P bass..professional instrument?

[lowphatbass]

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.

Come on man.
Marvin Gaye "What's Going On / What's Happening Brother" - YouTube

 

[steve f]

Not sure how 'professional' any of these players are, but here is an alphabetical list of P-Bass players for the OP, just in case he's sincere:



A

Dan Andriano
Karl Alvarez
Jeff Ament (Pearl Jam, Mother Love Bone, Temple of the Dog)
Reid Anderson (Golden Valley is Now)
Dan Andriano (Alkaline Trio) [1]
Melissa Auf der Maur (Hole, Smashing Pumpkins)
Eric Avery (Jane's Addiction)

B

Guy Berryman
Bob Babbitt
Skip Battin (the Byrds, the New Riders of the Purple Sage, the Flying Burrito Brothers)
Garry Gary Beers (INXS)
Andy Bell (Oasis)
Jay Bentley (Bad Religion)
Guy Berryman (Coldplay)
Bill Black
Bob Bogle (the Ventures)
Zeta Bosio (Soda Stereo)
Randy Bradbury
Grant Brandell (Underoath)
Jean-Jacques Burnel
Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath)


C

Chi Cheng
Marciano Cantero (Enanitos Verdes)
Chicken Annicharico (Dead to Me)
Chi Cheng (Deftones)
Chrys (Corpus Delicti)
Adam Clayton (U2)
Stu Cook (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
Justin Currie (Del Amitri)
Colin Greenwood

D

John Deacon
Bob Daisley (Rainbow, Ozzy Osbourne, Uriah Heep, Gary Moore)
Rick Danko (The Band)
Michael Davis (MC5)
John Deacon (Queen)
Kim Deal
Sue Denim (Robots in Disguise)
David Desrosiers (Simple Plan)
Mike Dirnt (Green Day, The Frustrators, Foxboro Hot Tubs)
Donald "Duck" Dunn [2]
Trevor Dunn (Quebec, Rough Cut)

E

Bernard Edwards (Chic)
Dave Ellefson (Megadeth)
John Entwistle (The Who)
Howie Epstein (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)

F

Pete Farndon (The Pretenders)
Keith Ferguson (The Fabulous Thunderbirds)
Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
Derek Forbes (Simple Minds)
Tom Fowler (Frank Zappa)
Bruce Foxton (The Jam) [3]
Nikolai Fraiture (The Strokes)
Tony Franklin
Matt Freeman (Rancid, Operation Ivy) [4]
Nick Fyffe (Jamiroquai)

G

Simon Gallup (The Cure)
Louis Girardot (The Stimulus Package)
Roger Glover (Episode Six), (Deep Purple)
Kim Gordon
Diego Gonzalez (Voyager)
Maxwell Green (Escape The Fate)
Colin Greenwood (Radiohead)
Markus Grosskopf (Helloween)
Ian Grushka (New Found Glory)

H

Tom Hamilton (Aerosmith)
Steve Hanley (The Fall, The Lovers)
Brent Harding (Social Distortion)
Robert Hardy (Franz Ferdinand)
Jet Harris (The Shadows)
Steve Harris (Iron Maiden)
Shifty Henry
Dusty Hill (ZZ Top)
Peter Hook (Joy Division, New Order)
Mark Hoppus (Blink-182, +44)
Mike Howlett
Glenn Hughes (Trapeze, Deep Purple, Black Country Communion)

I

Michael Ivins (The Flaming Lips)

J

Paul Jackson
James Jamerson [5]
Alex James (Blur)
Jean-Jacques Burnel
Gary Jarman (The Cribs) [6]
Chris Joannou (Silverchair)
Percy Jones (Brand X)
Eric Judy (Modest Mouse)

K

Zev Katz (Hall & Oates)
Carol Kaye
Jon "KC Wolf" Kindler- (The Chariot)
Greg K. (The Offspring)

L

Alan Lancaster (Status Quo)
Geddy Lee (Rush)
Kelly LeMieux (Goldfinger (band))
Alex Levine (The Gaslight Anthem)
Alex Lewis (Yellowcard)
John Levén (Europe)
John Lodge
Joe Long
Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy)

