Rayman Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 (edited) Why can't I get on with Fender Precisions? Why? I have a beautiful American Standard, just bought it, determined to love it.... it plays amazing, looks beautiful (sunburst, tort, rosewood) brand new strings, set up.... but I... just.... cannot.... bond with it. I've tried dozens over the years, but I just love my Jazzes and Stingrays too much.... Sigh.... Edited February 16, 2018 by Rayman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 I'm the complete opposite, despite frequent attempts to get along with a Jazz or a Thunderbird, all I really enjoy playing is a Precision. Just one of those things we have to learn to accept, I suppose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 15 minutes ago, Rayman said: Why can't I get on with Fender Precisions? Why? I have a beautiful American Standard, just bought it, determined to love it.... it plays amazing, looks beautiful (sunburst, tort, rosewood) brand new strings, set up.... but I... just.... cannot.... bond with it. I've tried dozens over the years, but I just love my Jazzes and Stingrays too much.... Sigh.... You need time for your ears to adjust. It's like drinking tea without sugar for the first tiime. At first, it's like.. 'WTF? I need sugar' After a while, it's... 'mmm... tea is lovely. Sugar just spoiled the taste.' 4 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayman Posted February 16, 2018 Author Share Posted February 16, 2018 Yeah.... I need to give it time. I love bright punchy tone I guess, or sugar in my tea, I'll try and cut dien my sugar a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6feet7 Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 I'm the same with anything Fender shaped. I've tried various versions from cheapo to bl**dy expensive. I just can't get along with any of them. horses for courses Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 Doesn't it also depend on what you're wanting to play on the bass? If you're playing bass lines that call for a metallic zing, as with the MM humbucker or the bridge pup on the jazz, then P-bass, won't do that, because the pup is in the wrong location on the body. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 If you're happy with the basses you like to play, why force yourself to play a Precision? Play what feels and sounds right to you. For me, that's a Precision, but I wouldn't lose sleep over it if I preferred something else. The music you play is what matters, the instrument is simply a tool to enable you to produce that. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 1 minute ago, FinnDave said: If you're happy with the basses you like to play, why force yourself to play a Precision? Play what feels and sounds right to you. For me, that's a Precision, but I wouldn't lose sleep over it if I preferred something else. The music you play is what matters, the instrument is simply a tool to enable you to produce that. ^^This. I don't like MMs and I hardly ever use a bridge pup. But each to their own. I have this, but I could lose the Humbucker and save weight. I hardly use it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary mac Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 1 hour ago, wateroftyne said: You need time for your ears to adjust. It's like drinking tea without sugar for the first tiime. At first, it's like.. 'WTF? I need sugar' After a while, it's... 'mmm... tea is lovely. Sugar just spoiled the taste.' Have to agree with WOT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulWarning Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 yep I'm the opposite too, tried a stingray and a Jazz but my Precision just sounds better, to me, in a band situation, 1 Guitar and drums. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coilte Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 44 minutes ago, FinnDave said: If you're happy with the basses you like to play, why force yourself to play a Precision? Plus 1. A sad old world it would be if we all liked the same things in life. Lots of other great basses out there to like. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicko Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 2 hours ago, Rayman said: Why can't I get on with Fender Precisions? Why? I have a beautiful American Standard, just bought it, determined to love it.... it plays amazing, looks beautiful (sunburst, tort, rosewood) brand new strings, set up.... but I... just.... cannot.... bond with it. I've tried dozens over the years, but I just love my Jazzes and Stingrays too much.... Sigh.... Is it the sound or the feel? Obviously a PB has a different neck profile and width to a jazz. I had to force myself to adjust because I wanted the sound. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 I don't see this as a problem, unless you miss out on work because the booker only wants a Precision player for whatever reason. That must be a fairly rare situation these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc S Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 (edited) 1 hour ago, FinnDave said: If you're happy with the basses you like to play, why force yourself to play a Precision? Play what feels and sounds right to you. For me, that's a Precision, but I wouldn't lose sleep over it if I preferred something else. The music you play is what matters, the instrument is simply a tool to enable you to produce that. Couldn't agree more with FinnDave here. However, I also agree with Wateroftyne! - perhaps it will just take time to "bond" with the sound Maybe if you've got one you like playing, you just need to take it along to more rehearsals and gigs - hear it more in a live band setting.... For me, I was off Fenders and P basses for years. I wouldn't touch