Ultimate P Bass?

[Ashborygirl]

So guys & gals, what would you consider to be the best P Bass offering money can buy these days? Only stipulations, it must look like a P, have a P pickup & not be a vintage Fender.

[LukeFRC]

Fender American Vintage series. Either '57ri or 62ri


actually Ive not heard a bad word about the pino signature P

[KiOgon]

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1360609209' post='1973347']
Fender American Vintage series. Either '57ri or 62ri


actually Ive not heard a bad word about the pino signature P
[/quote]
+1, I don't think they can be beat, unless you don't like Fenders of course. '57 for Maple & '62 for rosewood

Bad word about Pino's = why do they have to make the bridge so rusty?

Edited February 11, 2013 by KiOgon

[AndyTravis]

See, I was going to say value for money the new Nate Mendel model is very good.

The Road Worn 50's, and the Classic 50's too.

I want to try a Pino, they seem to be universally praised.

I may order one as a closet classic/NOS rather than relic/distressed.

As a point, the new 'Pure Vintage' AV stuff looks great, but is heading towards CS money.

Edited February 11, 2013 by AndyTravis

[marcus bell]

I've got the nate Mendel fender precision and it's great!

[Lozz196]

Out of the ones I`ve played, and I`ve played many, the Pino gets my vote. If not able to stretch that far with funds, the Road Worns are a darn fine bass too.

[franzbassist]

[quote name='Ashborygirl' timestamp='1360609058' post='1973341']
it must look like a P, have a P pickup & not be a vintage Fender.
[/quote]

So it doesn't have to be a Fender then?

[EssentialTension]

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1360609209' post='1973347']
Fender American Vintage series. Either '57ri or 62ri


actually Ive not heard a bad word about the pino signature P
[/quote]
I've played a couple of Palladino sigs and they are very nice but the bad word is a number and it's the price.

You can pickup a used 62RI for probably less than half the usual new price. As long as you're happy with the 1.75" nut, then it's the one.

[Dingus]

The new Xotic XP basses look pretty nice to me , but in my experience the closest you can get to nice vintage Fender but better is the U.S.A Lakland Bob Glaub ( now called 44-64 ) .

[Happy Jack]

I've had a few Skylines and liked them all, but I've still never actually played a US Lakland.

I really should do something about that ...

[chris_b]

I've got a rather good Pbass, made by Mike Lull.

[Dingus]

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1360612950' post='1973472']
I've had a few Skylines and liked them all, but I've still never actually played a US Lakland.

I really should do something about that ...
[/quote]

The Skylines are very good , but the U.S - made basses are the real icing in the cake . There isn't a big difference in the final sound coming out of your amp between a Skyline and a U.S Lakland , but the feel and overalll build quality of the American - made basses is worth the extra money , and they can do you whatever size neck you want , 1.75 , 1.625 or 1.5 nut width .

[Dingus]

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1360613151' post='1973477']
I've got a rather good Pbass, made by Mike Lull.
[/quote]

They look like lovely basses .

[KiOgon]

Down a bit on the price list comes the Highway One P-bass, very highly regarded, if you're going for a 2nd hand, worth keeping an eye out for.

The new American Special P I'd like to try, good VFM I reckon.

The American Vintage basses are/were apparently made in the 'Custom Shop' so they do get that bit extra attention to detail.

I've tried some Pino's & as much as I'd like one, can't justify the asking price.

[bigsmokebass]

[quote name='marcus bell' timestamp='1360611213' post='1973403']
I've got the nate Mendel fender precision and it's great!
[/quote]

Pictures?

As far as P basses go; i like Lakland, they look and sound fantastic and have a mixture of modern and classic features and the Fender Nate Mendel has seemed to be one on everyones list (who also played Lakland basses, ironically)

BSB

[3below]

Kramer DMZ4001 - vintage USA 1970s, aluminium neck, clarity of notes is amazing. DiMarzio pickup - huge outpiut. And the steal is they are about for sensible money. Might be Marmite though, I rate mine highly.

[peteb]

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1360612602' post='1973461']
The new Xotic XP basses look pretty nice to me , but in my experience the closest you can get to nice vintage Fender but better is the U.S.A Lakland Bob Glaub ( now called 44-64 ) .
[/quote]
They are the two I would go for - not that I've played an Xotic XP, but if they are as good as their jazz bass then they will be stunning!

[6v6]

Not played one, and they are rare (not sure if he makes basses anymore), but my suggestion is a Don Grosh P4:

http://www.massstreetmusic.com/store/show_item/3341-Grosh-P4-Bass

If it's anything like the Retro Classic (strat style Grosh guitar) my brother picked up recently it'll be amazing

[hamfist]

Best P bass ? Well, for me, a P bass is defined by "that" pickup in the mid position between end of fretboard and bridge, so any bass with that is a P !
So, for me, it's a G&L SB2. Astonishing tone and a Jazz neck (so I can actually play the thing), plus an extra pickup for more tonal versatility.

Edited February 12, 2013 by hamfist

[ead]

[b]WARNING: NO FENDER CONTENT[/b]

Something like this

http://basschat.co.uk/topic/196092-my-first-acg/page__p__1927622__hl__new%20acg__fromsearch__1#entry1927622

[Coilte]

[quote name='hamfist' timestamp='1360655304' post='1973939']
So, for me, it's a G&L SB2. Astonishing tone and a Jazz neck (so I can actually play the thing), plus an extra pickup for more tonal versatility.
[/quote]


+1 for the SB2.

Always overlooked and under rated.

[Roland Rock]

[quote name='ead' timestamp='1360658883' post='1973987']
[b]WARNING: NO FENDER CONTENT[/b]

Something like this

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/196092-my-first-acg/page__p__1927622__hl__new%20acg__fromsearch__1#entry1927622"]http://basschat.co.u..._1#entry1927622[/url]
[/quote]

I'd say that's stretching it a bit to say that looks like a P - isn't that a J Type?

I'd love to try a Pino Sig, and am also drawn towards the Dingwall Super P

[Dingus]

If you're going to allow PJ basses into the equation ( but take only the sound of the Precision pickup into account ) then I would have to say that the Yamaha BB2024X takes some beating in the ultimate P Bass sound stakes . The neck pickup on those basses sounds [i]massive [/i], albeit with a character slightly different to a conventional Fender Precision .

[Musicman20]

I've played a fair few, and I haven't as yet found one to beat my 2009 American Standard. Maybe I got lucky? I think I did.

Super lightweight, dark slab of rosewood, excellent sunburst that looks like a one/max 2 piece body.

The frets are perfect as is the rest of the bass. The tone is perfect.

As yet, I haven't found another P bass to match it, and I've tried hard to get it a maple/roundwound relative.

[cocco]

My money no object dream P bass is the Pino. What makes a P? To me it's got to be passive, single (split p) pickup, p shaped and a big old neck. Others won't agree with me and they are entitled to their opinion, not saying mine is right but for me there's only one way to skin a cat. It depends on budget though, as we know you can get yourself a fantastic P bass for under £500