJ Classic Vibes I owned blew away every Player series I ever picked up, that Harley B is a killer looking bass!!

 

[Kukulkan61]

I would go for an Ashdown:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

or a Lakland:
Lakland Skyline 44-64 Custom PJ Candy Apple Red Laurel Fingerboard Electric Bass Guitar

Basically the same basses, because Lakin had the hands on both

Are the Ashdown basses ever gonna hit the US market, I’ve been on the fence for the gold Pbass....

 

[MtManiac]

I agree, the Player series didn’t impress me much I hate to say since I’m a Loyal Fender Player, the LB100 I had was one nice bass and the CIJ Classic Vibes I owned blew away every Player series I ever picked up, that Harley B is a killer looking bass!!

I had a Classic Vibe 60s P, made in China, and while it was undeniably good, I wouldn’t say it was better than a Player. Maybe moreso at par with a Player. Colour options, neck tinting, pickups, to me those were about the only differences that mattered. I bought it because it had an actual rosewood fingerboard, instead of Laurel or pao Ferro, and the body colour was that awesome sparkly silver-bronze-gold colour. Unfortunately, with the neck profile and the weight, my MIA P and my Franken-P got a lot more playtime. I didn’t find the pickups were all that great in the mix, the Franken-P’s SPB-1’s were and are soooo incredibly good - I had plans to replace the Squier pickups and pots, but another deal came up so I sold it at a small profit, unmodified, to fund the other deal.

So IMHO - not better, but not bad.

 

[Kukulkan61]

I'm considering adding a P-Bass (or a P-Bass-style alternative) to the family.

The Fender Player Precision ($699) seems a little underwhelming to me on the hardware front - tuners, pickups, bridge - so I'm looking at a couple of alternatives.

I'm considering the G&L Tribute LB-100 ($549) which of course most closely matches the original Precision in terms of pickup configuration, controls, etc.

The G&L Tribute SB-2 ($599) adds the flexibility of a P/J configuration.

The Schecter CV-4 ($599) is a double P-style pickup design with a bunch of series/parallel/split options. I currently have a Schecter Omen Extreme and I really like it; I've always been very impressed with Schecters for quality and value for money.

Does anyone have any opinions or insights on any of these instruments?

Jim

If you do consider Fender again I strongly suggest one that is Crafted in Japan, they are something else. I’ve owned two and still have the Oly white 70s reissue, there is just something special about them compared to other Pbasses that I’ve owned and I’ve owned many because thats all I play is Pbasses and that includes the Fender 61 I once owned and occasionally the one Jazz bass I have gets some action.

 

[Bleecker]

The Squier CV 60s is a great P bass, I have the original run. There are a couple on eBay right now I believe. It has the P sound all day and is well built.

I have a 2020 G&L LB-100, nice bass sounds like a P, but has a really small Jazz neck, I just haven't bonded with it and will probably let it go...

I also have a beauty '94 Lakland SB2. What a bass! The P sound is more aggressive then my other P types dial in the J pup and it gets some really nice useful sounds IMO. This ones a keeper.

And my holy grail P bass is a '07 Bob Glaub 44-64. It has the P neck. This bass was LOVE at first thud! It's all P bass, it's a totally awesome instrument and will stay with me until the end...


Good luck with your search!

 

[MNAirHead]

USA Peavey Fury - you can always resell it at a profit (prices are going up)

 

[ToneMonkey]

I'm considering adding a P-Bass (or a P-Bass-style alternative) to the family.

The Fender Player Precision ($699) seems a little underwhelming to me on the hardware front - tuners, pickups, bridge - so I'm looking at a couple of alternatives.

I can tell you that the fit and finish on the Player P is excellent. Some of the best I've ever seen. And the pickup is sublime. I fully expected to change out the factory pickup. However, it sounds better to my ears than several aftermarket P pickups I've tried over the years. I did change out the bridge because I despise cast saddles. To my ears the very best sounding Fender bass bridge is the Fender vintage style with threaded steel saddles. One of the reasons I bought a player is that MIA Fender Ps all use a higher mass bridge. I avoid those like the plague. Higher mass does typically provide more sustain (usually) but almost always at the expense of harmonic complexity and liveliness.

The Player P exceeded my expectations on nearly every level. It replaced an EBMM Stingray 4 as my only bass. Everything I want and nothing I don't.

 

[Marc61]

The MIM players Ps are fantastic. The cool news is for the price, you can upgrade the hardware etc to your liking and have a dynamite bass for way less then an MIA.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

The original run Crafted in China Classic Vibe 60’s Precision and Matt Freeman are great options.
The only reason I don’t pay more for a used American Standard is because the Pbass isn’t my main player. I believe in keeping a Pbass in the fold for when I need that Pbass goodness . My Classic Vibe 60’s Precision with TI flats bring me all the Pbass goodness I could want or need.

 

[SteveC]

I think there are lots of options for a P bass. G&L, Lakland, Yamaha, etc. I never bonded with a Fender Precision. I did want that sound though, especially after seeing Pino a few times with Mayer on tour. I went with a Roscoe Classic P for mine. My other basses are Roscoe so it made sense for me. You don't have to spend $2K to get that P bass tone or feel. Those Classic Vibe basses (that look like Pino's) will get you there for very little investment.

 

[Drucifer]

Yamaha BB-series are my personal favourite P(J)-basses in that price range.

I will second this, if you are considering used instruments, look for a BB-1200 or 1200s, they can be had for very reasonable price and are great basses.