Any product that hasn’t changed much in 70 years and still looks cool has to be good! Every bassist should have one, hard to imagine a collection without one. Rock on!
The tone range of the P-Bass can be really wide depending on the technique. So one pickup is not really a great limitation, it's an opportunity to learn different techniques.
Agreed, the P really let's you develope your tone without being overly focused on dialing everything to "perfection" with active, onboard EQ. So much can be achieved through the fingers, with minimal equalization. I have both of mine (one flatwound and one round) setup with slightly beefier tone caps on no load pots, which gives me a bit of a wider sweep on both sides of the tone knob, so to speak. I also have them equiped with dual-stage Hipshot detuners, which are a great option for those interested in a bit of extended range when necessary. So long as you put the time in, a P-Bass is going to work with pretty much everything, and it's ideal for recording and live applications. Great piece of equipment
@@ginglebret You got it. The designs of Fender guitars and basses are time-tested, they hardly need improvement, but if you know how to enhance your sound with capacitors and potentiometers, more power to you!
I have a Squier Jazz, Squier PJ and Stingray 5… I’ve been playing for about 13 years now. Considering a P bass for my next buy. I would honestly like this to be my last buy… really doing my research to see how well these actually hold up in regards to different styles of music. Would you guys say a P bass is better than a Jazz for Rock or Pop?
@@ryanball4799 Many players have used it in pop, but I'd say use your ears and decide for yourself... there's no limitation in my opinion. I have a j-bass, p-bass and a couple of others, and despite their own unique qualities, they are all great for all types of music!
As always, I took my P bass to a pretty big show, with quite a few bands. As I hit the stage, one of the sound guys asked me if I liked the way the bass player in the band before me sounded, I said yeah, he said well you're going to sound way better than he did, with that Precision you got there.
I bought my first (& only)Fender P Bass when I was 16 yrs old, I am now 56. I still have her & she is my go-to bass to this day. I have owned many bass guitars & that PBass is hands down my favorite, there is nothing I can't do with it. Thanks for all you do!!!
Same here! I bought mine at 14, (financed through my parents) and now I'm 54. I have a '80 Ric 4003, '67 Gibson EBO, Ibanez fretless, and a Cort acoustic (by the way is very nice), but I always lean more to my 1977 Fender P bass! Love it!
That's awesome. I got my first guitar at 19, didn't play it much and sold it a bit over 20 years later when I bought a new guitar. It was a Washburn Nuno N1 which cost about $400 Australian in the 90s. Wish I'd kept it as the neck was beautiful and easy to play. Probably just needed some different pickups. I have kept my Squire Jazz from about 10 years ago, despite getting a higher quality one. Glad I did as the neck is great and the sunburst finish is sublime. Got it when rosewood necks were still the norm as well 🤘
Even if it isn't your thing -- you need to own a Precision. It has specific tonal character that you can't get with anything else, no matter how much you EQ it. In short -- it sounds like a bass. As for the neck not being fast -- don't force it. Let the neck dictate how you play -- simpler, fatter, more in the groove. That's what makes the P so special.
You can’t go wrong with a classic P Bass. If you gig, if you go recording, ppl you play with/for and sound engineers are used to its tone (which it does blend well almost everywhere). Nice vid as usual Mark 😊
The new American 50's P-Bass neck is the best bass neck ive ever used, its as solid as a rock, love the finish and rolled edges of the USA necks, costs more but its worth it
I've seen the argument that Pbass tones are something engineers are used to, but Pbasses can have widely different sounds. Some are bright and midrangy, some are dark and thuddy, some sound wonderful, and some sound like crap. Assuming that a Pbass will automatically sound like what you're used to is an exercise in futility.
The wide neck is actually a pro for me because I have big hands and it makes the bass much easier to play. The single split coil has a sound that fits just about any style of music, so in that sense it's actually one of the most versatile basses going. It can go from fat and smooth with the tone rolled off, to spanky and percussive with the tone rolled all the way up. The perfect bass sound for country, blues, disco, funk, soul/R&B ( though I think the jazz bass sounds slightly better on a pop tune ). Sounds great with a pick too, especially with flats and palm muting
I got a P-bass in 1972, still play it, still a work horse with battle scars and some bare wood on the neck where there used to be finish. I was never crazy about the volume and tone pots and as I get older weight is something I consider more often if you are standing for long periods (it is heavy). But it's still my go to bass. I have to say I played for many years playing by ear, intuition, picking up things from other players, but Mark Smith taught me how to play bass. The music theory course really opened things up and brought things together for me. Thanks Mark.
I grew up on a Jazz, my older brother (my hero and role model, may he rest in peace) owned a Jazz (1972 Fender "ashtray", now mine) and that's just what I thought a bass guitar WAS. I _thought_ I prefered the Jazz sound, with its tighter, tinier sound, especially with a pick (how my brother played) in all those 70s rock bands. It is only recently that I have fallen in LOVE with that P bass PLUNK! (Cont'd below) I had to have one, which I now do - a Fender Zone, a 90s MIM with a Jazz neck, 22 fret r-wood fingerboard, bridge pu (single J) and a 9V pre. I love it, of course, but somehow I find it only comes **close** to that traditional P sound. Maybe 90% there, but just not that bona fide PLUNK. Does anyone agree that the "upgrades" to modernize the Precision design don't quite get you 100% of the way there with regard to The Sound? (Please don't tell me how to solo the P pickup, I'm not _quite_ as stupid as my avatar photo looks. 😵 Close, but not full-on STOOPID. 😁Thanks - JD, Canada)
I bought an American and I don't care what anyone says , there's a definite difference. The best playing and best sounding bass I've owned. I've played 35 years. It's all the little things it does. And the extra attention to detail. There's many small things most people don't look for that I do, because I've played so long. And I play everyday. And the American P bass I bought is perfect. Great bass and worth the extra money
Stratosphere guitar parts, ive built 10 Strats, Telecaster, four P-basses, three Jazz Basses, you can actualy build one for less than List price, i just built an American Ultra P-J Bass, and put a new american 50's neck on it,
I mainly play P&J basses, but I always make sure to keep a P-bass in my arsenal when I want a more traditional sound and when I really want to cut through a mix.
@@musenw8834 Even though PJ basses do have precision pickups, even if you roll down the jazz pickup all the way down. they don't become actual precisions. Close, but not quite.
