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Precision Bass Shootout - 1976 vs. 2009

Which is the 1976 Precision Bass

  • Track 1

    Votes: 70 36.1%

  • Track 2

    Votes: 124 63.9%
  • Total voters
    194
  • Poll closed .
#102
DrSpunkwater said:
I guess I've got different taste than a lot of people here. I thought the sound of the '09 was heads and tails above the '76. Two thumbs up for modern improvements.
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Agreed. Gimme the grit, I can always cut, and nobody can add what's not already present.
And hey, I think I got in the first right judgement, me with my love for hyped DiMarzios and no consideration for technicalities. The ears work, but I just can't explain to you how they work.
 
#104
Thx bro! Ya, I like both of them about equally so far but the new one's got the nod for lightness. Love those Hipshot tuners! Really does make a difference in the neck balance. Stays in tune really well, too. Only thing nagging me is the intonation screws are hex screws. I'll leave them because they're original, but it's a lot easier to find a screwdriver than a hex key. Not a biggie, though.
 
#105
I don't know if someone said this already, but the 2009 American Standard does NOT have a custom shop pickup. It has the American Series pickup. Fender started using the Custom Shop pickups on the 2012 American Standard J and P (4 string only). And you are correct that the Custom Shop pickups have protruding pole pieces while the American Series pickups on the American Standards (2008-2011) have flush pole pieces.
 
#106
Ah, thanks for the clarification, Boris. Well I really like that old Custom Shop pickup on my 76 but I think this American Series pickup is seriously rockin' as well. That's one rabbit hole I'll be very happy not to disappear into...the pickup swapping rabbit hole. Unless of course some awesome manufacturers would like to send me some pre-wired P setups to try out ;)
 
#108
JimmyM said:
Ah, thanks for the clarification, Boris. Well I really like that old Custom Shop pickup on my 76 but I think this American Series pickup is seriously rockin' as well. That's one rabbit hole I'll be very happy not to disappear into...the pickup swapping rabbit hole. Unless of course some awesome manufacturers would like to send me some pre-wired P setups to try out ;)
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Yea, the American Series pickups are fine too. I have a 2010 Am Std Jazz with those and a 2012 Am Std P with the CS and I like them both. Just making sure you have the specs right. I purposely never mod any of my basses so I'm with you on leaving the pickups as is.
 
#109
Thx Sacto!

Boris, I modded that 76 so much that I'd have to part it out to make any money selling it. And it's still a small amount compared to what I could get for it had I left it alone. And one day all these new basses are going to be 30 and 40 years older, too. So I'll do my survivors a solid and let it be. Except for the pickguard. And the Straploks. Geez, not even had it two days and I've already blown it!
 
#111
drTSTingray said:
They actually sound really good to me, and surprisingly close in sound - I suppose I'm used to people playing P basses and getting what I can only describe as a bit of a coarse sound, by having the tone control wise open - your clips don't have that and sound smoother - maybe it's your playing.

Paul Turner only uses the P bass on the single Getaway, which I've also seen him perform live (on the P bass - the rest of the set on a J these days). The actual single has the P bass in the verses and a 77 Stingray in the choruses (per Paul Turner interview) he did one version with each bass and that's how they used the tracks - the only difference you hear is the Stingray is slightly smoother sounding - but they are extremely close - and the P bass once again is pretty smooth sounding.
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You mean "runaway".

I am not sure,as I don't follow Jamiroquai these days anymore,but I have listened the latest album and lots of tracks sounds like P bass.
Infact,all the post production,compressing etc often makes bass sound unrecognizable in terms "is it a jazz or a P or MM".

sorry about off top.
 
#114
OldogNewTrick said:
I heard a distinct difference between the 2 basses... #1 shows more upper mids and treble, #2 has more low mids and sounds fuller...

which is which, I cannot say - ash is brighter and alder sounds rounder may be a fair generalisation, but there are too many other factors involved in the timbre of an instrument, so I didn't vote.
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that is what I heard as well....as with you though, no clue on which is which....
 
#115
Check post 72, or look directly above your post.

:D

Bass is killin' on the soundcheck today, except they won't let me turn up loud enough to get a good fix on whether I have pickup balance right. The G string sounds quiet to me, but it's pretty close as is, and sometimes doesn't sound quiet. I'm thinking it's the room, but I don't know for sure. A little disconcerting. That's the one thing I hate about a new bass or changing up an old bass...always takes me a couple weeks to settle into it.
 
#117
I voted track 2 for the '76.

It sounds to me like the bass on track 2 is more resonant so to me that spells out no finish and no graphite support rods. Also the rosewood board should warm things up there too..... In theory!

Good game Jimmy, will be interesting to see how much we hear with our eyes!

Gonna read on and see where this goes.
 
#118
I hear a substantial difference (#2 fuller, less spikey).

But I have no idea what the difference between the two pickups is supposed to be, or if both tone caps are the same value, or.... :hmm:

Not able to vote, but that '76 "looks" like it could be a heavy bastard, tho! ;)

Edit: Aw crud, looks like I'm way late to the party again.
 

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