I normally play 6 and 7 strings so I can play the neck just fine. It just seems kind of an excessive amount of wood for 5 strings. I've had a similar experience that you had with your band with my first Dingwall ABII. Our FOH engineer stopped what he was doing and came up to the stage. I thought something was wrong. He, and the band, then spent the rest of practice praising it's tone.
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What precisely is good about Precisions?
- Thread starter kbr
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- fender precision bass
I normally play 6 and 7 strings so I can play the neck just fine. It just seems kind of an excessive amount of wood for 5 strings. I've had a similar experience that you had with your band with my first Dingwall ABII. Our FOH engineer stopped what he was doing and came up to the stage. I thought something was wrong. He, and the band, then spent the rest of practice praising it's tone.
I simply love, and I mean love wanting a P Bass. Heck, i enjoy buying them, I just don't keep them long. i sure do love a real burst, tort and tapeworms, yummy!
Wesley R.
Wesley R.
Thump. That's why you buy a P-Bass. No other bass has it quite like a P-Bass. All in what you're trying to play I guess.
Being pro or con P bass is like being pro or con snow tire. It does what it should when and where it should. Don't put a popular set of snow tires on your car, then go for a summer drive and complain when you corner like poop.
Cuz...
1) put on flats, roll back the tone control, plug into a tube amp and you'll get the James Jamerson sound
2) use it with a pick and get the Pretender's Pete Farndon's sound on Mystery Achievement
2) plug it into a compressor and slap and you'll get Freddie Washington's sound on Patrice Rushen's Forget Me Nots
It's also as simple as hell to use - 1 volume, 1 tone - and it's got a man-sized neck... Not one of those Ibby pencil necks.
'Nuff said
1) put on flats, roll back the tone control, plug into a tube amp and you'll get the James Jamerson sound
2) use it with a pick and get the Pretender's Pete Farndon's sound on Mystery Achievement
2) plug it into a compressor and slap and you'll get Freddie Washington's sound on Patrice Rushen's Forget Me Nots
It's also as simple as hell to use - 1 volume, 1 tone - and it's got a man-sized neck... Not one of those Ibby pencil necks.
'Nuff said
okcrum
in your chest
Exactly right on the first point. Salespeople love folks like that.
I played a P for quite a time, without FOH support, and they sound good in a mix without any special processing. The pickup placement + pickup itself takes care of that. It slots you into the mix. Some people don't like the neck; most have no problem with it. It's a mass-produced, widely available, reasonably uniform and distinctive sounding instrument. It's been all those things for a long time, since there weren't many alternatives 50-60 years ago.
Do you have a clip of the sound you are going for? That would make things easier.
This is true (see above re: pickup), though I consider these shadings rather than basic tone - a compressor is almost always used on a bass channel anymore. The P (or any other) bass does the basic EQ work for you, since it's the signal source, and you have to start from there.
The thing we always seem to forget is, P basses have sounded good on tracks since studios weren't much more than this, and the alternative was a DB - I suppose one could argue that's just conditioning:
I agree, but I would say that goes for pre-2008 USA models, which suffered a semi-castration what with the
introduction of the lighter tuners. P basses gotta have the big ol' set to retain the title of mas macho.
Just to be provocative, I'd add that the Rickenbacker 4003 offers a sort of faux-macho, what with that big plastic TOY of a pickup cover.
Looks tough, but actually feels like you're making music on a GI Joe toy jeep accessory from the 70's. (Gorgeous necks though!)
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okcrum
in your chest
That's a coincidence, because I was just touting someone that a Swiss Army Knife is the P bass of pocket folders.
Every bass player should own a P and a J like every handyman should have a hammer and a screwdriver. Also, they don't necessarily have to be made by Fender.
Everything!
A precision was the first bass I fell in love with. And, despite the fact that I now own a jazz bass as well, the P will always be what I come back to. It's dirt simple, and you could play it through a rock and sound good.
A precision was the first bass I fell in love with. And, despite the fact that I now own a jazz bass as well, the P will always be what I come back to. It's dirt simple, and you could play it through a rock and sound good.
The only "Precision" that I've ever liked is the MIJ Precision Lyte.
It's barely recognisable as a Precision. It's Japanese, so you know it's great quality. It doesn't have that ridiculous pickguard covering 2/3rds of the top. It has P and J pickups and a J neck, so it has proper versatility. What's not to love?
(Apologies for my blasphemy)
It's barely recognisable as a Precision. It's Japanese, so you know it's great quality. It doesn't have that ridiculous pickguard covering 2/3rds of the top. It has P and J pickups and a J neck, so it has proper versatility. What's not to love?
(Apologies for my blasphemy)
Nothing to be ashamed of, people have their tastes and that's what makes things interesting. Do you ever run into old recordings where you liked the tone and could tell it was flats? If you're ever on the flatwound tone quest, try a pair of GHS Precision Flats if you're feeling adventurous. With my P and the foam mute, the closest example I can think of is the bass on "San Francisco" by Scott McKenzie if I play my bass with a pick. Finger thump I'd say a richer version of "Haunted House" by Jumpin' Gene Simmons, mine has more harmonics while keeping the thump alive and well. I say it only because I didn't care for them either until I found a set that worked for me.
If the mere thought disgusts you, forget I said anything and keep rockin the P
Is that "seafoam" green?? I'm slightly gassing over that new seafoam fender P/J at the moment, but ill probably wait till some used ones show up for cheap!!
it's G&L's take on surf/seafoam called "Bel Air Green". it's a few shades darker. looks amazing with the mint guard on it. if you're going for that P/J model, i would definitely try to find a used one when they turn up.. seems like an overpriced MIM to me
Nothing to be ashamed of, people have their tastes and that's what makes things interesting. Do you ever run into old recordings where you liked the tone and could tell it was flats? If you're ever on the flatwound tone quest, try a pair of GHS Precision Flats if you're feeling adventurous. With my P and the foam mute, the closest example I can think of is the bass on "San Francisco" by Scott McKenzie if I play my bass with a pick. Finger thump I'd say a richer version of "Haunted House" by Jumpin' Gene Simmons, mine has more harmonics while keeping the thump alive and well. I say it only because I didn't care for them either until I found a set that worked for me.
If the mere thought disgusts you, forget I said anything and keep rockin the P
I haven't owned a fender for a few years, for me its the *feel* of flats I don't like more than anything, weird huh??!!
If I got in a good paying oldies/motown group id get over it though!!
