• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

So it's about time I got a Fender... but which one?

#21
Astre said:
I've been playing for a while now and have used Ibanez basses almost exclusively throughout my time with the bass. Don't get me wrong - I love my Ibbys and they are great basses - but I think it's about time I finally got a Fender; they're classic instruments that have a root in almost all genres of music. So, over the past few weeks, I've been perusing the GC website and Reverb, but I'm still not quite sure what I even want. Most of the music I listen to uses jazz basses, and thus I am inclined to get one, but I went to GC yesterday and liked the deep, round tone of the Precisions. Still, the necks on the jazzes are much thinner, faster, and closer to the Ibanez feeling I'm used to. So I'm presented with the age-old question: precision or jazz? I feel like most of the answer lies in whether I want to prioritize the deep bass of the Ps or the articulation of the Js, but if any of you have other facets to consider or personal opinions I would love to hear them.

If anybody could also inform me of the difference between Standards and Players, that would be appreciated, as I'm pretty sure I am going to be buying one of those two lines.
Thanks.
Click to expand...

Go back and re-read your original post. You're very happy with the basses you have and their sound is featured in the music you like. Why spend money and time hunting down a different sound just because of a trip to GC? Maybe what you "want" is to further build your skills to develop your own sound, which you can easily do with your current stable.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Cal03, Dave Leighton, bassGtar and 1 other person
#23
Here's the only fender I can recommend.
iu
 
  • Like
Reactions: gg22, Cal03, rockscott and 2 others
#24
Lots of good alternatives here. However op apparently wants the Fender name on the head. Trust me, if you get an alternative, you'll still be wanting that Fender. You may as well just get one; despite all the noise by detractors, if this is your mindset you will not be disappointed as long as you try it before you buy it to make sure it's comfortable to play.

A story. I took my P to a jam with some old buddies. The drummer started in on me about using flats before we played a note. He is a well experienced player. I just smiled and said let's talk after we jam some tunes. After an long set of hard classic rock and plain classic rock, blues jams, a couple of Eagles tunes and country tunes I asked him what he thought of my P with flats. His preconception was squarely defeated as was the expectations of the guitar players. We sat for a beer and the two guitar players sat staring at my P and discussing it, finally turning to me and saying that it was the best bass tone they had played with. Fenders are actually rare in my sparsely populated corner of the prairies.

you see, band mates don't care about the myriad of tones your bass can make, they want fat thump and mid forward drive. Just like recording engineers and producers want.

It's Just an MIM Classic 50's P. Now these have a 1 3/4" nut so I'm not suggesting you get one of these baseball bats, but friend, you won't be happy until you own a Fender, i know because my inner voice sounded just like your OP before I got a Fender. You want that label and you won't regret it, ever.

A nice PJ will fill your bill.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Heavy Blue, mikewalker and Moving Pictures
#27
You love Ibanez? go for an early 80s rb620 or rb630 p style bass.
I'm sure there is good reason that Fender trusted the same factory to make the now coveted Fender Japanese labeled basses for many years.
 
#32
This is an easy question to solve. Rent a P Bass for a couple of months, spend some time with it and then do the same thing with a Jazz bass.
I did this and I am glad that I did for I ended up with results I did not expect.
I kept the Fretless Fender Jazz Bass and returned the P Bass because I found a better Fender in a G&L.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jamro217, Wisebass and JRA
#34
Do you have a friend who will loan you a PBass for a week or two?
Trying a bass at GC for 6 or 7 minutes won't let you see if the neck fits you (different from the basses at home)
I have two fretless Precisions at home, one with 1 1/2 nut and one with 1 5/8. To tell the truth, I don't notice a difference.
MIM basses are really nice, if you want to play it, buy one. It will cost about the same as the first day depreciation on a U.S. build.
I prefer the size and simplicity of the P, but you have to buy what you like. Good luck, I hope you find one that makes you smile
 
#35
Gilmourisgod said:
That PBass Special looks perfect, cool color too. You could put one together from Warmoth parts, which are superb, but it would probably end up about the same price. Your search is done, I Have Spoken. :D
Click to expand...
The PBass Specials are really nice basses. I think OP will like the neck. But play one first. There's often one on the wall at the better GCs. Some (like me), don't care much for the noiseless bridge pickup. Using stainless steel strings helps a lot though. I got mine in new in 2015 for $649.00 at a GC. Those were the good old days. They've sold a lot of them over the years so they pop up in the classifieds here fairly regularly.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Moving Pictures
#39
First of all, if the P sound is what you like and crave, don't listen to anything about a jazz. It's a different beast.

I've owned and played a bunch of P's and honestly the best P's right now are American G&L LB-100's (especially an empress one to save on weight) or a Lakland 44-64's.

However, if you MUST get a Fender, a used American Standard is the route I would go. Getting a brand new Precision from GC is the last thing I would recommend doing.
 
Last edited:

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back