@@LordEradicus Aha! I've been asking this question throughout the comments: Does a P/J sound like a P when the split coil pickup is soloed? I only own/have owned the former (P/J), never the latter (P) and I've always suspected that to be the case, that they DO NOT. Is the P pickup positioned differently? That's my theory, but I've never been able to measure. $#i+. now I gotta go buy another bass...🤣
And I thought **I** was the old guy! At 60, still playing (badly)...and loving it! Can't say my musical tastes have changed much over the past 30 years or so. Still into Jamiroquai, Costello, Incognito, etc. Like TMBG too, but their basslines suck, heh heh. Played Fender the whole time like you, save for a brief foray into G&L (L-2500), but that's Leo as well! My Fenders now: one J bass and one P (Zone) and a Yamaha TRB5-P for those 5-string jobs. Those Japs make a damn good bass, I must say, I would buy a 4-string from them in a heartbeat. WAY different sound, but the build is simply FLAWLESS. Anybody own a MIJ Precision out there? Does it sound like its American counterpart? Anyway, just a quick (?) "Hi, howdy do" from Another Old Guy. Keep on truckin' (and something that rhymes with truckin') Later - JD, from The Great White North
I researched for ages and tried out many different basses in many different stores, and by far the nicest blend of everything I wanted was in the mexican player fender p bass in capri orange. Agree with all your points.
A couple of years back I tried out the player series but eventually went for a Jaguar primarily for its so called 'PJ' pickup configuration giving me a wider range of tones. Nothing wrong with the classic P though but perhaps just too simple if anything for what I was looking for. Incidentally, the player series are great basses for quality at a price e half of the cost of an American built instrument.
I was almost set on buying a squier 70s pbass in walnut with the block inlays until I played one. The inlays were stickers! It just did not feel great to play. Then i picked up a player series and it felt like another step up in quality, mainly the neck but also the pickup warmth and general tone. I put flats on it and a high mass bridge, and played it so much I bedded the strings in nicely. Perfect intonation on every fret! Worth the increase in price? Probably not but it is what it is and I dont regret it!
Just got mine today to help track my upcoming album. I'm a songwriter / jack of all trades who plays many instruments fairly, but not a master of any. So, I wasn't smart enough to start my bass collection with a P Bass. Instead, I went for the more out-there choice of a JMJ Mustang bass - which, while AWESOME - is simply not the "classic electric bass sound" that I was seeking without realizing my mistake. cannot describe in words how happy I am to be playing a P Bass now. It is the archetypal "bass guitar" sound that I had in my head, and it just SITS in the fucking mix without any effort or struggle. I'm so happy. The Mustang bass will still get plenty of workouts, especially since it's so fun & easy to play a short-scale with flatwounds, but I have 100% confidence that the P Bass will be a great choice for virtually any songwriting or bass tracking that I do for the rest of my life. I'm so happy :)
I personally can't stand bass traditionalists and, by extension, the cult around the P bass. I tried to make the split coil P pickup sound work for at least 10 years and it just doesn't do what I need to. The low mids are wooly, the high mids are flat and the top end sparkle is barely present. It doesn't react well when you dig in with fingers, it gets clanky instead of punchy. The only P tone I like is amp drive and a pick, but even that can't get near the punchiness I've been getting from my Stingray. Seriously, ever since I switched over to MM style humbuckers I've never sounded clearer in a mix.
I had a Precision for more than 40 years. I grew to dislike the wide neck and most of all, the slab body. I turned to a Jazz Bass for a while, which remedied both problems, but ended up with a Jaguar Short Scale, which has a Jazz Bass-width neck, contoured body, and short 30" neck. I'll never go back to 34" again. As a side note, I only need one bass so I sold the P-Bass. As a bonus, I had originally bought it for $300 and sold it for $800.
My first good bass was a 1972 Pbass. It sounded . . . well, okay, but it was stressful to play. Width was okay, but the neck was so thick is felt like playing on my forearm. I've since been careful to stick with basses with thinner necks, and the fatigue factor is much less of a problem.
Pros ‘some engineers are lazy so they’ll love you for having a bass that they’ve already dealt with in most kinds of mixes before’… Cons… Low mids are fat, but the ultra lows aren’t great. Not as good with distortion as a Rick or a Bird.
I have a P and a J. I am now playing my 1988 J (MIJ) more often than not. I like the variety of tones I can get and, having relatively small hands, I like the thinner neck. That said, both are great basses. I've had Sadowsky basses and ultimately have come home to Fender. Thanks for the video Mark.
I just picked up a pair of the Squier Sonic P-basses.... They have the jazz size neck. The pickups were rubbish! Dropped in some passive EMGs, got a good setup, and Robert's your father's brother! Two workhorses for any gig. And they are cheap enough you don't have to worry about bashing them up. A+
I've used the Fender Steve Harris version which has one pickup for a few years. There is no chunkier neck on any model but it feels comfortable. Thanks for another great video.
Good video. Very frank look at a very popular bass. This is the kind of information that first time buyers really need. More often than not they will be heavily influenced by one player or another. But the sound is the issue, and how and where you'll be using your bass as you progress. The fact (and you clearly spell it out) you can take the P-bass anywhere and do well enough. That's the ticket for the first time buyer. That and it really is a go to bass for any pro to have in their 'tool box'. Thanks much for yet another great video.
I always loved fender precision look. I started with a cheap yamaha pj bass that worked very fine for me. I realized that, even having a j pick up at bridge position, i never used it. I like the precision sound more. So i bought a squier vintage modified precision bass, the same look that the one you have in the video, put flatwounds on it, and i'm in love with it. I totally agree with the pros and cons, it is simply what i like Excellent video
I've been playing my 2007 Fender Highway P-Bass (Badass 2 bridge, SPB-3 quarter pound pickup) for 14+ years, and I believe it's extremely versatile instrument. The only thing that it lacks is punch, that's why I use it with Sansamp Bass Driver which practically makes my P-bass sound like an active bass (sort of). Good for all genres of music, metal too.
I started playing 36 years ago on a P bass, have had different basses since with MM and J pickups, but has since returned to P and P/J basses (great combo). Simplicity is a Big factor for me, I get lost if I have to fidle with a lot of knobs. I would also ad that playing style and where you are plucking or picking on the bass will give you a lot of difference in tone and sound on the same bass guitar. And also what kind of strings you use, of course😊
Tried out a bunch of P basses recently (including Fender Player, a few Squiers and Sire). I ended up buying a G&L Tribute (Indonesia) SB-2 and had I not bought that I would have got the LB-100. Worth checking out the G&Ls.
I've been down the rabbit hole of bass guitars over two decades... Stingrays, Jazzes, headless, active, passive, P, PJ, telebass, dual and single humbucker, 4 & 5 string et al. For PROPER playing in a BAND, not bedroom noodling, nothing beats a passive P bass, it cut thru the mix and makes THE sound we all know and love....no faffing about with low/mid/high boost and on which pick up to all dial in, just a simple tone control. Dont spend a fortune, no need with CNC machining you are simply paying for labour....buy a Harley Benton PB20, decide on flats or rounds and enjoy, simples. Ohh, if you do insist on active get a Spector end of. PS I'm a player and a luthier.
I recently went into the studio to record. I played my Stingray on 2 tracks, and my Precision on 2 tracks. I now know why it is the favorite for engineer’s, it fit perfectly in the mix, while the Stingray sounded more aggressive but didn’t sit quite right.
