Understanding the P Bass ...

[UNICORN BASS]

I have posted mine before. The upshot is this, the Cort is a typical "P" but has a closer to J size/shape neck and has a lot of tones. The JB Player is more typical Fender style and is my go to for P bass tones. To me Fender P basses are a bit like Harleys, everyone has one. Thats why i like m

 

[Stewie]

What's the reason for that? Don't you like knobs?

In order to change volume, you have to move two knobs. My P basses have one volume knob, my upright, none(boy, I wish it had one)
I plan to rewire the J so that I have a master volume and a bridge cut, then I might like it again. It was my only bass for forty years, I used the knob on my amp for all of those years.

 

[Marcus Willett]

...I plan to rewire the J so that I have a master volume and a bridge cut....

For years I did almost that setup...neck volume/master/tone.

Since with my Jazz I either wanted both pickups full, or a bridge tone it worked well for me. YMMV

 

[Mushroo]

From a purely math/geometry perspective, the "standard" P pickup orientation is perfect if you use "meat & potatoes" technique, fretting the root with your 1st or 2nd finger and using a "box" shape on the fretboard.

The "reverse" P pickup orientation on the other hand, is ideal if you like to fret the root with your 4th finger, or if you often play higher up the neck on the E string.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I really do not want to make another thread asking this … so, short of buying an actual Steve Harris bass I can not afford at all, what would be my best way of making a clone of this? Does ANYONE paint the blue sparkle I could hire maybe ? If so, many options open up.

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Take the bass you want apart, take the body to an auto body shop and have it refinished, reassemble, done.

 

[Mike JV]

When I bought mine, it was a side by side comparison between a USA and a MIJ. I chose the MIJ.

Just sounded better to my ears, but they had different pickups.

Build quality was excellent on both.

Same here. Compared the American Standard (about 3 of them) to the MIJ Classic 70's P bass which for me was the clear winner. The MIJ felt like home from day one. Lucky I found it.