Do all precisions sound the same

[Dropzone]

Just been to Black Star riders gig. All three bands using precisions which all sounded great.

So my question for those in the know is, whilst I appreciate there may be subtle differences, do all precisions sound pretty much the same?

[Lw.]

Well, they nearly all sound like precisions but the tones vary wildly. I tried loads in the last few months & the difference between all the basses I played was incredible considering they were all 4 string P's with the one split pickup!

If it was a rock gig & they were all sharing a tubey stack that might have made them sound more similar especially as most rock bands try to find very similar bass tones as we all know what just works.

Here's an example - you'll hear that the 70's one absolutely slays the others.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgzD3vcrExE[/media]

Edited March 23, 2017 by Lw.

[FinnDave]

I have three Fender Precisions. The two US Standards (one 2012, one 2015) sound very similar when using the same type of strings, though one has a rosewood fingerboard and the other a maple one. The third one is a recent MiM standard, also maple, which sounds fine but different to the US Standards. I had a quarter pounder pick up fitted to bring it closer to the US sound, and though it now sounds quite a bit better than it did, it is still different to the US standards.

[Dropzone]

So is the consensus that the US ones are the more preferred choice? Ta Mike

[Lw.]

They are if they're the ones you like the sound of best. And can afford.

But then there are US made and there are US made...

[FinnDave]

[quote name='Dropzone' timestamp='1490267184' post='3263718']
So is the consensus that the US ones are the more preferred choice? Ta Mike
[/quote]

Not necessarily, my MiM Precision is perfectly good bass, it sounds different to the US Precisions, but not worse, just a slightly different sound.

[Dropzone]

lol, I am far from a purist. I am happy with close enough for the right price, although it is difficult to fine many US five strings out there ;-)

[Dan Dare]

[quote name='Lw.' timestamp='1490265553' post='3263701']
Well, they nearly all sound like precisions but the tones vary wildly. I tried loads in the last few months & the difference between all the basses I played was incredible considering they were all 4 string P's with the one split pickup!

If it was a rock gig & they were all sharing a tubey stack that might have made them sound more similar especially as most rock bands try to find very similar bass tones as we all know what just works.

Here's an example - you'll hear that the 70's one absolutely slays the others.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgzD3vcrExE[/media]
[/quote]

I've seen that, too. Whilst I wouldn't say the 70s P absolutely slays the others - the Jap gets quite close at times - it does sound better and has that lovely stringy edge the others lack (although we don't know whether all had the same strings, of the same age/amount of wear, etc, etc). It certainly proves they sound different.

[fretmeister]

[quote name='Lw.' timestamp='1490265553' post='3263701']
Well, they nearly all sound like precisions but the tones vary wildly. I tried loads in the last few months & the difference between all the basses I played was incredible considering they were all 4 string P's with the one split pickup!

If it was a rock gig & they were all sharing a tubey stack that might have made them sound more similar especially as most rock bands try to find very similar bass tones as we all know what just works.

Here's an example - you'll hear that the 70's one absolutely slays the others.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgzD3vcrExE[/media]
[/quote]

That's a great vid.

So then - the extra bite from the Ash Body & Maple one. Is that from the Ash or the Maple or both?

I really like the grind that one has.

[fretmeister]

Right at the beginning it says they had the same strings.

On his jazz comparison he also says the "same string set"

[GreeneKing]

They all sound good. Different and the 70's bass has a better bottom to my ears but it lacks something else.

Essentially the P bass sound is there with them all.

[Lw.]

[quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1490270088' post='3263750']
So then - the extra bite from the Ash Body & Maple one. Is that from the Ash or the Maple or both?
[/quote]

Whilst I'm sure they do something I'd say it's more likely to come from the pick-up & the tone cap with maybe a little of the different neck dimensions thrown in.

Hard to say though really isn't it? One thing I took from that video & my search when I was buying is that I probably wouldn't buy a P unseen for anything more than super low budget - there's just so much variation on the theme that I think you need to feel & hear them before you commit to a big purchase.

