Why does TalkBass love the P Bass so much?

[andare]

Yeah they are. They give you three tone options, on a smaller lighter body, that work with everything, with less mid scoop. My God, we're all doomed.

They add single coil pickup that adds unnecessary treble and hum and is quieter than the split coil pickup and looks out of place.

A double P I could understand.

I don't know what you mean by smaller lighter body. Smaller lighter than what?

 

[PhatBottomBass1]

I blame Rob Grange...

Ya hangout with Ted too long... anything is possible...!

 

[Nunovsky]

Why not a p-bass, a jazz and a PJ?

 

[GretschWretch]

A person really doesn't know (or FORGETS) why a P-bass is truly popular if they think it's due to it being first. All you have to do is look at the way the fundamental note of a Pbass note overlaps with the drums. It's almost a perfect overlay allowing the drums to have plenty of transients for those cymbals and high hat. IE, "fits in the mix perfectly", it has NOTHING to do with being first.

From the perspective of "now," I agree with you. Seventy years ago, it had A LOT to do with being first, since the options pretty much were a P or a DB. And I doubt that recording techniques and equipment were so sophisticated back then that fitting in the mix was a major consideration. Just get the thing on tape so we can start pressing records.

 

[PhatBottomBass1]

...many album credits are "Fender Bass"...

 

[badinage]

It is wha

Why not a p-bass, a jazz and a PJ?

Great idea! I like four-string Ps, five string Js, and for a PJ, Yamaha BBP35 is (IMHO) the king of that hill.

Passive (preferably) on all those stalwarts, because (as most of TB is dead-sure positive), I'm "afraid of batteries" and "too lazy and irresponsible" to unplug.

 

[PhatBottomBass1]

It is wha


Great idea! I like four-string Ps, five string Js, and for a PJ, Yamaha BBP35 is (IMHO) the king of that hill.

Passive (preferably) on all those stalwarts, because (as most of TB is dead-sure positive), I'm "afraid of batteries" and "too lazy and irresponsible" to unplug.

.....Oh, the Humanity...

 

[SLO Surfer]

Don't get me wrong, I love it too-- but a Jazz bass can mimic the P tone quite well. Why not something more versatile, like a PJ?

TLDR;

 

[Gervais Cote]

Why not a p-bass, a jazz and a PJ?

Just add a Rickenbacker, a Stingray and a Gibson and you’re good to go !
(Nah, don’t need that Gibson………..)

 

[TheArchitect]

A person really doesn't know (or FORGETS) why a P-bass is truly popular if they think it's due to it being first. All you have to do is look at the way the fundamental note of a Pbass note overlaps with the drums. It's almost a perfect overlay allowing the drums to have plenty of transients for those cymbals and high hat. IE, "fits in the mix perfectly", it has NOTHING to do with being first.

Sean Hurley would agree with you.

 

[FRoss6788]

At least with this thread I learned that you can only play old music or music that sounds old with a P bass, and of course, if you play a P or want to play a P, you're obviously old.

You simply can't play anything modern on a P, so don't even try....

 

[lokikallas]

I played everything but a P bass up until 10 years ago. I bought a PJ, turned down the bridge pup all the way and there was THE SOUND. Everyone in my band looked at me when first gigging with it and smiled confirming that the P bass mid bark is THE SOUND of rock and roll. I do think the difference between a P and a PJ with the bridge roll all the way off is negligible.

 

[Gervais Cote]

Sean Hurley would agree with you.

I agree 100% too…………….……….although I have only 1% of Hurley's talent !

 

[Topkat13]

Who said they do?

 

[MojoPin]

Who said they do?

Why do I get the feeling you answer a question with a question... alot?

 

[Blackbird]

The P bass is the Dodge Dart of basses, discuss...

Considering its place in History, I'd say it's more like the Ford Model T.

As to the why...why not? The thing just works and it's really easy to dial in a good sound with a minimum of fuss. Enough said?

 

[Dasgre0g]

All I'm saying is it ain't no BongoBird

 

[Kubicki Fan]

Don't get me wrong, I love it too-- but a Jazz bass can mimic the P tone quite well. Why not something more versatile, like a PJ?

Precision is too long. P is good.

 

[AK Bass Guy]

Nice one. That is THE sound! I remember playing that over and over in my flat when I started bass (ahem) some years ago. Still playing it just the other day, trying to get that sound on my J with Labellas. Pretty close, but not quite the P bass sound. Have to dig in a lot.

From the vid demos I’ve seen the side by side split humbucker j pickups in neck position get close. Nordy and Dimarzio make them for sure.

 

[Lance Bunyon]

Considering its place in History, I'd say it's more like the Ford Model T.

As to the why...why not? The thing just works and it's really easy to dial in a good sound with a minimum of fuss. Enough said?

Considering its place in History, I'd say it's more like the Ford Model T.

As to the why...why not? The thing just works and it's really easy to dial in a good sound with a minimum of fuss. Enough said?

False dichotomy. One can't operate a model T on a modern highway or use it as a daily driver.
That being said, I suppose the P bass is a Honda Civic...