Used Fender P-bass or something else?

[Gervais Cote]

An MIM Fender p bass is a very good option. Very robust and gigable instrument, parts are easily available everywhere and will fit your music style perfectly. And when you find a good one, they are built to last.

Later on, you can just replace the pickups with better ones and this will be a lifetime bass for sure.

Big warning though : make sure you give it a serious try before buying because some will sound awesome while others will be so so.

 

[REV]

The necks on the Peavey basses I have played have been on the thin side and if those are good for you, you may not like the chunkier Fender P bass necks. When doing a side by side comparison of Peavey vs Fender P bass pickups I slightly preferred the Fender. It seemed (to me) to be a little fatter in the mid range . That said, I have a friend who has been rocking the same Peavey P bass since the 80's and as far as I know no one has ever complained.

 

[Pyrrho Epoche]

The Peavey is all the punk you need, maybe upgrade pups. I'd just mess around with pedals. I bought the Joyo Oxford amp sim pedal, for $30 and never taking it off my board. Maybe try some compressors too. I also love my T-Rex Vulture for hardcore punk. I could go on, but I will leave it there.

 

[40Hz]

One nice thing to keep in mind about a Fender PB (besides it being a good choice most times) is that you’ll seldom have trouble selling it if you decide you want something else later on.

 

[selowitch]

Save up another $300 and you are getting close to affording a USA MIA Precision, which will hold its value over time.

 

[MynameisMe]

Look at the classifieds here on TalkBass.
I'll bet you can find something for less than $500- $600 that would serve you well.

 

[ravlin]

I recommend one of the Fender Aerodyne Precision basses. They can be had for $649 on Reverb from Franklin Guitar Works and are listed as "used" but everyone will tell you they received a new in box instrument. I absolutely love mine and think they are currently one of the best values for the price. I think the slim body and no pickguard would be a good fit for the 80s/90s vibe you're going for.

For the same price you will find a used MIM fender but I personally believe the MIJ fender is of better quality and its practically a brand new instrument with a gig bag. Here's a picture of mine for your viewing pleasure.
View attachment 5392965

Man! I haven't had instantaneous GAS like that in a few years. If I needed one of those AT ALL i would be in the dog house already. That IS the P bass to buy RN.

 

[Gervais Cote]

Man! I haven't had instantaneous GAS like that in a few years. If I needed one of those AT ALL i would be in the dog house already. That IS the P bass to buy RN.

The only thing that turns me off on this bass is the trim around the edge that is not very robust over time and the fact my right forearm doesn’t appreciate it, especially when playing seated.

 

[mcrawfordmusic]

You can't go wrong with a Fender P in my opinion. I would shop around for a good one that's not too heavy and hasn't been mistreated.

 

[JumboJett35]

The only thing that turns me off on this bass is the trim around the edge that is not very robust over time and the fact my right forearm doesn’t appreciate it, especially when playing seated.

I would definitely agree theirs a slight difference in playing a regular body P over the slimmer Aerodyne P. Personally the P doesn't bother me but I did notice the same thing when playing my Aerodyne Jazz over my normal body Jazz. The best part about these basses IMO is by far the neck. SMOOOTH satin neck. Very close to my American Fender in quality but cost 3x less.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

I've been having a LOT of fun lately with Indonesian builds. My current #1 player by far is my LTD B-1004 Dlx - one of the best instruments (for me) that I've ever touched. I'm looking at getting myself a fretless LTD and maybe also one of their guitars for when I need to do some power chords or noodle along with Uncle Dee on the House of Hair!!

Maybe a year ago I picked up a gorgeous G&L Tribute M-2000 ($550 in great condition, plus a case). Very good build quality, terrific sound - gigged with it successfully just a couple days after I brought it home. I also tried a US made M-2000, but it wasn't any better for me than the import. If you want some sort of a P, I'd say look around for either an LB-100 or SB-2 from the Tribute series as long as the neck dimensions are okay for your hands.

Since I'm yammering on about ESP/LTD, I suppose I should mention that they have some P/J's; the AP-4, RB1004, Vintage 204, Surveyor... I've been impressed with Schecter through recent years and I know that they've put out a few P and P/J models, too.

