• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Precision bass questions

#61
Joe Nerve said:
Tried, they won't let me :). Exercising patience, in order to get the best price and a color I like (black). Pretty sure I'm going for the American Special. If musiciansfriend doesn't come up with one, then a MIM might be an option again.

Although I've said it more than once already, I'll say it again. Not looking for anything other than a Fender P bass. I'm very happy and content with my bass collection. Not looking for my holy grail or anything like that. Just want the Fender P bass vibe, inspired by a recent gig opportunity where the band specifically wanted a Fender P player. Yeah, I know how ******** that is and I know all about the people who would never play in a band that required you to use a certain instrument, but I would. Some of those bands make lots of money playing great gigs. And I welcome any excuse to buy a new bass :) (I'm running out). If I get myself a P bass, I truly feel I have it all. A Jazz, a P, a Stingray, a Big Al, a Bongo, a Gibson, a Warwick, a Fenderbird, a Dano... plus a handful of other less notables. What more could a bass player possibly want.
Click to expand...
You know, I'll never understand why so many bassists feel it's such an insult to be asked to play a Precision. Could be worse...what if Alembic Series II's became the standard? We'd all be screwed unless we were rich!
 
  • Like
Reactions: gbrooding, harleyman888 and Tbone76
#63
Doublesixes said:
OT. Congrats on that bass. Question: how heavy is it?....This may sound funny but by the looks, I can tell it's easily under 8.5 lbs.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure exactly, but I don't think it's quite that light. The only scale I have is one of those hand-held luggage scales. According to that, with the fairly heavy 3" strap on it, it's just over 9.0. So I'd say high 8's. It does feel lighter than most of my other basses though. The exception being my Wine Red hand-stained Jazz which probably IS closer to 8.5 lbs.
IMG_0792.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Miker27607
#64
So.... I'm sitting outside my local Sam Ash. There is an A hole with his kid in there w 2 bass amps cranked really loud, all mids, goin through all the basses. Kid can't play and is just making notes ring out. I have tinnitus big time, and can't handle it. Looks like they have some interesting Ps on the wall. Killing time posting this, gonna give it 5 minutes and then try again.

Can't believe nobody is telling them to lower the amps.

Tinnitus (when u get it bad) sucks, people. Wear earplugs. 30 seconds of the crap that was going on in there and my ears are screaming . Not fun at all.
 
  • Like
Reactions: VWbug
#66
It sounds like you are in hell at the music store Joe :)

I have a Precision and a Bongo (like I think you have). To be honest, since getting the Bongo I just don't play the Precision. I think the Bongo can approximate the Precision pretty well if its simply a tone thing. However, if it is a style thing, then yeah they look very different.
 
#68
sonicnuance said:
It sounds like you are in hell at the music store Joe :)

I have a Precision and a Bongo (like I think you have). To be honest, since getting the Bongo I just don't play the Precision. I think the Bongo can approximate the Precision pretty well if it simply a tone thing. However, if it is a style thing, then yeah they look very different.
Click to expand...

I have a Bongo. The big al however better covers all the basses. There isn't a whole lot that bass can't do. Not a whole lot the new gibson EB can't do, also. I love all my basses :). I feel very fortunate, and grateful.

Lol, the only thing I'm certain none of my other basses can do, is LOOK like a P bass.
 
#69
Eublet said:
Fender's description is poor on this. The pot uses some extra resistors in it that change the way turning the pot effects the tone. I've heard some say it removes a resonant peak that can happen with traditional pots at the rolloff point because of the way it loads the pickups. Not sure how accurate that is. I've also read that the extra resistor functions to start attenuating the lows slightly around the midway point to create a more mid oriented tone. This seems to jive with what I hear using it. But it's definitely different than a standard tone pot. Better or worse is subjective.
Click to expand...

I can see why they'd put resistors in to fine tune the pots according to specifics related to their pickups, but at the end of the day, it's still either rolling off highs or lows. Adding resistors just changes the frequency range. I dunno, it seems like every manufacturer does this but because fender named it, then it's suddenly a feature.
 
#71
CatSquare said:
I can see why they'd put resistors in to fine tune the pots according to specifics related to their pickups, but at the end of the day, it's still either rolling off highs or lows. Adding resistors just changes the frequency range. I dunno, it seems like every manufacturer does this but because fender named it, then it's suddenly a feature.
Click to expand...
No the specs they use call for specific caps and such. I'm not saying it technologically advanced by any means. But they gave it a name for marketing purposes which is smart. The extra resistor doesn't change the roll of point. It changes how the roll off responds.
 
#72
Joe Nerve said:
Only bass I don't have in my arsenal which I feel I might one day need, is a Precision. Thought I'd think this through, out loud, here, as there is no better place :).
Click to expand...
Okay.

Joe Nerve said:
I'm just about to pull the trigger on an American Special, but starting to have my doubts. Especially after learning that some people snagged these for less than $600 a few years back. Best price I'm going to get is 15% off the $999, unless someone hooks me up here with a link I don't know about.
Click to expand...
Whoa. Sometimes, sales go to 20%. It's all timing. You never know when it comes. Pre-Cyber Monday. Labor Day. Whatever. It's random. Musician's Friend likes to push the envelope.

