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P-Bass Showdown

#22
Unfortunately, when living in a place like Calgary, Alberta where it's all about the oil industry, with a very small music scene, it's hard to come by these types of instruments. The only way I could try before I buy is to literally get on a plane and fly to some sort of music "center" city where there are shops that carry these toys. I've spent enough time on this forum to understand the legitimacy behind the words of those who are responding.
 
#23
Owned all the ones listed and settled on a Mike Lull P4 (7.5Lbs). I like his ultra vintage too.

Check out Bass Northwest online and then bite the bullet and fly down. A quick trip down to Seattle could save you from a bad attack of buyer's remorse further down the road. Paying the kind of money you are talking about - hands on is the only way to go. Good luck!
 
#24
jkudding said:
Unfortunately, when living in a place like Calgary, Alberta where it's all about the oil industry, with a very small music scene, it's hard to come by these types of instruments. The only way I could try before I buy is to literally get on a plane and fly to some sort of music "center" city where there are shops that carry these toys. I've spent enough time on this forum to understand the legitimacy behind the words of those who are responding.
Click to expand...

Then what about a Fender Custom Shop bass? (if that's your approach). With all due respect to those who posted here, I can't believe you would drop any choice of instrument without trying it first. (L&M in Calgary must have an '08 P-bass for you to try?). I would never spend $3,000.00 on anything that I couldn't try first, even if I had to travel a bit to do it. But thats just me....and my humble opinion:smug:.
 
#25
tubster said:
Owned all the ones listed and settled on a Mike Lull P4 (7.5Lbs). I like his ultra vintage too.

Check out Bass Northwest online and then bite the bullet and fly down. A quick trip down to Seattle could save you from a bad attack of buyer's remorse further down the road. Paying the kind of money you are talking about - hands on is the only way to go. Good luck!
Click to expand...


I appreciate your "long distance dilemma", but he's right about playing them first if possible. Even the great basses differ from one to the next.
I just returned from Club Bass in T.O. with a 4x10 Bergantino cab.and an LM11,(which isn't relevant) but i tried a Sadowski P/J while I was there, from Japan and yes, it was very nice and I am a p/j guy but honestly it didn't come with the bag of chips. The frets were rather sharp, and the neck/fret feel was somehow brittle, & dry?. I know, what does 'dry' mean?... I don't know, but if I had ordered it sight unseen I would be disappointed upon it's arrival. Of course you might have loved it, which again speaks to the importance of trying them first.

Good luck!
 
#27
Fender 2008 american standard. I sold my 78P and replaced it with a 08. I fell in love with it while at GC trying a bass head. It's a better bass than my 78 in every way and is almost two pounds lighter.
 
#30
tubster said:
Owned all the ones listed and settled on a Mike Lull P4 (7.5Lbs). I like his ultra vintage too.

Paying the kind of money you are talking about - hands on is the only way to go. Good luck!
Click to expand...

A big +1 on both points. My Lull P4 is my favorite P bass but I had to try them all to be sure, including Celinder and Alleva-Coppolo. Next best is Lakland but my Lull is head and shoulders better for me than any other P I've played.
 
#33
jkudding said:
I've spent enough time on this forum to understand the legitimacy behind the words of those who are responding.
Click to expand...

No offense to anyone intended...but a lot of people here have "drank the kool-aid" on the essential benefits of the boutique bass brands they've espoused. Don't get me wrong...I live near BassNW and Laklands, Lulls, Sadowsky's, etc...are REALLY nice basses! But $3k for a P-bass seems insane to me unless it adresses some very specific needs.
 
#37
I haven't played any Mike Lull four string P's, but have played his P5 and several of his J clones, both four and five string, and every one of them has been fantastic. I also think he makes exactly the right refinements to the classic design: flatter fretboard radius, 21 frets, heavy duty bridge, and the like. (He now makes an Ultra Vintage that's more like the original.) They're typically light, and I love Lindy Fralin pickups. So I'd have no problem ordering one if I wanted a boutique P-bass.

All these basses will deliver great versions of P-bass tone, and they'll all play exceptionally well. So, if you can't try them out, at least you should figure out your preferences on details like fretwire size, fretboard radius, number of frets, neck finish, etc. That might narrow it down somewhat, and prevent disappointment that could have easily been avoided.

You should also try a 2008 American Standard Fender. If you get a good sample, you might not need anything else. I appreciate boutique basses and understand why people buy them, but my 2003 Am. Ser. Jazz is so good that I've never had GAS for a high end J, and I've played several good ones. (The Lull was my favorite.)
 

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