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

[JakobT]

So....a copy is not a copy if it says Squier on the headstock.

Exactly. Since Squier is owned by Fender, it's not a copy.

 

[Stewie]

I sold my Jbass a long time ago, you don't need a P and a J. But a P and a T is just fine

 

[OldManNewBass]

I sold my Jbass a long time ago, you don't need a P and a J. But a P and a T is just fineView attachment 7243216

Are... Are both of those fretless...?

 

[bigtone23]

OK, so what didja think about it? Any big difference between it and the usual passive PBass?

It's never been a passive P Bass while in my possession. Although I have played stock ones with the Ibanez P4 pickup, and they are as P as any passive Fender.
When I got it in the late 90s, it had the EMG P pickup with V & T controls. Not a typical passive P sound--it has more bandwidth and clarity vs a passive P. I installed the BTS system, still not a typical passive P sound--it could get bigger and brighter, or more mid forward if the controls are cut. Sounded great, very versatile, moreso than a Passive P.
After a few years, since I already had a passive Squier P, a passive Peavey P/J and an active Fender P/J, I had the P thing covered. I then converted this Ibanez into a virtual Peavey T-45, which is P adjacent, like a L1000. Passive, humbucker in the sweet spot, Vol,Tone, Mid Cut (via a Wilde Q filter) and push/pull coil split. It's similar to a Passive P now, but still more versatile and fills a niche in the ol' toolbox. I prefer this over a Passive P.

 

[J Wilson]

It's never been a passive P Bass while in my possession. Although I have played stock ones with the Ibanez P4 pickup, and they are as P as any passive Fender.
When I got it in the late 90s, it had the EMG P pickup with V & T controls. Not a typical passive P sound--it has more bandwidth and clarity vs a passive P. I installed the BTS system, still not a typical passive P sound--it could get bigger and brighter, or more mid forward if the controls are cut. Sounded great, very versatile, moreso than a Passive P.
After a few years, since I already had a passive Squier P, a passive Peavey P/J and an active Fender P/J, I had the P thing covered. I then converted this Ibanez into a virtual Peavey T-45, which is P adjacent, like a L1000. Passive, humbucker in the sweet spot, Vol,Tone, Mid Cut (via a Wilde Q filter) and push/pull coil split. It's similar to a Passive P now, but still more versatile and fills a niche in the ol' toolbox. I prefer this over a Passive P.

Thank You!

 

[Geri O]

Okay... I looked through four pages of posts for the carrots. The carrots are leading in the poll... where are the the freakin' carrots?!

Yes.

 

[Geri O]

It's like the Semantics Police called a meeting and chose this topic….

 

[dougjwray]

I like the way on TB a purely philosophical discussion almost immediately becomes about likes, dislikes and the inevitable "play what you want."
Play what I want? Really? Can I? THANKS!!

 

[MrAB4003]

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.)

"People say believe half of what you see, son, and none of what you hear."
- Marvin Gaye

I voted for "Doesn't have to be a Fender, but it has to be an FSO". This option includes the G&L LB-100 (MIA and tribute), Olinto P Bass, Sire P5, and other P style basses that look like an actual P Bass.

 

[KevInDaBassment]

Split coil P in the right position? It's a "P bass" IMO...

Anything more is gravy or splitting hairs

 

[PJorBoth]

What is an FSO?

 

[andare]

I know you said my opinion matters not but I need to inform the world that PJs are an abomination.

 

[pepj]

There are a few makers who make far better FSO's in my view but they are based on the originals but they just do it better.
To charge more money by a having a new but pretty close spin is both respect and an improvement. imv.

 

[Gervais Cote]

What is an FSO?

Fender Shaped Object

 

[B-Mac]

'CARROTDS' wins by a mile!!!!!!!

 

[Jeff Scott]

Has it been settled, yet?

 

[Passinwind]

Has it been settled, yet?

Carrots, of course.

 

[58kites]

A Precision Bass is a Fender or Squier.
A P Bass is most anything with a Split Pickup mounted at the correct location that looks like a Precision.
A P Bass is also a 51P/54P type of recreation with the single coil pickup in the correct location.
I think a Peavey Fury and a Yamaha BB are a P Bass even though the body shapes are just sorta kinda P shaped.
I think all the higher end P Bass clones like Lakland, Sadowsky, etc are definitely P Basses and "Nearly Precisions".

 

[SactoBass]

Carrots:
- Léo called it a precision cause this was the first (or one of the first) bass with frets; which means easier precision when playing note that on a double bass which was the norm before.
- Did the first precision bass have a split coil ?

So all existing fretted bass are "Precision"

That's exactly what I was thinking as I was reading the posts in this thread. The "norm" prior to Leo's invention was upright basses with no frets. Leo comes along and slaps a bunch of frets on a bass fretboard and he calls it a "precision" bass because the frets provide an "autotune" function. So that would mean all fretted basses are precision basses. But then, Leo copyrighted the name "precision bass" which, at that point, means only Fenders can technically be a "precision bass" per se. From my own personal viewpoint, any FSO (Fender Shaped Object) can be a "p-bass" (not a "precision bass", but a "p-bass") as long as it resembles the form factor and pickup placement that a Fender precision bass has.

 

[jg42]

Here's a curveball for Ya: Is (genuine) Fender p-bass with a (genuine) Fender j-bass neck still a Precision Bass?