Ready for a workout - which one?

[Iristone]

Basically I'm looking for a single pickup bass with a fat neck so I can put some heavy-arse La Bella or Rotosound flatwounds on it. My tonal goal is a deep, heavy thump with fingers, and a bit of twangy bite with a pick - I want a big attack for both styles of playing. I'd also like to keep the cost down, as it'll likely be "a tone of mine" instead of "the tone of me". I'd like to see what y'all prefer for my tonal goal?

Out of my options:
- the CV50P has a safe fat neck and a twangy pickup, but I've generally not been sold on the low-end depth of 51P pickups;
- the CV60P is probably the safe bet, but I'm seeing if I'd miss out something with more character;
- the Accu Bass is... hmm, I gotta admit I just like an Epiphone. The maple laminate on the body may give a bit more brightness and attitude, but the pickup may not be quite as good;
- the JC is the most versatile, it can sort of switch between a vintage and hot pickup impedance;
- The Grabber is the best looking, and one day I could install the Curtis Novak sliding pickup for something totally one-of-a-kind. It's also the most expensive, though, and the mod would cost even more.

 

[NKBassman]

Off that list I'd personally pick the Jack Cassady, but I've already got 5 other P-type basses to choose from. The switchable impedance pickup is interesting to me, but tbh I've never actually tried one. Those basses always sound fantastic when I've seen them played on stage, though.

As for achieving "deep, heavy thump with fingers, and a bit of twangy bite with a pick", you may want to also take a look at GHS Precision Flats and/or Dunlop flats. I currently have the Dunlops on my one P bass and they sound great but they are stiff, and I might be changing them out back to rounds or Pressurewounds just for playability sake. The GHS P Flats are the flats that finally changed my mind from "hating" flats as a rule. They're available in a few different gauges so you're not stuck with bridge cables as your only option (i.e. Rotosound).

 

[PennyroyalWe]

The CV50s gets plenty deep & thumpy with broken in flats. It’s the best contender for your purpose IMO.

 

[urkel3000]

My casady had a noodle for a neck, I kept the trussrod cover off because it wanted a quarter turn back or forth pretty much every day. I sold it because of that

 

[Medicine Man]

I think the JC is the sound, but im questioning how well it can hold that high tension setup. Best go CV.

 

[J Wilson]

Squier CV60, all day. It's the absolute essence of what you've asked for, and string with big flats, you're there.

Hundreds of hit records are the proof of this style bass proving itself over and over and over. Plus, should you want to change pickups (or anything else), the aftermarket is so deep for these.

 

[hvymetallurgist]

I'd throw out an alternate - look for a used Vintera 50s P. My personal example had quality gremlins out the whazoo, so try before you buy...but the vibe was undeniable. They can be had in the ballpark of $750ish and if you can snag a good example at a good price, it'll really balance bang for the buck better than most.

 

[Gervais Cote]

Heavy thump ?

CV60 with those pickups :

Steve Harris P-Bass Pickup | Seymour Duncan

When metal’s most legendary P-Bass player needs a medium output P bass pickup that is both detailed and powerful, you accept the challenge.

www.seymourduncan.com

 

[lowfreqgeek]

My JC w/Rotosound flats sounds great and the neck has held up just fine. I hardly ever have to touch it.

 

[DRay521]

I have an Accu Bass, and I love it. Benefits from upgraded pickups and hardware, but IMO it smokes a lot of inexpensive FSO options. However, it does have a Jazz neck, so if you’re wanting a big beefy fat P neck, that’s not the one. That said, I love the neck.

 

[MdC64]

I have a 2011 CV 60 MIC P bass and a Jack Casady.
Different beasts.
The CV 60 does not have a fat neck. If you want a fat neck P look at a Vintera 50s P. I had one for a couple years. Great bass but sold for a Nate Mendel P…another great one.
I use Cobalt flats on my JC and they are perfect. I wouldn’t describe the neck as fat though. Honestly don’t know how it would do with heavy arse flats.

 

[Iristone]

Thank yall! I'll likely pass on the Accu Bass if it's a thin neck, and the JC if its neck is a bit unstable. With the action I'd like to play with and the fluttering humidity where I live, I already need to frequently adjust my truss rods even with regular-tension strings.

then there is the 3 point bridge…I don’t know…might pull that sucker out. I switched my stock for a Hipshot and it’s great.

