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What Makes Some P-Basses Sound Good?

#82
I resisted a P bass for 25 + years because I had the mindset that one single pickup in the middle of the body could not get the tone I wanted. Whenever I picked up a P bass and played it in a store, or a friends bass (not with a band) it sounded blah to me. Kind of woofy and without distinction and punch.

A few months ago, I picked up a MIM PJ bass that a friend had, and had upgraded the pickups to Basslines, put in a Badass bridge, tuners and pots. I bought the bass because I'm doing classic rock mostly and really wanted a more "traditional sound". I'll be damned! When I'm playing with a band, the PJ, even when just using the P pickup, has so much girth, fullness and tone, I'm pissed that I wasted the last 25 years looking at exotic basses for "the tone", it turns out that the sound was here all along. In thousands of P basses I've been ignoring, that cost a fraction of the price of a handmade bass from Europe.

Color me stupid.
 
#83
nozkcb said:
I resisted a P bass for 25 + years because I had the mindset that one single pickup in the middle of the body could not get the tone I wanted. Whenever I picked up a P bass and played it in a store, or a friends bass (not with a band) it sounded blah to me. Kind of woofy and without distinction and punch.

A few months ago, I picked up a MIM PJ bass that a friend had, and had upgraded the pickups to Basslines, put in a Badass bridge, tuners and pots. I bought the bass because I'm doing classic rock mostly and really wanted a more "traditional sound". I'll be damned! When I'm playing with a band, the PJ, even when just using the P pickup, has so much girth, fullness and tone, I'm pissed that I wasted the last 25 years looking at exotic basses for "the tone", it turns out that the sound was here all along. In thousands of P basses I've been ignoring, that cost a fraction of the price of a handmade bass from Europe.

Color me stupid.
Click to expand...

Me too. However, it didn't take me more than a year or so. Also I didn't buy anything exotic. Started with active basses, Ibanez 200, 305, etc. I always thought an active bass would sound better. Now I own more than one P-bass...
 
#85
john nam said:
Maybe it's just me, but most p-basses I've played sound muddy and blah, but a few that I've heard on YouTube have quite a defined and aggressive low-mid growl. I really don't think it's a matter of technique either because I dig in and play close to the bridge and I can get a good growl from most J and humbucker basses, but not P basses.

Is it because the good sounding p-basses are being played through tube amps? Are there different types of P pickups, like how Js have single and dual coils? Is it pickup placement?
Click to expand...

Three factors:

1) Flats
2) Fingers (where much of the sound is)
3) Appropriate amp EQ
 
#88
John is correct. I wish I had the answer to this question. I found a used 2003 Fender American Standard Precision at a pawn shop and WOW, I bought it on the spot. This P Bass is a keeper. Most P basses do not sound as good as this one. John is right on the money. One thing is for sure. Not all fenders sound the same. I have not yet found one that sounds as good as this one I bought. And NO, it has nothing at all to do with electronics. My guess is that it must be wood. The reason I say this is because I also compare basses unplugged. I always play a bass unplugged before I buy it. You can tell a lot about the bass that way. The reason I do this is becuase good electronics are a good thing, but good electronics on a great unamplified bass is something all together better. Yes, I also play it plugged in.

The one I bought has an ash body. I can tell by the grain.

I think Fender is a mass produced product and there must be a lot of variance in their quality control. Most P Basses sound only just ok, and a few sound exceptional.

John is very correct. I hear the same thing he does.

Tim
 
#91
JTE said:
It starts with the bass. Listen to how a bunch of different Precisions sound unamplified. Even with the same strings and essential set up, they'll vary a lot. Because the electronics can only translate what's happening to the string physically, and what's happening to the string is reflected in the acoustic sound, it's a useful tool to use. Some Precisions have a strong attack, lots of sustain, and a very in-your-face midrange. Others have more warmth, more blossom to the note envelope, and a full balanced sound.

And based on my experience managing a guitar store and modding instruments for customers, if the essential sound you want is not in the wood, it's a waste of time, money, and energy to try to put it in with mods. Find a Precision that's got the essential character you want, then dial it in with adjustments or mods as needed. But it starts with the wood, especially the individual neck.

John
Click to expand...

Great post^
 
#93
I agree with the ones saying that depends from the wood.

Also i agree to the ones saying that one have to find the correct string brand for the bass.

And finally i (sob) agree on the fact that TI Flats have a bad QC : they are the greatest strings, but after 5 or 6 sets i still have to find a decent sounding E string. In all the set the while the other 3 strings sounded thumpy and full, the E sounded always metallic, with some weird overtones and lacking fundamentals.
 
#94
Luck o' the draw?

Dunno, but I just got another Highway One, and this one totally kills. Massive, clear money notes. Aborted my plans to upgrade the pup, no need or desire.

Replaced the Badass bridge with a Gotoh, got the weight down to a comfy 8 lbs, 8 oz. Should be a keeper.
 
#95
I found out switching my rig from a clean modern markbass setup to a good ampeg tube amp made a world of a difference on all my basses. I just sold a jazz today but after a I tried it on my new rig it didn't want to let it go...
 
#97
bacon5000k said:
Anyone care to comment more on P vs. P/J pickup combination?
Click to expand...
I have a few dozen times here, at length.

Short answer: Not a fan of passive P/J due to some innate problems they have that people usually don't want to face up to and make worse when they try to fix. P and J pickups don't match output and when makers try to make P/J sets, they wind up with two compromise pickups that aren't that great. If you want a P/J forget trying to blend them and just get a real P pickup and a real J pickup and use one or the other (as V/V/T induction-artifact problems are usually epic anyway). That's as good as it's going to get.
 
#98
neobassman said:
"Psychoacoustics:"
73. What the bassist paid for his/her bass
74. What the bassist paid for his/her amp
75. What the bassist paid for the cabinet(s)
76. What the bassist thinks about his/her equipment
77. What the bassist thinks about his/her own skills
78. How rested (or hung over, or intoxicated) the bassist is
79. What the bassist's experiences were with other equipment
80. What the bassist remembers about other equipment
81. What the bassist's hero uses
82. What the bassist remembers about his/her hero's playing
83. The bassist's individual neurological characteristics (hearing acoustics, tinnitus, sense of pitch and timbre, etc. etc. etc.)
84. What the bassist's girlfriend (boyfriend) thinks of my sound
85. What the bassist's guitarist (drummer, horn section) thinks of the sound
86. What the bassist's BBF thinks of the sound
87. What the soundman thinks of the sound



:p :bassist:
Click to expand...

Mostly psychological effects, different than psychoacoustics. Commonly confused but worth differentiating for purposes of discussion.
 

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