P bass..professional instrument?

[BassDudeSA]

I personally don't like P basses (except for that Deluxe P with the MM style humbucker at the bridge), but it's pretty ignorant to say they are not professional instruments. Heck, just simply turn on your TV at late night. You'll see plenty of bands on Letterman/Leno/Conan/Fallon using a P bass. But that being said, all of the bass players for the house bands on those shows use high end boutique basses

Ever hear about endorsements? These late night guys that can be seen every day on TV are prime targets for endorsements = free boutique instruments.

 

[FenderHotRod]

Could this be called a "troll" thread? Bit of inflamatory statement IMO.

This

 

[madbassplaya]

Not sure if this is a troll thread or not but you guys are really getting your feathers ruffled.

The P bass is (as long as it's well made) a professional instrument. I believe that one reason the OP isn't seeing many in the theatre ring is because of versatility. Most of those guys are playing active 5 strings (that low B is important IMO for that kind of work) so that they can get different sounds during a show.

Ed Friedland recently bought a Mike Lull P5 and has really been digging it because it's a P bass with that low B that is often needed.

 

[kaiuk]

There was this really bad bass player, I think his name might have been James Jamerson that played a Pbass once for a gig or two. Then he got rid of it and played an eight string. Oh wait.. No

 

[mmbongo]

Ever hear about endorsements? These late night guys that can be seen every day on TV are prime targets for endorsements = free boutique instruments.

I'd like to know more about this. Two of those guys use Sadowky basses, and I've read that Roger does not give away basses. So he did give those guys free basses?

Owen Biddle played his Callowhill when he was on Fallon, I believe he had it well before that show started, plus I can't see Callowhill giving away basses but I could be wrong.

 

[bass71]

I personally don't like P basses (except for that Deluxe P with the MM style humbucker at the bridge), but it's pretty ignorant to say they are not professional instruments. Heck, just simply turn on your TV at late night. You'll see plenty of bands on Letterman/Leno/Conan/Fallon using a P bass. But that being said, all of the bass players for the house bands on those shows use high end boutique basses

Thought this would open a can of worms.

Bongo, you have summed it up beautifully. First you say "bands"...and then you reiterate exactly what Im on about...

Working musos who read the dots night after night do not play P's, as you say they appear to go for the more exotic fives which is what I have observed.

Maybe I ought to state that I do play a 71 p bass and i love it...But.. Im not a professional player.

I spoke to a guy on a cruise where I was working, and no Im not a cruise snapper..lol.
Anyway he had a fiver of some description. I asked him about all this and he said that P basses tend to swamp the stage with sound and in a multi instrument situation the bassist needs a tight focused sound...I guess I can see where he was coming from.

 

[Rockmusician]

I have seen many professional bass players using Precisions. There is a reason why it is one of the most popular basses of all time.

 

[bass71]

There was this really bad bass player, I think his name might have been James Jamerson that played a Pbass once for a gig or two. Then he got rid of it and played an eight string. Oh wait.. No

Ok but we dont really know what his P sounded like live.

P's are fantastic recorded direct with flats and a mute...Ive done it with mine and I can get a spot on JJ sound. But are there any live recordings of Jamerson which indicate the same recorded tone.

 

[scotch]

I suppose if pit-show players and the half dozen late night bass chairs (all of which I love & respect, btw) are the only "professional" bass players - then yes- great point! The world of professional bass players is far, far larger a scope than that though.

 

[bass71]

Guys this is no troll thread. Of course we all play P's.

When I said pro I did not mean bands. I should have clarified that I meant working bassists who dep, read the dots, work on cruises, in theatres, and yes..those who do cabaret TV etc etc...

Sorry for the confusion.

 

[Gaolee]

I play a P. I'm not a professional. There ya go.

 

[JTE]

Ok but we dont really know what his P sounded like live.

P's are fantastic recorded direct with flats and a mute...Ive done it with mine and I can get a spot on JJ sound. But are there any live recordings of Jamerson which indicate the same recorded tone.

