Fender Precisions - they're fantastic

[stu_g]

i love p basses but mainly i put it down to two things the neck shape and a humbucker pickup,i own a jazz geddy lee i never play and lately i dont even play my hot rod p bass im using two copies a cheri korean p and a yamaha attitude plus (the cheapy one) i love these two mainly cause they feel like precisions although i have opened my mind lately and bought an ibanez sr505 which i will say sounds great and plays great. so to sum up i blame my love of all things precision on my marlin sidewinder(a p bass copy) my first bass

[4000]

For years I never really got on with Fenders (P or especially J) but recently a mate bought a '76 (?) maple-necked P. I tried it out in rehearsal and it sounded really great in the band (although a little heavy and I had to make adjustments to play in the upper register; I'm not used to that heel!). I've since been trying various ones out and recently came across a Mexican Classic P that I thought was tremendous; great sound, nice weight, lovely neck. Haven't bought it yet but I hope to, or another like it if I can find one. Seems to me that unless you're looking to have bags of definition/"glass" a good P bass will do most things you throw at it; big rock sound, reggae, r&b, soul, funk, blues, jazz etc.

[jonny-lad]

I've never previously owned a precision, and always used to think that they sounded a bit muddy, but recently I've come to my senses and bought a Squier Classic Vibe 60s Precision. I was after something closer to the James Jamerson style tone and something that would contrast my Spector Rebop 5-string rather than just getting another bass that does a similar job to my main bass.

First thing I did was re-string it with a set of D'addario Chromes, and since getting it, I've barely touched my Spector! The Precision just fits in the mix perfectly with no messing about or changing settings. It also sounds great with a pick, which I'm using more and more, whereas before I was almost entirely a finger-style player.

[4-string-thing]

Original and best! I've owned mine for 30 years, and never, ever felt the urge to sell it. How many of you can say that about your fancy/exotic, 5 and 6 strings?

[OldGit]

[quote name='4-string-thing' post='668493' date='Nov 28 2009, 05:19 PM']Original and best! I've owned mine for 30 years, and never, ever felt the urge to sell it. How many of you can say that about your fancy/exotic, 5 and 6 strings?[/quote]


Well I'm never selling my exotic 5 string Shuker ................. Precision

[funkypenguin]

[quote name='4-string-thing' post='668493' date='Nov 28 2009, 05:19 PM']Original and best! I've owned mine for 30 years, and never, ever felt the urge to sell it. How many of you can say that about your fancy/exotic, 5 and 6 strings?[/quote]

ask me in 20 years time

In response to the question....i would disagree. i certainly wouldnt play one in my prog. band, reasons being, wrong sound, lack of range and P basses being hard to play in the upper register

[warwickhunt]

Can't get away with a straight P bass but stick another pup at the bridge and you can colour me interested!

[alanbass1]

My P Bas is my 'go to' bass for recording - for putting a 'foundation' bass line down it sits in the mix like none of the other basses I play. Have owned it for 34 years I will never part with it and will still be using it for many years to come.

[bh2]

I'm very happy with mine!

[bassjamm]

Haven't read through too many of the posts here, but thought i'd chip on.

It's funny, but I used to be extremely anti-fender. Hated them. I was all about the boutique basses, and loved them...then I played a Jazz...ahhh!

Turns out my dream sound was a Jazz...well, then I played a Precision...well...

I've had some nice basses, and the only one i've got left is my Precision...it's awesome. How it does everything it does I don't know. But I love it.

There's something so beautiful about it's simplicity, it's 'no frills no spills' approach, and it's tone I love it! And what about versatility...I play R'n'B, Funk, Jazz, Rock, Punk, Ska, Chordal stuff...everything...and it just does it all.