M

Michael Madden (Maroon 5)
Guy Maddison (Mudhoney)
Aimee Mann ('Til Tuesday)
Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols)
John Maurer (Social Distortion)
Gerry McAvoy (Rory Gallagher, Nine Below Zero)
Jason McCaslin (Sum 41)
Andy McCluskey (Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark)
Ron McGovney (Metallica)
Duff McKagan (Guns N' Roses, Velvet Revolver)
Marc McKnight
Gordon Moakes (Bloc Party)
Peter Mosely (Yellowcard)
Nate Mendel (Foo Fighters, Sunny Day Real Estate)
Mike Mills (R.E.M.)
Roy Mitchell-Cardenas (MUTEMATH)
Murdoc Nicclas Gorillaz
Monk Montgomery (Lionel Hampton) [7]

N

Jason Newsted (Flotsam & Jetsam, Metallica, Echobrain, Voivod)
Murdoc Niccals (Gorillaz)
Nate Newton (Converge)
Andy Nicholson (Arctic Monkeys)

O

Brian O'Connor (Eagles of Death Metal)
Nick O'Malley (Arctic Monkeys)
Airin Older
Mike Oldfield
Nick Oliveri (Mondo Generator)
Benjamin Orr (The Cars)

P

Mikko Paananen (HIM)
Pino Palladino
Dave Pegg
Tracy Pew (The Birthday Party)
Mauro Pezzente (Godspeed You! Black Emperor)
Catherine Popper (Grace Potter and the Nocturnals) [8]
George Porter Jr. (The Meters)
Bill Powell
Dougie Poynter (McFLY)
Guy Pratt (Pink Floyd, Roxy Music)
Rocco Prestia (Tower of Power) [9]
Joe Principe (Rise Against)

Q

Suzi Quatro
Jesse Quin

R

Chuck Rainey
CJ Ramone (The Ramones)
Dee Dee Ramone (The Ramones)
Simon Raymonde (The Cocteau Twins)
Ginger Reyes (Smashing Pumpkins)
Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails)
Tyson Ritter (The All American Rejects)
Simon Rix (Kaiser Chiefs)
Steve Rodby (Pat Metheny Group)
John Rostill (The Shadows)
Andy Rourke (The Smiths)
Demis Roussos
Matt Rubano (Taking Back Sunday)

S

Troy Sanders (Mastodon)
Gabe Saporta (Cobra Starship) (Midtown)
Dan Schaefer
Billy Sheehan (Mr Big)
Burke Shelley (Budgie)
Ben Shepherd (Soundgarden)
Shiori Sekine (Base Ball Bear)
Scott Shriner (Weezer)
Ray Shulman
Jake Shultz (Norma Jean)
Paul Simonon (The Clash) (Gorillaz)
Nick Simper
Michael Steele
Sting (The Police)
Justin Street (Airbourne)
Byron Stroud (Strapping Young Lad, Fear Factory)

T

Mick Taylor
Gary Thain (Uriah Heep, Keef Hartley Band)
Bruce Thomas (Elvis Costello)
Scott Thunes (Frank Zappa, The Waterboys)
Toshiya (Dir En Grey)
Robert Trujillo (Metallica, Suicidal Tendencies, Infectious Grooves, Ozzy Osbourne)

V

Sid Vicious (Sex Pistols)

W

Matt Wachter (Angels & Airwaves)
Roger Waters (Pink Floyd) [11]
Mikey Way (My Chemical Romance)
Alex Webster (Cannibal Corpse)
Willie Weeks
Mikey Welsh
Pete Wentz (Fall Out Boy)
John Wetton
Tina Weymouth
Jeordie White (Marilyn Manson, A Perfect Circle, Nine Inch Nails)
Cliff Williams (AC/DC)
Brian Wilson
Mark Wilson (Jet)
Nicky Wire (Manic Street Preachers)
Jah Wobble
Tom "T-Bone" Wolk (Hall & Oates)
Chris Wolstenholme (Muse)
D'arcy Wretzky (The Smashing Pumpkins)

Z

Stuart Zender (Jamiroquai, Mark Ronson)

 

[giacomini]

Last year a little-known guy named Phil Collins recorded a great album, "Going Back", and there was a HBO (unknown little TV channel) special on the show.

It happens that the bassist, the also unknown Bob Babbitt, played that show using an ancient axe called the Fender Precision.

Just one example.

 

[nostatic]

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.

