Poll: Time for a New P-Bass

[bench]

if you want a new p that's like you went to the 60s and a bought a new one then, get a moollon...

 

[Watchootognbout]

Why not a Fender?
After all....Leo got it right.

 

[Novarocker]

The only P is my arsenal currently is a squier CV 60’s in Fiesta red (with tort, for those keeping score at home), strung with flats. Nice bass, filles a niche for me and fills it well enough.

However, I’m now on the quest for what will be (for me) the ultimate P. The wish list isn’t long... classic P-tone, maple jazz-width neck/fretboard, preferably blocked/bound.

I want to say money is no object, but that’s not quite true. But I would be willing to pay Sadowsky prices for the right instrument. I’m a G&L fan and would consider their offerings as well. Lull, Lakland... all options are on the table. I’d even consider buying both a Jazz and P to swap necks.

And it doesn’t need to be overstated... of course the final choice needs to sound and feel good to me...

Edit: Although I’m currently located in the UK, I’m from the US and travel back frequently enough to obtain US offerings (at US prices).

I am in the same boat about jazz necks on precisions. Much better IMO. I've also had a real good experience with a jazz that had a beefier neck. I think the nut was pass width, but for sure the rest of the neck was like a bat.

I had swapped the necks personally and I thought the jazz sounded thicker/fuller with the new neck. Could be all in my head but I'd recommend giving the jazz a try after you switch em before flipping it.

Might get a decent price for the jazz if you flip it. Tim Commerford played a jazz like that for some time. I'm sure there's people out there wanting one. I think his was a 3tsb.

Anyway I voted that route, but G&L would be great too. If I went the neck swapping route I'd put a mfd split coil in there too.

 

[BobDeRosa]

The only P is my arsenal currently is a squier CV 60’s in Fiesta red (with tort, for those keeping score at home), strung with flats. Nice bass, filles a niche for me and fills it well enough.

However, I’m now on the quest for what will be (for me) the ultimate P. The wish list isn’t long... classic P-tone, maple jazz-width neck/fretboard, preferably blocked/bound.

I want to say money is no object, but that’s not quite true. But I would be willing to pay Sadowsky prices for the right instrument. I’m a G&L fan and would consider their offerings as well. Lull, Lakland... all options are on the table. I’d even consider buying both a Jazz and P to swap necks.

And it doesn’t need to be overstated... of course the final choice needs to sound and feel good to me...

Edit: Although I’m currently located in the UK, I’m from the US and travel back frequently enough to obtain US offerings (at US prices).

Man, they're all excellent, but I'm not sure Sadowsky even makes a P. I'd have a lot of trouble deciding among the others you mention (I once foolishly traded away a Lakland 44/64 that was really awesome), but do yourself the favor of checking out Ed Friedland's YouTube reviews of the G&L LB100. I'm pretty sure he does a long review with rounds on that bass and a shorter one with flats. He's really blown away by it, especially with flats.

 

[cnltb]

I'd have one made to spec.

 

[MtManiac]

American Elite or American Professional. The difference in width between that and a J isn’t all that much, it’s actually slightly less than the difference between a modern P neck and a 50s spec P neck. The tall narrow frets on the Pro make it feel super easy to play, and the Elite has just about every Fender bass sound option you’d likely ever want or need.

EDIT: I just last week sold a 2016 Limited Edition American standard PJ that was bone stock in perfect condition that had a Jazz neck - rosewood fretboard however. There was another fella on the Classifieds here selling an identical one at the same time. Check there, or check Reverb. The person who bought it from me is very happy with it. I’m just not down with PJs or Jazz necks in general or I’d have kept it.

Also really surprised Fender wasn’t one of your top picks. The current pickups and necks and other features are amazing, and I’ve never had any issues with quality since my first 2003 Fender.

 

[thedukeofno]

Honestly, the amazing fretwork and fit and finish you see on high end basses is only the last 5%. A well constructed highly stable bass really lends itself to that kind of attention to detail. It's easy to learn to dial in that kind of great setup and fretwork but very difficult to build a bass stable enough to allow it.

I’m going to respectfully state that, in my opinion, the exact opposite is true. Any fool can slap an authentic Fender jazz neck on a quality body and have the stable platform. Dialing that platform in is where the artistry comes in. Otherwise, there would be a zillion Roger Sadowsky’s out there...

 

[thedukeofno]

+ 1 on try the Elite as it is for free ... I’m a owner if this bass and to me it sounds dull ...

I haven’t heard good things about them. And they don’t have a jazz with (1.5”) neck.

 

[MtManiac]

I haven’t heard good things about them. And they don’t have a jazz with (1.5”) neck.

Username checks out (just kidding, sorry, couldn’t resist).

 

[thedukeofno]

My plan, Warmoth P body in the style and color of my choosing. EMG GZR pickups, a Fender American direct replacement neck.

That’s probably a pretty good plan!

 

[MtManiac]

If the OP is looking higher end, get an EBMM Cutlass. Phenomenal Pbass. The Squier is my backup to this.
View attachment 3314677

Honestly, I’ve played a couple of these, and don’t find them any better than a run of the mill American Standard. Plus, they’re kind of ugly. An American Professional will kick it’s a$$.

 

[thedukeofno]

Username checks out (just kidding, sorry, couldn’t resist).