Ahh...beautiful Precisions

[Deep Thought]

[quote name='Born 2B Mild' post='666766' date='Nov 26 2009, 09:37 PM']Yes [b]Three [/b]shall be thy number for my membership ...And the Lord spake, saying, "First shalt thou take out the Holy Pin. Then, shalt thou count to [b]three[/b]. No more. No less. [b]Three [/b]shalt be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be [b]three[/b]. Four shalt thou not count, neither count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to [b]three[/b]. Five is right out. Once at the number [b]three[/b], being the third number be reached, then, lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch towards thy foe, who, being naughty in My sight, shall snuff it."[/quote]

"And Saint Atila raised the hand grenade up on high, saying,
'Oh, Lord, bless this thy hand grenade, that with it thou mayest blow
thine enemies to tiny bits, in thy mercy.' And the Lord did grin, and
people did feast upon the lambs, and sloths, and carp, and anchovies,
and orangutans, and breakfast cereals, and fruit bats....."

I've dallied with other basses, but the Precision was always the bass I aspired to when I started playing. When I played my MIA Precision in the shop, I knew there was no point keeping the Ibanez which up 'til then I'd been quite happy with, because I knew it would never get played. The only thing I said I'd ever replace it with was a Shuker JJ Burnel, which I did-which is basically a super Precision. With the possible exception of a Rickenbacker, which is only idle curiousity, I can't think of another bass I'd rather own.

[4 Strings]

Interesting thread. Of course these basses are the classic design and the result of inspired vision all those years ago.

Basic design for unskilled hands, crude construction (only the neck and neck pocket requiring any accuracy), simple and robust, the most popular ever made. If there's a car comparison its a Ford Model T.

Compare the classiness of Jamerson with the rattle and growl of Entwhistle, we know they're the same instrument but an example of the range of sound. The Precision sound has stood the test of time and is perfect for providing punch weight and definition to be heard clearly in the mix.

The neck is a wide handful, slowing play down and I find them the most fiddly to set up. Constantly going back to reach perfection, especially intonation. These don't play thensleves like some modern basses, they need work.

However, despite crinkly tin bridge, loads of sustain, deep tones and punch, but often give flat spots half way up the G string.

The bridge is right back near the end of the body and so this brings the end of the neck nearer the player. Despite this they are neck heavy.

There are better guitars around but these are iconic, classic and will get the job done as well as you can play it. Not perfect, not the best but you have to have deep pockets to buy better.

Unless you slap. Not great for slap.

[OldGit]

[quote name='4 Strings' post='668810' date='Nov 28 2009, 11:37 PM']Unless you slap. Not great for slap.[/quote]

MarlowDK may disagree with you.

[SS73]

Having never even played one, I thought I would try, so I bought one off Beerdragon, a little bit of tweaking and hey! that's a great sounding Bass, initially found nice mellows with a hint of growl, but its early days and I'm enjoying finding out more of what's on tap. Having spent the last 30 years with a 4001, buying it because of wanting to be different, thought a Precision was a bit like an Escort, everbodys got one so I'll pass, bit silly really.
So just got myself a SPD1 from the US for £40 new and this will be fitted today, all good fun.

[chris_b]

[quote name='4 Strings' post='668810' date='Nov 28 2009, 11:37 PM']....Unless you slap. Not great for slap....[/quote]
Well, it doesn't do that nasty typewriter clacking sound that passes for slap these days, but as MarlowDK demonstrates it does "proper" slap very nicely!

[Telebass]

[quote name='Sean' post='209118' date='May 29 2008, 06:25 PM']Vanilla is a very pungent and exotic spice.[/quote]

My favourite flavour!

[quote name='tauzero' post='213872' date='Jun 6 2008, 01:10 PM']Of course they will. Look how long it took to eradicate smallpox.[/quote]

Baaad attitude, dude...


[quote name='4 Strings' post='668810' date='Nov 28 2009, 11:37 PM'][b]The neck is a wide handful, slowing play down and I find them the most fiddly to set up. Constantly going back to reach perfection, especially intonation. These don't play themselves like some modern basses, they need work.[/b]

The standard Fender B neck, 1.625", is the same nut width as a Strat guitar neck. Not big at all, nor nearly as chunky as, say, Warwick necks. C neck, 1.75" starts to feel big, but not overly so, IMHO. The extra effort, that's part of the sound...you put in effort, good sounds come out. Plays itself? Only has its own tone, then. And, as a tech, I have to ask: what is simpler to set up? No bass I've yet met...