To me this is the ideal beginner bass. This gentleman taking nails it. A beginner simply does not need 5 knobs and 3 switches to worry about. With a Precision, they can focus on changing their sound via developing their touch aka "producer knob", a very important skill that trains both your hands and your ear.
I have a Nate Mandell and absolutely love the neck, half way between J and P being slightly narrower at the nut at 40.5mm its become my go to bass, think the neck is something like a 1972 P bass. As mentioned the P is most definately a one trick pony in comparison to something like my active Stingray, however the P does that one trick brilliantly, i dabble with other bass guitars but always seem to arrive back at the Precision and the Nate Mandell is the best of the lot i've played.
I’ve got a p, a j & a stingray. If push comes to shove I would probably keep my p if I could only choose one. However, it is the one that jumps out the mix the least in a live situation (in a rock band). It’s also the bass tone that sounds great with a bit of saturation - prefer to keep the others clean
I switched from Yamaha to P bass, Fender Player serie. It has modern C shape neck and the sound is to make it short the sound I was always looking for. The neck is a bit of strech from 1. fret to 3. fret but from 5. fret is easy. I have small hands and I don't heve trouble playing, but I do recommend to use "shifting hands" technique to people with small hands and to others, great for speed on bass.
Thanks for the quick-but-thorough look at this iconic instrument. As mentioned, so much is based on preference. Case in point: the big hand-little hand/nut width issue. I have normal-sized hands but my fingers are kinda stubby (I'm all palms; I think I needed a couple more weeks in the womb for my fingers to catch up). Still, I definitely prefer the P's roomy neck width. To me, the J's tapering neck and thinner nut creates a bit of a crowding issue. I feel I have to scrunch up my fingers which seems like more work when I'm playing near the nut. But, it's all good--the J is awesome, too. Regarding the single, perfectly placed pickup and whether its glorious sound is kind of limited, I think that hand placement and using the tone knob creates a satisfying tonal range. Playing in front of the pickup, over it, or behind it, and playing with the tone wide open, half-opened, or completely rolled off results in plenty of useful tones (not to mention how Mark already demonstrated how the P, like any bass, will sound different by playing finger style, slap, or with a pick).
I’ve had a few basses over the years but as you could guess by my portrait, my favorite is my Mexican p bass with labella flats. It cost hundreds less than my others but it’s the one I leave the house with most often.
I love P basses, but only play 5 string these days and couldn't get a Fender P 5-String that felt right. Managed to get very close to the sound with an Ibanez SR with Nordstrand P&J type pickups and active/passive switching and a passive tone control. Amazing sounding bass ....shame it doesn't look like a P though
@@joetspaulding love them, had a really nice BB425. Really good workhorses, and I'm keen to try the new models , just haven't been near a Yamaha dealer for years. ( I had some great 4 string Yam basses too)
Very inciteful Mark, although you didn't comment on the maple neck. I owned a 1973 P Bass and traded it for a Jazz with a rosewood fretboard due to the wide neck that you mentioned. The maple neck is brighter than the jazz but felt like playing a 2x4 used for home construction.
Great video. I have a p bass. Love it I'll admit I did not know all the reasons you listed. I have the jazz bass also. I am happy and content to cover most needs.
I'm very thankful my parents bought me a plain ol P bass for my birthday. It was a huge gateway for me to learn so much more. Just the look of it inspired me (tho I wasn't a fan of the sound) I prefer jazz basses now, but I can't help but desire to own a p bass when i see one on reverb or something
Check out Stu Cook's bass in 1970 Creedence. Shaved neck, finish replaced with beeswax, second P-bass pickup at bridge, AND Rickenbacker horseshoe pickup at neck ... don't forget the added controls!
I have 2 p basses. One is black, maple neck white pickguard, traditional. The other is black, black hardware, black pickguard, matching headstock with emg pickups and a rosewood neck with block inlays. Both a great at what they do
Remember my first P Bass when my main instrument was Guitar, I bought off a school mate all those decades ago, It had a neck like a banana and a broken tuning peg. It’s a shame I didn’t at the time know more about guitar maintenance. The pick-up on that bass was actually great. But soon got rid of it. In a way I regret getting rid of it. As these days even if the neck couldn’t be sorted I could easily get a replacement off evilbay. My re-introduction into bass playing came in the form of a lovely Jazz Bass. This bass lasted me a long time before it got sold on. It was a fabulous workhorse. The Korean Jazz Basses were very good. But a big part of me now wishes I had gotten another PBass. Don’t think I would’ve wanted to have missed out on having the Jazz bass mind you. Prior to lockdown and through lockdown I corrected the omission of a PBass . And now oddly seem to own three and they are great. Especially my burgundy/purple one with the slight metallic hue, which I fitted with a genuine Mexican Fender neck….
My first bass was P. After couple years of perfect tone pursuit I'd installed J bridge pu in it. Then got a J, then a fretless J. And finally active Ibanez BTB. But, honestly, I really I really miss that stringed log.
good points. At 66 with 52 years at the bottom I still prefer simplicity; Precision bass/HartkeLH500/15" cab no tweeter, or upright into GKMB150 A passive jazz is as complicated as I get. My effect is my cable.
I totally agree with all the pros and in general for the cons also, though not personally for me. I always come back to my absolutely reliable and very beloved Precision from 75 and even if I have a PJ configuration I almost only use the P pickup. And you've forgotten the biggest pro of all: It's a Fender Precision 🤣
Excellent overview. Hope you are advertising on Scott’s videos. His ad appeared on yours. You’re both great teachers. Thanks. Do you have a shortscale video.?
Back in the late 80's I was looking for a new bass. I just got approved for a $10,000.00 visa card. I looked at and played everything from Alembic to Zon. Well, maybe not a zon. But I kept going back to the P-bass. I bought a used 1976 for $600.00. It is still to this day my favorite bass ever. I don't use it too much these days. I has been heavily modified. On it's second Bartolini. The first was with a Fuhrman pre-amp. Now it's all Bartolini. So sweet. Looks a lot like the one in this video.
Having a bolt on neck, it’s easy to interchange necks. If the neck on a P bass should warp, get damaged, or for any reason you decide you want a different neck, the four bolt construction of a P bass allows you to swap out for another. Let’s say you find over time you like the narrower nut width of the jazz bass, you’ll have no trouble changing necks. Something you can’t do with a neck through or set neck bass.
I picked up a P bass because I'm a huge fan of Steve Harris and can confirm, it is the workhorse of basses and it seems no matter the generation, is nigh-indestructible. I do agree about the chunkiness of the neck, especially as someone who has Hobbit hands, but have heard this can be alleviated by swapping the neck with the slightly thinner Jazz neck.
