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"Telecaster" Precision vs Normal Precision...what's the difference?

T

tusitala

Nov 15, 2004
97
6
#1
...i'm considering buying a Fender custom shop 55 Precision... what i wanted to ask is if anybody can tell me the difference between "Telecaster like" single coil Precisions like that and normal split coil Precision.
how do they differ in terms of sound, playability etc???
 
#2
tusitala said:
...i'm considering buying a Fender custom shop 55 Precision... what i wanted to ask is if anybody can tell me the difference between "Telecaster like" single coil Precisions like that and normal split coil Precision.
how do they differ in terms of sound, playability etc???
Click to expand...

The early single-coil precision basses (SCPB) and reissues have a non-contoured body, which some people think makes them more difficult to play. The '55 has a contoured body, though. The single coil pickup is usually a pretty fat sound, without much midrange. It hums, of course, and sounds best cranked. One complaint with SCPB is that it can be tough to get more than one sound out of it. Conversely, fans think the sound they get is great. I'm in this latter camp. I've got a '51 reissue. I played a '54 custom shop reissue once and it was the most exciting bass I've ever laid hands on, I think.

Another thing to keep in mind is that technically, only the SCPB made in the late sixties and early seventies, the first round of SCPB reissues, are "telecaster" basses. And often, when we speak of telecaster basses, it conjures up this one, which is really a horse of different color:
http://www.vintageoneguitars.com/images/telebass1300.jpg
 
#3
Pretty much just the pickup. To my ear, the single coil has a broader frequency response, and sounds more open, the split P 'bucker has a little more mid presence, and sounds a little compressed in comparison.
There is a Telecaster bass...was made from ~68 to 72, and was "the first re-issue" of the 51 Precision. 68/69 models were single coil ala 51, 70-72 had the giant neck positioned "mudbucker" pickup that resembled Tele guitars.
511.gif

telepreds.gif
 
#4
I can see a project happening there. Use what's the same with the Tele bass and the SCPB. You get a bass with the same stuff as you see on a SCPB but include a big old humbuvker sized p'up at the neck.

It sounds like it would be a long way towards what Billy Sheehan did with his old main bass.
 
#12
SD do a version of the single from 'tele' basses its in the basslines and the antiquity ranges i think,

chef i LOVE the DS mod, i would try it on mine but i cant cos its a paisley hehe love that 70's special pick guard too. but as much as i love the mudbucker the DS has my GAS going

a bit of a tangent here but do you think a bridge cover would look good on my RI paisley? and where do i get the trapeze style plate for the 'tele' bass?
 
#15
Tusitala,
If you want to know what a single coil P sounds like, just use a Jazz Bass and turn on the neck pickup only...that's essentially all it is. Yes, you'll also get the single coil buzz.
No you can't simply install a J pickup, because the P pickup is shaped much smaller. Seymour also makes the Antiquity pickups for those SCPB's.

It's a different sound than a split coil P, I like to call it a much growlier tone. And with flats, to me it sounds 'woodier'.
But forget the pink custom shop '55 , I already bought it. :smug:
 
#16
here's an image of a SCPB route ... notice the non-rectangular shape and lack of ears that a J-bass style single-coil pickup has

Tele5P_1P_NeckPickupRouted2.jpg


and a poor quality image showing the detail of where a SCPB pickup leads are located. if you mod your bass to utilize one of these, you may also need to drill a new wire tunnel into the control cavity. NOTE: Be really careful with those esposed wire leads - there are two miniscule windings that are exposed on the outside edge of the pickup ... if either of these wires touch your grounded cavity the pickup will ground out and make no sound, and/or should you accidentally scrape and break one of these leads you will have a not so pleasant job of repairing the winding leads so your pickup will again make sound

Tele5P_NordstrandVintagePcustom.jpg



yes, the sound is a single-coil type sound somewhat like a J-bass pickup ... but it is also a completely different winding specification with it's own unique sound to it.

all the best,

R
 

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