Interesting... when I had my 3-point Thunderbird, I managed to pulled the studs out with the Hipshot but could lock down the stock bridge by raising the front screw.

 

[Iristone]

currently have the Dunlops on my one P bass and they sound great but they are stiff, and I might be changing them out back to rounds or Pressurewounds just for playability sake. The GHS P Flats are the flats that finally changed my mind from "hating" flats as a rule. They're available in a few different gauges so you're not stuck with bridge cables as your only option (i.e. Rotosound).

I wonder if a lighter Dunlop or GHS will get closer? I used to have the heavy gauge GHS flats and it had a nice uprightish thump, though I wish it could get a bit brighter for picked rock playing.
I've played lighter gauge flats from La Bella and Rotosound before, honestly I don't think they sound exactly the same as the heavy gauge version: more twang but slightly less punch, maybe sonewhere between Thomastik flats and the heavier Roto/La Bella models?

 

[Iristone]

I'd throw out an alternate - look for a used Vintera 50s P. My personal example had quality gremlins out the whazoo, so try before you buy...but the vibe was undeniable. They can be had in the ballpark of $750ish and if you can snag a good example at a good price, it'll really balance bang for the buck better than most.

I could also get a cheap, worn MIJ P bass with a presumably fat all-maple neck, but I'm not sure if I could stand the bottom-adjusted truss rod. For my preferred action and the humidity around here, I often need to adjust the truss rod every now and then.

 

[96tbird]

Squier cv60s CIC are fantastic. Great neck all the way up and the first fret feels perfect to my hand.

My 50s is cool but just doesn’t have the smooth playing feel the 60s does. It’s chunky. It has a primitive feel to it.

My Casady wears Chromes flats, has done for about ten years. Normal seasonal truss tweaks keeps it playing perfectly. It’s what I call a slim neck back to front. Not one issue with flats. Love it for the feel and the tones it does. Chromes brightness are the ticket with a JC. I tried LaBella DTF but wanted a little more high end which Chromes delivers. Very cool bass.

Worried about the high tension of flats? You’re overthinking that. That’s why the steel truss rod was introduced. I put whatever strings I want on any bass and don’t even think about it. These days I’m more worried about round wounds chewing up the boards of my most loved basses than tension, but not very worried at all, really.

 

[Iristone]

Good point - I actually need to "loosen" the neck the other way on a few of Epiphone basses with dual-action truss rods and regular gauge strings. I guess the "fat neck" would complete the "workout" experience, though

 

[jd56hawk]

Jack Casady bass for sure.
Very versatile for a bass with only one pickup.
Wasn't aware it had a fat neck, though.
Other than that, I'd go with GHS black tapewounds.

 

[MdC64]

Thank yall! I'll likely pass on the Accu Bass if it's a thin neck, and the JC if its neck is a bit unstable. With the action I'd like to play with and the fluttering humidity where I live, I already need to frequently adjust my truss rods even with regular-tension strings.

Interesting... when I had my 3-point Thunderbird, I managed to pulled the studs out with the Hipshot but could lock down the stock bridge by raising the front screw.

Also the neck on my JC is very stable. I hardly have to do any TR adjustments.
About my bridge comment…I never had a problem with the stock bridge. I changed it because I wanted to have individual string height adjustment. The bridge pulling out comment I made wasn’t necessary.

 

[Iristone]

After going through a few demoes, I find myself most at home with the slightly fuzzy "electric" top end of the CV50. Maybe I like it similar to how I like the Gibson mini humbucker!
The CV60 gets a bit too smooth to me (it's like the CV50 at 50% tone), while the JC has a bit of metallic midrange "sheen" I'm not particularly fond of (hopefully could be tamed with flatwounds). If I ever want a 60P sound, I can change to a Split 51P pickup or maybe just grab my Thunderbird

I sort of wonder why John Entwistle preferred P Bass and Thunderbird when he wanted a naturally bright tone, but not Telecaster Bass, J Bass or Stingray? I'm guessing that he wanted more low-end than those, as he commented that the Thunderbird cut through better than the P bass for low end. Or maybe those models weren't so readily available in Britain?

 

[UNICORN BASS]

+1 on the Dunlop flats. I tried them on a Sire P bass, they were amazing! Problem is I won't spend what they are now asking for them now days, more than what i paid for some of my basses! Back to the OP question, how about Embassy or a Guild Starfire?