I find this an odd and/or ridiculous comment. Having owned/played a variety of instruments in pretty much every environment from duo to big bands with some musical pit thrown in there, IME a P doesn't "swamp the stage." In fact it is one of the few basses that tends to sit snugly in a dense mix and just support the whole thing without getting in the way. If the bass player however wants to cut through, then the P is not the beast for the job.

My big band days were done with 4-string J or Sterling. These days my ensemble will sometimes have 3 horns, keys, guitar, drums, percussion, and vocals - fairly dense, and my go-to setup, at least today, is a Rob Allen (either 5 or 4-string) and a 4-string fretted PJ. I also play in a Steely Dan tribute band that is 10 piece, another dense mix. In fact the preferred instrument for that gig is my AmDlxP, though I played it with a passive P for a bit, and last gig used a Fedora YYS (which is also a PJ).

Most of the "pros" that you're seeing are guys/gals that have to cop a bunch of different sounds. While a P could cover the job, it is easier to have a 2-pup bass, and if you're playing a lot of charts in Eb or D, a 5-string can make life a bit easier. However if you go to a club in LA, especially on the rock tip, odds are much higher than you'll see a P-bass on stage than any other beast.

 

[KramSttop]

I've got a P-Bass "clone".. and perhaps not qualified to comment on the true P-Bass, but the simplicity forces me to focus on my playing to achieve variation in tone... which I think offers a more natural personality to the music rather than an electronic change in (insert whatever control is adjusting).

 

[bassist4dalord]

Not sure how 'professional' any of these players are, but here is an alphabetical list of P-Bass players for the OP, just in case he's sincere:



A

Dan Andriano
Karl Alvarez
Jeff Ament (Pearl Jam, Mother Love Bone, Temple of the Dog)
Reid Anderson (Golden Valley is Now)
Dan Andriano (Alkaline Trio) [1]
Melissa Auf der Maur (Hole, Smashing Pumpkins)
Eric Avery (Jane's Addiction)

B

Bob Babbitt
Skip Battin (the Byrds, the New Riders of the Purple Sage, the Flying Burrito Brothers)
Garry Gary Beers (INXS)
Andy Bell (Oasis)
Jay Bentley (Bad Religion)
Guy Berryman (Coldplay)
Bill Black
Bob Bogle (the Ventures)
Zeta Bosio (Soda Stereo)
Randy Bradbury
Grant Brandell (Underoath)
Jean-Jacques Burnel
Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath)


C

Chi Cheng
Marciano Cantero (Enanitos Verdes)
Chicken Annicharico (Dead to Me)
Chi Cheng (Deftones)
Chrys (Corpus Delicti)
Adam Clayton (U2)
Stu Cook (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
Justin Currie (Del Amitri)
Colin Greenwood

D

Bob Daisley (Rainbow, Ozzy Osbourne, Uriah Heep, Gary Moore)
Rick Danko (The Band)
Michael Davis (MC5)
John Deacon (Queen)
Kim Deal
Sue Denim (Robots in Disguise)
David Desrosiers (Simple Plan)
Mike Dirnt (Green Day, The Frustrators, Foxboro Hot Tubs)
Donald "Duck" Dunn [2]
Trevor Dunn (Quebec, Rough Cut)

E

Bernard Edwards (Chic)
Dave Ellefson (Megadeth)
John Entwistle (The Who)
Howie Epstein (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)

F

Pete Farndon (The Pretenders)
Keith Ferguson (The Fabulous Thunderbirds)
Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
Derek Forbes (Simple Minds)
Tom Fowler (Frank Zappa)
Bruce Foxton (The Jam) [3]
Nikolai Fraiture (The Strokes)
Tony Franklin
Matt Freeman (Rancid, Operation Ivy) [4]
Nick Fyffe (Jamiroquai)

G

Simon Gallup (The Cure)
Louis Girardot (The Stimulus Package)
Roger Glover (Episode Six), (Deep Purple)
Kim Gordon
Diego Gonzalez (Voyager)
Maxwell Green (Escape The Fate)
Colin Greenwood (Radiohead)
Markus Grosskopf (Helloween)
Ian Grushka (New Found Glory)

H

Tom Hamilton (Aerosmith)
Steve Hanley (The Fall, The Lovers)
Brent Harding (Social Distortion)
Robert Hardy (Franz Ferdinand)
Jet Harris (The Shadows)
Steve Harris (Iron Maiden)
Shifty Henry
Dusty Hill (ZZ Top)
Peter Hook (Joy Division, New Order)
Mark Hoppus (Blink-182, +44)
Mike Howlett
Glenn Hughes (Trapeze, Deep Purple, Black Country Communion)

