What precisely is good about Precisions?

[[skyraider]]

What does that mean, "they are rarely set-up to play the way I like?" As far as I'm concerned, I've never bought any bass that was set up to play the way I like. I've personally set up every bass I've ever bought.

A LOT of stock Ibanezes, Warwicks, Spectors, Carvins, and just about every boutique bass that I've played were set up to my taste. Even the cheap stuff. Every stock Fender I think I've ever played has been a dog. I don't even try them at Guitar Center anymore, 'cause I know they'll have high actions. Usually the Ibanezes are a good bet.

 

[joebar]

the classic P is best as a 4 string.
passive 5 P style basses aren't the greatest IME

 

[Bassist Jay]

I like P basses and am now just discovering them again after only playing active basses for the last 20 plus years. I'm not a big Fender fan though although I do respect their history and contribution to where they helped form the industry but for a P bass, I would take one of my Zane P basses or a few other brands over Fender any day of the week. I also really like the stuff Carey Nordstrand makes. I love his pickups.

 

[Rocinante_x1]

I've owned a few Precisions but I just can't love them. They sound great in a band situation but I hate the way they sound solo in my hands at least. The necks are too fat for me also, it's a little uncomfortable for me. I'm a Jazz bass guy. No P's here. Although, PJ's sound awesome.

 

[leesbrushes]

They have what players want..electrolytes

 

[Ajcsk8r]

You lost me at 5 string........

 

[leesbrushes]

All that jazz...

 

[aaronious]

Sometimes a bass in the boudoir won't sound as good as it could in context so to speak. I was gonna give up on this bass until I recorded it and took it to jam session. Have a listen.

 

[Herrick]

I like 4-string Fender Pees but the two 5-strings I owned didn't do it for me.

 

[GregT]

I like Precisions. It's what I play.

But.....Every bass is better than no bass.
Bass is cool.
I don't care what brand you play.
I just don't.

 

[DavC]

it's a combo of what you/i /whomever is 'used' to hearing ... along with pickup placement ... the placement has a purpose and sound , as does a Jazz ... or even a P/J ...

i have 5vers ... a J style ,... and a 51 P/J style .... they seems to cover what i need , but i rarely use , just , the P pickup by it self ( like a P bass ) ... i like mostly bridge pup , with a little neck mixed in .

carrots

 

[MovingPitchers]

I'm considering storing my Geddy Lee Jazz in my hard shell case and getting another cheaper Precision Bass to backup my current-although-out-of-commission-temporarily Nate Mendel Precision Bass.

I'm loving the Precision Bass sound. The Mendel would have rounds and the other Precision would have flatwounds. If I ever need a Jazz tone, I can bring the Geddy out of hibernation.

 

[Moosehead1966]

P basses don't sound particularly great in the bedroom.

P basses sound great in the mix.

Simply this.

Marc

 

[groucho]

It always tickled me that Fender released a fretless Precision Bass as Leo
named it "Precision" because it allowed those early bassists to leave the doghouse (upright)
home and "fret with precision" with his cool fretted bass
Didn't stop me from getting one....Yes the neck is too wide for my taste and I turned it into a "P/J"
but I still like "Precision" on the headstock of this fretless bass.

 

[MikeOnBass73]

Although I deeply respect Fender for having introduced the electric bass to the world, I don't understand the primacy or relatively high prices of Fender basses. I no longer own any. There are far better basses out there available and there have been for decades. People sometimes get offended when I say this but all that matters is that you and your bass sound great! We should all play what feels, sounds and looks great to us as individuals.

 

[bdplaid]

2)Freddie Washington's sound on Patrice Rushen's Forget Me Nots

This. and Mars Cowling.

 

[Billyzoom]

I hope you are talking about the bass and not the electric guitar, because the telecaster guitar is the most wimpy thing out there. Only useful for country.

I'll assume this is in jest. Simply absurd.

 

[mojomike001]

Wow. Imagine explaining that to the ghost of Muddy Waters and Albert Collins as well as to Clapton, Springsteen, Keith Richards, Steve Cropper, etc.

 

[Billyzoom]

Yeah. I have seen people rocking a tele. Tanner5382 even gave me examples like Jimmy Page and Pete townshend playing one (Jimmy changed to les paul though). They have a distinct "thin" (thanks Tanner) tone. With the distinct "pling pling" sound, I just can not change the opinion about them being versatile, which was what I was answering to.
BTW, Bluegrass and country is kind of like the same tone isnt it?


Since I never had much interest in the guitar, i havent looked at the different specs on the different models. Just familiar with the standard.


Sounds like an awesome guitar, I might disagree with myself if I ever get to try that one. I personally always had a preference for humbucker in the bridge with coil tap to get me close to an allround guitar (HSS setup).

PS. Excuse me for the lack of apostrophies, rarely use them in the norwegian language.

Tele's are very one-dimensional, as you can see. Surprising they've been around so long, given their lack of versatility.

 

[toddbooster]

In my experience, your technique has to be spot on when playing a P.

If you're doing it right, it should sound like this:




or this:



or this (start at 00:52):

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]


It's a very raw, intimate sounding instrument and you really have to get to know it and learn to play with it.

A lot of younger guys with a P tend to be playing in bands with loud guitars that cover up the nuances, but you usually see older cats that are a little more seasoned and comfortable with their technique playing P basses in funk, blues, and even jazz settings.

Oh no. They also sound great cranked up in a loud rock band: