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Precision recommendations

Personatech

Personatech

Jul 18, 2002
1,280
47
69
Roanoke Rapids, NC, USA
#1
Hi all,

Although I've played bass for over a quarter century (!!!) I've never owned a good old fashioned passive Pbass, the closest thing being a Cali Special with EMG pups and preamp installed. I'm looking to buy my first now, but the local selection is sparse and few I've tried have chunkier necks than I would like (my favorite neck is my Lakland 44-02's with my '74 Rick a close second - both are not too wide and fairly slim front-to-back). Here's the rundown and my impressions of the basses I was able to try out recently:

1) Fender American Standard Precision - great tone, neck chunkier than I would like.
2) Fender American Special Precision - more comfortable neck than Standard but thinner tone.
3) Fender Standard Precision - comparable to American Special in feel and tone but quality isn't as good.

Of course, these are just the tip of the iceberg with regards to what Fender offers. I'm looking for recommendations from those of you who have played a LOT of Pbasses - which ones had necks that weren't too wide at the nut and were fairly slim front-to-back? Doesn't have to be Fender - Squier, Lakland, G&L, etc. are all possibilities...

Thanks,

Tom
 
#2
Isn't this always the dilemma with P-Basses?

Lakland Duck Dunn - 1.5 at the nut. Thumps like Duck Dunn. What more can be said? A bit heavy and only offered in one color (unless you get the US version).

If you want to spend a lot of money, get a Lakland USA Glaub with with Joe Osborn neck. See Bass Central.

I personally wouldn't buy the non-US Fender P-Basses you mention.

Or, don't buy one. Get a Music Man Stingray SLO Special. Why? I don't know. They rock and have a super-comfortable neck. Plus, you won't look like everyone else with a P-Bass.
 
#3
I've got a 2012 MIA Standard Precision. I'd hardly call the neck chunky. While it's got a larger nut width than 1.5" the profile is quite slim. At $1200 for a brand new one I think they are a pretty darn good value.

I had a 2011 as well. I had to sell it for financial reasons. I bought another, my current 2012 as soon as I could muster up the glue. I don't consider myself a P-bass guy but I really love the bass in the right setting!
 
#5
Most likely the difference in tone between 1/3 and 2 is the "Greasebucket" tone circuit in 2. Fender describes the pickups in the three a bit differently in each case so they my all be different and that could also affect the tone. If you like the neck on 2 (there should be no difference among the three as far as I know, but your opinion rules here!) you should be able to change the tone circuit to match 1 and 3. I own a MIM Jazz Bass, the Standard P Bass is also a MIM, and I would not be afraid of owning another MIM at all. Mine is everything I hoped it would be. They are all good choices but from your comments I think you would be happiest with 2 if the tone can be "thickened" and that should be possible with a standard tone circuit and maybe a new pickup.

Ken
 
#6
When I was in the market for a P Bass, I tried a US Fender P, a Lakland Skyline Duck Dunn, and a US Lakland Bob Glaub. Of the three I preferred the Bob Glaub. However I really couldn't justify the price tag (and this one was even used). The Duck Dunn came in a close second and this is the one I went with. Keep in mind that the neck is more of a jazz bass neck if that's a potential issue. I've been very happy with this bass.

Bones
 
#7
Imho that MIA Standard P neck will feel much more comfy after you play it for a bit...


other suggestion (and this may be too low end for you) but if you just want to have sometime with a P and see if its for, AND have a somewhat more 'J' like neck - I would suggest trying out a few Classic Vibe 60s Ps......sound good, decent build, slim necks...silly cheap...

Peavey Fury's have rather slim necks...and great used value if not exactly vintage-voicing...
 
#9
though I don't own one, I have played a roadworn P Bass a few times and really liked it. I would probably own one if I didn't already own an 82 Fullerton reissue P that is everything the Roadworn is except I made it "roadworn" myself (Timworn?) thanks to thirty years of gigs with it.

I also own a MM SR4 that totally rocks and with flats on it, with a bit of the treble rolled off and the low end kicked up a few dB's it comes pretty damned close to nailing the P sound...and it has a great neck to boot!

Another bass you might want to look for is a Fender P Bass Special, California series, made in the 90's I think. It's actually a P/J but I always play mine in the P mode. Nice sounding, passive electronics, and has a jazz neck. I love mine. I picked it up a few years ago for around $300.
 
#11
For years, I went back and forth between my Am. Series Precision with 1.625" nut width and various basses with 1.5" nut width, without any issues at all. I still play just fine on the P, but because the P hasn't been in heavy rotation and all my other basses have the J-type necks, the transition isn't as seamless as it used to be. So I know where you're coming from.

These other basses include my favorite P-type, a G&L SB-2. If you want a straight split-coil without the bridge pickup, you could get the SB-1 which isn't on G&L's site (why?) but has been in production for a couple years. The MFD split-coil produces the most heavy duty P-bass tone I've ever heard, and can get more "vintage" by rolling back the volume. G&L's finishes and construction are a step up from most MIA Fenders too.

I do understand wanting a more classically voiced P, in which case the American Standard is great, but my favorite Fender P-bass is the Tony Franklin fretted. It has the 1.625" nut width, but is very comfortable. The first one I encountered was the nicest Fender bass I've ever played.
 
#12
StrangerDanger said:
I love thin necks too. Get the American Special. Put in a Fender Original '62 pickup, a 0.1 mFd cap and some TI Jazz flats and whammmo!
Click to expand...
On paper, the Special would be my recommendation, too. I cordially hate the American Standards.

I don't think I'd bother with the mods or the pickup change, especially if I were going to use flats, which of course I do.
 
#13
Your story sounds identical to mine, though my Lakland is a 55-02 and, aside from a bit of a Rickenbacker fetish during the whole Manchester scene, I've never wanted a Ric.

I went for the Am. Std. Yes, it feels different than my 55-02, but I found that I got used to it fairly quickly *and* I have stupid-small hands. The fit and finish was (for a Fender) really, really nice, and the sounds was good old P-bass. I think that buying the one with the thinner sound might always remind you of the sound you *could* have had for a little bit of extra dosh -- even if it's unnoticeable to audience members or bandmates. But then, I have a visceral aversion to the idea of buying a new bass with the idea of modding it, rather than getting to know it.

This is all IMHO, of course.

I'm not much of a 4-string player, but I *have* played a Duck Dunn. If you're not totally set on having 'Fender' on the headstock, the DD is a very nice option. I wouldn't fault you for going either way on this one.

Personatech said:
Hi all,

Although I've played bass for over a quarter century (!!!) I've never owned a good old fashioned passive Pbass, the closest thing being a Cali Special with EMG pups and preamp installed. I'm looking to buy my first now, but the local selection is sparse and few I've tried have chunkier necks than I would like (my favorite neck is my Lakland 44-02's with my '74 Rick a close second - both are not too wide and fairly slim front-to-back). Here's the rundown and my impressions of the basses I was able to try out recently:

1) Fender American Standard Precision - great tone, neck chunkier than I would like.
2) Fender American Special Precision - more comfortable neck than Standard but thinner tone.
3) Fender Standard Precision - comparable to American Special in feel and tone but quality isn't as good.

Of course, these are just the tip of the iceberg with regards to what Fender offers. I'm looking for recommendations from those of you who have played a LOT of Pbasses - which ones had necks that weren't too wide at the nut and were fairly slim front-to-back? Doesn't have to be Fender - Squier, Lakland, G&L, etc. are all possibilities...

Thanks,

Tom
Click to expand...
 
#14
roadkill2309 said:
I'm not much of a 4-string player, but I *have* played a Duck Dunn. If you're not totally set on having 'Fender' on the headstock, the DD is a very nice option. I wouldn't fault you for going either way on this one.
Click to expand...

Yes, the DD can be excellent. I've played a couple that were amazing, some not so much. I think the Am. Std. Fenders generally have a more upscale feel, but the DD can have easier playability, and the pickup has more punch. If you find a good one, it would be an excellent choice. I've thought about picking one up myself.
 

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