P-Bass - Good or Bad???

[phillipkregg]

Ok, I'll qualify this upfront as strictly IMHO, AFAIK, IME, etc, etc...

Don't shoot me, but... I've never really liked the sound of a live P-bass.

Now, don't get me wrong. I sincerely want to love the P-Bass, and I've played them several times. It's a classic instrument that looks cool and has been used by great players on many legendary recordings. But, to me, they just seem really boomy and have this "clanky grind" sound that doesn't sound good live.

For instance, I have a good friend who plays precisions and jazz basses. I was listening to him one time during a sound check and the engineers were setting up the mix. He was playing a Fender Precision during the first 4 songs and everything just sounded - well, wrong. After this, he picked up his jazz and started playing, and presto - he sounded great, and the whole band sounded far more tight and grooving. Plus the sound guys were thrilled and didn't need to do any more adjusting.

This isn't the first time I've seen this. I guess my question is, has anyone here ever experienced something similar? Have you ever been disappointed by the tone of a P-Bass?

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Plz explain how you can say "Want to love the p-bass" but "dislike how they sound live"???

That makes no sense.

 

[phillipkregg]

Plz explain how you can say "Want to love the p-bass" but "dislike how they sound live"???

That makes no sense.

Other than the boomy, muddy, clankiness that I mentioned?

 

[Marton]

Boomy, muddy with clakiness = Warm and growly.

Right ?

 

[Spinal Tapper]

you just haven't heard a good one in the mix yet

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Other than the boomy, muddy, clankiness that I mentioned?

So you don't like that - what DO you like? Why would you?

I'm not a huge P fan myself. Now, PJ, that's a whole 'nuther story... I gotta have me a J-in-the-Bridge or my bass just isn't RIGHT...

 

[phillipkregg]

you just haven't heard a good one in the mix yet

This is quite possible.

 

[phillipkregg]

Boomy, muddy with clakiness = Warm and growly.

Right ?

The Motown stuff with Jamerson is certainly warm and growly - yes.

I just haven't heard that same "warm growliness" from a someone playing a p-bass at a live show. To me, it just seems to get lost live.

 

[rayzak]

I love a good P sound.... like this....

 

[Tommygunn]

Roscoe FTW


LOL jk

Pbasses are great, especially vintage ones

 

[odin70]

If you dont like it you dont like. No problem...is it?

 

[BZadlo]

If "sound guys" can't get a good sound with a decent p bass, they should look elsewhere for employment.

 

[Tommygunn]

If you dont like it you dont like. No problem...is it?

Yeah not liking pbasses is a mortal sin.

 

[nato101010]

Nah. Personally I've never liked the characteristic of their tone or feel of them.

Also, almost everyone plays a P or J. If you like to be different...a P isn't for you.

 

[phillipkregg]

So you don't like that - what DO you like? Why would you?

I'm not a huge P fan myself. Now, PJ, that's a whole 'nuther story... I gotta have me a J-in-the-Bridge or my bass just isn't RIGHT...

Yes exactly! - a PJ combination works great.

That bridge J pickup totally makes it a tone monster - like the Jazz bass .

But I'm talking about a P-bass with just a split pickup - classic style.

 

[BassmanAd]

If "sound guys" can't get a good sound with a decent p bass, they should look elsewhere for employment.

This.

Nothing sits on a kick drum like a P-bass.

 

[Spinal Tapper]

my fave P bass tone / solo.

Andy Hess

 

[HunterBrodt]

That pearl jam video he was playing a custom shop which explains the great tone.

 

[guroove]

There's an easy fix for those sound problems. Lower the pickups, slap on a set of flatwounds, turn down the volume knob.

 

[phillipkregg]

I love a good P sound.... like this....

Thanks - I'll check the link when I get home. No YouTube at work now.