Please don't hate. I'm just wondering, are P basses are one trick ponies? I've always been under the perception that the J bass is more versatile. I always thought that the P bass was ONLY for rock until I saw Bruno Mars' bassist lay the smackdown in the Grammys with a P bass. I'm considering buying a P bass but I wanna make sure that I'm not buying a one trick pony.
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Versitality of P Basses?
- Thread starter Shazam
- Start date
With all the different styles of music out there and the general pickiness of some people I doubt there is any one bass that can do it all. Yet, I find that I can dial in more bass that I generally want to hear or I can have more treble than I care for with my MIM P. So, with the right strings, I can find a tone that works for the music I generally play. My P-Bass is comfortable to play sitting or standing.
However there aren't as many knobs to play with.
The truth (for me) is that middle of the road bass tones work for just about everything. Playing style is most important.
However there aren't as many knobs to play with.
The truth (for me) is that middle of the road bass tones work for just about everything. Playing style is most important.
Ah my friend, no one will hate you, we all may think you are a bit lazy... this has been hacked to death. A two second search would reveal the extent of the re-hashing. 
"One trick pony" is a description of the owner, not the bass.
Jazz bass has a bit more tonal variation available from the fact that it has an additional pup (some pbasses do also).
Fact is that your touch and approach will affect the way you sound in much greater degree than how many pickups you have on your bass. IMO of course.
Which bass? Totally a matter of taste. Most of us that can afford have both.
"One trick pony" is a description of the owner, not the bass.
Jazz bass has a bit more tonal variation available from the fact that it has an additional pup (some pbasses do also).
Fact is that your touch and approach will affect the way you sound in much greater degree than how many pickups you have on your bass. IMO of course.
Which bass? Totally a matter of taste. Most of us that can afford have both.
Ah my friend, no one will hate you, we all may think you are a bit lazy... this has been hacked to death. A two second search would reveal the extent of the re-hashing.
Exhibit A:
My Generation - The Who @ The Isle Of Wight Festival 1970 - YouTube
(check in at around :50)
Exhibit B:
Marvin Gaye "What's Going On / What's Happening Brother" - YouTube
(check in at around 1:25)
My Generation - The Who @ The Isle Of Wight Festival 1970 - YouTube
(check in at around :50)
Exhibit B:
Marvin Gaye "What's Going On / What's Happening Brother" - YouTube
(check in at around 1:25)
I can think of a couple of styles of basses that I consider "one trick ponies," mainly semi-hollow short scale type basses.
But the P Bass is much more versatile than most people are willing to admit. I have a couple of 2010 MIM Standards with maple boards, they do everything from great slap tones with an aggressive roundwound to Jamerson thump with a nice set of flats.
A Jazz can dial in some tones a P can't get by virtue of the two rail pickups, but I'm not sure a Jazz is all that much more versatile.
And of course, it has a lot to do with the player and how much he can vary his approach and playing style.
The P Bass a one-trick pony? Well, maybe and maybe not. True, the tone knob doesn't give it the range of a an active bass with bass, treble, and mid-sweep bands. However what the P Bass does what it does well: Provide a great tone for the particular range and sound it makes. It records well, plays well, and fits a wide range of styles of music.
If you need a wider range of sound then get a bass with more knobs and an active electronics package. As for me, I'll adjust on my amp. There's a reason why I bought that over-priced thing and the tone shaping options it has.
If you need a wider range of sound then get a bass with more knobs and an active electronics package. As for me, I'll adjust on my amp. There's a reason why I bought that over-priced thing and the tone shaping options it has.
I was thinking about a P-bass to go with the passive Jazz that's been keeping me happy for a long while. My thinking was that it would be nice to have two basses that I'm happy to play for any occasions, but it would also be nice for them to be different from each other. While P's are nothing to sneeze at, I suppose it's easy to worry about having a bass that does pretty much one sound, minus the tone control.
The acquisition that solved this riddle for me was an active P/J and I'm happy to report that the honeymoon has been going for months!! While I don't suppose I needed the "active growl" that comes with the EMGs in my P/J, this bass honestly makes a couple of tones that I like (and actually use) a lot.
Even though my Jazz has two pickups, I pretty much only play it with both turned all the way up and the tone adjusted as I need it. Hard to say if either bass is more versatile, but if I was going to compare them to let's say brushes that were available to a painter, either one would be useful for almost anything. If you need an extra option for tones, consider a P/J.
The acquisition that solved this riddle for me was an active P/J and I'm happy to report that the honeymoon has been going for months!! While I don't suppose I needed the "active growl" that comes with the EMGs in my P/J, this bass honestly makes a couple of tones that I like (and actually use) a lot.
Even though my Jazz has two pickups, I pretty much only play it with both turned all the way up and the tone adjusted as I need it. Hard to say if either bass is more versatile, but if I was going to compare them to let's say brushes that were available to a painter, either one would be useful for almost anything. If you need an extra option for tones, consider a P/J.
How many times have you gone to a live show with multiple bands? How many times has the guy with the simple passive P-Bass schooled the day? The mega-genius Leo Fender had this stuff figured out more than 60 years ago and it still works. Heres one: When you go for an audition, what bass do you bring along?
Phalex said:
+1.
having no tonal options on a pbass lets me focus on my playing. because the tone fits into virtually any style you can think of, you can effectively stop worrying about tone and allow the emphasis to be shifted to the music you are playing. it's the musical equivalent of making art using nothing but a pencil. there are no tricks and niceties, and that means you have to trust your abilities and skills to get good results.
That's just one of those stupid internet "truisms" that have sort of developed over the years by noodniks who don't like Fenders. I've noticed that there are a lot of really dumb people on the internet with strong opinions about stuff they know nothing about but don't like. Fenders are one trick ponies, pick players are lame, etc...
But here's a little hint...any time you hear someone use the phrase "one trick pony," 100% guaranteed they're an idiot talking out of their butt.
But here's a little hint...any time you hear someone use the phrase "one trick pony," 100% guaranteed they're an idiot talking out of their butt.
LOL! I agree 100%. Strings, picking hand placement, attack, these can all drastically change your tone on the same bass. No bass is a one trick pony.
Having said that, some basses are more versatile by design. A P bass has the single split pickup in the sweet spot. A Jazz bass has two pickups. With everything else equal, the same Jazz bass will sound very different playing the neck pickup soloed versus playing the bridge pickup soloed. So, in that way, it is more versatile than a P bass which does not have a bridge pickup. Still, a P Bass is far from a one trick pony. If that is what you're looking at, then go for it.
And I agree, the bassist for Bruno Mars sounded great at the Grammys.
Or, if you spend enough time in enough production studios talking and working with enough sound engineers and producers, which bass gets mentioned and requested the most?
IME, it's usually the humble P.
Obviously, there are a lot of other basses that get recorded. But the P has to be in the Top Three Most Requested and Recorded Basses Ever.
That's a cool trick!