In the short term, the C shape neck doesn't seem like that much of a jump. But you get to notice pretty quick - it's much, much speedier than that of the P bass. P bass with a jazz neck is pretty commonplace.
I have a bastardised P-bass that has had several necks on it over the years, including a '70's Squier J-bass and currently a Squier Jaguar long scale (same dimensions as a Jazz). It's an easy swap as the neck pocket dimensions are the same, and decent necks come up on eBay all the time. For me it's the ultimate combination. It'll do anything - rock, disco, blues - and feels great to play. I'm not a show-off and just want to do my job and serve the song, and nothing does it better than a Precision.
Good video! I'd like a P with a J neck. My faithful Aria sounds _almost_ as good but not quite close enough - it's a PJ but I use the neck pickup because I've got a J bass for those sounds.
Off the hanger, used, candy apple, and meant for playing. Big hands like big necks (comfort level) less cramping more thumping! This instrument has bass balls!!
The new Fender Ultra P-bass has in addition a jazz bridge pickup which provides more versatility in sound and gives it an updated more modern look. It’s a win-win for me
I want to love Ps so many of my heroes played them but I learned on a jazz and just can’t love that big fat neck,plus the Jazz is a bit more versatile I’d say.
Regardless of just one pickup, I’ll take a P-Bass over a Jazz bass anyday!! I have 4 of them Fender Custom Shop to a Custom Elrick P-Bass. Incredible tone!! The only con I would put out there is the weight, they are all over the place. Lol My Elrick is 7.1lbs. Where my Fender Custom Shop is 8.5lbs. Thanks for your video
I love the P sound and overall character over the J. But as a 5strings player, it did cost me a lot of $$ to find one with good low B tone. Fortunately I found a Xotic P. Active, yes, but the only try sounding P bass 5 string I've played. So it's my go to for most things. For more modern stuff I have Smith BSR.
JJ Burnel, John Deacon, Glen Matlock, Andy Rourke, Matt Freeman, Sean Hurley, Sting...great precision players The other thing is you don't need to spend a fortune to get a good P Bass. A modded classic vibe or vintage modified Squier will pretty much play and sound as good as a US precision.
Good pointsyou make..I luv the sound of a Precision but yes it is limited in tonal range...fitting a series/parallel DPDT toggle swich will give you a bit more choice but i prefer to use my PJ Jaguar with reversed P pickup,E & A sensor in original position just D & G sensor moved to neck side making it sound more even across the strings....with a noiseless Jazz bridge linear coil pickup it gives lots of tonal variation without any bad buzzing or noise....i use just the P pickup probably 50% of the time...a classic iconic tone...nothing else sounds like a real Fender Precision bass...
I'm a P Bass guy. I bought my first Fender P Bass new in 1974 (I wish I still had it). Several times over the years, I have owned and have tried to love the Fender Jazz Bass. I don't have big hands. I really thought that I would like the narrow neck. But it just doesn't feel natural to me. Ultimately though, it comes down to tone. I play mostly blues and classic rock. And for me, nothing beats that big, fat, classic Fender P Bass tone...
also on the second pro i'd like to add John Deacon. there are some killer isolated bass tracks of him on yt, and i'm a big fan of his sound on 1977's "Jazz". bass only tracks of don't stop me now, fat bottomed girls, and bicycle race are on youtube and i love the tone in that and am chasing it very hard right now.
Leo Fender nailed it from the get go with the p bass apart from very early on changing the original single coil pick up to a split single coil and look wise changing the look to reflect the strat instead of the tele its barely changed from the 60s of course you have the pj configurations and some active and 5 string versions its pretty untouchable you can play anything on them quite literally some slight adjustments with the controls and theres no limit ive played a few different basses but i ride and die for the p bass be it studio or live it never lets me down
Pro - Readily available anywhere you go meaning you can try before you buy and, if you're a travelling musician, you can easily get your hands on one if something happens to your gear
It is a fabulous bass, but it is exactly that reliable neck that annoys me, I have an Ibanez P J, that has more of a thinner neck more like my Honer B-bass, but the Ibanez has a nice mix of them both (Precision), but it is fun to play...
As a precision and jazz bass owner I can say you've done a very nice job of explaining the attributes of the P bass. Like shoes or automobiles it's what fits and feels right for an individual in the long run.
It is really about how to play not what instrument to play. Some make it easier some less. I like Steinbergers. I like a Steinberber Spirit even. I like how they feel on my left hand.
Any product that hasn’t changed much in 70 years and still looks cool has to be good! Every bassist should have one, hard to imagine a collection without one. Rock on!
That said Leo (Fender) evolved the design further at CLF, Music Man and G&L 🤔
Love my jazz bass, but the more i play, i really will need to get a p bass.
@@kenjohnston8173 If you just want the p bass tone then roll off the bridge pickup and add some low mids
The tone range of the P-Bass can be really wide depending on the technique. So one pickup is not really a great limitation, it's an opportunity to learn different techniques.
Agreed, the P really let's you develope your tone without being overly focused on dialing everything to "perfection" with active, onboard EQ. So much can be achieved through the fingers, with minimal equalization.
I have both of mine (one flatwound and one round) setup with slightly beefier tone caps on no load pots, which gives me a bit of a wider sweep on both sides of the tone knob, so to speak. I also have them equiped with dual-stage Hipshot detuners, which are a great option for those interested in a bit of extended range when necessary.
So long as you put the time in, a P-Bass is going to work with pretty much everything, and it's ideal for recording and live applications. Great piece of equipment
@@ginglebret You got it. The designs of Fender guitars and basses are time-tested, they hardly need improvement, but if you know how to enhance your sound with capacitors and potentiometers, more power to you!
Very true sir I have played everything from Ratt to Alice in Chains hains with a p bass and you know how hard Alice in Chains tone can get be to get
I have a Squier Jazz, Squier PJ and Stingray 5… I’ve been playing for about 13 years now. Considering a P bass for my next buy. I would honestly like this to be my last buy… really doing my research to see how well these actually hold up in regards to different styles of music. Would you guys say a P bass is better than a Jazz for Rock or Pop?
@@ryanball4799 Many players have used it in pop, but I'd say use your ears and decide for yourself... there's no limitation in my opinion. I have a j-bass, p-bass and a couple of others, and despite their own unique qualities, they are all great for all types of music!
As always, I took my P bass to a pretty big show, with quite a few bands. As I hit the stage, one of the sound guys asked me if I liked the way the bass player in the band before me sounded, I said yeah, he said well you're going to sound way better than he did, with that Precision you got there.
I bought my first (& only)Fender P Bass when I was 16 yrs old, I am now 56. I still have her & she is my go-to bass to this day. I have owned many bass guitars & that PBass is hands down my favorite, there is nothing I can't do with it.
Thanks for all you do!!!
