Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Why Do We Keep Coming Back to the P-Bass?
- Thread starter Paleet
- Start date
-
- Tags
- p bass 5 string
PJ setup absolutely does not count. Once you add a second pickup to a Precision, it has changed.
A Spector NS2 and a Fodera absolutely sound nothing like P, just because it has a spit P in there.
Frank Bello & Duff's tones are grittier from the two pickups, they'd sound bonky'er had they used only a single P pickup.
Last edited:
I stand corrected. Not sure what I was thinking late last night! I'm imagining their tones with just a P pickup and it wouldn't be right. Frank even has his own set of signature EMGs and there are two of them (P and J).
I edited my post to reflect that PJ configurations are different than straight P configurations.
I use lots of other things. I for sure dont keep coming back to P's.
I only own one P because I wanted some guy's equipment and I had to buy the P along with it as a package, so that bass only cost me 100 after said and done.
Last edited:
I need to check this as I'm not familiar with Overkill more than their name. And yes clanky tone is essential with high gain guitars.
It doesn't need to be like that: use 3x3 and only 5 magnets so the coils are the same size and impedance.
Here's one example.
You're gonna love them if you like East Coast thrash metal. I recommend listening to any of their 1980s albums (Feel the Fire, Taking Over, Under the Influence, and The Years of Decay) Ironbound, and Scorched.
Scorched is their most recent album and it's amazing! It came out on the same day as 72 Seasons by Metallica in 2023. I prefer it over 72 Seasons as much as I love Metallica.
I'm surprised that no one's brought up retail store inventory as a metric.
Go into any Guitar Center and apart from a couple of Music Man basses, Jack Casadys, Hofners and a bigger selection of Jazzes, just about EVERYTHING else has one split pickup and the P-Bass body shape.
At least, that been my experience recently.
And please don't argue that it's because of the corporate overlords forcing it down the customers' throats. No, it's because they're giving the people what they want.
So, yes... certainly a high demand.
The OP's question: WHY do they persist?
Go into any Guitar Center and apart from a couple of Music Man basses, Jack Casadys, Hofners and a bigger selection of Jazzes, just about EVERYTHING else has one split pickup and the P-Bass body shape.
At least, that been my experience recently.
And please don't argue that it's because of the corporate overlords forcing it down the customers' throats. No, it's because they're giving the people what they want.
So, yes... certainly a high demand.
The OP's question: WHY do they persist?
Simple answer? Dogma.
The P has its place, as does the J. But I (and many others) prefer more modern active basses. its not the 60s any more. Basses have evolved. Many bass players have not.
The P has its place, as does the J. But I (and many others) prefer more modern active basses. its not the 60s any more. Basses have evolved. Many bass players have not.
In Australia there is a late night music video tv show that I watch at times to see what younger musicians are doing. I can tell you that here is Oz lots of young bass players are using Precision basses for all kinds of music.
As an Australian, I can confirm this to be pretty true. Most touring bands I come across are playing either a Fender Precision, or a Fender Jazz bass, probably an equal split to be honest. It could have something do to with basses like Rickenbackers and Musicmans being very expensive here, but you can buy a standard Fender P (or formerly the Player P) for under $1K. That's not to say you don't see non-Fenders around.
Just an observation...there are the same number (7) of Jazz and Precision artist series basses currently on the Fender website.
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
I have one. I like it. I also don't remember when it last came out to play. I nearly always play a Thunderbird or 2013 EB these days. But I have one. Does that count?
The P bass is like a shark. It's been around forever and doesn't need to change because it's perfect. It sounds perfect, it feels perfect, and it can be easily repaired. It's reliable and simple. It doesn’t distract you with quirks, design flaws, sound issues or weird ergonomics. There comes a point where not wanting to be annoyed by your bass is reason enough to play a P.
I think if more bass players tried a 1.75 nut width bass neck that was thin front to back they would be surprised how comfortable they are. My hands are not large and I really liked my 1.5 nut Peavey necks ...until the first time I laid hands on a wide/shallow neck.
My hand automatically relaxes when the width is wider but the depth is not.
Wide necks, shallow or not, hit a nerve in my fretting hand index finger making them legitimately painful to play.
For me Metallica was the best before the album Reload. 72 seasons is not my favorite album and the first 5 albums had a different twist from other band of the time because of Lars Ulrich's Danish origin bringing the British heavy metal and hard rock influence. Also, Burton had a lot of influence into melodies and harmonic contents that many trash metal on that time didn't have.
That new Overkill sounded a lot more traditional trash than modern Metallica. Question is did he played with P or something else?
Last edited:
