Fender P bass question.

[fretmeister]

I quite fancy a good old passive P bass.

I have never owned. 7.25 radius board bass and I fancy trying that.

Is that only available on the wider board (44mm) models like the Vintage US and Mex 50s series? Or are there more options?

Ta.

[Dood]

A good time to ask as I'm researching P basses too! I know you've had a 62RI with a 42mm nut. I have one here that might go for the chop.

I see the '63 & '58 P's are as you say, 7.25 on 44mm. The two basses on my radar are: Steve Harris P. 7.25" 41mm and the Mike Dirnt 9.5" at 40mm. The only thing is that both of these have fat necks that you might not like but I love the idea despite not having tried them myself!

Oh wait! 70's P basses. The Nate Mendel is a 7.25 with a 40mm nut. - it's apparently based on his own 71 (??) P bass. - I'm also wondering if my rather awesome 'law-suit' is the same spec, but have to say, is a better bass than the Nate I played recently!

[dannybuoy]

The other option course is to build a bitsa, there are loads of 7.25" Jazz necks to choose from!

[EmaTheMirror]

Happy owner of a classic 50 here, with a well performing spb1 loaded. A keeper.

IMO, the wide (but not massively deep at all) neck is way nicer in the hand than many think. But I might be biased as I also studied double bass and no electric bass feels unbearably chunky to me. Give it a go in person, they are often around in stores, that's the only way you can tell.

On a side note, it's probably the most stable neck I've owned so far.

[Basszilla]

Slightly off topic, but does anyone know what pickup is in a 95 us standard p-bass?

[dannybuoy]

[quote name='Basszilla' timestamp='1472944938' post='3125562']
Slightly off topic, but does anyone know what pickup is in a 95 us standard p-bass?
[/quote]

Not being flippant here, but that would be a '95 Fender American Standard Precision Bass pickup!

As far as I know, they started putting the Custom Shop 62 pickup in from 2012, but before that it never had a special name. It's likely that the specs varied over the years too, I know 2008 era ones sound quite aggressive for example.

I really like the one that came stock in my 2004, I did the usual pickup upgrade only to find I preferred the original!

Edited September 4, 2016 by dannybuoy

[karlfer]

[quote name='dood' timestamp='1472931235' post='3125457']
A good time to ask as I'm researching P basses too! I know you've had a 62RI with a 42mm nut. I have one here that might go for the chop.

I see the '63 & '58 P's are as you say, 7.25 on 44mm. The two basses on my radar are: Steve Harris P. 7.25" 41mm and the Mike Dirnt 9.5" at 40mm. The only thing is that both of these have fat necks that you might not like but I love the idea despite not having tried them myself!

Oh wait! 70's P basses. The Nate Mendel is a 7.25 with a 40mm nut. - it's apparently based on his own 71 (??) P bass. - I'm also wondering if my rather awesome 'law-suit' is the same spec, but have to say, is a better bass than the Nate I played recently!
[/quote]

Dood, you might want to revisit the 'Arry nut width spec fella

Edited September 4, 2016 by karlfer

[fretmeister]

The classic 50 looks nice.

My brain is having a problem with a MIM Fender costing over £1000 though!

[Lozz196]

It needn`t, this one on here is very reasonable at £450, in fact it`s a steal at that price:

http://basschat.co.uk/topic/290896-fender-50s-precision-bass-maple-fretboard-honey-blonde/

[fretmeister]

Looks like a good example of the breed, but alas that colour is not for me.

[Thunderbird]

[quote name='dood' timestamp='1472931235' post='3125457']
A good time to ask as I'm researching P basses too! I know you've had a 62RI with a 42mm nut. I have one here that might go for the chop.

I see the '63 & '58 P's are as you say, 7.25 on 44mm. The two basses on my radar are: Steve Harris P. 7.25" 41mm and the Mike Dirnt 9.5" at 40mm. The only thing is that both of these have fat necks that you might not like but I love the idea despite not having tried them myself!

