AntLockyer Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 Given that my P bass on flats needs are well and truly taken care of by my 62 that leaves me with a late model USA p bass that I love but just sounds like a slightly less good version of my other p bass. I tried some Ti flats on it and they are OK but I'm not keen on the low tension I appear to be a little heavy sometimes on the A string and really have to hold back it feels. I also played a 70s P the other week in Denmark Street, it was the most amazing sounding P I've ever played. It had rounds on it, and burped and growled like nothing else. Trouble is it weighed so much I doubt I'd get through 1 song. So short of my ringing Vintage and rare and asking what strings it had on it. Any recommendations? I'm after something with some tension to it given I'm very used to playing flats (Labella DTFs just came off the aforementioned bass today) and it has to growl and burp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highfox Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 I do like the Dunlops on a P.. Good enough for Paul Turner, good enough for me http://www.jimdunlop.com/artist/paul_turner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 I don't get the P Bass doing that sound, tbh... totally wrong config unless you have a rear J pickup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tedmanzie Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 I have found that[i] very[/i] old and dirty roundwounds sound great on a P-Bass. I doubt manufacturer makes much difference when they're that knackered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 (edited) Many 70s Precisions were made of ash and not alder. I find this to be brighter up top, tighter on the lows and slightly less middy - though I`m sure I`d never tell in the mix. My 78 is the ash-body/maple-neck combo and with a set of fresh Rotosounds it has the sound I believe you`re after Ant, that aggressive growl when you dig in, as oppose to the warmth of many a Precision. Plus 70s Precisions are also meant to have a scooped sound due to the pickups though never having put one of those pickups in an alder-bodied bass I couldn`t say if this is fact or not. But all that aside, the sounds I get from the 78 are way different to the other Precisions I`ve had, even the 77 that I had - which had a rosewood fretboard I might add. Hark back to JJ, Bruce Foxton, Paul Gray, the types of sounds that the 70s (maple-fretboard) Precisions were famed for. Edited June 30, 2014 by Lozz196 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntLockyer Posted June 30, 2014 Author Share Posted June 30, 2014 Perhaps burping isn't the right term. Will give the Dunlop ones a go. Maybe I should just sell the P my jazz and Aria and buy a Sadowsky J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 ok... thought you meant Jaco and the like... which is passive, bridge pickup, pluck hard and muted...and roll off the presense. Pretty much Jazz bass territory.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntLockyer Posted June 30, 2014 Author Share Posted June 30, 2014 This has a little bit of the sound. http://youtu.be/y38C30bleOI?t=56s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesBass Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 I use D'addario EXL series to get that sort of tone with my tone pot fairly open. It's also worth considering my P is a 2011 Mex with Maple neck. Gives it a slight growl when pushed, especially though my CTM300. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 [quote name='AntLockyer' timestamp='1404145292' post='2489743'] I also played a 70s P the other week in Denmark Street, it was the most amazing sounding P I've ever played. It had rounds on it, and burped and growled like nothing else. Trouble is it weighed so much I doubt I'd get through 1 song. So short of my ringing Vintage and rare and asking what strings it had on it. Any recommendations? [/quote] Not been Vintage & Rare for a while - it's now NoTom Guitars. Was that the Precision with the sarcastic "Lightweight" tag on it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntLockyer Posted July 1, 2014 Author Share Posted July 1, 2014 Yes that's the one. Weight a ton, had a neck pocket big enough to live in, the neck was so deep front to back I could barely get my hand round it but it made some really nice sounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prime_BASS Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 I really like d'addario strings at the minute. Check string tension on their website. Once the nickels die a bit they'd get that burp on a P for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzneck Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 I suggest Status half wounds - good tension and burp on my bitsa P. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 [quote name='AntLockyer' timestamp='1404204400' post='2490165'] Yes that's the one. Weight a ton, had a neck pocket big enough to live in, the neck was so deep front to back I could barely get my hand round it but it made some really nice sounds. [/quote] A real 70s Precision then, they just don`t make `em like that anymore (and I`m thoroughly glad I have one). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miles'tone Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 [quote name='AntLockyer' timestamp='1404159564' post='2489933'] This has a little bit of the sound. http://youtu.be/y38C30bleOI?t=56s [/quote] I really like that sound alot, reminds me of a mij P bass with a maple board I had in the '90s. I used Elites Players steels and they had burp a plenty. Had them on there for months and they always sounded good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-bbb Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 [quote name='AntLockyer' timestamp='1404145292' post='2489743'] and it has to growl and burp [/quote] that be a [b][size=6]J[/size][/b] then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntLockyer Posted July 4, 2014 Author Share Posted July 4, 2014 Dunlops on and first impressions are I like them but they aren't doing whats in my head. Scooped the mids out on the amp and they do a really nice sound though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hubrad Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 Sounds to me like if you want that tone you have to get that particular type of bass, or experiment with different combinations of strings/body/neck/fingerboard until you find that thing that works under your fingers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hubrad Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 Alternatively, train so you can handle such a bass as the one you tried! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntLockyer Posted July 4, 2014 Author Share Posted July 4, 2014 I'm tempted to go back and try it again. I can't afford it having jsut bought my 1962 P but it might at least get rid of the demon. Boosting the mids with these dunlops makes a nice sound too. I'm definitely leaving them on for a while and the 45-105 is cool tension wise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miles'tone Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 (edited) I've always loved Dave Margen's burpy P bass tone (call it moist and spanky myself ) Have you ever seen this vid? There's some good up close shots along the way. Love his work on Santana's Moonflower album, some if the best burpy P tone ever recorded in my opinion (if indeed we're on the same page here! ) I always thought he used a maple boarded P to get that sound but no, turns out he used this Oly white pre CBS P on everything. He still uses it today if and when he plays apparently, your '62 should do the business with the right strings/set up. Good luck with the ongoing quest! (Oh yeah, Dunlop's are cracking strings but I never gave mine chance to die properly so let us know how you get on.) PS.. Your bass is always gonna sound better if you rock it with a nice porno moustache! David Margen (Carlos Santana Band)- Runnin' - Epi…: http://youtu.be/hp7w6x1Fe7Y Edited July 4, 2014 by miles'tone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntLockyer Posted July 4, 2014 Author Share Posted July 4, 2014 [quote name='miles'tone' timestamp='1404490344' post='2493187']I've always loved Dave Margen's burpy P bass tone (call it moist and spanky myself ) Have you ever seen this vid? There's some good up close shots along the way. Love his work on Santana's Moonflower album, some if the best burpy P tone ever recorded in my opinion (if indeed we're on the same page here! ) I always thought he used a maple boarded P to get that sound but no, turns out he used this Oly white pre CBS P on everything. He still uses it today if and when he plays apparently, your '62 should do the business with the right strings/set up. Good luck with the ongoing quest! (Oh yeah, Dunlop's are cracking strings but I never gave mine chance to die properly so let us know how you get on.) PS.. Your bass is always gonna sound better if you rock it with a nice porno moustache! [/quote] Holy Cow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dingus Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 (edited) I love the bright, piano-like tone that Anthony Jackson got with his P Bass in the early to mid 1970's , and session ace David Hungate's P Bass- with- roundwounds sound on Boz Skaggs album Silk Degrees ( among others ) from that same era . That is tone I try and emulate with a Precision Bass, full and fruity, but still with a cutting edge. Edited July 4, 2014 by Dingus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntLockyer Posted July 4, 2014 Author Share Posted July 4, 2014 Not listened to that Boz Skaggs before now, liking it so far. I don't know any Anthony Jackson stuff pre Chaka Khan and Donald Fagan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dingus Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 (edited) [quote name='AntLockyer' timestamp='1404495032' post='2493256'] Not listened to that Boz Skaggs before now, liking it so far. I don't know any Anthony Jackson stuff pre Chaka Khan and Donald Fagan [/quote] Have a listen to "Give The People What They Want" and " For The Love Of Money" by the O'Jays and Anthony is playing his P Bass with a pick . By the time he was playing with Chaka and Donald Fagen he was using a Jazz . Edited July 4, 2014 by Dingus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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