at least you figured it out.
some people never do.
i was lucky and figured it out at a young age.
some people never do.
i was lucky and figured it out at a young age.
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Seriously, is there anything a Precision Bass Can't do?
- Thread starter de la mocha
- Start date
My Fender p5 has a nice tight B string, but I play chromes which seem to have a higher tension. I don't do much soloing, but the high notes sound great to me. Chords sound great on it too.
I remember the conventional wisdom being-
A p-bass is versatile because it's tone sounds good in just about everything.
Other basses are versatile because they can produce a lot of different tones.
I remember the conventional wisdom being-
A p-bass is versatile because it's tone sounds good in just about everything.
Other basses are versatile because they can produce a lot of different tones.
I love my p-bass(es) for certain things but... I'm not big on the slap tone. If I did some extensive tone-shaping on the head I might find something I enjoy but sometimes (gigs) that isn't practical and I prefer to use onboard controls now. I guess I could use an eq pedal but the only pedal I've ever owned is my korg pitchblack... 
Plus I didn't order 24 frets on the neck and now I really miss them after playing my TRB's..
Plus I didn't order 24 frets on the neck and now I really miss them after playing my TRB's..
I know our TB motto "any bass will do anything", but I always go back to P basses... I love the sound, but I think what makes me choose it are string spacing (love P necks) and body style (to my humble eyes, nothing looks better than a P) 
A P bass has great tone and can work very well for many genres, however....
1. The Precision tone, while great, is not everyone's cup of tea and
2. A lot of great lines have been played on something other than a Precision (Beatles, Jaco, Zeppelin) to name 3
1. The Precision tone, while great, is not everyone's cup of tea and
2. A lot of great lines have been played on something other than a Precision (Beatles, Jaco, Zeppelin) to name 3
True on both points but #2 really doesn't have anything to do with the bass if you're speaking of what is being played.
I mention #2 because in each case, a P bass was available (ie: they could have used one if they wanted to) but chose not to because it was not the sound they were looking for.
sure there is .. yo mama
im immature i know
but a p-bass is just such a no brainer
much love for them !
im immature i know
but a p-bass is just such a no brainer
much love for them !
good luck finding one that can reproduce a tight low B.
Sadowsky P5, baby.
My #1 axe.
- Dec 20, 2004
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- Player-Builder-Founder: Honey Badger Pickups & Regenerate Guitar Works
the only thing I've found my P unable to do is to give me super hero powers to change the sonic spectrum when I play a note that's "waaaaay out of context"
unfortunately in this rare case, the fact that my P sits sooo up front in the mix actually worked against me
outside of this kind of event, I know I can bring my P to any gig in any house and have a great bass tone that sits up in the mix without stepping on other instruments. I know that I'm also bringing a tool that most sound techs know how to properly mix in their house. this is what's key - to sit properly in the mix vs. cutting thru the mix ... I've heard loads of basses cut thru the mix, and the end result is usually the sonic equivalent to a 5-day old roadkill armadillo that just popped on the side of a Texas Interstate during rush hour stop-start traffic (not a pretty experience)
sure I could play something boutique or hi-fi sounding as heard right at my amp ... but why do go this route when the sound tech is only going to squash all "unnecessary bass noise" so that the bass plays nice with the other instruments in the bigger mix (i.e. what the paying audience came to hear)
in the end we each need to find our voice, and do so in a way that supports the bigger team (unless we're a soloist like Victor, Stanley, etc ...)
all the best,
R
unfortunately in this rare case, the fact that my P sits sooo up front in the mix actually worked against me
outside of this kind of event, I know I can bring my P to any gig in any house and have a great bass tone that sits up in the mix without stepping on other instruments. I know that I'm also bringing a tool that most sound techs know how to properly mix in their house. this is what's key - to sit properly in the mix vs. cutting thru the mix ... I've heard loads of basses cut thru the mix, and the end result is usually the sonic equivalent to a 5-day old roadkill armadillo that just popped on the side of a Texas Interstate during rush hour stop-start traffic (not a pretty experience)
sure I could play something boutique or hi-fi sounding as heard right at my amp ... but why do go this route when the sound tech is only going to squash all "unnecessary bass noise" so that the bass plays nice with the other instruments in the bigger mix (i.e. what the paying audience came to hear)
in the end we each need to find our voice, and do so in a way that supports the bigger team (unless we're a soloist like Victor, Stanley, etc ...)
all the best,
R
Slap bass, classic rock, metal, reggae, punk, hard rock, R&B, Gospel, Jazz, and what else do I play, oh yeah, experemental crap, out of all my Basses, I always grab my Precision bass first and I often wonder why I keep my other basses if this is the only bass I really use (poor fretless).
I just cannot fathom how a stupid bass with just one tone and one volume knob can be so versitile! I use this thing for everything.
I play right on the neck for reggea with the thumb and the tone knob at zero for deep reggea, or play with a pick at the bridge for punk and play fingerstyle right over the pick up in Gospel with minor adjustments with the tone knob respectfully.
It just amazes me how something so simple can be so versitile. And the way it sits in the mix, so warm and fat. The precision just fits like a glove when I hold her. I honestly wish I could have been there when they was designing this bass to see how they came up with this.
Also, Precision basses don't hummmmmm or buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!! Something in which I hatefully despise!
Damn, just plug the thing in and play man!
Invalid Link Removed
Sound good? HA!
just jokin.... ;o)
Only thing I cant quite cope is a Jaco tone, and a super bright EBMM tone.
Thats really it.
Oh, and I use flats...
Thats really it.
Oh, and I use flats...
Hard to beat a bass that sounds good no matter what you do to it. Fender certainly did a few things right on that "P" thing they made.
My favorite bass is a Lakland, only beef is the "tone" has to be coaxed out of the thing. My "J" bass is great if I want that Fender thump. My Carvin has a great piano like tone. My Rickenbacker growls like no other. My Gibson sounds so big you don't even have to play the right notes.
There is a lot the P bass can't do. But when it comes to rattling windows (the bass players job) the P bass will do it without any back talk.
My favorite bass is a Lakland, only beef is the "tone" has to be coaxed out of the thing. My "J" bass is great if I want that Fender thump. My Carvin has a great piano like tone. My Rickenbacker growls like no other. My Gibson sounds so big you don't even have to play the right notes.
There is a lot the P bass can't do. But when it comes to rattling windows (the bass players job) the P bass will do it without any back talk.
I've never been able to get a good 'solo' sound out of a P bass.
But, that's just quibbling. Saving up for a good vintage one at the moment.
But, that's just quibbling. Saving up for a good vintage one at the moment.
O hay... another P bass thread. Feels like I haven't seen one of these since... yesterday
.
Seriously are there any threads that haven't been done before in the Basses forum?
Is it possible you spend too much time here?
There are 2 things that a P bass can't do.
1. It can't be a jazz bass
2. It can't be a Rickenbacker
Sorry to kill the vibe. I love a good P bass as much as the next guy, but I just don't find they suit my own musical needs, and they just aren't at the top of my list of bass tastes. But to each his own I guess. I do love your P bass though. Awesome finish.
1. It can't be a jazz bass
2. It can't be a Rickenbacker
Sorry to kill the vibe.
I love a good P bass as much as the next guy, but I just don't find they suit my own musical needs, and they just aren't at the top of my list of bass tastes. But to each his own I guess. I do love your P bass though. Awesome finish.