No offense taken. But I do find it funny when someone says something like “I want a Precision with a Jazz neck” and the responses come in “Here’s something that clearly doesn’t meet your criteria, but I like it so you should too”.

 

[thedukeofno]

You sound like you want a basic p bass (for good reason). Why not just pick up a fender? Try a few and get the one that feels the best.

Jazz neck

 

[thedukeofno]

Man, they're all excellent, but I'm not sure Sadowsky even makes a P. I'd have a lot of trouble deciding among the others you mention (I once foolishly traded away a Lakland 44/64 that was really awesome), but do yourself the favor of checking out Ed Friedland's YouTube reviews of the G&L LB100. I'm pretty sure he does a long review with rounds on that bass and a shorter one with flats. He's really blown away by it, especially with flats.

Yeah, Ed’ P-bass mashup video is pretty useful as well.

 

[thedukeofno]

American Elite or American Professional. The difference in width between that and a J isn’t all that much, it’s actually slightly less than the difference between a modern P neck and a 50s spec P neck. The tall narrow frets on the Pro make it feel super easy to play, and the Elite has just about every Fender bass sound option you’d likely ever want or need.

EDIT: I just last week sold a 2016 Limited Edition American standard PJ that was bone stock in perfect condition that had a Jazz neck - rosewood fretboard however. There was another fella on the Classifieds here selling an identical one at the same time. Check there, or check Reverb. The person who bought it from me is very happy with it. I’m just not down with PJs or Jazz necks in general or I’d have kept it.

Also really surprised Fender wasn’t one of your top picks. The current pickups and necks and other features are amazing, and I’ve never had any issues with quality since my first 2003 Fender.

I love my Fender jazz. If Fender had an American standard p-bass with a jazz neck, this thread wouldn’t exist. I’d even take a PJ config, which I’m meh about.

 

[MtManiac]

No offense taken. But I do find it funny when someone says something like “I want a Precision with a Jazz neck” and the responses come in “Here’s something that clearly doesn’t meet your criteria, but I like it so you should too”.

Yeah, I get it - I’m also guilty of that. But why do any of us invest any energy at all in answering questions like this? We won’t get to play it. When someone asks a question like this, they’re gonna have to accept other people will be posting their personal preferences as well, even though it’s totally unhelpful for your purposes. It’s just what comes with crowd sourcing your shopping.

I wouldn’t want anything other than a Fender for a P bass. There’s a hundred excellent boutique Jazz bass copies like Sadowsky etc, but a P (for me) has to be a Fender. Maybe the custom shop, if you need a J neck and a maple board. Based on your other choices, the CS budget shouldn’t be an issue. That way you can get the Pro tall narrow frets, the modern high mass bridge and low mass tuners, a 9.5” radius, any colour you like, and a maple board Jazz neck. Plus, it is uniquely yours.

 

[MtManiac]

I love my Fender jazz. If Fender had an American standard p-bass with a jazz neck, this thread wouldn’t exist. I’d even take a PJ config, which I’m meh about.

They do, if you are patient and don’t mind buying used gear. Like I said, there are 2016 LE American Standard PJ’s around.

 

[thedukeofno]

Yeah, I get it - I’m also guilty of that. But why do any of us invest any energy at all in answering questions like this? We won’t get to play it. When someone asks a question like this, they’re gonna have to accept other people will be posting their personal preferences as well, even though it’s totally unhelpful for your purposes. It’s just what comes with crowd sourcing your shopping.

I wouldn’t want anything other than a Fender for a P bass. There’s a hundred excellent boutique Jazz bass copies like Sadowsky etc, but a P (for me) has to be a Fender. Maybe the custom shop, if you need a J neck and a maple board. Based on your other choices, the CS budget shouldn’t be an issue. That way you can get the Pro tall narrow frets, the modern high mass bridge and low mass tuners, a 9.5” radius, any colour you like, and a maple board Jazz neck. Plus, it is uniquely yours.

Maybe, if you all ask nicely, I’ll let you play it.

I think I’d go the neck swap option before I’d go CS. My opinion on custom shop is that the law of diminishing returns applies. You’re paying Sadowsky prices, but I’ve not heard that you’re really getting that level of quality or customer attention.

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

View attachment 3314732 Well for those requirements I landed with a Nash pb57, and had them build it with a jazz neck. The Lollar pickups rock and do the p bass thing justice. There neck profile is a tad wider front to back vs more modern shaped necks. But super comfortable and they do a great job with fretwork and fit and finish.

Never played one in person but I like the Nashes only for their look and, above all, because they have got the best jazz bass pickup ever (don’t know about the P-style pickup)

I haven’t heard good things about them. And they don’t have a jazz with (1.5”) neck.

I have to add to the number of people not liking the Elites at lot ... this is an unfortunate occurrence as I own one actually

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

Maybe, if you all ask nicely, I’ll let you play it.

I think I’d go the neck swap option before I’d go CS. My opinion on custom shop is that the law of diminishing returns applies. You’re paying Sadowsky prices, but I’ve not heard that you’re really getting that level of quality or customer attention.

If you have to spend money in an advanced kind of P bass concept but they are not enough for a Fbass then look at a nice Xotic in Sherwood Green, much better than the Sadowsky ... unfortunately, however, nut width is 42mm

PS

I’ve noticed that you changed your mind .. now buying separate body and neck is no longer a taboo ... this is an achievement ... interior growth ongoing