If spending lots, Mike Lull! Played one of his p basses recently in his shop and it was really nice. For regular money, I have a g&l sb2 with a skinny neck and I sure like that. The sb1 I’m sure has a jazz type neck also.
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Poll: Time for a New P-Bass
- Thread starter thedukeofno
- Start date
...and I could probably get about 2.5 G&L's for the price of the Sadowsky...
Pre-CBS means waiting around for one to show up, and then trying to convince the seller that it's not worth $3000 (to me). Custom shop... I know someone who waited 9 months for a strat.
Budget: If you pick up one of those Fender passive MIM PJ basses they make for Guitar Center used or on sale and maybe put a bit of money into the fretwork, you'd have a great instrument for a nice price. The split coil on those is voiced like a slightly less aggressive EMG GZR and is pretty under rated IMO. I currently have one of these as my number one and it's great. This assumes you can tolerate the J pickup hanging out there. I was pretty skeptical of this bass being MIM and had quite a bit more cash to spend if I wanted, but picked one up just for the heck of it and have been satisfied.
Expensive: Lakland. This would be my ultimate P with J neck, demoed by an outrageously good player.
Expensive: Lakland. This would be my ultimate P with J neck, demoed by an outrageously good player.
I do like these basses, and I do like the mudbucker oomph, but the neck is deal-breaker for me
I always tell myself I'll get used to the neck on my Ric, and I never do. Won't get fooled again!
The ultimate Precision is the one with the most advantageous set up, most satisfying pickups and string selection. Cost and name on the headstock, matter very little if at all.
I totally get your leaning towards the "jazz" necks. The necks on my main players ('70's Fender P's) are mostly A-necks or the fairly uncommon narrow B's like the one that the Nate Mendel bass copies. Oddly enough, my number one is a regular B (1.62") from '71 but it is a slim neck (front-to-back).
Setups you can change but it harder to change a neck or the weight. A good platform is, for me, essential.
Setups you can change but it harder to change a neck or the weight. A good platform is, for me, essential.
@thedukeofno have you tried one of the P bass elites? Sadowsky and some others are great but the electronics on the elites are quite good. Some TBer's don't like them but they're usually in stores to at least try.
+ 1 on try the Elite as it is for free ... I’m a owner if this bass and to me it sounds dull ...
Buy the new Squier Tele style bass, add an MIM blocked and bound J neck.Way cooler than every other P Bass. I just got one.The knobs and pots are cheap but the pickup sings. Sell the Tele neck for $100
EDIT: No, it won't fit
EDIT: No, it won't fit
Last edited:
Other: Carrots.
Impossible to tell what will feel good to you. But, I will say that it seems to me that there is a "second tier" of builders in each style that are very nearly/just as good as the big names, but simply don't have the brand value to justify the same prices. So, while Sadowsky is awesome, I would think you could get much more value by going with a Lull/Valenti instead.
Since feel is so important to you, you're going to need to provide pretty specific specs on neck/nut width/bridge width/etc., so I would recommend choosing your builder based on comfort level with the process, price, and communication rather than simply on how other people describe their own instruments from those builders.
Impossible to tell what will feel good to you. But, I will say that it seems to me that there is a "second tier" of builders in each style that are very nearly/just as good as the big names, but simply don't have the brand value to justify the same prices. So, while Sadowsky is awesome, I would think you could get much more value by going with a Lull/Valenti instead.
Since feel is so important to you, you're going to need to provide pretty specific specs on neck/nut width/bridge width/etc., so I would recommend choosing your builder based on comfort level with the process, price, and communication rather than simply on how other people describe their own instruments from those builders.
Now that I think about it, if you can find one you could try an old Attitude Special. Very slim Jazz-ish neck. It's a good bass, but IMO not up to the level of quality of the Attitude 3.
Build your own! That’s what I did!
OPINION ..
I JUST went through this silliness. The guy that I gig with and records with had been all over "bro... you need a P"
I went out and played... like 200 (serious).. they all sucked
I own stuff that is valued like 6-8x more than a fender.... took me a ton of time to stumble accross a '13 Special... the neck is NOT like a baseball bat...
The issue is that average folks will look at the name tag... players will look at the country of origin... bass players wil care if it's better
I JUST went through this silliness. The guy that I gig with and records with had been all over "bro... you need a P"
I went out and played... like 200 (serious).. they all sucked
I own stuff that is valued like 6-8x more than a fender.... took me a ton of time to stumble accross a '13 Special... the neck is NOT like a baseball bat...
The issue is that average folks will look at the name tag... players will look at the country of origin... bass players wil care if it's better
If you are somewhat content with the sound of your current P, why not get a Fender Geddy Lee American neck? Blocked, bound and all the cool kidz like them...
Of course, you would prolly need a stellar set up, plek, etc.
Just a thought...
Of course, you would prolly need a stellar set up, plek, etc.
Just a thought...
I just saw this...
It seems to tick all the boxes...
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...skyline-44-64-custom-candy-apple-red-rosewood
It seems to tick all the boxes...
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...skyline-44-64-custom-candy-apple-red-rosewood
I’m a G&L guy through and through, so you know what I’ll say... I’ve been searching for the right P for quite some time and being a G&L player who prefers 5 strings, it’s been hard. Good luck on your quest!
Warmoth... You can build what you want and have a beautiful custom P Bass for less than the competitors.
