• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

P Bass Appeal - a Theory (Mostly Jazz Content)

Carol plays Ibanez now because her guitar tech or a guitar tech told her that Fender necks weren't built well and would warp easily I believe.

Not an exact quote, but I've heard this in a couple of places.

Yeah, she had 2 P-Lytes, and both developed neck problems, and her tech told her it was a design flaw on the Lytes. She then started hatin' on all Fenders....but I don't think she ever actually "loved" any Fender, not like you see here so often. They were just a tool in the toolbox for her.

Interestingly(to me anyway), she sold those basses and one was bought by someone on her forum, and apparently he still gets good use out of it. Makes me wonder if the neck was that bad, or if it was set up wrong, and Ibanez made an offer at the right time and place.:confused:

Anywho, I love my Ibanez basses, but....Carol thinks her experiences are typical, and they are not. Ibanez gives her great, great service. No wonder she loves them. She just doesn't realize they do that because she is Carol friggin' Kaye, and most musicians are fortunate to get an email replied.
 
Mine sounds scoopy in person too, especially when I had TI's on it.

OK. But mine sure don't. Mine have a lot more thickness in the midrange, and none of the upper treble I hear in her tone. But whatever, I'm probably splitting hairs.

I think some of this has to do with your amp eq as well as on board settings?

Yeah, she had 2 P-Lytes, and both developed neck problems, and her tech told her it was a design flaw on the Lytes. She then started hatin' on all Fenders....but I don't think she ever actually "loved" any Fender, not like you see here so often. They were just a tool in the toolbox for her.

Interestingly(to me anyway), she sold those basses and one was bought by someone on her forum, and apparently he still gets good use out of it. Makes me wonder if the neck was that bad, or if it was set up wrong, and Ibanez made an offer at the right time and place.:confused:

Anywho, I love my Ibanez basses, but....Carol thinks her experiences are typical, and they are not. Ibanez gives her great, great service. No wonder she loves them. She just doesn't realize they do that because she is Carol friggin' Kaye, and most musicians are fortunate to get an email replied.

Ahh! I thought I had heard something like this. I also read on her FAQ page that she didn't change strings because there was never time. She played a bass/strings for two years and then traded it in for a new one.
 
My SRX has plenty of midrange but mine has mahogany body wings and her's has swamp ash if that makes a difference. Mine also has the ceramic magnets and her's are Alnico(?) I believe, I know the SRX700 had different magnets. I like the tone of my bass. I'm glad someone atrted this SRX thread. They are good basses and, as stated above, more versatile than people assume. I do wish they had a more "vintage look" but that is pretty superficial.
 
  • Like
Reactions: OOD
I think some of this has to do with your amp eq as well as on board settings?

Nah, and don't get me wrong, you can make it sound good, it will do the job and cut thru like no other...but it won't pass for a vintage P. Just like, if you want to upgrade your P bass to get an authentic vintage P bass sound, and you decide to buy quarter-pounders and drop in a pre-amp, well, you won't be happy. It's the same thing, HUGE ceramic magnet humbuckers and a 2 band EQ, aren't going to sound exactly like a Passive alnico P bass. As they say on Mythbusters, "well, there's your problem"!:D
 
Nah, and don't get me wrong, you can make it sound good, it will do the job and cut thru like no other...but it won't pass for a vintage P. Just like, if you want to upgrade your P bass to get an authentic vintage P bass sound, and you decide to buy quarter-pounders and drop in a pre-amp, well, you won't be happy. It's the same thing, HUGE ceramic magnet humbuckers and a 2 band EQ, aren't going to sound exactly like a Passive alnico P bass. As they say on Mythbusters, "well, there's your problem"!:D

I understand what you're saying. I'm not saying you can get it to sound identical, but maybe closer? I've only played an SRX in stores and I have to agree, it is an aggressive bass. Makes me wonder how much of the tone is in our hands?
 
Maybe I should get an SRX?

LOL! They are great basses, but I don't want to mislead anyone into thinking they are "the bass" for vintage tone...they are not.

Now, if you want a great neck, and the ability to knock bats off the rafter's in your neighbor's attic while your beverage slowly vibrates across the kitchen table....well, the SRX may be what you are looking for!:D
 
LOL! They are great basses, but I don't want to mislead anyone into thinking they are "the bass" for vintage tone...they are not.

Now, if you want a great neck, and the ability to knock bats off the rafter's in your neighbor's attic while your beverage slowly vibrates across the kitchen table....well, the SRX may be what you are looking for!:D

I'm actually not into the "vintage" sound much. I have a EBMM Bongo 5HH as my main bass.
 
Carol plays Ibanez now because her guitar tech or a guitar tech told her that Fender necks weren't built well and would warp easily I believe.

Not an exact quote, but I've heard this in a couple of places.
Sort of but not quite. She was using a P Lyte for a while but it developed a neck warp, so she soured on it and got the Ibanez after she played one at a NAMM show.
 
Korn songs...lol! Dude, YOU play the bass...the bass doesn't play you. If you can't get a good sound out of any bass you pick up, don't ever blame the bass unless it's broken.

That's definitely quote and signature worthy!
I have a nice boat anchor P bass even though I mostly play Jazz basses. When you read enough of these P threads you find yourself getting all excited about the P and the whole cool simplicity and tone and remember the cool thunder and presence they have. I have a respect for them, and it's deserved, but I personally hear myself better in a live gig situation better with a Jazz. I miss the thunder and presence sometimes on the E and A strings but the trade off is I hear notes clear and smooth and they don't just all mush together for me.

Jimmy is right!
I have to force myself to remember that when I get to feeling like I need to keep the P bass!
Just saw a country band at a fair in Indiana while visiting over the weekend and the guy was working a Jazz bass with plenty of warm thunderous tone and playing his butt off. Did everything audience ear wise I would want to have a person hear from my playing! :cool: