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Why the P bass obsession

#221
Iridescentone said:
...As if bass players are somehow "obsessed" because they play a P bass...
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Possessed is more like it...

invasion-donald.jpg


Honestly I think have owned some of the most desirable old Fenders that have ever graced the planet, and still own a few that I kept as the best. I still seldom play them, for a variety of reasons, that have mostly to do with having things I like better in more modern, better sounding, better playing, and less valuable electric basses.
 
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#223
Iridescentone said:
Evidently not. The hyperbolic syntax is always fascinating in these type of threads.

As if bass players are somehow "obsessed" because they play a P bass. lol
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There are an awful lot of folks that chime-in in threads saying how Ps are always the answer to whatever ails the person asking questions.

"Which bass should I get next" -> "All you need is a P with flats"
"Which bass should I sell" -> "Anything as long as it's not the P"
"How do I mix my Jazz bass better?" -> "Sell it and get a P bass"
"Should I offload my Ibanez and Jazz bass and get a Carvin?" -> "Offload both and just buy a P bass"
"Which bass model is best for X, Y, Z?" -> "Just get a P bass"

You get that answer to almost every question several times over. I understand most of the time it's good natured or even intended as a joke, but that's what gives the impression people are obsessed with P basses 'round here.
 
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#227
neepheid said:
Damnit, I said to myself to sit on my hands, but "the first time"? The P bass everyone knows and loves today is based upon the 1957 one, which is arguably the third design iteration, is it not? If it was right the first time, then everyone would be playing P basses which resemble the original 1951 model, and we'd all have chafed forearms.

File under somewhat pedantic "just sayin'"... ;)
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Yeah, he wouldn't have thought he needed a J,
And everyone else would just be makin' P copies.
Thankfully, we didn't get stuck there, and BASS is still evolving, despite some stuck anchors...
 
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#229
This thread is one of thousands posted in the past. It all boils down to age of the person asking the question and type of music/sound they are comfortable with. Younger people are perplexed by the old school interest versus today's emasculating musical genres.
Play an instrument that speaks to you, the player. It doesn't matter how many opinions you encounter regarding instuments and in what genre they should be played.

Music is very personal. Enjoy what speaks to you and have fun. This is what music is all about. HAVE FUN PLAYING WHATEVER GETS YOUR MOTOR RUNNING! YIHAAAAAAW!
 
#233
Okay, full disclosure: I have not read all twelve pages of this thread. I freely admit that the P is the baseline instrument for most musical applications in that it will get you through more doors. And the most recent bass I bought was a P, largely for nostalgic and generational reasons.

But, except for iconic image, my Daions outstrip every Fender I've owned in nearly every way -- superior materials, superior workmanship, PJ setup with more tonal options, better set-up possibilities -- so that if I am to play a solidbody it would be a Daion. But I like hollow-bodies better and so my first choice would be one of my big thinline semi-acoustics.

Basically I'm just tired of Fenders, which is in no way Fender's fault. I've seen just too many dull unimaginative bass players holding Precisions.
 
#235
Humbled said:
Possessed is more like it...

View attachment 633435

Honestly I think have owned some of the most desirable old Fenders that have ever graced the planet, and still own a few that I kept as the best. I still seldom play them, for a variety of reasons, that have mostly to do with having things I like better in more modern, better sounding, better playing, and less valuable electric basses.
Click to expand...

Well it took 12 pages this time, but the thread topic has finally expanded to include all Fenders. Who didn't see that coming, eh?

Freudian slip? lol
 

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