Yeah we do. Buy a copy of Joan Baez's "From Every Stage". Jamerson, Jim Gordon (Delaney & Bonnie, Derek & The Dominoes, etc.) on drums, Larry Carlton ( Joni Mitchell, Steely Dan, Crusaders, and a crapload of studio work) on guitar, and David Briggs (Neil Young) on keys.

John

 

[madbassplaya]

I'd like to know more about this. Two of those guys use Sadowky basses, and I've read that Roger does not give away basses. So he did give those guys free basses?

Owen Biddle played his Callowhill when he was on Fallon, I believe he had it well before that show started, plus I can't see Callowhill giving away basses but I could be wrong.

Yea, I don't think the basses are "given" to them at all. Some companies are large enough to hand out free gear, but an endorsement deal doesn't always mean FREE. It could mean a better rate etc...

A friend of mine was endorsed by Fender and Carvin and he was given major discounts off gear. Never FREE gear.

 

[scotch]

Guys this is no troll thread. Of course we all play P's.

When I said pro I did not mean bands. I should have clarified that I meant working bassists who dep, read the dots, work on cruises, in theatres, and yes..those who do cabaret TV etc etc...

Sorry for the confusion.

Understood, but I think that's still a pretty narrow interpretation of "working bassist". Still, I get what you're saying. If I was doing 'Rent', a 4-string P might not be my first choice. On the other hand,... it might be!

I consider myself a working bassist. While I am 'in a band', most of my work is as a freelance bassist. Sessions, artist showcases and one-offs, tv and film work, live engagements including a range from clubs to theaters to stadiums. I've even backed up a Neil Diamond tribute artist (my P was perfect, btw). I read chord charts, Nashville numbers as well as notation. I admit I've never done a broadway theater show, or done a stint on a cruise ship - but I don't feel that makes me any less of a working pro. (Of course, it wouldn't hurt to expand my resume with a cruise gig, but the food just sucks too much! )

 

[Batmensch]

I don't go out to see bands live, so I can only judge by what I see on TV, but it looks to me like about 80% or more of the bass players in those bands I see on TV are playing a P-bass. I would think your assessment is woefully incorrect.

 

[Joe Murray]

I think the OP is correct, and I don't think he's trying to troll. I think the working bassists that he's come in contact with are probably guys that need many different tones through out the evening, very quickly. I'm sure they're not Anti-Precision players, but that in only one tone out of probably six or seven that they need for a show. I'm a little surprised that everyone's reaction was so negative. While I love Fender's Precision, I think a lot of it's appeal is/was created through the idea that "The Precision is THE working man's bass". Perhaps back in 50's and 60's, not so much these days. Far too many more options now.

 

[scotch]

I don't think that the op is trolling either,... just that maybe his definition of "working bassist" is a little too narrow.

If the thread had been titled "P-Bass.... Theater instrument?" I'd have been on-board.

 

[knumbskull]

I don't think that the op is trolling either,... just that maybe his definition of "working bassist" is a little too narrow.

If the thread had been titled "P-Bass.... Theater instrument?" I'd have been on-board.

i concur

(my bass teacher did pit/show work, he payed a fretless Wal mk1.)

 

[Kevin67]

This is the horrible reality of what happens when the trolls capture the P Bass player .

 

[BassDudeSA]

I'd like to know more about this. Two of those guys use Sadowky basses, and I've read that Roger does not give away basses. So he did give those guys free basses?

Owen Biddle played his Callowhill when he was on Fallon, I believe he had it well before that show started, plus I can't see Callowhill giving away basses but I could be wrong.

While I don't know what companies give away what free gear to what endorsees due to contracted deals, when I see guys like Will Lee playing a Sadowski on a TV show (haven't watched in a while but he used too) as well as appearing in magazine ads endorsing them, I gotta' assume that he may not only have received the instrument(s) for free, but also may even be paid to use it. Now I don't know this for sure in any way, but I do know that these kinds of deals do happen. Just an assumption on my part, but one that is reasonable to assume.