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Why PBass?

#41
DogBone said:
I own one real gigging/recording bass, a Fender Precision.

I have used that same bass in a roots music band, for playing reggae, for home recording, i've used it in a country/southern rock band, and my current Blues band.

I record with that bass. I play that same bass live. That same bass accompanies me hundreds of miles A MONTH to and from band rehearsals, live shows, and practice at home.

I've played that bass in sweltering summer gigs, freezing winter gigs, and countless questionable establishments. It's been knocked into, knocked over, left in the trunk, and "borrowed" and "tried out" by other hands too many times to count.

The Midnight Blue finish still shines beautifully, gets "ooohs and ahhhs" by the ladies, and most importantly has THAT BASS TONE to the core.

I have the confidence to walk into ANY bass situation with that bass and know I have the tool to be successful.

THAT is why PBASS! :)
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I've had the same experience with my '73 that I bought new its been my main player since I got it
 
#42
I've been playing almost 28 years. In that span of time, I've used Rickenbackers, Ibanez, Hohner (Steinberger copy) and most of all Fender Jazz 4 and 5 string basses. 4 years ago, I sucumbed to the TB influenced gas and got a P bass. (50's Classic Series, 2 tone SB) I couldn't bond with the bigger neck so I had I shaved down to a jazz shape but as far as tone, I found MY sound.

Last night I was at a gig with my 4 string Jazz bass. I was constantly messing with the knobs and amp. I then remembered that just a week earlier, the same place with the same players and same amp, I got "my" tone almost effortlessly with my P bass.

As others have said: Leo got it right!
 
#43
Macrocosmcwh said:
I am reading and reading about American made Pbasses / jazz bass. Seems like every "real" bass player owns one. I do not.

So my question, what makes this bass so mythical? And what is the real difference between a American or Mexican / Asian built one?

Sorry for the dumb question as I am sure to many of you think it is... But I just want to know your input on it.

For comparison:

Basses I own:
Schecter studio 6 and 5
Ltd b5n
Steinberger synapse 4
And a lightwave VL 5 (on its way to me this week... Not yet in my hands) Thanks John!!
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It's really about the wood used to build them. You normally get a 2 or 3 piece alder(or ash) body from U.S. production.

The MIM stuff is a good deal, especially if you find one that isn't made of the usual 5 to 7 pieces of alder. They might be using basswood now for some of the models. The best deal Fender's Mexico plant still puts out is the FSR series(2 and 3 piece Ash bodies). You can always change the pickups, but I tend to like 'em. In fact, I wish Fender would build entirely in Mexico.

I think the Japanese Fender builders are a little better with woodworking. They do have a few bass models made of the traditional 3 piece alder. Their pickup routes on the Jazz bass they make are the way they really should be. It's the finishes that are cheaper.

What makes the Precision and Jazz mythical is the ability to use either instrument in any kind of music. Maiden to Motown.
 
#44
bassnyc1 said:
Last night I was at a gig with my 4 string Jazz bass. I was constantly messing with the knobs and amp. I then remembered that just a week earlier, the same place with the same players and same amp, I got "my" tone almost effortlessly with my P bass.

As others have said: Leo got it right!
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Sums it up perfectly!

I've owned lots of Rics, J's....but I'm soon down to one bass, a Precision US Standard.

For me, it's the ultimate bass - you can use it any band, any genre, anyplace, anywhere. Other basses I've always had trouble getting a good tone, cutting through....the Precision is the ultimate plug 'n' play bass.

There's a reason why so many players love their P's - some guys that could afford custom builds, active everythings.....but when it comes down it, for millions of bassists, the P-bass will always be the bass!
 
#45
The precedent has been set. People are familiar with the tone after all these years. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. That being said, if you're looking to expand your tone, there are so many options these days. The P bass is a 'safe' bass you can take almost anywhere - but it is limiting. You can't get a J tone or MM tone - but really, other than bassists and sound engineers, people can't tell the difference. The P bass fits into the sound spectrum as a supporting instrument, that's what it was designed to do. When you move beyond the territory of a supporting instrument and want to step out front, that's where you may run into tone/option issues. For me, rather than having one bass - in this day and age, we are blessed as bassists to have a variety of basses to express ourselves.
 