Same here! I bought mine at 14, (financed through my parents) and now I'm 54. I have a '80 Ric 4003, '67 Gibson EBO, Ibanez fretless, and a Cort acoustic (by the way is very nice), but I always lean more to my 1977 Fender P bass! Love it!
That's awesome. I got my first guitar at 19, didn't play it much and sold it a bit over 20 years later when I bought a new guitar. It was a Washburn Nuno N1 which cost about $400 Australian in the 90s. Wish I'd kept it as the neck was beautiful and easy to play. Probably just needed some different pickups.
I have kept my Squire Jazz from about 10 years ago, despite getting a higher quality one. Glad I did as the neck is great and the sunburst finish is sublime. Got it when rosewood necks were still the norm as well 🤘
Even if it isn't your thing -- you need to own a Precision. It has specific tonal character that you can't get with anything else, no matter how much you EQ it. In short -- it sounds like a bass. As for the neck not being fast -- don't force it. Let the neck dictate how you play -- simpler, fatter, more in the groove. That's what makes the P so special.
I’ve got a small hands and I find it’s not a problem at all with a P bass neck just love it
I have short stubby fingers and I have agree with you about the P bass having a thinner neck profile which is easier to play
You can’t go wrong with a classic P Bass. If you gig, if you go recording, ppl you play with/for and sound engineers are used to its tone (which it does blend well almost everywhere). Nice vid as usual Mark 😊
You can't go wrong, but you also can't go beyond its limitations
The new American 50's P-Bass neck is the best bass neck ive ever used, its as solid as a rock, love the finish and rolled edges of the USA necks, costs more but its worth it
I've seen the argument that Pbass tones are something engineers are used to, but Pbasses can have widely different sounds. Some are bright and midrangy, some are dark and thuddy, some sound wonderful, and some sound like crap. Assuming that a Pbass will automatically sound like what you're used to is an exercise in futility.
The wide neck is actually a pro for me because I have big hands and it makes the bass much easier to play. The single split coil has a sound that fits just about any style of music, so in that sense it's actually one of the most versatile basses going. It can go from fat and smooth with the tone rolled off, to spanky and percussive with the tone rolled all the way up. The perfect bass sound for country, blues, disco, funk, soul/R&B ( though I think the jazz bass sounds slightly better on a pop tune ). Sounds great with a pick too, especially with flats and palm muting
I got a P-bass in 1972, still play it, still a work horse with battle scars and some bare wood on the neck where there used to be finish. I was never crazy about the volume and tone pots and as I get older weight is something I consider more often if you are standing for long periods (it is heavy). But it's still my go to bass. I have to say I played for many years playing by ear, intuition, picking up things from other players, but Mark Smith taught me how to play bass. The music theory course really opened things up and brought things together for me. Thanks Mark.
I grew up on a Jazz, my older brother (my hero and role model, may he rest in peace) owned a Jazz (1972 Fender "ashtray", now mine) and that's just what I thought a bass guitar WAS. I _thought_ I prefered the Jazz sound, with its tighter, tinier sound, especially with a pick (how my brother played) in all those 70s rock bands. It is only recently that I have fallen in LOVE with that P bass PLUNK! (Cont'd below)
I had to have one, which I now do - a Fender Zone, a 90s MIM with a Jazz neck, 22 fret r-wood fingerboard, bridge pu (single J) and a 9V pre. I love it, of course, but somehow I find it only comes **close** to that traditional P sound. Maybe 90% there, but just not that bona fide PLUNK. Does anyone agree that the "upgrades" to modernize the Precision design don't quite get you 100% of the way there with regard to The Sound? (Please don't tell me how to solo the P pickup, I'm not _quite_ as stupid as my avatar photo looks. 😵 Close, but not full-on STOOPID. 😁Thanks - JD, Canada)
I bought an American and I don't care what anyone says , there's a definite difference. The best playing and best sounding bass I've owned. I've played 35 years. It's all the little things it does. And the extra attention to detail. There's many small things most people don't look for that I do, because I've played so long. And I play everyday. And the American P bass I bought is perfect. Great bass and worth the extra money
I've built two P basses. Another pro of the P is how easily repaired it is and the wealth of parts available for replacements or upgrades.
Put a P-pickup near the bridge you get super clear high notes but the difference between the bass and treble sides is massive
Stratosphere guitar parts, ive built 10 Strats, Telecaster, four P-basses, three Jazz Basses, you can actualy build one
for less than List price, i just built an American Ultra P-J Bass, and put a new american 50's neck on it,
I mainly play P&J basses, but I always make sure to keep a P-bass in my arsenal when I want a more traditional sound and when I really want to cut through a mix.
you mean a precision jazz style bass? why not just use the split coil on the PJ itself?
@@musenw8834 Even though PJ basses do have precision pickups, even if you roll down the jazz pickup all the way down. they don't become actual precisions. Close, but not quite.
@@LordEradicus Aha! I've been asking this question throughout the comments: Does a P/J sound like a P when the split coil pickup is soloed? I only own/have owned the former (P/J), never the latter (P) and I've always suspected that to be the case, that they DO NOT. Is the P pickup positioned differently? That's my theory, but I've never been able to measure.
$#i+. now I gotta go buy another bass...🤣
The Precision BASS is the greatest sounding Bass of all! Period!
Great video Mark! As a bass player for 55 years, (still active), all I can say is Leo got it right! Precisions, and Jazz’s for me exclusively!
And I thought **I** was the old guy! At 60, still playing (badly)...and loving it! Can't say my musical tastes have changed much over the past 30 years or so. Still into Jamiroquai, Costello, Incognito, etc. Like TMBG too, but their basslines suck, heh heh. Played Fender the whole time like you, save for a brief foray into G&L (L-2500), but that's Leo as well!
My Fenders now: one J bass and one P (Zone) and a Yamaha TRB5-P for those 5-string jobs. Those Japs make a damn good bass, I must say, I would buy a 4-string from them in a heartbeat. WAY different sound, but the build is simply FLAWLESS. Anybody own a MIJ Precision out there? Does it sound like its American counterpart?
Anyway, just a quick (?) "Hi, howdy do" from Another Old Guy. Keep on truckin' (and something that rhymes with truckin') Later - JD, from The Great White North
I've played Gibson,Musicman,and many others.I now only own 2 P's and 2 J's.
I researched for ages and tried out many different basses in many different stores, and by far the nicest blend of everything I wanted was in the mexican player fender p bass in capri orange. Agree with all your points.
I have the player pbass in capri orange and i love it! I play it most by far of all my basses 🙂
A couple of years back I tried out the player series but eventually went for a Jaguar primarily for its so called 'PJ' pickup configuration giving me a wider range of tones. Nothing wrong with the classic P though but perhaps just too simple if anything for what I was looking for. Incidentally, the player series are great basses for quality at a price e half of the cost of an American built instrument.
