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Sound variance between P basses

6

64 p bass

Jul 14, 2008
13
0
Atlanta
#1
I currently play a 1968 P bass (I know my handle is 64 p bass but I don't own own one, have never owned one and I don't know what I was thinking when I created my name) that I bought in Athens, Ohio in 1981. For 28 years it was the only bass I owned.

Two years ago I bought a used 4 string Warwick FNA bass and it was nice but I kept going back to my '68. I came to realize that I'm partial to a p bass so I just traded in the Warwick on a Pino Palladino bass. I'm supposed to get the Pino before too long and am patiently awaiting it's arrival.

In the past, I've used roundwounds, including Thomastik-Infeld Roundwounds, on the '68 but for the last year or so have been using Thomastik-Infeld Flatwounds on it. I really like the sound and that may have helped steer me towards the Pino bass.

The Pino comes with Thomastik-Infeld Flatwounds on it and I'm probably going to keep it that way. The question is, what to do with the '68? If I keep the Thomastik-Infeld Flatwounds
on it will the 2 basses sound the same or do the individual characteristsics of each bass create enough variance in sound?

Thanks,
Tony
 
#3
Sometimes it is good to have one a little different. I think one with flats and one with rounds is a good idea. This still allows you to have another P for a backup. You may also want to get a fretless P as well. I better stop before I get you in trouble with your wife or with the credit card company.
 
#4
I play the '68 regularly so I'm not looking for a back up. The finish on the '68 melted (strangest thing) and the body of the bass would stick to your clothes and the finish stained your clothes when you played it so I had to have it refinsihed. I hated to do it but had to do it. While it's still got a great sound, it's not a pristine, vintage bass.

So, I'm looking for variance in sound. I could easliy put some round wounds on the '68 and I suspect that is what I'll end up doing but I'm first looking for input from those who own mulitple p basses to see if there is significant variance in sound even with similar strings.

I realize I can just wait for the new bass and make decisions after playing both but I'm excited about the new one that's coming and I'm interested in what my fellow bass players have to say.

Tony
 

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