Very much agree with post #2 above - check any bass for a decent fit for you. If it's not a good fit, don't assume that you'll get used to it or somehow adapt. A good fit for you will probably seem "right" pretty much right away, but try to spend at least a little time with any strong candidates. Always a good idea for to see how a bass behaves on a strap when I'm standing up. I'm a lot more picky about the weight and balance of any instrument now that I'm older, but I think this is also part of finding that good fit.

Yes on this! I like the LTD B series also.i have a B205. Indo basses have been really been good. What ever you get please check the neck. Try to avoid crazy grain patterns on the back and check the truss rod.

 

[Kingofrock43]

IMO, the Fender Aerodyne line is some of the best value out there. You can pick up a used P or J in that price range. Absolutely love mine!

 

[BlueTalon]

I guess there's nothing "wrong" with it per se, but it is my only bass and I bought it from a Goodwill store several years ago for about $45 (deal of the lifetime!) Given that we're getting paid gigs now I wanted something a little nicer than the entry-level bass I've been playing on so that the Peavey can become my back-up bass.

Just because you got it for cheap doesn't make it "entry level." And actually, if you're doing punk, it sounds like the perfect bass. You want something you can mark up, put stickers on, beat the hell out of it, burn it, and still play it. Buying a new bass that you think will be more accepted is anti-punk.

 

[ADHD librarian]

For 80's and 90's punk and alt rock the P is a good option, provided you like the neck. If a P neck doesn't work for you after the thin Peavy neck, I'd say try a Kiloton Tribute. It's got that low position humbucker that was popular at the time, but without all that active palaver (because the MFD pickup kills without the need for it).

The other option for that genre would be to consider a short scale bass (particularly for the punk stuff). A mustang or a bronco was pretty punk (although, perhaps more 70s than 80s).

 

[TN WOODMAN]

I recommend one of the Fender Aerodyne Precision basses. They can be had for $649 on Reverb from Franklin Guitar Works and are listed as "used" but everyone will tell you they received a new in box instrument. I absolutely love mine and think they are currently one of the best values for the price. I think the slim body and no pickguard would be a good fit for the 80s/90s vibe you're going for.

For the same price you will find a used MIM fender but I personally believe the MIJ fender is of better quality and its practically a brand new instrument with a gig bag. Here's a picture of mine for your viewing pleasure.
View attachment 5392965

Beautiful expression of a p bass-a little out of the norm but @ the core still a p bass. Winning.

 

[MCF]

What's wrong with the Peavey?

Yeah. If it’s the ubiquitous PJ model with the 1.5 nut, they’re hard to beat for playability. Especially for the price. But a nice used MIM P would be a logical addition. Keep rounds on the Peavy and run Chromes on the P.

 

[Pdaddy1978]

Yup .....
You needs you a P.

 

[Geogio]

There is a "post-covid" glut of musical instruments on the market and it's only growing. Take a bit of time and find a decent instrument but remember in the initial days of people trying to offload gear that they purchased during covid they're going to ask top dollar but at some point that's going to break and the real value of the instrument will be in the offering.

And while you're waiting start sticking money away by the end of it get a nice USA Fender for a reasonable price.

Why think FSO (Fender Shaped Object)..like your Peavey.... Go for a fresh model USA Fender. It might be a good time with all the stock being moved.

I wouldn't shop for anything less... except maybe a Cort Jeff Berlin, but that's more like a well thought out Jazz bass.

PJ configurations are hybrids...
PJ's are percision bodies, with jazz necks and that extra pickup. They sort of sound like P, but IMHO miss out on the J tones... go pure, go unadulterated. A real P-bass.

Or... love the bass you're with.

 

[KenSmithFan]

Go to a music store and try a bunch out. Even two of the exact same model can feel and sound different. Some things you have to decide for yourself.

 

[jd56hawk]

Hey everyone,
I've been rocking a Peavey Milestone IV for about a year now, and our band has recently started getting "real" paying gigs. I want to upgrade to a more "professional" instrument, and I have a budget of about $500-600. I've seen a couple of used Fender P-basses in that price range, and I was wondering if that's still the best way to go, or if there are any other precision basses out there within that price range that would be a better instrument? For context we mostly play 80's and 90's punk and alt rock.

Thanks in advance!

I knew I was going to buy this one the minute I picked it up...it just felt right.
Plugging it in merely confirmed it.
The satin-finish neck is so smooth I'm betting you'd have to try quite a few other basses just to find anything half as nice.
Price is right, too.. under $400.
Limited edition, no longer in production, but still some left.