Why does TalkBass love the P Bass so much?

[calypsocoral302]

Because for most styles of music not requiring extended range (5 or 6 string) or an exceedingly-percussive or nasally (think solo rear J pickup) response...

It. Just. Works.

...and with no, or minimal, mods, too!

 

[mikewalker]

I thought I wanted a Jazz Bass until I bought a couple and found that the 'offset contour body' was actually less ergonomic than a P - and considerably heavier too. Even the Aerodyne jazz didn't make me a believer...

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

Not only the TB people, but bassist in general love them l can say from my experience as a sound engineer at a few busy venues. Why? Because they're awesome, with a J neck of course

Why flats and tort? Hipsters.

 

[jd56hawk]

Hey, I represent that statement!

Leo Gorcey?

 

[Lance Bunyon]

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

 

[Bob_Ross]

Some of us don't.

 

[Geogio]

I like the P's original neck width at the nut. Wide.
I like a J too for its tone characteristics. I prefer a fretless J overall. I like alder bodies.

Hybrids? I don't think about them. I had a Canadian PJ with ceramics, and a 5 position switch. That bass, while finely crafted, had no soul... I dont really even know why I purchased it in the first place.

PJ with a J neck is a hybrid.
P's with a J neck is also a hybrid.

Fender corp likes to mix and blend its available stock and proclaim the acheivement as "new" & innovative... sometimes changing nothing but the neck plate. It is strange... but familiar. Sales don't seem to suffer either.

 

[Tim Skaggs]

Why does TalkBass love the P Bass so much?

I don’t know fore sure, but I suspect it to be multiple reasons. Please share the results when you get the data compiled.

 

[Bar Band Bassman]

Leo Gorcey?

Yes! And Huntz Hall runs Rickenbacker, right?

BBB

 

[Holdsg]

Let’s see: how many posts this month on “why do so meany people like X bass”?

 

[Bass4LifeRS]

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?

Talkbass loves Jazzes and PJ's too though.

 

[Yonni]

I have a jazz with rounds and a P with flats. Please don’t make me choose between my children.

 

[Malak the Mad]

I may be a dyed-in-the-wool Jazz bass diehard…not to mention a P/J heretic fan, to boot…but there’s no denying the overwhelming popularity of a solid P-bass. Why is there so much love for it? Whatever the answer is, I’ll bet a nickel it lies somewhere between “functionality” and “tradition”. How much of each probably depends on the individual player.

 

[jd56hawk]

I have a jazz with rounds and a P with flats. Please don’t make me choose between my children.

Sophie did.

 

[Yonni]

Sophie did.

Sophie’s my ex, she was pregnant!!?!

 

[Captain Chaos]

TalkBass is full of old men.

I have always been drawn to the P bass even when I was a kid.

 

[AK Bass Guy]

To quote video game designer Todd Howard “It just works”.
Personally I prefer a PJ for the extra versatility.

 

[Aloe]

I believe, it's incidentally the hottest bass of the year.

I recall, not so long ago a G&L L-2500 was considered the bee's knees on TB. and if you'll look up older 'P vs J' threads, they don't scream with P being the favourite bass of the crowd, like it's now.

this said, it's perfectly okay to play a P if that inspires you. it's perfectly okay to play a Spector or other PJ, if it inspires you. it's okay to play an active 6-string if that's what inspires you. or whatever.

a lot of people have or had a P-bass phase, it's pretty normal, as.. well, it's a popular bass and many of them are around.

 

[Lance Bunyon]

Now, I was just playing a bass. Technically it's a bastard. 5 string 56 P (contour) with TWO Nordstrand hum canceling SCPB pickups (which is obviously a misnomer because they AINT single coil).
All that being said, I dig it.

 

[GretschWretch]

TalkBass is full of old men.

And whose fault is that? These young twerps need to get off our lawns and get on TalkBass.