Fender P-Bass comparison. Guess which is which!

[Miki Groove]

Hi!

First of all sorry for my english, I'm from Spain.

I've been testing some basses with a friend and I recorded a clip with 3 different Fender Precision.

[b]1 - A pre-CBS P-Bass.[/b] Maybe from 1958.
Exactly this one: [url="http://www.segundamano.es/madrid/fender-precision-1962-original/a34154604/?ca=8_s&st=a&c=27"]http://www.segundama...a=8_s&st=a&c=27[/url]
We don't know exactly the year of this bass because there's no neck date and some no-original parts, but we're 99% sure the body, neck and pickup are pre-CBS. Ash body, Maple neck.

[b]2 - My '71 P-Bass. [/b]All original. Alder body, Maple neck, Rosewood fingerboard. Exactly this one: [url="http://www.bajistas.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=31997"]http://www.bajistas....pic.php?t=31997[/url]

[b]3 - A '00 P-Bass Made in Mexico.[/b] Ash body, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard. Stock Pickup.

Here's the clip: [b][url="http://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/comparativa-fender-p-bass"]http://soundcloud.co...a-fender-p-bass[/url][/b]


From 0:00 to 0:43 is one of these basses.

From 0:43 to 1:43 is another. The strings are old in this second bass... I'm sorry. That makes it even more difficult.

From 1:43 to the end of the clip is the other one.

[b]Can you tell me which is which and which is the best and worst for you?? And WHY??[/b]



[size=5][b]Let's play! [/b][/size]

By the way... could someone revise my english on this post? thanks

Edited April 29, 2012 by Miki Groove

[Ou7shined]

[NancyJohnson]

I like the tone on the first sequence...it's a little less wooly, so I'd like to put that down to it being a more contemporary take.

...my guess;
Part#1 is the 2000 MIM
Part#2 is the 1958
Part#3 is the 1971

Good one & nice playing!
P

[Miki Groove]

[quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1335732449' post='1635237']

[/quote]

Hahaha that's me!!!

[EssentialTension]

I've no idea which is which.

[lapolpora]

You sir...have lovely chops.

My wild guess:

1 - MIM
2 - '71
3- '58

[LukeFRC]

1- '58
2- '71
3- MIM

[DrBike]

1 - MIM
2 - '58
3 - '71

[machinehead]

Lovely playing, but I can bearly tell the difference between a Precision bass and the neck pickup of a jazz bass.

Frank.

[MrTaff]

They all sound good, no idea which is which though.

[EssentialTension]

[quote name='MrTaff' timestamp='1335735077' post='1635311']
They all sound good, no idea which is which though.
[/quote]
Yep.

[Ou7shined]

The third one sounds the best.... that probably makes it the MIM then.

[Miki Groove]

[quote name='MrTaff' timestamp='1335735077' post='1635311']
They all sound good, no idea which is which though.
[/quote]

[KennysFord]

I prefer;
Clip 2
Clip 3,
Clip 1

I reckon 1st is the 71, 2nd is the 58 and the Mex is last.
But what the hell do I know, nice chops.

[dannybuoy]

^

I agree with that order. Beefier output from the 71, old school from the 58, and meh from the Mexican.

#1 is my fave.

Edited April 29, 2012 by dannybuoy

[BassTractor]

1 - '71
2 - '58
3 - '00 MIM

[BassTractor]

BTW, what a cool little test, and how informative as well.

[jay]

1)MIM (only because of the slap
2)'71
3)'58

[BB3000S]

The strings on the Clip 2 bass sound quite dull compared to the other two, which sort of makes it sound vintagey.
Anyway, my guess is
1-72
2-58
3-MiM

The best sound to me is clip 2 - more on account of the strings being well broken in (which I love on a P bass) than being convinced that it is the -58 and therefore superior.

Great chops and cool idea!

[BB3000S]

Oops, added a +1 to the 71 on account of the chops.

[guildbass]

Not a fan of these things but the first clip sounds like the '71, sort of ...Meh...the second clip has that slightly crap (stand at the back and hide' '50's tone and the third one has a '90's punchy sound so a contemporary instrument.

Nice playing by the way!

[gjones]

1. MM more twangy less thump

2. 58 Very thumpy with what I would say was the perfect woody P bass sound

3. 71 Also very thumpy and P bass sounding... very nice.

They are all good in their own way. But I like the vintage sound of No 2 best.

Edited April 30, 2012 by gjones

[Miki Groove]

Just a note:

People pays between 4.000$ and 20.000$ for a original pre-CBS.
The value of a mint condition '71 P-Bass like this is 3.000$ aprox.
The value of a '00 P-Bass MiM is about 300$.

And you, bass players, are not sure of which is which... something's wrong... hahaha

[Ou7shined]

I think we are actually better at hearing the difference between fretboard woods and oxygen free mains cables.

[jay]

When do we get an answer? Don't leave it too long now!