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Which will give the Essential P-bass tone?

Which P-bass

  • Fender American Vintage 57 RI

    Votes: 8 24.2%

  • Fender American Vintage 62 RI

    Votes: 16 48.5%

  • Other/Carrots

    Votes: 9 27.3%
  • Total voters
    33
thisSNsucks

thisSNsucks

I build Grosbeak Guitars and Basses
Commercial User
Dec 19, 2004
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#1
Hey guys, Right now I have a nice CIJ non export model P-bass. Alder body in sonic blue and Rosewood fingerboard. I love the thing to death but have been bitten by the vintage bug, so I want to get an American Vintage RI.

Now I'm having trouble deciding on which model to go for 57, maple board with gold guard, or a 62 with rosewood board and tort. I prefer the looks of the 62 but are there really any big differences tonally between the two? Which do you prefer and why?
 
#2
I would go for the 62RI myself. My reasons? First, I HATE:mad: the feel of the gold anodized pickguard under my fingers. I know I could change the pickguard, but I would rather not do so on a 57RI. I would be ok with changing it out on the MIM 50s P, but not a bass with the value of the 57RI. Second, for a P, I prefer the warmth of the rosewood board. Some will say there is no tonal difference, but I think there is and I like the feel of the rosewood better as well. I like on maple on Js and 'Rays, but for Ps gimme rosewood.

These are only my opinions of course, and since I am considering the MIM 50s Classic P as my next bass (featuring the guard and board I just denounced), you should not base your decision on anything I have said. Except for gold anodized pickguards. They really do suck!!!

Both will give great tone though, expect a little more bite from the 57 and a little more smoooooooooth from the 62.
 
#4
I think both will give you a good P tone. I own the 62 and I would expect the 57 to be a shade more snappy and compressed.

I can't quite make my mind up on the 62 on whether it's articulate enough. My best P was a maple but I currently have another P style bass that I find too harsh and wirey which is maple!

Not too enamored with the wide, flat neck though.
 
#6
I prefer maple boards generally, and every '57 RI I've played has possessed the acoustic resonance I crave in a bass. So that would be my choice. But you may not find a sonic upgrade from your MIJ -- just about the best sounding P-bass I've played was a '94 MIJ Fender.
 
#7
Any Precision will get you the tone you're looking for. A CIJ will get you pretty much the exact same tone as any other Precision. I've played pre-CBS, CBS, reissues, CIJ, MIM, and many many different copies, and they all sound basically the same.
 
#8
JimmyM said:
Any Precision will get you the tone you're looking for. A CIJ will get you pretty much the exact same tone as any other Precision. I've played pre-CBS, CBS, reissues, CIJ, MIM, and many many different copies, and they all sound basically the same.
Click to expand...

They will all sound like Ps, but all Ps don't sound the same. To some the difference isn't noticeable, to some it is but doesn't matter, and to some it's noticeable enough to prefer some over others.

The PUPs in the '57 are unique, with the raised A, and sound unlike the '62s, which are less midrangey and aggressive sounding, i.e. mellower.
 
#9
One Drop said:
They will all sound like Ps, but all Ps don't sound the same. To some the difference isn't noticeable, to some it is but doesn't matter, and to some it's noticeable enough to prefer some over others.
Click to expand...

I agree. I have owned and played many P basses, including several pre-CBS models, several early CBS, several 70's, a handful of 80's MIA, some MIJ's and a few brand new MIAs and CIJs. They all sounded different. They definitely had a P bass charactor, but there were a few that stood out far above the rest.

As to the original question, I would imagine that both would deliver what you're looking for, but they would have a completely different feel.
 
#11
JimmyM said:
Any Precision will get you the tone you're looking for. A CIJ will get you pretty much the exact same tone as any other Precision. I've played pre-CBS, CBS, reissues, CIJ, MIM, and many many different copies, and they all sound basically the same.
Click to expand...
If I remember your soundclip comparo thread, then the answer would be SX. However, if I were shopping for a Fender, it would be a CIJ as these seem to be the best value.
 

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