I

Michael Ivins (The Flaming Lips)

J

Paul Jackson
James Jamerson [5]
Alex James (Blur)
Jean-Jacques Burnel
Gary Jarman (The Cribs) [6]
Chris Joannou (Silverchair)
Percy Jones (Brand X)
Eric Judy (Modest Mouse)

K

Zev Katz (Hall & Oates)
Carol Kaye
Jon "KC Wolf" Kindler- (The Chariot)
Greg K. (The Offspring)

L

Alan Lancaster (Status Quo)
Geddy Lee (Rush)
Kelly LeMieux (Goldfinger (band))
Alex Levine (The Gaslight Anthem)
Alex Lewis (Yellowcard)
John Levén (Europe)
John Lodge
Joe Long
Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy)

M

Michael Madden (Maroon 5)
Guy Maddison (Mudhoney)
Aimee Mann ('Til Tuesday)
Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols)
John Maurer (Social Distortion)
Gerry McAvoy (Rory Gallagher, Nine Below Zero)
Jason McCaslin (Sum 41)
Andy McCluskey (Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark)
Ron McGovney (Metallica)
Duff McKagan (Guns N' Roses, Velvet Revolver)
Marc McKnight
Gordon Moakes (Bloc Party)
Peter Mosely (Yellowcard)
Nate Mendel (Foo Fighters, Sunny Day Real Estate)
Mike Mills (R.E.M.)
Roy Mitchell-Cardenas (MUTEMATH)
Murdoc Nicclas Gorillaz
Monk Montgomery (Lionel Hampton) [7]

N

Jason Newsted (Flotsam & Jetsam, Metallica, Echobrain, Voivod)
Murdoc Niccals (Gorillaz)
Nate Newton (Converge)
Andy Nicholson (Arctic Monkeys)

O

Brian O'Connor (Eagles of Death Metal)
Nick O'Malley (Arctic Monkeys)
Airin Older
Mike Oldfield
Nick Oliveri (Mondo Generator)
Benjamin Orr (The Cars)

P

Mikko Paananen (HIM)
Pino Palladino
Dave Pegg
Tracy Pew (The Birthday Party)
Mauro Pezzente (Godspeed You! Black Emperor)
Catherine Popper (Grace Potter and the Nocturnals) [8]
George Porter Jr. (The Meters)
Bill Powell
Dougie Poynter (McFLY)
Guy Pratt (Pink Floyd, Roxy Music)
Rocco Prestia (Tower of Power) [9]
Joe Principe (Rise Against)

Q

Suzi Quatro
Jesse Quin

R

Chuck Rainey
CJ Ramone (The Ramones)
Dee Dee Ramone (The Ramones)
Simon Raymonde (The Cocteau Twins)
Ginger Reyes (Smashing Pumpkins)
Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails)
Tyson Ritter (The All American Rejects)
Simon Rix (Kaiser Chiefs)
Steve Rodby (Pat Metheny Group)
John Rostill (The Shadows)
Andy Rourke (The Smiths)
Demis Roussos
Matt Rubano (Taking Back Sunday)

S

Troy Sanders (Mastodon)
Gabe Saporta (Cobra Starship) (Midtown)
Dan Schaefer
Billy Sheehan (Mr Big)
Burke Shelley (Budgie)
Ben Shepherd (Soundgarden)
Shiori Sekine (Base Ball Bear)
Scott Shriner (Weezer)
Ray Shulman
Jake Shultz (Norma Jean)
Paul Simonon (The Clash) (Gorillaz)
Nick Simper
Michael Steele
Sting (The Police)
Justin Street (Airbourne)
Byron Stroud (Strapping Young Lad, Fear Factory)

T

Mick Taylor
Gary Thain (Uriah Heep, Keef Hartley Band)
Bruce Thomas (Elvis Costello)
Scott Thunes (Frank Zappa, The Waterboys)
Toshiya (Dir En Grey)
Robert Trujillo (Metallica, Suicidal Tendencies, Infectious Grooves, Ozzy Osbourne)

V

Sid Vicious (Sex Pistols)

