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Tone question for Precision users

M

Mr Explosion

Oct 26, 2001
9
3
45
polonia
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#1
I've heard that bass sound that I really like. It's the bassist from The Rapture, he plays 70s Fender Precision and various bass amps and cabinets, but mostly currently produced 4x10 Ampeg cabs and Ampeg solid state or hybrid heads. He's playing various heads, but the sound is always similar, it has that something that I guess is just the famous P-bass thump. Yeah, but I've never played a P-bass, except for the 100$ cheapos, so here's my question for Precision users - can an average MIA Precision sound like that or would I have to search for a good one? Is that typical P-sound? Here's a live clip

Note that it's just an indie-punk band, so it's not like the bassist has all that tone in the fingers, I'm pretty sure it's mostly the bass, he always uses that guitar
 
#2
Sounds like a normal passive P-bass to me.

You could get that tone with a MIA, MIJ, MIM, or a Squire. Don't get all wraped up in whats on the headstock or what era in came from. Go to your local guitar store and play a few different basses. Get the one that has the best sound and the best feel.

Cool Video!
 
#6
Yes, a current American P-Bass is very good, and also many people praise the current ones made in Japan (MIJ).

'70s P-Bass have a particularly agressive sound, because the all-maple necks/fretboards, and the heavy ash bodies. But finding a good '70s P-Bass can be a problem, and most of them are very heavy, and I mean HEAVY.

I see you are Poland, so maybe ordering from Japan could be easier and more affordable.

Check this one out - This store ships worldwide:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

.
 
#8
iamthebassman said:
FWIW my '72 P-Bass had a rosewood 'board.
Click to expand...

I guess I meant to say that the heavy-ash/maple combination conforms the typical '70s P-Bass sound. Of course there are '70s Fenders with rosewood fretboards.

. . . don't make me come to Austin and "take" one of those Rics from you, and whatever else and can grab in two minutes. :ninja:

.
 
#9
i haven´t played a modern P-bass... i own a Fender 1978 and it sounds just like the bass you said... But a friend of mine has a Fender 1977 P-bass and it doesn´t sound like mine.. What´s the difference ? The wood... My bass is reaaaaaaally heavy... the other one is pretty much lighter... i dunno why.. But they sound different.
 
#10
lefty007 said:
Yes, a current American P-Bass is very good, and also many people praise the current ones made in Japan (MIJ).

'70s P-Bass have a particularly agressive sound, because the all-maple necks/fretboards, and the heavy ash bodies. But finding a good '70s P-Bass can be a problem, and most of them are very heavy, and I mean HEAVY.

I see you are Poland, so maybe ordering from Japan could be easier and more affordable.

Check this one out - This store ships worldwide:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

.
Click to expand...

yep, fender japan make good guitars for the price, i have a telecaster 62RI from them, but this time i'm gonna try before i buy, so i'll search for something locally.

does anybody know about the tube compressors mentioned earlier? is that a part of the sound from the clips?
 
#11
Mr Explosion said:
but this time i'm gonna try before i buy, so i'll search for something locally.

does anybody know about the tube compressors mentioned earlier? is that a part of the sound from the clips?
Click to expand...

Trying before you buy is a very good idea. And there are also other manufacturers besides Fender that make (or made) good P-basses.
Tube compression is not neccesarily produced by a tube compressor... an all-tube amplifier can also produce it. But i think a compressor was used in the album clip. Compressor questions are best asked in the effects section of Talkbass.
 
#12
bgmww said:
i haven´t played a modern P-bass... i own a Fender 1978 and it sounds just like the bass you said... But a friend of mine has a Fender 1977 P-bass and it doesn´t sound like mine.. What´s the difference ? The wood... My bass is reaaaaaaally heavy... the other one is pretty much lighter... i dunno why.. But they sound different.
Click to expand...


I have a 77 that is very light (by 70's P standards) and still sounds like that clip. Everyone talks about the P's bottom end but I have always maintained it's the P's mids that make them distinctive. It's a certain "tonk" sound that is easy to pick out.
 

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