Oh wait! 70's P basses. The Nate Mendel is a 7.25 with a 40mm nut. - it's apparently based on his own 71 (??) P bass. - I'm also wondering if my rather awesome 'law-suit' is the same spec, but have to say, is a better bass than the Nate I played recently!
[/quote]Having played a Harris sig bass and a Dirnt sig bass I much preferred the Mike Dirnt as it was much lighter and felt nicer to play I am a huge Arry fan but did not really like the bass as much as I thought I would by the way there is a new Harris sig bass on ebay for £848 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Steve-Harris-Fender-Precision-Immaculate-Bass-Iron-Maiden-REDUCED-BARGAIN-/232064140523?hash=item360819c4eb:g:c-sAAOSwFe5XxFLp buy it now which looks a good buy to me

Edited September 4, 2016 by Thunderbird

[Dood]

[quote name='karlfer' timestamp='1472971212' post='3125625']
Dood, you might want to revisit the 'Arry nut width spec fella
[/quote]

I was quoting from the Fender website - Are the details incorrect? 41.02mm

[Basszilla]

[quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1472970957' post='3125622']


Not being flippant here, but that would be a '95 Fender American Standard Precision Bass pickup!

As far as I know, they started putting the Custom Shop 62 pickup in from 2012, but before that it never had a special name. It's likely that the specs varied over the years too, I know 2008 era ones sound quite aggressive for example.

I really like the one that came stock in my 2004, I did the usual pickup upgrade only to find I preferred the original!
[/quote]

Cheers mate!

[Dood]

[quote name='Thunderbird' timestamp='1472982342' post='3125698']
Having played a Harris sig bass and a Dirnt sig bass I much preferred the Mike Dirnt as it was much lighter and felt nicer to play I am a huge Arry fan but did not really like the bass as much as I thought I would by the way there is a new Harris sig bass on ebay for £848 [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Steve-Harris-Fender-Precision-Immaculate-Bass-Iron-Maiden-REDUCED-BARGAIN-/232064140523?hash=item360819c4eb:g:c-sAAOSwFe5XxFLp"]http://www.ebay.co.u...-sAAOSwFe5XxFLp[/url] buy it now which looks a good buy to me
[/quote]

My gut feeling personally is for the Dirnt as I kinda like the Tele headstock too. But right now, I won't be buying anything. I only just managed to not have to sell one of my favourite basses recently. The Fender might not be so lucky leaving the stable.

[Thunderbird]

I know what you mean I am gonna have to do a bit of selling gear on myself soon

[gareth]

[quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1472979790' post='3125670']
Looks like a good example of the breed, but alas that colour is not for me.
[/quote]funny how our tastes differ, I think honey blonde is perhaps my favourite colour

[Cat Burrito]

Some of the Japanese made 57RIs have a narrower fretboard / more conventional neck (mine!) but they are not easy to find. To be fair having played my original as my main bass for 20yrs+ the fretboard really is something you get used to and don't think about.

[pineweasel]

Another Fender Japan option is the PB70 model, if you can find one. 40mm nut, with a '184R' neck, which is 7.25". I used to have one and it was a great Precision.

[fretmeister]

Maybe I should try a fat neck one.

[Marc S]

[quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1473005449' post='3125964']
Maybe I should try a fat neck one.
[/quote]
If you think the fat neck is something you'd like , then yes, try one.
I am a fan of Steve Harris's playing, but I tried 2 of his sig basses ( tried the 2nd one, cos the 1st one was badly set up)
I found the basses to be quite heavy, and didn't like the chunky necks, but that's my personal taste of course.

My fave ever P, is my roadworn, which is very lightweight, and a neck that's not too chunky.
There seems to be so much variation in neck dimensions, you really need to try as many as you can.

Of course, that can be a fun search for your ideal P bass
Good luck with it

[fretmeister]

I suppose I find it strange that a fat neck 4 string is the same nut width as a Stingray 5.

[Geek99]

I really liked the classic 50s neck and pup

[karlfer]

[quote name='dood' timestamp='1472982762' post='3125704']
I was quoting from the Fender website - Are the details incorrect? 41.02mm
[/quote]

Nope, you are bang on right according to Fender spec.
But I would bet their spec is wrong. Believe me dood, they have form .
I'll seeif I can sweet talk an owner to measure one.

Edited September 5, 2016 by karlfer

[cocco]

I bought a second hand classic 50s after recording with one for a spell. Loved the bass so I had to have one, and one came up that had the JJ Burnell look, only problem was it also had an SPB-3 and no original pickup. It didn't last long.

[fretmeister]

I just got the next load of music for my orchestra gig - and I definitely need 5 strings.

I think I'm going to look for a 5 string P bass and give that a try.