Joe Nerve said:
Anyhow, I'm leaning towards the AS because I got used to the neck profile on my Jazz, and prefer it to the P. I'm sure I'd get used to the P, but I switch basses a lot, and well... yeah, I like feel of the J. What I'm concerned about however on the AS is the greasebucket tone. Will that kill the possibility of getting vintage P bass sounds out of this? I'd like very much to be able to get the sounds of the 70s from this bass.
Click to expand...
Hmm. I don't know.

Joe Nerve said:
I'm also considering a plain ol standard. My questions on that are:
Do they have the same pickup as in the American basses?
Click to expand...
I don't know.

Joe Nerve said:
What are the differences between the mexican and american?
Click to expand...
The Mexican one is made in Mexico. The American one is made in America.

Joe Nerve said:
Is it just where the materials are made and where the bass is assembled?
Click to expand...
The one thing that I am certain is the location of assembly.

Joe Nerve said:
If so, I don't care a whole lot about the MIA part. My jazz is an antigua MIM and I like it a lot more than 4 highway ones I owned which were MIA.
Click to expand...
Oh, that's nice.

Joe Nerve said:
That's pretty much it for now. Thoughts and experience please.
Click to expand...
I had a Cort P-bass copy. I hated it.

It was good talking with you, bro.
 
#73
Joe Nerve said:
Think I'm going with Tbone's suggestion. I have a 20% off coupon at guitar center that expired a couple of weeks ago. If they honor it, I may be about to pull the trigger. Seems like the best deal on a P with the slimmer neck. Not crazy about the nitro finish, but I'll be gettin it for $100 less than the American Special. Gotta take some deep breaths.... ya think I'd be used to this by now....
Click to expand...
Nitro finish bothers you? Don't get it. It has buyer's remorse written all over it. Walk away.
 
#74
Joe Nerve said:
They wouldn't take the coupon!!!! Wow. That was kinda surprising. I know, I can call back... but I feel insulted, dammit! :) Was a little on the fence anyhow. For $100 more I can get a black hard finished one at musiciansfriend. They're checking to see if they can get me one. I have a $50 gift certificate with them anyhow, and I don't have to pay tax. Comes out to just about the same with 15% off at MF. And if I get another guitarcenter coupon, I know they'll honor that.

Just a little patience...

Thanks everyone for the input here. I'll keep my eyes open for something used in the meantime, but on certain purchases I like to go new. Especially with Fender, as they retain their value pretty well, and I know they're very hit or miss. I can't help but to think that if someone is selling one, it's a miss. I like having the return policy and warranty that comes with buying new.
Click to expand...
Yeah, gloss black finish is much nicer. Wider variety of pickguard options that look good.
 
#75
Joe Nerve said:
So.... I'm sitting outside my local Sam Ash. There is an A hole with his kid in there w 2 bass amps cranked really loud, all mids, goin through all the basses. Kid can't play and is just making notes ring out. I have tinnitus big time, and can't handle it. Looks like they have some interesting Ps on the wall. Killing time posting this, gonna give it 5 minutes and then try again.

Can't believe nobody is telling them to lower the amps.

Tinnitus (when u get it bad) sucks, people. Wear earplugs. 30 seconds of the crap that was going on in there and my ears are screaming . Not fun at all.
Click to expand...
I have slight tinnitus from drumming loudly when I was younger. I am very big on walking out of places that have volume cranked beyond comfortable.
 
  • Like
Reactions: VWbug
#76
:) Thanks for talkin bass with me.

The 20% sales are getting much harder to come by. Musiciansfriend rarely if ever offers them anymore (15% is the highest they go on their monthy sales), and the places that once or twice a year offer 20% (usually sam ash and guitar center) are also places that charge tax. Though musiciansfriend will often honor those other coupons. I just missed a 20% off at guitar center... bla, bla... posted about that already.

I know the bass buying game well. I buy lots of basses and usually get the best possible deals. Same with cars I learned this year too. I'm patient, and that helps. I like to buy basses knowing that if I sell them one day I'll either make money on the deal, break even, or at the very least only lose like $50 tops.

Going to give MF a call now and see if they found out about a black special yet.
 
#78
Joe Nerve said:
:) Thanks for talkin bass with me.

The 20% sales are getting much harder to come by. Musiciansfriend rarely if ever offers them anymore (15% is the highest they go on their monthy sales), and the places that once or twice a year offer 20% (usually sam ash and guitar center) are also places that charge tax. Though musiciansfriend will often honor those other coupons. I just missed a 20% off at guitar center... bla, bla... posted about that already.

I know the bass buying game well. I buy lots of basses and usually get the best possible deals. Same with cars I learned this year too. I'm patient, and that helps. I like to buy basses knowing that if I sell them one day I'll either make money on the deal, break even, or at the very least only lose like $50 tops.

Going to give MF a call now and see if they found out about a black special yet.
Click to expand...
I just went to my local GC, and they have the nitro satin P bass on sale for $699 new. You may want to check yours to see if they're running a similar deal. The online price is still showing over $800, but the individual stores seem to have more leeway.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back