P Bass choices

[J Sudjian]

So I like the new Pro, sounds and feels great.

however didn’t want to drop 1800 bucks on my first P

want classic James Brown, and all the old Motown and soul sound.

what Ps should I be looking at for around 1000 bucks

somethin I can be proud of.

or am I way under budget

 

[Shawn Luckman]

How about a secondhand Am.Std series from 2012 - 2016 this has the, Custom Shop 62 pickups rolled edged fingerboard & graphite reinforced rods & dual stringing options.

 

[beaglesandbass]

Lakland 44-64

 

[alack]

I love my 74 and 75 P basses. But I prefer to gig my Squier.

 

[buldog5151bass]

TB classifieds.

 

[CallMeAl]

Looking out for a used MIA is a great idea. American Standard are pretty common and may pop up.

G&L makes great P basses, may not give you the tone you’re looking for but worth checking out. Tributes will be in budget.

I thought the Pros were a bit better*
than the Player series basses I’ve played, but the Players are still really good. That’s my vote for safe bet, and easiest to find one to play in person.

*based mainly on the necks

 

[lark_z]

Your local Craigslist

 

[J-Bass RMR]

Looking for my first P Bass….Help!

You can be proud of any bass that plays and sounds well, regardless of the price paid.

 

[pbass2]

Any decent P with flatwounds will get you right in that ballpark you're after. A good Squier would be perfectly fine. Also a G&L Tribute LB100 would be a great choice. A used MIM, MIA, whatever Fender. You can always change the pickups later (notice I said "change" and not "upgrade"---the stock pickups are almost always fine unless you want to experiment). On a P, the string choice is IMHO the biggest determining factor. I'd suggest Labella flats--they are the classic sound.

 

[Mike Vee]

Used American Special

 

[_One//Man//Mutiny_]

Get the Mexican player in ocean turquoise! I like mine a lot, actually went by my local GC today and they had a used one that had a really nice flame maple fretboard, mines just straight up maple, sounds killer though and they seem to run pretty light!

 

[Bald-N-Bassy]

You have a lot of good options for under $1000.
Id look at:
Fender Am special/performer I see these right under a grand. The special and performers are nice.
Fender Player series P
SQuier Classic Vibe P
G&L SB-1, LB-1 you can find usa on your budget.

if you like the American Professional series, you can find them used right outside your budget. Ive seen them in the 1250-1350 on guitar center used and reverb.

 

[Pet Sounds]

You have a lot of good options for under $1000.
Id look at:
Fender Am special/performer I see these right under a grand. The special and performers are nice.
Fender Player series P
SQuier Classic Vibe P
G&L SB-1, LB-1 you can find usa on your budget.

if you like the American Professional series, you can find them used right outside your budget. Ive seen them in the 1250-1350 on guitar center used and reverb.

And the American Standard Precision can be had in GC's used site for about a grand. The 2012-16 AmStd is a great bass, better imo than the AmPro I. I do like the AmPro II. Personally, I'd advise going with a used American Fender before the prices get even crazier.

 

[Bald-N-Bassy]

@Pet Sounds The Am standards are great. If you can find one for a grand, grab it.
Currently I have a 2012 Am Std and a 2021 Am Pro 2. Both a great. Different neck shapes and tuners is about the only differences. But equal in quality. The 2012 got player out more bc its lighter.
Youre right though, Fender USA prices are going to continue rising. I'm grabbing up the ones I definitely want now rather than later.

 

[SoulReflection]

So I like the new Pro, sounds and feels great.

however didn’t want to drop 1800 bucks on my first P

want classic James Brown, and all the old Motown and soul sound.

what Ps should I be looking at for around 1000 bucks

somethin I can be proud of.

or am I way under budget

I am very happy with my Fender Player P. Bought it at the old price and added a PV63 pup. It is everything I have ever wanted. A lot of the sound you are looking for comes from your fingers, not your bass...YMMV!

 

[wheelsup247]

Consider having a qualified luthier assemble a parts p bass for you. From what you describe, an alder body, Jazz width neck, Lollar passive split p pickup, some good hardware (bridge/tuners), bone nut, and your choice of flat wound strings would give you everything you want. You could probably accomplish this for less than $1000 if you got some of the stuff used. Just remember to get someone who really knows what they’re doing to assemble it, and you’ll have a great p bass.

 

[daveyo]

Ha ha
You guys crack me up sometimes
I have an American made PV fury
I bought for about 300 bucks
Sounds like any other PBass that I’ve ever had
You don’t need to spend big bucks to get the sound that you want
And I don’t care one bit but it doesn’t say Fender on the headstock of my base
And I have to see if you can put together a PBass with parts
You have a very nice bass indeed
Good luck

 

[Vinny_G]

Sire P5

[This invalid link has been removed]

 

[quilanthegreat]

I think the Fender Roadworn series or a used 2012 - 2016 Am. Std should be the top of your list.

 

[bobyoung53]

I'd buy a second hand Fender American P bass, in fact a Fender P/J would be even better, incidentally all or almost all classic James Brown was done on Fender Jazzes with flats, probably La Bellas.