P vs P-like: Can you tell the difference?

[David Jayne]

I really wonder how much of the difference between the two is down to having a maple board with a glossy finish and new, jumbo frets versus the '66's rosewood board and vintage frets.

Its the WHOLE neck, not just the fingerboard. If you do it, you will hear a difference, but you can't say it's just because of the fingerboard or frets.

 

[StuartV]

So you're saying I need to buy an Allparts neck with a rosewood board and include that in the test, too?

 

[Immo]

I guessed correctly, all three basses

ED: Oh, and I liked the Fender's sound the best, but G&L is also great.

 

[JonahTheAmazing]

I got it right. They all sounded good, I just guessed. What really strikes me is the maple and rosewood, couldn't tell. If nobody told me one was maple and one was rosewood, I would have never known.

 

[DanGouge]

So I just did the test and I guessed the '66 correctly. I can't describe it, but as soon as I heard it, I was like "that one - that's the sound!" Actually I was hoping I was wrong, so then I could just buy some parts basses and be all like "yeah this sounds better than vintage to me."

 

[bmc]

It was a tough test, but the precision does have a distinct sound. I picked number 2.

Fun test. Thanks for that.

 

[charlie monroe]

I chose the parts p

 

[Craig_S]

I chose the '66 Precision.

 

[I Need a six...]

The more I hear it the more I think #2 may be the p. In going off of my own p bass which is a 2013, so I voted #3. I'm exited to see the answer, give it to us!!!

 

[I Need a six...]

1 - Parts / Maple
2 - SB-2 / Maple
3 - '66 / Rosewood

I think #1 was my favorite tone. I liked #3, but it had less definition and seemed like the tone knob was rolled off. #2 was my least favorite but I think that was because its overall volume was lower.

Your not Rick Synder are you!? My governor?

 

[I Need a six...]

Dang it! Somehow I knew #2 was right. No harm done, this was fun, thank you!

 

[GBassNorth]

Zombie thread - run for your life!
Invalid Link Removed

 

[tortburst]

But it's a good one!

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Your not Rick Synder are you!? My governor?

Sorry, no. Actually, happily, no.

 

[I Need a six...]

Sorry, no. Actually, happily, no.

Haha don't worry I knew that.

 

[HKcontrabass]

1. Parts featuring a '62 reissue
2. the other one with J turned off
3. '66 P

#1 sounded SO vintage (almost self-consciously so) to me it made me believe it was the '62 reissue, ironically enough. The one with the J turned off sounded the most generic, the 3rd sounded the most well rounded.

 

[AngelCrusher]

Looks like a bump, but i guess bass 2. In fact i guessed it before clip 3 was close to finished.

 

[jfh2424]

Thanks for doing this, Stu. I really like these kinds of threads. We go on and on about fretboard, models, colors, mojo, etc. Ultimately, it's about sound, no? So I love it when someone actually records some basses.

For what it's worth, I found the differences between basses to be minimal. And in the middle of a loud live performance, I'm sure they all sound the same.

Thanks!

John

 

[tpaul]

I'm going with #2 as the 66 P-bass. But they are all fine examples of P tone as far as I can determine using my cheapo Logitech headset.

EDIT: looks like I guessed right. What do I win?

 

[tspallone]

Doesn't really matter, does it? The barametric pressure on any given day with change the sound of any bass more than the differences between those 3.