After almost 14 years of bass playing, I finally got around to getting my first P bass. I opted for a U.S. Fender American Standard Precision V. After a few days, I'm kind of hating this bass. While it's not terrible, it isn't that great either. It's not as deep/clear sounding as my other basses, the neck is appropriate for Major League Baseball, and it doesn't record nearly as well as my other basses. I thought to myself, "Maybe it's a dud?" I went down to Guitar Center and found out my bass is largely representative of how they sound / feel. So, I ask you; why do bass players love P basses so much?
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What precisely is good about Precisions?
- Thread starter kbr
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- fender precision bass
Why did you buy the bass if you didn't like the way it felt or sounded?
Heres something I just wrote in a different thread, copying/pasting to save time:
"The single pickup Classic P-Bass voicing is one of the most popular recognizeable voicings in contemporary music, but its not like the StingRay MM Sound where actual physical equipment ( a Parralel wired MM as well as the proprietary nature of the Ray's PreAmp System) is coupled with pickup placement to achieve that voice. The P-Bass voicing is much simpler: A humbucking Pickup in the Mid Position -- thats it. Even a single-coil in that position will mimic the earliest P-Basses (such as soloing the mid PU on a Jazz -- it will be thin, but the voice is there). There are literally TONS of basses out there that have the P-Bass voicing (or variation of) as an option (such as G&L L-1000s, Peavey T-45s, etc) and can be further accented by passive or active electronics, EQ-shaping, techniques/playing style, to make up for the different tonal variances from type to type. Furthermore, there are many twin-pickup basses out there can have their mid pickups soloed to achieve that sound, like almost any P/J or G&Ls ( click the link in my Sig and scroll down to the last song "Old Skool Town" -- Hear that P-Bass? Its not: Its my G&L ASAT with mid pickup soloed in Series Mode).......So if your criteria is that "sound", understand that sound can be achieved on a LOT of basses that dont necessarily say "Fender Precision" on them, nor look like them, or play like them.....Now, if you want a P-Bass because you like the way it looks, like the way it plays, you want that P-Bass "mojo", or just so you can post pics on TB to get other P-Bass lovers to "Gawk" at your new bass, those are all legitimate reasons to get one because it boils down to just making yourself happy....but get out of this mindset and stop listening to all this "A P-Bass is all you need" garbage because that mantra will vary from the needs/wants of each individual player so Im gonna' call BS as I see it....... $.02, YMMV"
"The single pickup Classic P-Bass voicing is one of the most popular recognizeable voicings in contemporary music, but its not like the StingRay MM Sound where actual physical equipment ( a Parralel wired MM as well as the proprietary nature of the Ray's PreAmp System) is coupled with pickup placement to achieve that voice. The P-Bass voicing is much simpler: A humbucking Pickup in the Mid Position -- thats it. Even a single-coil in that position will mimic the earliest P-Basses (such as soloing the mid PU on a Jazz -- it will be thin, but the voice is there). There are literally TONS of basses out there that have the P-Bass voicing (or variation of) as an option (such as G&L L-1000s, Peavey T-45s, etc) and can be further accented by passive or active electronics, EQ-shaping, techniques/playing style, to make up for the different tonal variances from type to type. Furthermore, there are many twin-pickup basses out there can have their mid pickups soloed to achieve that sound, like almost any P/J or G&Ls ( click the link in my Sig and scroll down to the last song "Old Skool Town" -- Hear that P-Bass? Its not: Its my G&L ASAT with mid pickup soloed in Series Mode).......So if your criteria is that "sound", understand that sound can be achieved on a LOT of basses that dont necessarily say "Fender Precision" on them, nor look like them, or play like them.....Now, if you want a P-Bass because you like the way it looks, like the way it plays, you want that P-Bass "mojo", or just so you can post pics on TB to get other P-Bass lovers to "Gawk" at your new bass, those are all legitimate reasons to get one because it boils down to just making yourself happy....but get out of this mindset and stop listening to all this "A P-Bass is all you need" garbage because that mantra will vary from the needs/wants of each individual player so Im gonna' call BS as I see it....... $.02, YMMV"
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I was curious as to why people liked them so much. I traded a bass I wasn't using for it. I'll probably trade this one too after I've tried to get it where I'd want it.
I love a P Bass.
I hate a Jazz Bass.
So i know how you feel.
I hate a Jazz Bass.
So i know how you feel.
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As to why i love it, i just do.