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#47
After playing bass for about 16 years, and really enjoying the sound on so many classic 1960's recordings, and switching strings, tinkering with compression and EQ, etc., trying to match that sound on other basses... I recently got a Precision bass. Admittedly it's a somewhat subtle difference; my other basses have sounded good. But the sound of the Precision is simply the sound I've been after.

It might not be the sound you're after, and that's okay.

As far as MIA vs anything else... in my personal experience, the MIA Fenders feel more well constructed. Certainly, I've not tried ALL Fender basses, so my observations are biased toward the tiny subset that I have tried. You may well find a Mexican-made Fender that's great. You may well find an MIA Fender that's rubbish. Try to play it in person before buying if you at all can.
 
#51
craig.p said:
Bring a passive P to the studio (or stage) and watch the engineer (or sound guy) breathe a big sigh of relief 'cause that's one less thing he's gonna have to sweat for the next few hours.
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I get the same praise for my J at the local venue my band frequents.
The tech likes how simple the sound is to EQ. He usually leaves it close to flat and lets me use my on-board EQ for MY sound.
 
#53
craig.p said:
Bring a passive P to the studio (or stage) and watch the engineer (or sound guy) breathe a big sigh of relief 'cause that's one less thing he's gonna have to sweat for the next few hours.
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Well it'll certainly give him a few more minutes to spend on the drum sound.

Geez the next thing you guys'll be saying the only way to REALLY be a bass player is to play a Precision with flats.

But everyone knows some woman prefer to play bass in heels, not flats :smug:
 
#54
drTSTingray said:
Well it'll certainly give him a few more minutes to spend on the drum sound.

Geez the next thing you guys'll be saying the only way to REALLY be a bass player is to play a Precision with flats.

But everyone knows some woman prefer to play bass in heels, not flats :smug:
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I LOL'd too hard at this.
I have to admit that nothing sounds like a P wearing flats, though. Just love that mellow grind!
 
#55
No other bass gives you that low mid growl. Period.

To be honest, there are so many variations of Mexi and American made out there right now, play the one that feels right to you within your budget. I've played Mexicans that have totally blown away Americans, and vice versa.
 
#56
Mikio said:
I forgot to mention that, it just sits so well in the mix on anything, live or studio (though same goes for a J bass).
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I have to strongly disagree with this. A J CAN sound great in a mix. But, it's also very easy (and unfortunately common) to make a J sound like a big, steaming pile of mud in a mix, too. In contrast, you just about can't MAKE a P bass sound bad in a mix.
 
#57
Iconic bass used by iconic players with an iconic sound. Leo hit a homerun on the K.I.S.S. ideology when there were less options for bass players, and it still works today. Doesn't mean you have to have one. I like the sound.
I'd like to have a P/Hum version some day when I can save some cash.

YMMV.
 
#58
Many of the studios I've worked in requested I bring two P basses. One with RWs, the other with flats, and of course, properly set up. It use to bug the crap outta me ("I was so much older then... I'm younger than that now")!

I have recorded with Rickenbackers, Hofners (my 2 personal favorites), MM, Carvin, even Hagstroms. But I must admit, the relief on engineers faces was quite evident when I showed up with those 2 P basses!

In the 80s, 1 P bass and 1 Jazz bass - both strung w/ RWs - was the most requested pair. Although I thought my Rick and Carvin basses sounded just as good, recorded and/or live...

But when time is of the essence (as it certainly is in the studio), expectations met can be the difference between producing product on time or not.

And when you please the engineer and producer, you get another call!! That is the bottom line for me - attending to the bottom line!
 
#59
name44 said:
Iconic bass used by iconic players with an iconic sound. Leo hit a homerun on the K.I.S.S. ideology when there were less options for bass players, and it still works today. Doesn't mean you have to have one. I like the sound.
I'd like to have a P/Hum version some day when I can save some cash.

YMMV.
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That's what I've been thinking too. I want to own and play a P/Hummer and since I cannot find exactly what I want, I'll just build it for myself.
 
#60
SurferJoe46 said:
That's what I've been thinking too. I want to own and play a P/Hummer and since I cannot find exactly what I want, I'll just build it for myself.
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I would love to build my own bass, I really like woodworking, just no tools or cash for tools. I've been told electric guitar/bass is 90% woodworking 10% science. Power to you, and if you do take pics!!!!
 

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