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Why the P bass obsession

#201
NeckPickup said:
Could someone explain to me how this thread and question is getting such a huge and disproportional number of responses compared to threads where people appear to have spent some time coming up with something that hasn't been discussed over and over? No offense to the OP intended, but the answer is self-evident to anyone who has followed the history of modern music, recording and the bass guitar.
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I haven't followed the history of modern music so there's that. Also, the question had been answered after 3 responses, so I don't know what people even have left to discuss. I only intended for this to be a quickly answered post so I apologize for that.
 
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#202
Ya know, when I do a full history of 45 yrs playing and the ability to own whatever I've wanted for the last 20+ yrs, I realize that the longest most successful relationship was with my 76 Factory fretless P

Almost 14 straight yrs 6 nights/week and during most of that time I never really thought about GAS so it must've worked just fine for jazz, R&B, funk, blues, etc.

Huh, maybe I should get rid of the other 18 EBs and clean the old girl up

There may well be something to the simple leading to better and more varied technique instead of knob twisting and bank account dipping
 
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#204
This is actually an elaborate hoax.

There are about six of us here who have a couple dozen log-ins each, and we also have access to a shared "secret TB library" of professionally-written canned positive P-bass thread responses and semi-awesome P-bass photos so we can continue the charade of making the community believe that "everybody finds many positive attributes in Fender Precisions". What a hoot.

I guess I've let the Cat out of the Proverbial Bag now, but it's been a real knee-slapper while it lasted...
 
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#205
n1as said:
The P bass sounds right and sits well in the mix in so many situations.

It. Just. Works.
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4andnomore said:
P basses kick ass. They have awesome tone and are extremely versatile, for me at least.
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What they said... but then, that's just my opinion; and, that being said... who the hell cares what I think?

Honestly, these threads are hilarious. Doesn't it all just boil down to the idea that "to each, his own?"

Here's another opinion for you... I think so many basses that other players choose to use look awful and sound worse... but, I don't go posting threads every couple of weeks saying (for example) "Bongo Basses... I just don't get it!" You want to know why I don't post threads like that? Because it's a hack-move!!!

Why even bother with a thread like this? Are you trying to stir up peoples' emotions? If you honestly just want to start up some friendly conversation, there's got to be a better way to initiate such a thing.

Probably best to just let people play what they play, and like what they like.
 
#206
Sometimes I want an instrument that has only one pickup and few controls. Sometimes I like one that has more options. True for guitars and true for basses. The P is great for being simple and doing something useful and doing it well. Luckily, it's ok to have more than one bass!

Otto
 
#207
winterburn69 said:
A P + flats is a thing of beauty. Before I tried it I was like "how good can it be?" (this was also before I got into Motown & Jamerson) but then again I also spent the first seven years playing bass without a P. It all changed when my gf (now ex) bought my a Squier P for my 23rd bday. It's hard to imagine not playing a P now. Now I need another good P so I can have one with rounds and one with flats.
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I would highly recommend that. I am guessing I have many years on you, but I have 3 Fender Am Std P's: RS 66LD, 66LDN, and 77. I have a MIM with La Bella tapewounds on it. I also have 3 Fender Am Std J's strung similarly. All of the rest have no siblings so I string in a way that works best for me. I do predominantly studio work these days, so getting the right sound is real important to me. If I was still playing out and had to get rid of all but 1, I would keep a Fender MIA P with RS 66LD on it. Best non-boutique bass, IMHO, of those i have played over the past 40+ years, for live and studio in a single package.

BTW, I highly recommend going slow in terms of building an arsenal and getting basses you plan to have for the duration. There is so much you can get out of most basses, but it really takes time to work with them - at least that has been my experience.
 
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#208
I'm just going to leave this right here
 

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#212
JRuben said:
I have nothing against precision bass guitars, they can play very good in the right hands. They aren't anything crazy though. I always felt like they have a very bland tone. They don't have much versitility either. I much prefer the depth and range of a jazz for example. Im just curious about everyone else's thoughts on this.
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Because there are a lot of change adverse people in music that think the world stopped in the 70s.
 
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#213
Blondie-1.jpg For me, it was my first real bass and there's history behind it. My Father encouraged me to buy it in a way that taught me how to save money as opposed to using credit or lay-away, which taught me restraint. It's a great bass, I still have it today and play it after 38 years. It's been overseas with me. As a matter of class, it flew first class while I was in coach! I've personalized it over the years. At one point it had stickers plastered on it, at one time it had electrical tape on it, at another time it had Seymour Duncans pickups installed. Now it has an Aguilar OBP 3 preamp.

It's personal and it could've been any bass but it happens to be a P bass. My cousin the drummer was upset that I didn't buy a MM Stingray! Another bass player friend and mentor told me I should have bought a Jazz bass! But I didn't know about the Stingray because they were new at the time, and I personally preferred the look of the P bass over the Jazz bass.
Blondie.jpg
 

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