P-bass in studio

[Bass Mayhem]

Strange!

I detested the Fender Precision bass when I was young. I hated the sound of it. Honky, burping, like breaking wind, sort of. My preference is in the Fender Jazz bass. Soo elegant, delicate and versatile. That P-bass could do just one thing: honk in a cardboard box manner.

Then one day, some ten years ago I decided I'd like the s.o.b. so I bought me one, a Mexican made, sunburst. The first thing I did was breaking the pots, so I changed them to real ones with barrel knobs. I started to fiddle around.

All of a sudden it came to me: I like it! I started to use the bass in all situations, from hard rock to jazz trio gigs.

Well, I sold it. After all, it was not the real deal, just a MiM. I got my hands on a 57 Classic P, also MiM. A beauty with maple neck, two tone sunburst and flatwound strings. I let that one go when I got my EUB. But I missed the honkin' thing in my arsenal.

Two years ago I picked up an American made black Precision with rosewood board, a 2006, I think. The former owner had it equipped with Seymour Duncan SPB-3 pickup. I got it cheap. Really cheap.

It is a very good bass, the best P I've played. The acoustic tone in the bass is tremendous. I changed the tone pot to a Stellartone Tonestyler switch. The best I've done in light rebuilding. You get a firm solid tone all the way down to "non on", useful and playable over the whole register. This bass sounds good for everything.

I used to think a P-bass has one voice. That is still true, but you can articulate with that voice in so many ways, like "muted thump", double bass tone, ringin' grindin' rock tone, pick tone (I play pick tone without a pick in a special manner...) and a solid slap &pop tone.

I did some recordings yesterday in Audiodog's studio. This bass just sits in the mix like no other bass. Leo, you knew what you did with this one...

[jmcgliss]

I totally agree, Roger. I've assembled a half dozen P-basses from donor Fenders and upgrade parts, but even one that came together from the lowly left-over parts sounded great. Each one did have its own feel and tonal differences but  worked so well with a full band, and subsequent owners have been thrilled. You're right about it being Leo's design skill being the key factor, not my workbench.  

A friend's 1970's era Fender P is the gnarliest grind-your-eyes out thing you've ever heard. Subtle? No. Raw? Yes. But from the audience perspective it is just righteous to the bone.

My blog has a few more P-bass stories (see signature line).

Jeff C

| WT800C | WT405 | WTX-260 | D112XLTs & D212XLT4 sold | Nemesis N8 | EM3 & EM5 monitors | Gene Pool DNS-112N's | ProCablesNSound cables | www.jcthebassman.com |

[lowfsharp]

I agree with all coments on the P Bass , I let a 64 go and still miss it.
The P just sits in any mix so well , my preference is with flats or half rounds.
I now have a mutant P Bass body and neck ,P/J with a H in the neck position , no tone pot 3 volumes only , the P pup is always up full and I dial in the brightness of the J or the extra bass and grunt of the EBO style mudbucker as I need or want .
There will always be a place for a P bass in any studio or stage.

G.K MB Fusion500,Alembic F1X preamp , EBS MicroBass2preamp ,Crown XTi 1000 poweramp ,  SWR Henry 8x8 ,SWR Henry Jr 4x8 , fretted and fretless 4's and 5's , Danelectro Longhorn Baritone , Hofner Upright with Underwood pickup.

http://www.myspace.com/8spadger8
http://www.myspace.com/kittenkongtheband

[Carvedtop]

I've had a number of P basses in the past, and a 69 J bass, and a bunch of others, but the P bass does just sorta fit in the pocket of just about anything.
I agree with the statement about the single voice and knowing how to articulate it to fit the song.  I have one of the Sting 53 P basses now and I've learned to make it growl, hum, and bite. It's really about knowing your instrument.

[BassRoss]

The only thing that can beat a P bass is a.....better P bass !
I was allready very happy with my Am st 08 P. You can use it in so many different stules of music. From ´50 Elvis, country, blues, rock, til mussic from today. The P will do it for you. After all sound is a lot in your hands. Last week i decided to upgrade for another bass.
After lookih°g ans playin´around i took a very nice Fender 59 custom shop P bass home. Ans it plays like a dream. So well round and organic in the band mix, its a joy to play with. So much you can do with the place you play the fretboard and use the tone knob. An just leave the Eden wt550´s eq flat !!!

Classic Rock/Pop/Blues
Eden WT 550B &
210 xlt & 210 xst
Fender USA precision 4
3t sunburst with ´62
original (vintage)pick up
Ibanez ATK 4 naturel
with Bassculture Neodymium MM style humbucker pick up / Glockenklang preamp for ATK (also passive)


[http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/8692/4269523.jpgimg]

[John the Barbarian]

One of my best sounding instruments bar none is a late 80's(?) '57 re-issue with a Lindy Fralin.  Awesome, fat sound.  Thick.  I also had a '71 that had more of the burby sound and got rid of it.

[Bass Mayhem]

Well, it is like inventing the wheel all over, again and again...
Leo did it in '51, refined it at the end of the 50's. Everything started there, all seems to end there. The circle is closed...

[Haxalot76]

I've got a '78 P-Bass. It thumps, has a subtle growl and just gets you moving. Doesn't honk at all....beautiful.

[MTN.bass72]

My first bass was a 90's model Squire P bass,yes Squire and I loved it. It had a super thick meaty sound when using fingers and an awesome bite when using a pick. And never had to change the tone knob for either.

Unfortunately when my wife up and moved it up and moved with her[][]
I've asked her about it but her reply was "I don't know if I took it"[?][?][?][}:)][}:)]
Either way, I really miss it. I'll own another at some point