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Settle an argument. (Fender vs. FSO vs. non-FSO)

Pick the answer that accurately describes a Precision bass.

  • It must be a Fender Precision Bass. No substitutes.

    Votes: 63 18.8%
  • Doesn't have to be a Fender, but it must be a FSO.

    Votes: 87 26.0%
  • Doesn't have to be an FSO, as long as it has one split-coil pickup.

    Votes: 34 10.1%
  • It doesn't have to have only ONE split-coil pickup. It can be a P-J and still qualify.

    Votes: 22 6.6%
  • It can be any body shape, and any number of pickups, as long as ONE of them is a split-coil.

    Votes: 28 8.4%
  • Carrots

    Votes: 101 30.1%

  • Total voters
    335
I did that for a few years with my Ibanez RB630: EMG P and BTS system...
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OK, so what didja think about it? Any big difference between it and the usual passive PBass?
 
I voted "Not Fender, but FSO" only because I don't really consider a bass to be different if it's got the same pickup arrangement in a different body. I wouldn't really look at a non-FSO thing and call it a P bass, but if it's electronically the same as a P bass, I'd call them equivalent.
 
Relatively certain that to be a bassist requires a bass.

Past that...
Agree.
According to some BS rule, Macca, Lemmy, Stanley Clarke, John Entwistle (I could go on) are not bassists!

But to answer the OPs DA Q.
A precision bass is any bass that Fender* put a Precision logo on.
Any bass that isn't made by Fender that doesn't have a Precision logo, isn't a Precision bass.

Any answer that isn't this pure opinion and meaningless.

*Including Squier
 
It has been said that every "true" bassist needs both a Jazz bass and a Precision bass.
(Your opinion on this matters not. It is a simple fact of life. Thus sayeth Lord Jaco.)

That said--what constitutes a Precision bass?

Does it have to be a Fender? Or will my Sire P5 qualify?
Does my Yamaha BB (with a lone split-coil) qualify, even though it has a BB-shaped body?
What if it has a jazz body, but a P pickup? Is that too far from home?
What about a P-J's? Are they still "Precision" basses?
What if it has active electronics? Is there such a thing as an active P-Bass?

Inquiring minds want to know.
I fell in love with the Precision shape as a teenager a very long time ago and it's still my favourite body shape. There are others I like but not many. The Precision pickup location is also my favourite spot but I don't necessarily need the Fender style split pickup. I have others located there that sound great.
 
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It has been said that every "true" bassist needs both a Jazz bass and a Precision bass.
(Your opinion on this matters not. It is a simple fact of life. Thus sayeth Lord Jaco.)

That said--what constitutes a Precision bass?

Does it have to be a Fender? Or will my Sire P5 qualify?
Does my Yamaha BB (with a lone split-coil) qualify, even though it has a BB-shaped body?
What if it has a jazz body, but a P pickup? Is that too far from home?
What about a P-J's? Are they still "Precision" basses?
What if it has active electronics? Is there such a thing as an active P-Bass?

Inquiring minds want to know.
IMHO, only a Fender Precision is a Precision, simply because that's the official name of that specific Fender model. (This applies to Squiers also, BTW). Basses that look like Precision basses with a split-coil pickup in the right spot are Precision-style basses. Non-FSO's are whatever their model name is, with or without a split-coil pickup.

That said, I don't have a problem with Precision- or Jazz-style basses being referred to as P- or J-basses.
 
... will my Sire P5 qualify?

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My shiny new P5...!

the only good motorcycles are Harley

cafe bobber.jpg


Unfortunately, I had to sell it awhile back... /sadface

There is nothing like I good P-Bass, even better one you built yourself. I have played tons of great P-Basses but none sound as good as this one! Influenced by a '72 Fender Tele Bass, this bass sports a body and neck made by Warmoth to my specs. For electronics it features a Nordstrand NP4A pickup. Sounds absolutely amazing!!

I want to put together a similar Warmoth '72 Precision fretless PJ build someday; Daphne Blue body, wenge neck & ebony fingerboard, red tort pickguard...!
 
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Super strict answer: When you say Precision bass, it can only be a Fender or a Squier, since the Fender company holds the rights to name it like this.


Strict answer: Any FSO with the split pickup in the right position qualifies as a Precision bass.
Q: "What do you play?" "
A: "A Nash PB-59"
Q: "What's that?"
A: "A Precision bass made by Nash"
 
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It has been said that every "true" bassist needs both a Jazz bass and a Precision bass.
(Your opinion on this matters not. It is a simple fact of life. Thus sayeth Lord Jaco.)

That said--what constitutes a Precision bass?

Does it have to be a Fender? Or will my Sire P5 qualify?
Does my Yamaha BB (with a lone split-coil) qualify, even though it has a BB-shaped body?
What if it has a jazz body, but a P pickup? Is that too far from home?
What about a P-J's? Are they still "Precision" basses?
What if it has active electronics? Is there such a thing as an active P-Bass?

Inquiring minds want to know.
Well... I voted "Carrots", since I'm a Carrot Party guy. But... since "Inquiring minds want to know", here goes...
Personally, I'm old enough that I'll never have a "birth year" electric bass - and I'm left handed, to boot. But, growing up? A Fender Precision Bass - was the only Precision Bass. And, when non-Fender versions began to show up, they were not Precision Basses; they were rip-offs. But, times change, and now there are a lot of basses that people think of as "Precision Basses". And, I suppose they are - whether I like it or not...
And, to be honest? I don't I really care much, one way or the other. Still, There is only one Precision Bass in my 27 bass "Herd" - and it's a '78 Fender. I do have several other basses that could be considered in the same barnyard as a "real" P-Bass, though. I have a 30" Warmoth Mini-Precision, that was built to be a "Mini Me" clone of my Fender. It certainly sounds like a P-Bass. My 31" scale, headless aluminum-necked Kramer Duke has a Schaller "Twin-J" pickup that can be split into a Split-coil configuration. Sounds pretty P-Bass-ish, to be honest. And, my G&L Kiloton, with it's 3-way switch in the center position? Sounds sorta like a P-Bass - to my ears, anyway. Might sound more like one if it had frets, though... I suppose my G&L ASAT Bass, in neck pickup/passive mode, might sound sorta like a P-Bass, but I've never paid much attention; I don't usually play it that way. Same goes for my EBMM 4HH Stingray Special, with the switch in the #5 position...
So... bottom line? For an old fart like me? "Precision Bass" means it has "Fender" on the headstock. But, I'm not going to be a fanatic about it, as far as anyone else is concerned. I'm happy with the 47 y/o Real Deal that I've owned for 37 years; you be happy with whatever you think is a P-Bass... :cool:
 
"Precision bass" is a model name. Therefore, it must be a Fender (or Squier) model and can have a variety of pickup types, as Fender sees fit, such as single-coil, split-coil, PJ, or even two Jazz pickups in the case of some 5-string Precision basses.

If it says "Precision bass" on the headstock along with a Fender or Squier logo, then it's a "Precision bass" IMHO.
 
Okay... I looked through four pages of posts for the carrots. The carrots are leading in the poll... where are the the freakin' carrots?! :bored:
 
  • Haha
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