• 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.

The basic flaw in the p-bass

#121
Ric5 said:
OK instead of an open discussion just revert to name calling ...

I guess P-bass with flats has a cult following that cannot even consider that a p-bass with flats is not perfect.

I like Ricks a lot ... but Ricks have flaws
I like jazz basses ... but jazz basses have flaws
I like stingrays ... but stingrays have flaws

Etc ...

I am not saying the p-bass is a terrible bass ... but it is not perfect. Not perfect = has flaws.
Click to expand...

Lol. This thread has gotten ridiculous!

Sure, P-Basses have flaws - but generally speaking,"the bottom dropping out" when the tone knob is full-up isn't one of them! In this scenario, I think this guy is right:
tekdiver500ft said:
Sorry, but the "basic problem" with that P Bass was operator error. P Basses are known for their bass and low midrange.
Click to expand...

My saying this need not invoke a hyperbolic all-in-caps sarcastic response, but rather a discussion on why the op and the late Entwistle came to this conclusion. I suspect a particularly compressed and trebley tone at the amp or console is more to blame in this scenario than the design of the Precision bass.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jfdenise
#123
Ric5 said:
Hell no ... Playing a 4 string p-bass with flats for me is like having to clean the bathroom floor in the bar with my tongue and then eating chards of broken glass ...

My band was playing a gig and at the end of the gig I got out someone elses 4 string p-bass with flats and I played it. It was worse than I expected.
.
Click to expand...

this is the silliest TB thread that I've seen in a while.
IMO, if you can't 'get 'er done' with a 4 string p bass, then you can't 'get 'er done', without your beloved extra 5 lower notes.

the only thing that I can think is that the "someone else's 4 string p-bass with flats " had something wrong with it.

the p bass is probably the most popular and recorded bass of all time so I guess everyone else that digs them is wrong and you're right.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rockinrayduke
#126
Unless some hack had it rewired the wrong way, there is no physical way for a P (or any bass where the tone blend is wired this way) to loose bass. You can take this for granted.

But psychoacustics come in there, once you brighten up your tone you feel like there were less bass, and I think that's all what is happening here.
 
#128
Ric5 said:
I'm outta here ...

This is crazy ...

The p-bass purists are crazier than the Rickenbacker purists ...
Click to expand...

I don't get why it's a contest. P Basses are a great, proven platform. So are Rickenbackers.

I still assert that the original argument is what's actually flawed. Does the bottom "drop out" if you have the tone knob fully open (bleeding the least treble to ground)? Easily measurable. Is there some resonant peak filtering with the resistor/capicitor network that comprises a passive P bass tone circuit? Yup. Is there sometimes an ever so slight attenuation of lows? Possibly, but it's hardly significant and barely audible. Should this cause a significant reduction is low frequencies passed through the circuit? No. "Bottom drops out" is simply not remotely accurate.
 
#130
scotch said:
Is there some resonant peak filtering with the resistor/capacitor network that comprises a passive P bass tone circuit? .......
Click to expand...

This is probably the thing right here. When a P bass Tone control is rolled back a certain amount, (a bit more than half way back usually) a relatively large resonant hump appears somewhere in the low midrange response. Depending on the particular pickup/cap/pot this may fatten up the tone considerably. This will often be interpreted/felt/heard as increased 'low end.' This additional 'low end' of course goes away as you roll the Tone pot back toward open, and Bob's your uncle.
 
#135
P basses are not my thing. I don't hate them, I just like j basses. So to those in here who are saying p basses suck you are just exposing your complete and endless ignorance. P basses are great basses, just because you personally like something else doesn't mean anything. Here's a tip. No one cares what you think, plenty of others like them. Even some of your influences. Now go enjoy what you like, and let the p bass guys enjoy what they like. This whole thread was a wasted read.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back