When is the Precision the wrong tool for the job?

[eddododo]

Well I don’t find it works great for modern gospel, and even moreso when you want the tight-but-deep low notes of a B string.. I like a 5-string P-bass in its own way, but it’s NOT the same thing as modern or jazz-based 5 strings.


Also definitionally not a modern slap sound on a P

 

[Wisebass]

There are two things I have on this subject.

A Jazz Bass:

and a carrot cake!

both work!


Wise(b)ass

 

[DavidEdenAria]

Even in the early years of rock and roll, and with relatively few options, I think it's sobering to realize that the greatest names didn't go P bass.

Bruce, Entwistle, Macca, Squire, Lee, JPJ, etc.

If you look at videos from the 60s you see all kinds of basses lots of Epis and Gibsons and oddballs....Wyman especially avoided P basses mostly.

That said as i mentioned, imo, modern amps and EQ sections along with different strings can make a P bass fit most genres...play what you want but amps and speakers have changed dramatically since the 60s...way more flexibility these days imo.

 

[Minimalist]

When you have access to a better sounding bass. Otherwise, play what you got.

 

[Jason Hollar]

I’ve found a nice balance in using a fender P with flats for blues, jazz, R&B, and some classic rock vs a 5 string jazz style bass with rounds for pop, rock, funk, etc.

 

[JenderBazzFass]

There are interesting parallels between the Precision Bass and the Telecaster. Both are regarded by many as something no frills that will work in any situation, or that they are the domain of the truly seasoned and skilled player who doesn't "need" anything else. But the Tele is just one guitar among a million others, and most guitars will work in most playing situations. I expect it's no different with bass.

 

[tvbop]

When it's not played with dead chromes and very, very good technique. Do that and it can sound like a Jazz bass on bridge PU only. People think because a P bass is a simple instrument that it takes no effort to play...not so. Play it without care and it's flabby and indestinct.... get the right strings and technique and its a killer mid focused instrument in any environment.

 

[jemerpi]

In my words you were wrong and are changing your argument.

Not at all.

You want to make it sound as though if two of them started with a P that it's somehow been validated by the greats I named. But, since only two of them gave it a place, and only at the very beginning stages of their illustrious careers, no validation exists. Indeed, even in those early years when few options existed, they saw the need to move on.

Unsurprisingly, then, when people think of an Entwistle or Lee, a P bass is the farthest thing from their minds.

 

[Gluvhand]

Not at all.

You want to make it sound as though if two of them started with a P that it's somehow been validated by the greats I named. But, since only two of them gave it a place, and only at the very beginning stages of their illustrious careers, no validation exists. Indeed, even in those early years when few options existed, they saw the need to move on.

Unsurprisingly, then, when people think of an Entwistle or Lee, a P bass is the farthest thing from their minds.

Your original comment, you know, the one I responded to, made no mention of what they went on to play later or why they stopped playing Precisions. You’re correct in that none of them are synonymous with Ps but all except Bruce, as far as I know, played Precisions at some point in their careers. Some early, some late.

 

[Prodigus Filius]

TIL what an eisteddfod is, so that's cool.

A lot of folks first thought is something of German origin. But the word has it's roots in Welsh culture.

 

[Prodigus Filius]

There are interesting parallels between the Precision Bass and the Telecaster. Both are regarded by many as something no frills that will work in any situation, or that they are the domain of the truly seasoned and skilled player who doesn't "need" anything else. But the Tele is just one guitar among a million others, and most guitars will work in most playing situations. I expect it's no different with bass.

The original ancestral Pbass was based on a Telecaster guitar with some of it's distinctive design features eg headstock, control plate, 2 strings per saddle, single pickup

 

[Smooth_bass88]

You are conflating a lot of things there.
First, a BEAD arrangement on a P is just fine or Stoner or Doom, because they don't play fast, they use a lot of distortion, and fuzz pedals like split single coils. They are also into retro looking basses.
That isn't what I'm talking about.
There are A LOT of different flavors of metal. And there are many that you will never see a plain old P bass on. They are too slow, and aren't easily available in 5 or 6 string versions. Nor are 35"+ scale length available. Plus, they look old and dated. Most thrash, death, metalcore, deathcore, groove, tech death, and prog death are done on something with a bridge pickup, and more often than not, are double humbuckers because of their mid presence.

ok

 

[in tune]

I don’t like P basses....

 

[Smith357]

"Can you think of an instance where the Precision is the wrong tool for the job?"

When you need to drive a nail.

 

[jemerpi]

Your original comment, you know, the one I responded to, made no mention of what they went on to play later or why they stopped playing Precisions. You’re correct in that none of them are synonymous with Ps but all except Bruce, as far as I know, played Precisions at some point in their careers. Some early, some late.

Ok. Let me re-state with all your points in view and see how/if it changes things....

Consider these names: Jack Bruce, Paul McCartney, John Entwistle, Chris Squire, Getty Lee, and John Paul Jones

Even in the very early years of rock and roll, and with relatively few options, it's sobering to realize that while all these rock gods encountered the P bass, and perhaps even used it for a time, none ended up choosing it as their signature go-to axe beyond the short-term - if at all - while building their legendary careers.

 

[Gervais Cote]

"Can you think of an instance where the Precision is the wrong tool for the job?"

When you need to drive a nail.

Euh, sorry but a precision bass can drive a nail !

 

[Ric Vice]

M

I’ve found a nice balance in using a fender P with flats for blues, jazz, R&B, and some classic rock vs a 5 string jazz style bass with rounds for pop, rock, funk, etc.

Good call Jason! The Precision I happen to be fortunate enough to own, works really well on the same things you mentioned above. It’s really a great bass for jazz grooves. Likely it’s because the frets are smaller and smoothed of from years of giging.

 

[Rib 13]

A P bass could be the only safe tool for the job if you’re in a recording studio. Here’s the risk -

P basses, whatever else might be true about them, occupy a predictable zone in the sound spectrum. There are engineers who, either based on their experience or how they learned, expect all basses to mix the way P basses do..

In thirty plus years of doing studio work in different studios, ranging from projects to nationals, I have never once experienced this interaction with any engineer or producer.

 

[eweise2]

There are interesting parallels between the Precision Bass and the Telecaster. Both are regarded by many as something no frills that will work in any situation, or that they are the domain of the truly seasoned and skilled player who doesn't "need" anything else. But the Tele is just one guitar among a million others, and most guitars will work in most playing situations. I expect it's no different with bass.

A tele at least has a bridge and a neck pickup which gives you a pretty wide range of tones. I would equate it more to a jazz bass than a precision. I stuck a mini humbucker in my tele's bridge which really expands what it can do. I don't see the same flexibility in a P bass

 

[Tim Schnautz]

In over 30 years, Carol Kaye made a fortune by recording the bass lines on about every style music you can imagine.
On a precision bass.
What more can I say…