P Bass choices

[JRA]

Don't let the prospect of assembling a bass for yourself scare you, Leo's gift to the guitar and bass players is that his designs let players tinker and come up with component combinations that are as unique as the players themselves. There are many people here that have put together their own instruments, it does get addictive. Another aspect is that once you put them together, you really understand how to setup the instrument for yourself and can make the adjustments that suit you, rather than relying on a tech.

I would build a Franken P as they are called.

Build a mutt. You control every aspect of it from components to cost to timeline. You become your own custom shop using the aftermarket parts of your choice.

'build' one from the parts you think you want, and change the parts to something better when you know better. the longer you play it the more you will know. good luck!

and it will be cheaper/quicker in the long run!


edit: clarity, punctuation, persuasiveness.

 

[Skillet]

One of the nicest P basses I've encountered was a Lakland Skyline 44-64. Hard to go wrong with one of those.

 

[Sean Riddle]

If you can find an old MIJ or CIJ P bass that sounds and feels good, get it.

 

[bobyoung53]

Get a Fender, i like Americans myself, P/J's even better.

 

[mattj1stc]

Lakland Skyline 44-64

 

[GroovyBaby]

The Lakland is nice playing for sure. I just got a G&L sb-2 that is a super P. It's the most comfortable and ergonomic body I think I've had on a Fenderish instrument. It has a more modern tone when turned up but back the volume off and it gets more classic. The sb-2 typically doesn't have a tone control though. That's a deal breaker for some but it can be added (it's standard with the sb-1).

 

[TheGreatSealof]

There is a complete world of pbass's out there. However, you must invest some considerable time exploring shops and instruments. Don't get hung up on brand names on the headstock. Squier produces some awesome instruments for way under $1k. But alas, spend the time shopping around and play as many as you can through various bass amp manufacturers. Amps have a great impact regarding producing the sound you are seeking. Have fun and happy hunting!

 

[J Sudjian]

There is a complete world of pbass's out there. However, you must invest some considerable time exploring shops and instruments. Don't get hung up on brand names on the headstock. Squier produces some awesome instruments for way under $1k. But alas, spend the time shopping around and play as many as you can through various bass amp manufacturers. Amps have a great impact regarding producing the sound you are seeking. Have fun and happy hunting!

yeah I normally do that, have had tons and tons of guitars, but now for the p bass, I’ve found some I love playing over the last few years but I want what’s right too for playing the older stuff, I mean I know what I like is right, but I like say James Brown or one of the old schoolers said alright bust your bass out let’s do this, lmfao, I would want his bass player to look and say ahhhhhhhh this guys on it..........

I know I know, I can dial in my jazz bass, ibanez, jackson, to play that stuff too but I’m just after the real deal or as real deal as I can get for under a G.

Also I know I can grab the majority of Ps and be ok unless somethin sucks.

I absolutely need to love how it feels and sounds too myself, but I don’t wanna drop 700 on somethin and then someone reputable say dang if you spent 200 more you would have been set...........................I know you could do that for days but you know my budget.

some I’ve played feel like crap. I’m after instruments now that I’m older that I want to pick up every time I look at it, but want to be as fitting as possible to the bands and engineers.

anyways, you all got great info.

I’m only sticking with Fender on this one because I’m kinda wanting to plug that traditional hole right now..........I will get plenty of other Basses in time, I love many brands you guys mention.

I will still be open minded with MIJ and some older Squires, but likely sticking to Fender just for this run.

 

[dusterdan70]

Also, check out used Peavey Fury basses. US made, often ridiculously affordable, consistently excellent build quality and playability.

^^^right here!!!!

 

[Thegrandwazoo]

Hiya,

My recommendation would be Warmoth. For me, the ability to choose every aspect of the bass is important. Over the years I've found that I'm never really satisfied with off the rack instruments and I end up swapping parts. The problem with this is I end up paying for a lot of the components twice. Don't get me wrong, I have some instruments that are exactly as they left the benches 40+ years ago, (my oldest was made in '72) I wouldn't change anything but strings on them however, these are the minority in my collection.

An important aspect for me is that I'm so accustomed to a Jazz profile neck after 40+ years of playing, I feel out of place on anything but, so as much as I love looking and fondling them in the store, store bought "P" basses, or anything else with neck specs other than Jazz don't work for me once I get them to rehearsal.

I recently put together a dual-P Precision with a MIJRI Jazz neck, swamp ash Seafoam green body, Gotoh vintage bridge, Stew-Mac pickups and a concentric volume, single tone control setup with a series-parallel switch. I figure the components cost me about $700 total however, I could not have gone to a store and purchased one like it off the rack and if I had had one made, it would have cost me 3, maybe 4 times that amount.