[b]However, despite crinkly tin bridge, loads of sustain, deep tones and punch, but often give flat spots half way up the G string.[/b]

The bridge does exactly what it needs to, and no other has done more than tweak it, at best. Few wooden basses are completely free of deadspots, whoever makes them.

[b]The bridge is right back near the end of the body and so this brings the end of the neck nearer the player. Despite this they are neck heavy.[/b]

I've said this many times, and in many places: in 40 years, I've never met a neck-heavy Precision.

[b]There are better guitars around but these are iconic, classic and will get the job done as well as you can play it. Not perfect, not the best but you have to have deep pockets to buy better.[/b]

True. Almost. IMHO, there are not many better basses around. But I [i]am[/i] a little biased!

[b]Unless you slap. Not great for slap.[/b]

Not the best for slap, true...but do-able![/quote]

Edited November 29, 2009 by Telebass

[karlthebassist]

James Jamerson, Geezer Butler, Duck Dunn, Colin Hodgkinson, Billy Sheehan John Entwistle, Guy Pratt, Tony Franklin, Pino Palladino, Brian Wilson, Sid Vicious, Paul Simonon, Sting, Andy Rourke, Phil Lynott, Steve Harris.

All these chaps have managed to make a pretty big dent into the shape of modern music using a P-Bass, and through several different styles of music. So I don't think that you can say that they aren't versatile...

[lojo]

I only own a MIM but I have to say to grows on me more and more the more I use it, I dont think I will ever part with it

As the last post, they have been used by fantastic players across all styles and still are

Perhaps, just those simple pickups right between usual bridge and neck pick up positions we see on other styles of basses is really all that is needed, and anything more is a fancy toy

Fancy toys are fine and fun, I love them also, but I am just saying I dont think music live or recorded would have suffered to date if nothing beyond the p bass had been invented

All the famous players of the past who used the j type set-up, would still have sounded great on a P

[bh2]

Distinct lack of piccys on this thread...

My MiM P modded... sounds and plays fantastic...



Had to remove pup cover... oh well.

[Telebass]

Mine is also modded similarly. Black, b/w/b guard, finger rest and ashtrays. I do paly with the covers on, no problem for me; also have 'em on the 51.

[Stag]

I must say ive been blown away by mine, after never having owned one since before last week in 15 years+ of playing. Versatile yet simple, effective in almost any situation. Everyone should have one!

[BassCat]

I love my Precision, even though it was only a reasonably cheap Mex one it still gives off the greatest sound. And it has a mirrored scratchplate. Which is cool.

[dannybuoy]

[quote name='Stag' post='670945' date='Dec 1 2009, 12:24 PM']I must say ive been blown away by mine, after never having owned one since before last week in 15 years+ of playing. Versatile yet simple, effective in almost any situation. Everyone should have one! [/quote]

No, everyone should have two! One strung with flats, one strung with rounds!

[Low End Bee]

[quote name='dannybuoy' post='671109' date='Dec 1 2009, 02:23 PM']No, everyone should have two! One strung with flats, one strung with rounds![/quote]

I tried flats on precision no 2 with great hopes. Yuk. Not for me.

If it was a vehicle a Precision would be a Transit van filled with big boxes of straightforward bass.

I love 'em.

[OldGit]

[quote name='Low End Bee' post='671140' date='Dec 1 2009, 02:52 PM']I tried flats on precision no 2 with great hopes. Yuk. Not for me.

If it was a vehicle a Precision would be a Transit van filled with big boxes of straightforward bass.

I love 'em.[/quote]


Flats vary a lot . I tried Jamerson signatures on a P bass once and they were impossible to play, other than for exercise to toughen up your finger muscles. However Drewie has some flats on one of his basses and they are really different. Not quite sure what they are.
I guess I'm saying don't dismiss flatties without trying different makes of string.