- Oct 7, 2000
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Why such fanatical love for the Precision bass?
- Thread starter David Sutkin
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- j bass precision bass
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I've had a good parts P for 10 years and just started playing it regularly a few months ago (I have jazzes and usually play a stingray). The P definitely has a certain oomph to it. The jazz has yet to grow on me, maybe in about 7 years I'll appreciate it.
I'll echo some of @lfmn16's earlier comments.
A Precision Bass is what I think of as a "context" instrument. It gains its reputation and finds its true value in the context of an ensemble. By itself, it's a fairly unimpressive sounding bass. At least to my ears. But drop it in a rock, soul, or blues band and it's "Oh man! That's so sweeeet!"
And in that respect, it's unique. Not really "the perfect bass for any occasion." But it's definitely a very good (and safe) choice for most situations. About 90% of them at least. That's not a claim every other bass can make.
And to repeat some advice, there's no need to speculate or ponder over the relative merits of a PB, or anything else for that matter. Just use one a bit and form your own opinion. Hands-on is everything when it comes to gear decisions.
A Precision Bass is what I think of as a "context" instrument. It gains its reputation and finds its true value in the context of an ensemble. By itself, it's a fairly unimpressive sounding bass. At least to my ears. But drop it in a rock, soul, or blues band and it's "Oh man! That's so sweeeet!"
And in that respect, it's unique. Not really "the perfect bass for any occasion." But it's definitely a very good (and safe) choice for most situations. About 90% of them at least. That's not a claim every other bass can make.
And to repeat some advice, there's no need to speculate or ponder over the relative merits of a PB, or anything else for that matter. Just use one a bit and form your own opinion. Hands-on is everything when it comes to gear decisions.
The Precision has a combination of factors that each appeal to a fairly large chunk of bass players: it's a Fender, it's kinda/sorta the first successful bass guitar ever, it has a nice tonal range, its been used by many well respected artists in many well respected recordings, it is as simple as an effective bass guitar can be, it's a cultural icon, it's .... I would not suppose that any one of these factors alone can account for its popularity but together they add up to more market appeal than any other bass has. And I say that as someone who has never owned one, has barely noodled around on one, and whose only attraction to the Precision family is to replicas of the 1951ish single coil original.
Two words....
'Low Mids baby'...oh sorry that's three, anyway you get the idea
but seriously that PU position works with any amp combo and any genre.
I'm doing some casual deps with my little Ampeg BA112 and a Squier P with SPB-1.
Roll off the tone set everything at noon and the mid range grind I'm getting almost sounds like I'm using an active bass but more so ..
I would never have thought a P could sound so thick, dry and punchy....beautiful.
'Low Mids baby'...oh sorry that's three, anyway you get the idea
but seriously that PU position works with any amp combo and any genre.I'm doing some casual deps with my little Ampeg BA112 and a Squier P with SPB-1.
Roll off the tone set everything at noon and the mid range grind I'm getting almost sounds like I'm using an active bass but more so ..
I would never have thought a P could sound so thick, dry and punchy....beautiful.
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I come from the opposite end of this. I feel there are not nearly enough threads on this topic. I mean, it's a fair question, after all. I still don't have a Precision, finding my two Jazz and 1 Ric do the job I need them for, but I am not a regularly gigging pro bass player, either.
I love reading about P Bass love.
And honestly, when I've played them at G-Center, I've loved them a lot.
All points were 100% true and critical to it's success, but I feel this sentence sums it up for me and many others. It just works! Musicians know it, sound techs/engineers know it, and producers know it. Think of it like going to a restaurant in a foreign country, with tons of really crazy food, then seeing they have a cheeseburger available. That sigh of relief is what many people feel when they see a bassist with a P-bass, it's a safe bet and can be quite amazing if it's quality and executed well.
I thought I preferred J's until I played the P Deluxe (P+J) and realized I like having the sound of both pups and actually ended up preferring the P neck.
Most of the online retailers have a 30-45 day return policy ... I think the answer can only really be buying one and playing it in a live setting to determine if it is truly that different from a J
I never wanted a P-bass, I wanted diversity and options in one bass.
I now have 2x P's and 2x PJ's that I mostly use with just the P soloed. When looking at basses, I never search for a P but they always end up being my most used.
And in regards to the fact that the P bass doesn't have much variety, I disagree, add a preamp and a passive active switch, then you get plenty of options on top of the simple P.
I now have 2x P's and 2x PJ's that I mostly use with just the P soloed. When looking at basses, I never search for a P but they always end up being my most used.
And in regards to the fact that the P bass doesn't have much variety, I disagree, add a preamp and a passive active switch, then you get plenty of options on top of the simple P.
It has just the right frequencies required to be heard and provide to pillowy support a band needs. Many modern basses have a prettier tone and a much wider frequency range (a lot more lows and highs) but disappear in a mix, especially live.
That sit in the mix thing is largely about that mid-range emphasis slotting nicely with the kick drum. P bass can sound warm and growly, but it does not go deep...
So you're saying a studio band that worked 7 days a week backing up like 150 artists for 8 or 9 years had more hit records than 4 artists who only played for themselves, wrote most of their own songs (except Elvis), and whose output varied wildly over the years due to touring and vacations? You don't say?
...
I hear ya about the comparison to name acts. But no, Motown probably didn't have 150 artists (40 would probably be a stretch, this was before the move to the west coast), and they weren't working 7 days a week. The Wrecking crew, on the other hand, who worked on the west coast during this time worked for more labels and I'm not even sure that they played on more hits than The Funk Brothers... though they probably did make more money.
Same here. The neck is wider and maybe a bit fatter (than a J) but what surprised me is how easy it is to play. I find myself playing it all the time now. I'm still a big J fan but this P has a hold on me.
Agree. always thought I was a j guy, now i find myself wanting to sell other basses to buy a MIA P and keep my mim J and my peavey 5 string and Im set.
I went over 30 years without a P bass. And now I got one and it is honestly like finding the holy grail. YMMV, but for me I can make this bass fit perfectly in any band situation (well, so far jazz, reggae, soul, ska, rock). Plays beautifully and just sounds right in the mix. "That" sound for slap if you are into that kind of thing and as others have said it is SIMPLE. Never knew how much I wanted that but after years of changing batteries and twiddling knobs, I can just concentrate on playing. I play a 2015 MIA btw.
I've been an avid bass player since the age of 13. I'm 57, and just two days ago ordered my first genuine P, an American Professional in Olympic White. I've wanted a P since day one, just never went out and got one.
Never been so excited to get a new axe either. Top of the bucket list, that P Bass is....
Never been so excited to get a new axe either. Top of the bucket list, that P Bass is....
I was going to write this almost word for word. The simplicity and the versatility of the tone knob. It just works on stage and in studio.
Ugh .... Why do I have a feeling that might be my EXACT story after I leave the guitar shop tonight?....