I was almost set on buying a squier 70s pbass in walnut with the block inlays until I played one. The inlays were stickers! It just did not feel great to play. Then i picked up a player series and it felt like another step up in quality, mainly the neck but also the pickup warmth and general tone. I put flats on it and a high mass bridge, and played it so much I bedded the strings in nicely. Perfect intonation on every fret!
Worth the increase in price? Probably not but it is what it is and I dont regret it!
I got the Jaguar bass in Capri Orange, and the finish is so buttery and rich. Photos don't do it justice.
I've got a capri orange player pbass too! Added a brown tort pickguard, custom pickups with cream covers and tapewounds for that 70s vibe
Just got mine today to help track my upcoming album. I'm a songwriter / jack of all trades who plays many instruments fairly, but not a master of any. So, I wasn't smart enough to start my bass collection with a P Bass. Instead, I went for the more out-there choice of a JMJ Mustang bass - which, while AWESOME - is simply not the "classic electric bass sound" that I was seeking without realizing my mistake.
cannot describe in words how happy I am to be playing a P Bass now. It is the archetypal "bass guitar" sound that I had in my head, and it just SITS in the fucking mix without any effort or struggle. I'm so happy. The Mustang bass will still get plenty of workouts, especially since it's so fun & easy to play a short-scale with flatwounds, but I have 100% confidence that the P Bass will be a great choice for virtually any songwriting or bass tracking that I do for the rest of my life. I'm so happy :)
Good overview....I think you should do one for the Jazz , Stingray ( single pup) , and Ricky as well.....
Coming soon
I personally can't stand bass traditionalists and, by extension, the cult around the P bass. I tried to make the split coil P pickup sound work for at least 10 years and it just doesn't do what I need to. The low mids are wooly, the high mids are flat and the top end sparkle is barely present. It doesn't react well when you dig in with fingers, it gets clanky instead of punchy. The only P tone I like is amp drive and a pick, but even that can't get near the punchiness I've been getting from my Stingray. Seriously, ever since I switched over to MM style humbuckers I've never sounded clearer in a mix.
Im in love with p basses, they are what they are, simple, traditional, and maybe a little bit boring for some guys, but i like it.
I had a Precision for more than 40 years. I grew to dislike the wide neck and most of all, the slab body. I turned to a Jazz Bass for a while, which remedied both problems, but ended up with a Jaguar Short Scale, which has a Jazz Bass-width neck, contoured body, and short 30" neck. I'll never go back to 34" again.
As a side note, I only need one bass so I sold the P-Bass. As a bonus, I had originally bought it for $300 and sold it for $800.
My first good bass was a 1972 Pbass. It sounded . . . well, okay, but it was stressful to play. Width was okay, but the neck was so thick is felt like playing on my forearm. I've since been careful to stick with basses with thinner necks, and the fatigue factor is much less of a problem.
i have played p basses for 34 years and i still love the simplicity and tone!
Pros ‘some engineers are lazy so they’ll love you for having a bass that they’ve already dealt with in most kinds of mixes before’… Cons… Low mids are fat, but the ultra lows aren’t great. Not as good with distortion as a Rick or a Bird.
Lazy is spot on. A sound engineer's job is to record sound. Any sound. It's the artist's job to choose the sound. They get it twisted around.
I have a P and a J. I am now playing my 1988 J (MIJ) more often than not. I like the variety of tones I can get and, having relatively small hands, I like the thinner neck. That said, both are great basses. I've had Sadowsky basses and ultimately have come home to Fender.
Thanks for the video Mark.
Nice run down on the P bass! Adding effects really expands the tone range on the P bass. Thanks!
I just picked up a pair of the Squier Sonic P-basses.... They have the jazz size neck. The pickups were rubbish! Dropped in some passive EMGs, got a good setup, and Robert's your father's brother! Two workhorses for any gig. And they are cheap enough you don't have to worry about bashing them up. A+
I've used the Fender Steve Harris version which has one pickup for a few years. There is no chunkier neck on any model but it feels comfortable. Thanks for another great video.
Good video. Very frank look at a very popular bass. This is the kind of information that first time buyers really need. More often than not they will be heavily influenced by one player or another. But the sound is the issue, and how and where you'll be using your bass as you progress. The fact (and you clearly spell it out) you can take the P-bass anywhere and do well enough. That's the ticket for the first time buyer. That and it really is a go to bass for any pro to have in their 'tool box'. Thanks much for yet another great video.
I always loved fender precision look. I started with a cheap yamaha pj bass that worked very fine for me. I realized that, even having a j pick up at bridge position, i never used it. I like the precision sound more. So i bought a squier vintage modified precision bass, the same look that the one you have in the video, put flatwounds on it, and i'm in love with it. I totally agree with the pros and cons, it is simply what i like
Excellent video
I've been playing my 2007 Fender Highway P-Bass (Badass 2 bridge, SPB-3 quarter pound pickup) for 14+ years, and I believe it's extremely versatile instrument. The only thing that it lacks is punch, that's why I use it with Sansamp Bass Driver which practically makes my P-bass sound like an active bass (sort of). Good for all genres of music, metal too.
I love P Basses as they are very simple with that Motown classic sound...💙👊😎
Simple, Concise, Factual Review. Well Done. Thx Mark.
Your points were spot on. I find myself reaching for my Fender Precision over my G&L Jazz most of the time. I love the simplicity and the stout build.
I have 2 P basses. A 1968 and a 2008 w/Maple fingerboard. Love both of them.
I started playing 36 years ago on a P bass, have had different basses since with MM and J pickups, but has since returned to P and P/J basses (great combo). Simplicity is a Big factor for me, I get lost if I have to fidle with a lot of knobs. I would also ad that playing style and where you are plucking or picking on the bass will give you a lot of difference in tone and sound on the same bass guitar. And also what kind of strings you use, of course😊
Awesome review Mark, as always. It would be amazing if you could also review a jazz bass.
Tried out a bunch of P basses recently (including Fender Player, a few Squiers and Sire). I ended up buying a G&L Tribute (Indonesia) SB-2 and had I not bought that I would have got the LB-100. Worth checking out the G&Ls.
I've been down the rabbit hole of bass guitars over two decades... Stingrays, Jazzes, headless, active, passive, P, PJ, telebass, dual and single humbucker, 4 & 5 string et al.
For PROPER playing in a BAND, not bedroom noodling, nothing beats a passive P bass, it cut thru the mix and makes THE sound we all know and love....no faffing about with low/mid/high boost and on which pick up to all dial in, just a simple tone control.
Dont spend a fortune, no need with CNC machining you are simply paying for labour....buy a Harley Benton PB20, decide on flats or rounds and enjoy, simples.
Ohh, if you do insist on active get a Spector end of.
PS I'm a player and a luthier.
I recently went into the studio to record. I played my Stingray on 2 tracks, and my Precision on 2 tracks. I now know why it is the favorite for engineer’s, it fit perfectly in the mix, while the Stingray sounded more aggressive but didn’t sit quite right.
