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Which is your favorite P Bass?

#221
Ballin'bass said:
I gotta say what I imagine most players would say: Mine! :DView attachment 734524

I'm sure there are nicer precision basses out there but I'm loving my RW 50's precision more and more. It's neck is the PERFECT size and shape for my hands, the more I use it, the better it looks, and I love the Fiesta Red color with the gold anodized pickguard. It plays better than a lot of Americans that I've played, including some really really nice ones, as well as vintage ones. I actually prefer the 50's reissue neck to the American Standard. It also sounds super rich and thumpy too, which I was honestly not expecting from the Mexican pickups. Very vintage and thick. It is truly a workhorse and can handle whatever I throw at it.

There are many like it, but this one is mine! :bassist:
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How does it sit in the mix? I just got a Nate Mendel that sounds great at home but I'm playing a gig now and its not coming through the way it should. Maybe those Sb3 are scooped too much.
 
#222
sspear said:
How does it sit in the mix? I just got a Nate Mendel that sounds great at home but I'm playing a gig now and its not coming through the way it should. Maybe those Sb3 are scooped too much.
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I just got done with a gig, using my Nate Mendel P. No worries sitting in the mix. I give my amp a slight boost in the lows, and a little bit more in the high mids, and it sounds great. Using a Fender Rumble 500 combo with a 210 extension cab, and the bass is strung with D'Addario XL165s. The SPB-3 do have an inherent midrange scoop, but whether it's too much or not depends on the individual listener.
 
#224
sspear said:
How does it sit in the mix? I just got a Nate Mendel that sounds great at home but I'm playing a gig now and its not coming through the way it should. Maybe those Sb3 are scooped too much.
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Mine is amazing in the mix because I actually ended up swapping the stock pickup out for the EMG Geezer Butler. Best decision I've ever made. It sounds amazing in the mix compared to the original pickup, which also sounded a bit too scooped. The GZR pickup has a lot more midrange complexity to its tone and fills in a mix like no other, while still sounding totally Fender-like. I seriously think it's the best precision pickup on the market. That, combined with the TI jazz flats I put on it, makes my RW precision sound even better than most CS Fenders I've heard. It kind of blows me away how amazing it plays and sounds, for only about $1k, total, after buying the pickup and TI strings (I got the bass open box, in mint condition for just under $800).

I highly recommend going the route I did if you want an awesome looking, super comfy, incredible sounding, and reasonably priced precision. I'm also blown away by the stability of the neck on the RW basses as well as the general build quality. It's really the best there is in its price range. But if you already have a good P bass, just drop a GZR pickup into it, you'll be very glad you did.
 
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#225
I recently played a used reissue '57 (i think,or was it a '58?) in a store,and absolutely loved the feel. In researching,i think i read that these have a smaller radius (7.25") than standard. (9.25"). It was a maple fretboard,too,and i usually go for rosewood boards. I just took in trade a late model MIM P bass,and i like it,but the neck and frets feel very rough....
 
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#226
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I've always been a JB kind of guy until this 2012 Fender AS P5.
 
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#229
Ballin'bass said:
Gosh you make some gorgeous basses man. Beautiful. I'm sure it sounds awesome too, I'd love to test one out some day
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Thanks! I should mention that I don't do much woodworking. Mostly design and assembly. Bodies and necks are Warmoth with custom pickup routing. The Nordstrand pickups and Audere preamps are custom as well.
 
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#230
Doner Designs said:
Thanks! I should mention that I don't do much woodworking. Mostly design and assembly. Bodies and necks are Warmoth with custom pickup routing. The Nordstrand pickups and Audere preamps are custom as well.
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Right, I could tell that. But you choose some gorgeous bodies and nice looking necks to work with. I respect your pursuit of finding different sounds from various combined electronics. Cool idea that I am surprised no one else is doing.
 
#232
The 2012 American Vintage 62' Reissue I own is my main player and favorite p bass. I got it on sale just after the new and current reissues were released. It's completely stock and sounds amazing with either Labella flats or any type of rounds. It hits that tone that I've always had in my head. There is just something about the neck which makes it magical. The Olympic White nitro finish has already started aging and yellowing nicely. Pics coming soon!
 
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#234
Ballin'bass said:
Right, I could tell that. But you choose some gorgeous bodies and nice looking necks to work with. I respect your pursuit of finding different sounds from various combined electronics. Cool idea that I am surprised no one else is doing.
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Thanks for your kind words, but the more I build the more I settle in to four band Audere preamps with Nordstrand pickups in J bodies. It is interesting though to experience the pickup (and wood) differences when you remove most of the other variables.

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