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P-Bass Opinions

#121
What I did was buy a USA Jazz bass neck, a MIM P bass I liked, and GZR pickups. Then I ordered a Warmoth P body in a color I loved. I put the GZRs and hardware in the body and put the Jazz neck on it, and sold the old MIM body. I also added weather stripping under the bridge cover for moderate muting. I ended up out around $700 but I have the exactly perfect P bass for me. It sounds like a monster and plays like butter. I'll never part with it.
 
#122
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#124
When I wanted a P bass, I bought a P bass. I didn't care if it was the best sounding P bass or, not. Simply stated, I liked the bass so I bought it. I read a lot about these pickups or that neck or this or that brand but, who cares? The best P bass for you is the one you can afford and it is up to you to make that bass sound good, not the other way around. Are my P basses the best? I don't know and don't care.
 
#125
ezstep said:
Just my opinion, but I have owned both Fender P and G&L SB-1. I still have the SB-1 (1988). That would be my choice. You can still find them floating around at times. Great basses. Huge sound.
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I have owned P Basses in years ranging from the early 70s to 2008. Every era had good and bad, even within the same years. I also owned a G & L and agree that it was one of the best sounding basses, I ever played. However, I never liked the feel of the neck so I sold it. My former guitar loves old guitars. He always says "Nothing sounds like old wood". My 76 P Bass sounds great but I have a white 2008 MIA P Bass that is one of the best sounding and playing basses I have ever owned.
 
#126
Antisyzygy said:
That 15% off coupon doesn't seem to work for that bass as far as I can tell. I'd pick one up today if I could.

That Classic 50s Lacquer comes with a hard shell case. It's a fantastic deal already. It's vintage specced, has American Fender features, finished in nitro, and comes with a hardshell case for 900 dollars? WHAT!?

Having played the RW 50s and loved it I'd be super tempted to take a deal on that bass.
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You CAN get that discount-- but you have to call in and ask for it. I thought the same thing but was told in chat online at MF that you CAN get that discount on the 50's P, just not online... they'll apply it anyway, even though it's not technically one of the "qualifying" Fender purchases.
 
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#127
Please do not fear the 1.75" neck. I've got a 62 AVRI and a 57 AVRI and my hands are pretty small. It took me a while to get used to the nut width on them, but my accuracy has improved so much and I feel that the neck is an important part of the P Bass tone. Not that you are comparing the 62 and 57, but let me tell you the maple/rosewood makes a big difference on those models. My 57 is a MONSTER for rock tones, and the 62 has incredibly articulate and wooly tone for the old school thing. Both are fantastic instruments if you can make one work with your budget.
 
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#133
andawun said:
Don't know if it has already been mentioned: Lakland Skyline 44-64 custom. Great jazz neck not too heavy and does the P thang well.
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Good bass...like a lot of the suggestions in the thread, well over the OPs $500 budget...

If you can get that deal for $585 on the Classic 50s P...that's a ton of bass.

Squire Classic Vibe 60s P...great bass, inexpensive..will do what you want well abs has a slimmer P neck. Step up from the VMs, looks great too.
 
#137
This is the perfect sounding p bass that I accidentally found through many years of flipping precision basses just a few months ago. It's a 1994 black label MIM "Squier Series" p bass. From my understanding, these were made in the early years and were a cross between the MIM's and Squiers. They have schaller tuning keys and a thinner neck, kind of a cross between a jazz and a p bass, and its the best feeling neck I've ever played.

I replaced the pickups and electronics with emg geezer butler pickups, and the sound is as amazing as the feel and playability. I'm looking forward to recording with it this next year. I've had all sorts of p basses over the years, mostly American and Japanese models, and this one by far plays the best. It's one of three bases I will never get rid of.

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#139
9mmMike said:
That pic of your Classic '50s always makes me smile. Love that bass.
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I still miss it too, Mike. But that American Special P and my MIJ E-Series ('84-'87) make me miss it a lot less. They're both great basses as well; and I prefer the 1.625" nut width. The 1.75" nut width on the Classic '50s never bothered me at all, but given my "druthers", I'll take the 1.625". But what a workhorse that Classic '50s was. One of the best-value basses I've ever owned.
 
#140
Tom Henry said:
This always goes the same way.

You need to find yourself a used USA p-bass.

Scenario 1: You buy a squier pbass, but you wonder if you don't have a "real" Fender. You get a MIM fender, and then wonder if it would be better if you had a MIM or MIJ fender. With your new MIM or MIJ fender, you wonder if you are missing something not having a USA fender. You eventually get a USA fender. At Each stage of this scenario you ask for talkbass opinions and this does nothing to satisfy your curiosity, and only makes you more curious.

Scenario 1a: You are satisfied with the USA fender. Talkbass was leaning slightly to "fender is the best" that day. (now you start to question pick ups, strings, amps, pedals etc...)
Scenario 1b: Talkbass was leaning slightly to "fender is not the best" that day, so you search for a G&L, Lull, Nash, or some other P bass clone that is more expensive than your USA fender.

Either way, you've spent a ton of time and money instead of starting from a USA fender.

Scenario 2: You don't get a fender. You get a G&L tribute, a Lull, or any of the other pbass clones from every company out there. You always wonder if you should get a "real" fender pbass. You probably end up getting one a few years later and either tell talkbass that you wasted time with the other bass, or that fender isn't all that. Talkbass responds with 50% love or hate for your decision.

The only people who care what the headstock of your bass says is other musicians. With that said, i have about 3 US made fender precisions. I've seen guys with squiers that sound great, and guys with super fancy US made instruments sound bad.

Good luck!
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Brilliant comments as I start to lust for a Fendee American Prec bass.
 
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