Yeah, thank you for another great video. The p-bass wont ever be turned down for a gig, simply a great sounding and great looking bass.
To me this is the ideal beginner bass. This gentleman taking nails it. A beginner simply does not need 5 knobs and 3 switches to worry about. With a Precision, they can focus on changing their sound via developing their touch aka "producer knob", a very important skill that trains both your hands and your ear.
And to be honest...........I prefer volume volume tone over 3 band eq .... more straightforward
Hi, because of its simplicity I find it a really creative bit of old wood & wire. Love P Bass.x
great playing. and the tone on them basses is just marvelous. soft and hollow and clean and warm. there is something satisfying about it.
I have a Nate Mandell and absolutely love the neck, half way between J and P being slightly narrower at the nut at 40.5mm its become my go to bass, think the neck is something like a 1972 P bass. As mentioned the P is most definately a one trick pony in comparison to something like my active Stingray, however the P does that one trick brilliantly, i dabble with other bass guitars but always seem to arrive back at the Precision and the Nate Mandell is the best of the lot i've played.
Excellent video
I’ve got a p, a j & a stingray. If push comes to shove I would probably keep my p if I could only choose one. However, it is the one that jumps out the mix the least in a live situation (in a rock band).
It’s also the bass tone that sounds great with a bit of saturation - prefer to keep the others clean
I switched from Yamaha to P bass, Fender Player serie. It has modern C shape neck and the sound is to make it short the sound I was always looking for. The neck is a bit of strech from 1. fret to 3. fret but from 5. fret is easy. I have small hands and I don't heve trouble playing, but I do recommend to use "shifting hands" technique to people with small hands and to others, great for speed on bass.
Thanks for the quick-but-thorough look at this iconic instrument.
As mentioned, so much is based on preference. Case in point: the big hand-little hand/nut width issue. I have normal-sized hands but my fingers are kinda stubby (I'm all palms; I think I needed a couple more weeks in the womb for my fingers to catch up). Still, I definitely prefer the P's roomy neck width. To me, the J's tapering neck and thinner nut creates a bit of a crowding issue. I feel I have to scrunch up my fingers which seems like more work when I'm playing near the nut. But, it's all good--the J is awesome, too.
Regarding the single, perfectly placed pickup and whether its glorious sound is kind of limited, I think that hand placement and using the tone knob creates a satisfying tonal range. Playing in front of the pickup, over it, or behind it, and playing with the tone wide open, half-opened, or completely rolled off results in plenty of useful tones (not to mention how Mark already demonstrated how the P, like any bass, will sound different by playing finger style, slap, or with a pick).
I’ve had a few basses over the years but as you could guess by my portrait, my favorite is my Mexican p bass with labella flats. It cost hundreds less than my others but it’s the one I leave the house with most often.
Love mines P is what's up.
I love P basses, but only play 5 string these days and couldn't get a Fender P 5-String that felt right. Managed to get very close to the sound with an Ibanez SR with Nordstrand P&J type pickups and active/passive switching and a passive tone control. Amazing sounding bass ....shame it doesn't look like a P though
ever looked at the Yamaha BB?
@@joetspaulding love them, had a really nice BB425. Really good workhorses, and I'm keen to try the new models , just haven't been near a Yamaha dealer for years. ( I had some great 4 string Yam basses too)
Fender has only one five string precision model. not the best place to find a good five string bass.
Very inciteful Mark, although you didn't comment on the maple neck. I owned a 1973 P Bass and traded it for a Jazz with a rosewood fretboard due to the wide neck that you mentioned. The maple neck is brighter than the jazz but felt like playing a 2x4 used for home construction.
Great video. I have a p bass. Love it I'll admit I did not know all the reasons you listed. I have the jazz bass also. I am happy and content to cover most needs.
I'm very thankful my parents bought me a plain ol P bass for my birthday. It was a huge gateway for me to learn so much more. Just the look of it inspired me (tho I wasn't a fan of the sound) I prefer jazz basses now, but I can't help but desire to own a p bass when i see one on reverb or something
Check out Stu Cook's bass in 1970 Creedence. Shaved neck, finish replaced with beeswax, second P-bass pickup at bridge, AND Rickenbacker horseshoe pickup at neck ... don't forget the added controls!
I have 2 p basses. One is black, maple neck white pickguard, traditional.
The other is black, black hardware, black pickguard, matching headstock with emg pickups and a rosewood neck with block inlays. Both a great at what they do
I'd love to see another video like this about the Ric 4003. That's one bass I find particularly intriguing.....
Love both of my P Basses. Mim in sunburst & a Squier Classic Vibe 50s also in sunburst.
Remember my first P Bass when my main instrument was Guitar, I bought off a school mate all those decades ago, It had a neck like a banana and a broken tuning peg. It’s a shame I didn’t at the time know more about guitar maintenance.
The pick-up on that bass was actually great. But soon got rid of it.
In a way I regret getting rid of it. As these days even if the neck couldn’t be sorted I could easily get a replacement off evilbay.
My re-introduction into bass playing came in the form of a lovely Jazz Bass. This bass lasted me a long time before it got sold on. It was a fabulous workhorse. The Korean Jazz Basses were very good. But a big part of me now wishes I had gotten another PBass. Don’t think I would’ve wanted to have missed out on having the Jazz bass mind you.
Prior to lockdown and through lockdown I corrected the omission of a PBass . And now oddly seem to own three and they are great. Especially my burgundy/purple one with the slight metallic hue, which I fitted with a genuine Mexican Fender neck….
My first bass was P. After couple years of perfect tone pursuit I'd installed J bridge pu in it. Then got a J, then a fretless J. And finally active Ibanez BTB. But, honestly, I really I really miss that stringed log.
good points. At 66 with 52 years at the bottom I still prefer simplicity; Precision bass/HartkeLH500/15" cab no tweeter, or upright into GKMB150 A passive jazz is as complicated as I get. My effect is my cable.
I totally agree with all the pros and in general for the cons also, though not personally for me. I always come back to my absolutely reliable and very beloved Precision from 75 and even if I have a PJ configuration I almost only use the P pickup.
And you've forgotten the biggest pro of all: It's a Fender Precision 🤣
Excellent overview. Hope you are advertising on Scott’s videos. His ad appeared on yours. You’re both great teachers. Thanks.
Do you have a shortscale video.?
Yes we have a short scale vid. Just check the channel and search short scale (sorry I don’t have the link at hand)
Another pro for a P-bass is that the pickup is hum-cancelling. unlike single-coil pickups.
I just bought my first bass after playing guitar for 20 years.... I bought a p bass and it does everything I want it to do
Back in the late 80's I was looking for a new bass. I just got approved for a $10,000.00 visa card. I looked at and played everything from Alembic to Zon. Well, maybe not a zon.