one. I had played some bad ones and some mediocre ones, and some pretty good one (though I was probably a bit reluctant to admit it at the time) and it seems to me that you need to play as many as you can - just for the hell of it - But when you find one you really like - you will want to take it home with you. Well, that's what happened to me anyway Edited February 16, 2018 by Marc S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk_lefty Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 (edited) Have you tried different string types? Flats or tapes? I want my basses to each be as different as possible, personally so I know what my go-to bass is for whatever I'm trying to achieve. I love my precision dearly, but it has a place it rarely steps out of. Edited February 16, 2018 by uk_lefty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 I don't see why it's a problem. There's plenty of other basses out there and according to your post you already own some that you like. So why are you apparently so desperate to find a Precision that you "bond with"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 I've come to the conclusion that I don't like passive basses, I think it's partly the amp as what I like and use works with my active basses but not so much with passive ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Browning Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 ........... and I don't like actives. Vive la difference and all that. There's so much choice out there you don't need to force yourself to like something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Krow Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 2 hours ago, 6feet7 said: I'm the same with anything Fender shaped. I've tried various versions from cheapo to bl**dy expensive. I just can't get along with any of them. horses for courses Well for folks who prefer an alternative to Fender shapes, there are some fantastic choices out there, including the much loved (and rather wonderful) Yammy BBs. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil.c60 Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 (edited) After year of gigging with my Hot Rod Precision I'm now gigging a G&L L2000 (USA)which sounds different but I do like it. It will run active or passive, but I prefer it passive. I still fiddle about with the precision at home and still like it, I just fancied a change but people who see us regularly say the G&L sounds great. I did try and eq the L2000 to be "Precision-like" but it didn't happen so I spent an hour or two at home finding a sound I liked and stuck with it. Perhaps I should try and eq the P to sound like the g&L..... Only kidding. Edited February 16, 2018 by phil.c60 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger2611 Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 23 minutes ago, Al Krow said: Well for folks who prefer an alternative to Fender shapes, there are some fantastic choices out there, including the much loved (and rather wonderful) Yammy BBs. Totally agree, I love Precision's basically it is all I play now, I brought a Yamaha 1024X last year and just cannot bond with it, it plays brilliantly but just doesn't sound like a Precision, I love Precision's and I realise I am wasting my money trying to find something that to my ears betters it, interestingly my next favourite bass is a Precision Lyte which is active but just seems to be able to deliver that Precision passive sound and some! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 It's an interesting topic. I very first bass was a rough(ish) Squier Affinity P. Nowadays I do like my ACGs with two p/ups and a filter preamp, probably about as far as you get from a P bass. Yet I have a black US Std P which I really enjoy playing and gets taken to gigs too. It seems like sometimes only a Precision will do. And/or a Jazz of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CameronJ Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 I’m a reasonably recent convert to the P Lovers’ Club. I guess I spent years loving bass in general but it’s only recently that I’ve truly started enjoying the distinct characteristics of a P vs a J vs an MM etc. I personally enjoy them all but there’s no shame in realising you only truly love a specific kind of bass. Why force yourself to like an instrument? Life’s too short. We all want a bass to feel great AND sound great but ultimately if we don’t like the basic sound our instrument makes then I don’t think there’s any point in playing it. Music is primarily an aural experience after all. If you’ve found your “voice”, don’t be afraid to stick with it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 I'm with the OP - I've never found a P that I liked. Jazzes I can sort of live with but despite nearly every bass player in the world using a P I can't get it. I think some of it must be psychological - playing bass is "different" (not being a geeetareest) so playing a P like everybody else seems to go against my general principle. Leaves more for you fellas I suppose... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 10 hours ago, Rayman said: Why can't I get on with Fender Precisions? Why? I have a beautiful American Standard, but ...just... cannot... bond with it. I've tried dozens over the years, but I just love my Jazzes and Stingrays too much.... You must persevere! Had exactly the same 'problem', but with Jazz Basses. I'm a P Bass guy really, but routinely bought a Jazz every couple of years, didn't like it, sold it on... but stubbornly kept at it... in the end I needed to put together a Jazz I liked, so it's a bitsa - but after forty years, finally - a Jazz I like! It does happen... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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