Everytime i plug in a bass its always a P that feels and sounds right.
Everytime i plug in a bass its always a P that feels and sounds right.
Because a lot of people like the sound, and a P bass is a simple and easily available way to get it. I don't own a P, and I think my Rick 4004 can get close to a P sound when I want it, but if I was mostly after the P tone for my playing, I'd buy a P. If a P-bass tone is your thing, get a P-bass instead of trying to get the tone from something else.
Well, a few things I'd say...
I don't like the sound of a PBass with rounds and the tone wide open. Broken in flats with tone rolled off to a "sweet spot" (where it is fat but not muddy) is the definitive PBass tone - or at least to me.
I think there are much better 5 String PBasses than what Fender makes. I love their fours, but for 5string would look elsewhere. The four string Precisions come with a fairly wide variety of neck profiles. I have a 59 with a massive neck and a 55 with the soft V profile that is amazing. You can also find PBasses with Jazz bass necks, which are a completely different feel altogether.
How a bass sounds in a band context matters and I think the PBass sounds better in a live mix than anything else I've heard. Obviously that is completely subjective. It just seems to sit in its own sonic space whereas I have struggled with finding that with many other basses that get washed out by distorted guitars or keyboards when playing live.
I love Fender, but don't connect with many of the instruments they produce for some reason. The ones I do connect with though I'll never part with. Maybe yours just isn't "the one". Or maybe you're just not a PBass guy and that's ok. Different strokes for different folks...
I don't like the sound of a PBass with rounds and the tone wide open. Broken in flats with tone rolled off to a "sweet spot" (where it is fat but not muddy) is the definitive PBass tone - or at least to me.
I think there are much better 5 String PBasses than what Fender makes. I love their fours, but for 5string would look elsewhere. The four string Precisions come with a fairly wide variety of neck profiles. I have a 59 with a massive neck and a 55 with the soft V profile that is amazing. You can also find PBasses with Jazz bass necks, which are a completely different feel altogether.
How a bass sounds in a band context matters and I think the PBass sounds better in a live mix than anything else I've heard. Obviously that is completely subjective. It just seems to sit in its own sonic space whereas I have struggled with finding that with many other basses that get washed out by distorted guitars or keyboards when playing live.
I love Fender, but don't connect with many of the instruments they produce for some reason. The ones I do connect with though I'll never part with. Maybe yours just isn't "the one". Or maybe you're just not a PBass guy and that's ok. Different strokes for different folks...
After 20 years of playing, I bought my first P last year, it has been my #1 ever since. For me it's the wonderful simplicity, the subtle art of the tone knob really makes a difference. Also although alone they may not sound so great, they mix really well with a band. So if you playing in your bedroom, try it out with a group.
I'm a p bass player and I have several . They are all very close in specs but depending on the pickup they have a slightly different character . One good thing about a P or a J for that matter is they are very easy to mod with countless offerings of aftermarket parts .
Observation: The carrot percentage keeps going up and up every time a question like this gets asked.
Because different people like different things.
I can tolerate a P bass for short time periods.
I also hate a jazz bass.
I have a first generation Schecter Diamond P for when I want to get my P bass groove on.
Have you played it with abandon yet?
Edited: with a band, heh. heh.
Edited: with a band, heh. heh.
I like P basses OK, I own four different ones...a 53, a 62, an Elite and an AmStd 5.
But I like and own other basses too. My Steinberger L2 is probably my favorite, followed closely by my Peavey Palaedium.
I used to hate Ps because I came up in the 1970s when Precisions were heavy and had really fat necks. Yeah, I'm sure many of you have the elusive featherweight with pencil thin neck. It wasn't until I played a pre-CBS P that I understood the appeal. Even then I didn't bite until one fell in my lap for stupid money...a brand new Elite for $300 right after CBS sold the company and they were clearing out the warehouse. Played that sucker for a decade as my #1 until I got the L2.
But I like and own other basses too. My Steinberger L2 is probably my favorite, followed closely by my Peavey Palaedium.
I used to hate Ps because I came up in the 1970s when Precisions were heavy and had really fat necks. Yeah, I'm sure many of you have the elusive featherweight with pencil thin neck. It wasn't until I played a pre-CBS P that I understood the appeal. Even then I didn't bite until one fell in my lap for stupid money...a brand new Elite for $300 right after CBS sold the company and they were clearing out the warehouse. Played that sucker for a decade as my #1 until I got the L2.