But I kept going back to the P-bass. I bought a used 1976 for $600.00. It is still to this day my favorite bass ever. I don't use it too much these days. I has been heavily modified. On it's second Bartolini. The first was with a Fuhrman pre-amp. Now it's all Bartolini. So sweet. Looks a lot like the one in this video.
Having a bolt on neck, it’s easy to interchange necks. If the neck on a P bass should warp, get damaged, or for any reason you decide you want a different neck, the four bolt construction of a P bass allows you to swap out for another.
Let’s say you find over time you like the narrower nut width of the jazz bass, you’ll have no trouble changing necks. Something you can’t do with a neck through or set neck bass.
wow, I love the slap and pluck sound.. sounds like the marcus fender bass.
bought my p in 74 after the 3 ps plug pray and play for two years . there so consistent
I picked up a P bass because I'm a huge fan of Steve Harris and can confirm, it is the workhorse of basses and it seems no matter the generation, is nigh-indestructible. I do agree about the chunkiness of the neck, especially as someone who has Hobbit hands, but have heard this can be alleviated by swapping the neck with the slightly thinner Jazz neck.
In the short term, the C shape neck doesn't seem like that much of a jump. But you get to notice pretty quick - it's much, much speedier than that of the P bass. P bass with a jazz neck is pretty commonplace.
I have a bastardised P-bass that has had several necks on it over the years, including a '70's Squier J-bass and currently a Squier Jaguar long scale (same dimensions as a Jazz). It's an easy swap as the neck pocket dimensions are the same, and decent necks come up on eBay all the time. For me it's the ultimate combination. It'll do anything - rock, disco, blues - and feels great to play. I'm not a show-off and just want to do my job and serve the song, and nothing does it better than a Precision.
I think you pretty much nailed it.
I love all my p-basses!
A epic machine and the best bass of all times for me 😍
Another pro is that engineers and producers prefer P basses over any other bass because they sit in the mix really well and the pickups don't hum.
Thanks Mark 🎸🎶🎶🎵
Good video! I'd like a P with a J neck. My faithful Aria sounds _almost_ as good but not quite close enough - it's a PJ but I use the neck pickup because I've got a J bass for those sounds.
Aria's are fantastic. Especially the r60 and black and gold.
When I was very young, I thought the P bass is by it´s looks and tone an old peoples bass... now couple of decades later, I think it´s perfect :D
Off the hanger, used, candy apple, and meant for playing. Big hands like big necks (comfort level) less cramping more thumping! This instrument has bass balls!!
The new Fender Ultra P-bass has in addition a jazz bridge pickup which provides more versatility in sound and gives it an updated more modern look. It’s a win-win for me
I want to love Ps so many of my heroes played them but I learned on a jazz and just can’t love that big fat neck,plus the Jazz is a bit more versatile I’d say.
Regardless of just one pickup, I’ll take a P-Bass over a Jazz bass anyday!! I have 4 of them Fender Custom Shop to a Custom Elrick P-Bass. Incredible tone!! The only con I would put out there is the weight, they are all over the place. Lol My Elrick is 7.1lbs. Where my Fender Custom Shop is 8.5lbs.
Thanks for your video
Look wise I preffer the Music Man but like you explained very clearly, sound wise, this is the one that started it all...
It is my favorite. Cheers 🎸👍🏼
I love the P sound and overall character over the J. But as a 5strings player, it did cost me a lot of $$ to find one with good low B tone. Fortunately I found a Xotic P. Active, yes, but the only try sounding P bass 5 string I've played. So it's my go to for most things. For more modern stuff I have Smith BSR.
Forgot to mention, not all P basses sound as well as the ash / maple in this video. I was genuinely surprised by the brightness of that thing.
I totally agree and love the P bass it was my first serious bass..... but its the stingray for me :) its my go to. :)
After 50 basses, I've gone back to the LEGEND!!!
JJ Burnel, John Deacon, Glen Matlock, Andy Rourke, Matt Freeman, Sean Hurley, Sting...great precision players
The other thing is you don't need to spend a fortune to get a good P Bass. A modded classic vibe or vintage modified Squier will pretty much play and sound as good as a US precision.
Can you review the short scale Mustang Precision jazz bass since it is both precision and jazz with a mustang body?
Good pointsyou make..I luv the sound of a Precision but yes it is limited in tonal range...fitting a series/parallel DPDT toggle swich will give you a bit more choice but i prefer to use my PJ Jaguar with reversed P pickup,E & A sensor in original position just D & G sensor moved to neck side making it sound more even across the strings....with a noiseless Jazz bridge linear coil pickup it gives lots of tonal variation without any bad buzzing or noise....i use just the P pickup probably 50% of the time...a classic iconic tone...nothing else sounds like a real Fender Precision bass...
Great video's
biggest con is adjusting the trussrod on vintage and vintage reissues. The other is dead spots on the neck. typically the C# on the G string
I'm a P Bass guy. I bought my first Fender P Bass new in 1974 (I wish I still had it). Several times over the years, I have owned and have tried to love the Fender Jazz Bass. I don't have big hands. I really thought that I would like the narrow neck. But it just doesn't feel natural to me. Ultimately though, it comes down to tone. I play mostly blues and classic rock. And for me, nothing beats that big, fat, classic Fender P Bass tone...
also on the second pro i'd like to add John Deacon. there are some killer isolated bass tracks of him on yt, and i'm a big fan of his sound on 1977's "Jazz". bass only tracks of don't stop me now, fat bottomed girls, and bicycle race are on youtube and i love the tone in that and am chasing it very hard right now.
Played one all over the carolinas for years, only bass in my life!
Would be a great series if you did this kind of take on other basses.
What amp are you using? It sounds great! Especially the roundwound section
Leo Fender nailed it from the get go with the p bass apart from very early on changing the original single coil pick up to a split single coil and look wise changing the look to reflect the strat instead of the tele its barely changed from the 60s of course you have the pj configurations and some active and 5 string versions its pretty untouchable you can play anything on them quite literally some slight adjustments with the controls and theres no limit ive played a few different basses but i ride and die for the p bass be it studio or live it never lets me down
Favorite bass
Pro - Readily available anywhere you go meaning you can try before you buy and, if you're a travelling musician, you can easily get your hands on one if something happens to your gear
It is a fabulous bass, but it is exactly that reliable neck that annoys me, I have an Ibanez P J, that has more of a thinner neck more like my Honer B-bass, but the Ibanez has a nice mix of them both (Precision), but it is fun to play...
As a precision and jazz bass owner I can say you've done a very nice job of explaining the attributes of the P bass. Like shoes or automobiles it's what fits and feels right for an individual in the long run.
It is really about how to play not what instrument to play. Some make it easier some less. I like Steinbergers. I like a Steinberber Spirit even. I like how they feel on my left hand.