[Marc S]

As others say, there are differences - sometimes subtle, sometimes rather more noticeable. It will of course, depend on what you perceive as "better" too. Here's a link to a video comparing a Squier Classic Vibe P bass, with a 70's Fender P

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BBsRugtw6I

There's another batch of videos somewhere on youtube, where players were blindfolded and asked to choose between a Squier CV, a US Fender and a Custom Shop US Fender. Mostly, players thought the Squier was either the US or Custom....

[RhysP]

[quote name='Dropzone' timestamp='1490267184' post='3263718']
So is the consensus that the US ones are the more preferred choice? Ta Mike
[/quote]

Personally I'd take a Japanese one over a US one any day.

[discreet]

[quote name='Dropzone' timestamp='1490267184' post='3263718']
So is the consensus that the US ones are the more preferred choice? Ta Mike
[/quote]

Predictably I'll say the Fender Road Worn P is up there with the very best of 'em, though it be a MIM. Plays and sounds better than a lot of USAs I've played, including my 1976 P. Best bang for your buck, especially second hand. Having said that, I'm close to being sure that how any P Bass sounds is largely down to how it's played, by whom, and in what context.

Edited March 23, 2017 by discreet

[lojo]

[quote name='Dropzone' timestamp='1490267184' post='3263718']
So is the consensus that the US ones are the more preferred choice? Ta Mike
[/quote]

Ive 2 Japanse P basses which tick all the boxes and had an MIM with a gorgeous tone


With regard to the original question, Id saying pretty much or almost, though the range of what you can do with them is vast

Edited March 23, 2017 by lojo

[Lw.]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1490271643' post='3263777']
... I'm close to being sure that how any P Bass sounds is largely down to how it's played, by whom, and in what context.
[/quote]

That is dangerously close to saying it's all in the fingers!!

[Highfox]

They can and do all sound slightly different to my ear. I have owned quite a few
They can range from very warm and woody to harsh and brittle. Depends what you like and what you are going for. The unmistakeable P sound is in ther tho.

[No lust in Jazz]

My current personal favourite is an Indonesian Squier VM 5.with flats. But put the soloed sound (which I like a lot) to one side a minute, I've never seen a band where a P bass sound didn't work.

Edited March 23, 2017 by No lust in Jazz

[discreet]

[quote name='Lw.' timestamp='1490272122' post='3263786']
That is dangerously close to saying it's all in the fingers!!
[/quote]

It is. There, I said it.

[discreet]

[quote name='Highfox' timestamp='1490272265' post='3263790']
...They can range from very warm and woody to harsh and brittle.
[/quote]

And we haven't even mentioned flats, rounds, fingers, pick, amps, cabs, action, pickups...

[Highfox]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1490272530' post='3263795']
And we haven't even mentioned flats, rounds, fingers, pick, amps, cabs, action, pickups...
[/quote]
Yes, there we go, complicated old affair.

[Dave Vader]

It all depends, somebody once said that nothing sounds like a real, old Fender P after hearing mine.

He was a bit upset when I told him mine is nothing of the sort, though it is old.


(1989 Sunn Mustang from an Argos catalogue in disguise)

[discreet]

[quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1490273158' post='3263808']
1989 Sunn Mustang from an Argos catalogue in disguise.
[/quote]

Thanks! That's my Halloween costume sorted.

[Sibob]

[quote name='Marc S' timestamp='1490271147' post='3263769']
As others say, there are differences - sometimes subtle, sometimes rather more noticeable. It will of course, depend on what you perceive as "better" too. Here's a link to a video comparing a Squier Classic Vibe P bass, with a 70's Fender P

[url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BBsRugtw6I"]https://www.youtube....h?v=-BBsRugtw6I[/url]

There's another batch of videos somewhere on youtube, where players were blindfolded and asked to choose between a Squier CV, a US Fender and a Custom Shop US Fender. Mostly, players thought the Squier was either the US or Custom....
[/quote]

I can absolutely tell the difference between the Squire and the '75 here. Is one better than the other? No, they're simply different, the '75 had a bit more depth, bit more low end to my ears.
Is someone going to hear the difference at a gig....through a PA....behind a band? Probably not. Really it depends which plays best in your hands.
Those Classic Vibes are generally fantastic though.

Si