Precision Bass Mods

[otownbassist]

I recently acquired a used 2000 Fender MIM standard Precision bass for $250, and I'm looking to make it better. I believe that everything was stock when I bought it, so I threw on a set of flatwounds and put foam by the bridge in an attempt to get that vintage R&B tone. I also bought a pickup cover, a bridge cover, and a finger rest. I was wondering what you guys have done to mod your p basses, just for some more ideas. Any recommendations? I'll post pictures soon. Thanks in advance!

 

[OldFunBass]

Personally I love the sound of the Seymour Duncan SPB-1 pickup for P-bass, but everyone seems to have their own taste.

 

[two fingers]

How's the weight? Maybe some ultralite tuners?

Maybe a pickup "upgrade"? (It would only be am upgrade if you don't like how it sounds now.)

 

[gjohnson441496]

Aguilar OBP 3 preamp. Really makes mine kick butt. It boost and cuts treble, bass, and mid.

 

[otownbassist]

The bass hums when I'm not touching the strings, would that be fixed with new pickups?

 

[bobyoung53]

The bass hums when I'm not touching the strings, would that be fixed with new pickups?

Does it hum or buzz?

 

[otownbassist]

I guess it's more of a buzz. Is it a shielding problem?

 

[otownbassist]

And feel free to post pictures of your p bass mods.

 

[Snickersss]

Here my 72 pbass. When I got it there were SD quarter pounders, a Badass II a BWB 3ply pickguard and non original pots on it. I added the Aggies and they are intensely sweet. The Babicz feels like a bridge should to me, solid and with no sharp edges. On a whim I ordered a solid black pickguard from WD. And then I figured I might as well get a new wiring harness as long it's all pulled apart. So I went with Emerson. I absolutely love the sound, look and feel of this bass. Oh and

all of my basses have their own Levys garment leather strap

 

[Alexander]

Here my 72 pbass. When I got it there were SD quarter pounders, a Badass II a BWB 3ply pickguard and non original pots on it. I added the Aggies and they are intensely sweet. The Babicz feels like a bridge should to me, solid and with no sharp edges. On a whim I ordered a solid black pickguard from WD. And then I figured I might as well get a new wiring harness as long it's all pulled apart. So I went with Emerson. I absolutely love the sound, look and feel of this bass. Oh andView attachment 1062395 View attachment 1062397 View attachment 1062398 all of my basses have their own Levys garment leather strap

That is beautiful

 

[otownbassist]

Here is my bass with the pickup/bridge covers and the thumb rest.

MIM Fender P bass

• otownbassist
• Feb 21, 2017
• precision bass

 

[FingerDub]

Tugbar or go home.

 

[Figjam]

I used to love Dimarzio model P. Then hate. Now love hate. Its a great pickup. I think I prefer vintage styled Fender pickups better, but the Dimarzio is better for aggressive styles, and tame-able for not aggressive styles. Its a great pickup. I dont really hate it anymore . I think.

 

[pbass2]

For me, to get the classic tone you're talking about, I go with stock Lindy Fralin pickups. Not as aggressive as some others--to me they're most definitely vintage sounding.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

The last basic P-bass I owned I took to a shop and had them install a J pickup in the bridge position. PJ > P

 

[AMJBASS]

Here is my MIM Precision upgraded with EMG GZR-P, Fender pure vintage bridge, Hipshot HB7 machines, and a WD tortoiseshell guard. The pickup and the bridge made the biggest tonal difference. It now has that classic vintage sound. Fat and clear with that slightly hollow midrange grind that sits so perctly in a mix.

 

[Stewie]

I bought my jazz bass used in 1975. In 76 I added a fretless P neck. It got whacked against a wall and a tuner broke, so I replaced them with Schallers. The nut cracked and was replaced with a black delrin Peavey nut (Wurlitzer's didn't have a Fender in stock). I added a black and gold Badass 11 bridge(it was the eighties) and later, active EMG pickups and precision style knobs.

Last year I bought a used 1999 MIM P Bass. I liked it so much that I swapped necks, making it fretless. I wouldn't change anything on it now, it is perfect.

If I came across another MIM P at price I liked I would keep it bone stock. Do, or have done, a good set up and play it 'til you wear it out

 

[descendent22]

NO Fender precision bass should EVER have flatwounds. It defeats the whole purpose of a precision bass, so there's where u went wrong from the start. But anyway a couple years ago I bought a brand new 2014 mim p bass. I ended up making many mods to it to fit my standards and likings. I bought a 2014 mim jazz neck and replaced the precision neck seeing as I rather have jazz neck demensions. I added Dunlop strap locks, a fender logo neck plate for identification purposes, an omega bad ass II brass bridge in nickel plate, USA all parts 250k split shaft pots I installed to replace the crappy solid shaft stock ones, replaced the stock capacitor with a .47 orange drop capacitor and the stock pups I swapped for 62 custom shop reissues. I originall put Seymour Duncan spb2 pups in but they were to hot. I also changed the stock white pickguard wig a 3ply black one. It took about a year or so to make the changes to this bass to fit my needs as far as performance, tone, looks and feel. It's my#1 and main base

 

[bassliner50]

For a MIM P, I always change the pickup for a big improvement. My favorites are Fender Original ('62) and Seymour Duncan SPB-1 in that order for me. Big easily heard improvement.
Lemme know if you need suggestion for strings.

 

[shrigg]

NO Fender precision bass should EVER have flatwounds. It defeats the whole purpose of a precision bass, so there's where u went wrong from the start.

I stopped reading right there. Now waiting for the flood of responses disagreeing, I'll be the first: Good flats on a P Bass is what God intended. GHS Precision Flats, Labella Deep Talkin Flats to name a few