The way a P bass should be

[Perfessor]

Here's my 2013 Fender American Special P Bass. I have Rotosound Jazz 77 flats on it. I like having the covers on for several reasons: the covers add weight which means the weight distribution of the bass changes to eliminate the famous dead spots on G string, the pickup cover being made from steel helps spread the magnetic field of the pickup to even the volume and the bridge cover keeps the bridge free of dust and junk. I have been playing since 1971 and have read many reasons why ashtray covers were installed on P basses, but now you know why they were put there in the first place. I learned it all from a bass player who had an original 1952 P bass he had purchased new. Remember the metal weight they used to sell that attached to the headstock to eliminate the dead spot? People needed that after they removed the covers!

 

[FRoss6788]

Um....hmmm

 

[eaglemachine]

I don’t think that is the way magnets work…

 

[GIBrat51]

Here's my 2013 Fender American Special P Bass. I have Rotosound Jazz 77 flats on it. I like having the covers on for several reasons: the covers add weight which means the weight distribution of the bass changes to eliminate the famous dead spots on G string, the pickup cover being made from steel helps spread the magnetic field of the pickup to even the volume and the bridge cover keeps the bridge free of dust and junk. I have been playing since 1971 and have read many reasons why ashtray covers were installed on P basses, but now you know why they were put there in the first place. I learned it all from a bass player who had an original 1952 P bass he had purchased new. Remember the metal weight they used to sell that attached to the headstock to eliminate the dead spot? People needed that after they removed the covers! View attachment 5244871

Looks nice... just like, as you say, a P-Bass should. It's also the way my "A-spec" necked '78 P-Bass looks. Mine also has the foam mute under the bridge cover, over the closest flats you can get to the original Squier-made Fender Flats - GHS's Precision Flats. I had Roto RS77LD's on mine for several years before that; and yes, they do sound great on a P-Bass. But, I want mine to sound like it would have in, say, 1968 - and it doesn't, with the Roto's. But, the music in '68 - or older - is what I like to play, so...
As for the dead spots? Mine had one when I bought it in 1988 - along with a set of Roto 66's, and what was left of the frets they'd eaten. After I had the bass re-fretted and refinished (that's a long, sad story), and put the Roto 77's on it? The flat spot was gone. I discovered that I could make it come back, though, by messing with the tightness of the neck screws. Turns out, the neck/body joint is a big factor in dead spots, since that's where the mass of the body and the neck combine. And, the tightness of those screws can eliminate/minimize them. They don't necessarily have to be horsed down tight - the correct tightness varies from bass to bass. With mine, the back 2 screws need to be... fairly snug; and the front two, about 1/4 turn lighter. Result? No flat spots, at all. However... yes, the covers - as added mass - probably do effect the potential for dead spots. Just as the Jazz Bass - sized "A" neck does, on mine...

 

[Lance Bunyon]

Belief is a wonderful thing!

 

[Hot Rats]

Looks great. I question the validity of some of the other things you said though.

 

[smeet]

Magnets b****!

 

[Lowbrow]

I don't know about the scientific or physics properties of metal pickup and bridge covers, but I do believe that you'll run out your tuner's battery if you keep a cord plugged into the input.

 

[manbass]

Subbed, this should be fun.....been wondering about the effect of metal covers magnetically.

 

[C Stone]

That’s funny, but it is a nice looking bass.

 

[SoulReflection]

Here's my 2013 Fender American Special P Bass. I have Rotosound Jazz 77 flats on it. I like having the covers on for several reasons: the covers add weight which means the weight distribution of the bass changes to eliminate the famous dead spots on G string, the pickup cover being made from steel helps spread the magnetic field of the pickup to even the volume and the bridge cover keeps the bridge free of dust and junk. I have been playing since 1971 and have read many reasons why ashtray covers were installed on P basses, but now you know why they were put there in the first place. I learned it all from a bass player who had an original 1952 P bass he had purchased new. Remember the metal weight they used to sell that attached to the headstock to eliminate the dead spot? People needed that after they removed the covers! View attachment 5244871

Pickup cover means I can't play over the pickup...oh poop.

 

[Killing Floor]

Sweet bass.

Man, when those Roto 77 flats settle in that is a thing of beauty. Rock on.

 

[JKos]

I’m so glad his username isn’t Professor. Cause then I’d have to believe his drivel.

 

[ClusterFlux]

Here's my 2013 Fender American Special P Bass. I have Rotosound Jazz 77 flats on it. I like having the covers on for several reasons: the covers add weight which means the weight distribution of the bass changes to eliminate the famous dead spots on G string, the pickup cover being made from steel helps spread the magnetic field of the pickup to even the volume and the bridge cover keeps the bridge free of dust and junk. I have been playing since 1971 and have read many reasons why ashtray covers were installed on P basses, but now you know why they were put there in the first place. I learned it all from a bass player who had an original 1952 P bass he had purchased new. Remember the metal weight they used to sell that attached to the headstock to eliminate the dead spot? People needed that after they removed the covers! View attachment 5244871

There are lots of ways a P should look. But yes, that is a nice example, even with the ashtrays stuck on it.

 

[KellyC]

I don’t think that is the way magnets work…

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[bwildt]

I am not sure of the musical benefits of the covers, but that extra chrome is certainly effective at giving the same cool '50's look you see in cars of the era.

I have a Sting ('55 pbass) dressed up with covers. It looks great in context with playing early rock and classic country.

 

[JKaftertwoxans]

Here's my 2013 Fender American Special P Bass. I have Rotosound Jazz 77 flats on it. I like having the covers on for several reasons: the covers add weight which means the weight distribution of the bass changes to eliminate the famous dead spots on G string, the pickup cover being made from steel helps spread the magnetic field of the pickup to even the volume and the bridge cover keeps the bridge free of dust and junk. I have been playing since 1971 and have read many reasons why ashtray covers were installed on P basses, but now you know why they were put there in the first place. I learned it all from a bass player who had an original 1952 P bass he had purchased new. Remember the metal weight they used to sell that attached to the headstock to eliminate the dead spot? People needed that after they removed the covers! View attachment 5244871

You can achieve the same effect by installing some slightly heavier aftermarket tuners without the need to sacrifice two very useful plucking positions from your instruments. I know many of you like to stay anchored comically to one single plucking spot on your instrument but especially on a p bads losing a plucking position is akin to shooting yourself in the foot.

 

[overit]

Title change: "The way MY P bass should be"

Who likes being told what they "should" do on their bass?

 

[Gluvhand]

And me here with not a single kernel to pop.

 

[Brich]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

You win sir, this got an audible laugh out of me lol