W

Matt Wachter (Angels & Airwaves)
Roger Waters (Pink Floyd) [11]
Mikey Way (My Chemical Romance)
Alex Webster (Cannibal Corpse)
Willie Weeks
Mikey Welsh
Pete Wentz (Fall Out Boy)
John Wetton
Tina Weymouth
Jeordie White (Marilyn Manson, A Perfect Circle, Nine Inch Nails)
Cliff Williams (AC/DC)
Brian Wilson
Mark Wilson (Jet)
Nicky Wire (Manic Street Preachers)
Jah Wobble
Tom "T-Bone" Wolk (Hall & Oates)
Chris Wolstenholme (Muse)
D'arcy Wretzky (The Smashing Pumpkins)

Z

Stuart Zender (Jamiroquai, Mark Ronson)

Just thought I'd go through and highlight bassists I've heard of on that list, 57 to be exact. You tell me if the P is an "unprofessional" instrument.

 

[Munjibunga]

Right, a PBass is not a professional instrument, just like a Hasselblad 503CW is not a professional camera.

The Hasselblad example is arguable these days. Most pro photographers have gone digital.

Anyway, the P bass is certainly a professional instrument, but it's somewhat limited by its lack of versatility. They're fine for certain genres, but they can't cut it in others. You won't see many jazz musicians playing a P bass.

 

[Munjibunga]

The P bass is more like a Nikon D700!

I'd say it's more like an F3 or FE.

 

[f.c.geil]

Thanks, Steve! That is a veritable "who's whom" of the bass world right there. It's funny to note that many players who made their name with, or endorse, or design other basses identify themselves as Precision players.

 

[madbassplaya]

The Hasselblad example is arguable these days. Most pro photographers have gone digital.

Anyway, the P bass is certainly a professional instrument, but it's somewhat limited by its lack of versatility. They're fine for certain genres, but they can't cut it in others. You won't see many jazz musicians playing a P bass.

I pretty much said the same thing early, but people want to keep arguing. Ah well.

 

[f.c.geil]

The Hasselblad example is arguable these days. Most pro photographers have gone digital.

Anyway, the P bass is certainly a professional instrument, but it's somewhat limited by its lack of versatility. They're fine for certain genres, but they can't cut it in others. You won't see many jazz musicians playing a P bass.

I am a pro, and use a 503, I also use a Mamiya 645 AFD, and several Canon digitals.

I chose the 503 reference because (just like the Precision) it is simple to operate, stone reliable, has very few controls, has been in continuous production forever, has an amazingly loyal following, and forces the user to be better at his craft since it won't cover his mistakes.

 

[SHWAG]

I don't think this is a troll thread because I sort of understand what he's asking. While I know that P-basses are professional I have seen many bands on television and in person using 5 string boutiques. However just because many of these players use boutiques doesn't mean the Precision isn't professional.

 

[BassDudeSA]

Heck, I've got six P basses, a Highway One and five versions of the '57 resissues. If I was to get some kind of a "show band" gig I would not use one of them. I'd use maybe my USA Cirrus 5-string or my Custom Shop Jazz fiver with active electronics. Why? Because as others have said, more versatility. But I am primarily a rock bassist, and thus, I have my P basses and they cover me dandy!

 

[giacomini]

I mean, ANY bass or instrument CAN be of professional use, just look at Jack White...

 

[cchorney]

I would suggest that the sample size of the OP's observational data set is statistically too small. Were he to observe a sufficient number of pro bass players in a sufficient number of pro bass environments he would see a more accurate representation of P Bass usage.

Also, its always important to remember that we as humans tend to suffer from "confirmation bias", where we give higher credence to the things that fit our preconceptions (and give lower credence or dismiss things that don't).

 

[knumbskull]

engineers LOVE p-basses

 

[seanm]

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.

I think a five string bass would be a huge win for reading gigs since you have to change positions less.

But I bet any professional bassist could get the job done with a P bass, the other basses just make it easier.

 

[madbassplaya]

I think a five string bass would be a huge win for reading gigs since you have to change positions less.

But I bet any professional bassist could get the job done with a P bass, the other basses just make it easier.

End of thread...

 

[WholeGrainBass]

I might be wrong but the bass player for Iron Maiden, one of the largest and most well known bands around, plays a P. Can anyone confirm?

Yeah he is known to play the P-bass from time to time


time to time being 99% of the time

 

[VWbug]

"Dammit Jim, I'm a doctor, not a P bass player."

I love it! Ha!