Don't let the prospect of assembling a bass for yourself scare you, Leo's gift to the guitar and bass players is that his designs let players tinker and come up with component combinations that are as unique as the players themselves. There are many people here that have put together their own instruments, it does get addictive. Another aspect is that once you put them together, you really understand how to setup the instrument for yourself and can make the adjustments that suit you, rather than relying on a tech.

Feel free to message me if you want more detail,
Tom

Edit: Figured I'd contribute a little to your GAS with a picture...
View attachment 3791550

^also that. You can put a really, REALLY nice parts bass together from Warmoth for a grand-ish. If you can find a body and neck that you like in stock, you can go crazy with the other components. If you have a body and neck built custom, you'll have to be a little conservative on the parts unless you're capable of doing all the finish/setup/fretwork/etc. yourself.

It's not the best value out there in terms of price:quality ratio, but you can have EXACTLY what you want with no compromise, and to me there's a hell of a lot of value in that.

 

[rayzak]

Personally, I’d go used American Fender or USA G&L.

 

[Thundertips]

I knew it would be like others, Ps I just dont know enough about so can you guys just get me started, can I get a solid P USA made under a G or no way, and are they even good, I just dont even know where to start, I mean 500 to 1000 Im cool.

American Performers are just over 1000 bucks and they are good.

 

[Thegrandwazoo]

Don't make me call the "Mane 6" out on you, Discord!

Also, wouldn't a fretless P be a "Non-Precision P"?

An imPrecision Bass?

 

[Thegrandwazoo]

I've never owned one, and they're rare enough that I've never had the pleasure of sampling one either, but I've heard an overwhelming amount of praise heaped upon the American Vintage reissues. And yeah, like the good Mr. Gojira said, they'll cost you a bit extra. (…maybe quite a bit, from some of the listings I've seen)

The American Vintage Reissue series are the most consistently excellent American Fenders I know of, fantastic instruments.

 

[Bass V]

yeah I normally do that, have had tons and tons of guitars, but now for the p bass, I’ve found some I love playing over the last few years but I want what’s right too for playing the older stuff, I mean I know what I like is right, but I like say James Brown or one of the old schoolers said alright bust your bass out let’s do this, lmfao, I would want his bass player to look and say ahhhhhhhh this guys on it..........

I know I know, I can dial in my jazz bass, ibanez, jackson, to play that stuff too but I’m just after the real deal or as real deal as I can get for under a G.

Also I know I can grab the majority of Ps and be ok unless somethin sucks.

I absolutely need to love how it feels and sounds too myself, but I don’t wanna drop 700 on somethin and then someone reputable say dang if you spent 200 more you would have been set...........................I know you could do that for days but you know my budget.

some I’ve played feel like crap. I’m after instruments now that I’m older that I want to pick up every time I look at it, but want to be as fitting as possible to the bands and engineers.

anyways, you all got great info.

I’m only sticking with Fender on this one because I’m kinda wanting to plug that traditional hole right now..........I will get plenty of other Basses in time, I love many brands you guys mention.

I will still be open minded with MIJ and some older Squires, but likely sticking to Fender just for this run.

if you've truly got the trad Fender bug then you'll never get that monkey off your back unless you're willing to pony up for a pre-CBS and finally know what it's like to smell Fullerton when you open the case and realize that it's all yours ...then hope it really does live up to the hype. if I wanted to pretend I'd have snagged the fab Classic P I tried last year, had it been a burst with that fat neck and maple board I'da grabbed it for $500 cos it's as close to the real deal as anyone needs to get, plus it was better than most old Fenders. but once you've got it all out of the way take a mere $200 and find an LB11 (P) and a early '90s Charvel Charvette (PJ), the P you can upgrade to taste, I find no need cos it's a damn good P bass, while the Charvette is in a class of it's own.

 

[Thegrandwazoo]

Find a mid-2000s fender American Series, and slap an EMG GZR set in it.

Best sounding P-pickups I've ever heard, and I've heard a hell of a lot.

 

[Budbear]

It's OK...I got a couple Geezer P's for free

But to me it didn't sound anything like what I like about Precisions. It was very midscooped and bright.

Yeah. That's pretty much what Precisions should not sound like.

 

[Budbear]

Made to last. Great value. Choice.

 

[rylie]

Only P owned
Bluesman Vintage Deville
not Fender made
better build
think handmade Fender
not from a factory
7.5 lbs

 

[CenTexThumper]

I recently scored this 2016 Muckelroy Precision right here in the classifieds. I've been playing over fifty years and I have owned literally dozens of basses. I have never even held a bass this perfect before. The seller was motivated to sell quickly to finance another axe. I (almost) feel like I stole it. I'm 66 years old and still gigged weekly before the virus situation. There will be many hours, miles and gigs in the future for this little darlin'.