Pbass pickup/tone question! First time p-buyer...

[cathead27]

I started on jazz basses, and then moved to rics, which I have two of. But I recorded my band's last album on a 2008 American p that sounded great (and that I no longer have access to). I've been looking for a good vintage p now and in trying them out I'm hearing about half having a fuzzy, whoofy tone (almost filtered) compared to the full, rich sound the 2008 had. I played a 66 that was amazing this weekend. And a 73 that sounded like it was underwater. Both had rosewood fretboards. Is there that much variance from bass to bass, or were there good/bad years? Or is it a bad tone knob in these? Ideas, anyone experience the same?

 

[Frenchy-Lefty]

Am Std PBasses made after 2008 are excellent and very consistent. Vintage Fender as you experienced it can be inconsistent and must be tried in person before purchase. Many of them have also been altered and modded over the years.

 

[Wallace320]

Am Std PBasses made after 2008 are excellent and very consistent. Vintage Fender as you experienced it can be inconsistent and must be tried in person before purchase. Many of them have also been altered and modded over the years.

Definitely all of the above
+1

I just would like to tribute:
'70s Fender can really be hit or miss, either it be for boat anchor bodies, unstable necks or lowquality circuitry

'60s Fender "should" usually be keepers, dependin' on past users care and overall state of maintenance of bass

2008 on Fender american standard are, like that... THE standard

There also are american special series out there... their greasebucket circuitry sounds way brighter (if need be)

Cheers,
Wallace

 

[adamsmatthewj]

I've found huge variances from Pbass to Pbass, from model to year to country to even sometimes the same model and year but two different production runs. I tried out all 7 P's in the shop before I left with my final purchase choice, and they were ALL different.

 

[cathead27]

thanks for the replies, good info. just sad for the few gorgeous pbasses in the classifieds right now... haha.

 

[bassliner50]

Be sure to compare apples to apples. Strings, room acoustics, EQ etc. all contribute to what you perceive as tone. This applies to all basses not just P's. Play many and chances are you will fall in love with one.