Jump to content
Why become a member? ×

Fat vintage P-bass sound


Panos Bobolas

Recommended Posts

These things are always so personal and open to interpretation but in my own experience and having owned a few P-basses, I have found that the old 50's style P basses with the thick necks and maple boards have the fat vintage sound in buckets.

I have my roadworn P strung with flats just for that vibe. (bit like the video posted above) 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

14 minutes ago, discreet said:

Yes, a RW P strung with La Bellas gets you the quintessential Fender old school sound. If you've got an all-valve amp too, so much the better.

The tube amp is missing :( (I do have one at home, but never take it out lol)  I have a SansAmp or Microtubes to try emulate a bit when I feel like it.

Edited by Highfox
Link to comment
Share on other sites

37 minutes ago, Highfox said:

These things are always so personal and open to interpretation but in my own experience and having owned a few P-basses, I have found that the old 50's style P basses with the thick necks and maple boards have the fat vintage sound in buckets.

I have my roadworn P strung with flats just for that vibe. (bit like the video posted above) 

Exactly! That's why a Sting pbass from Japan sounded "better" than my American Standard

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Highfox said:

These things are always so personal and open to interpretation but in my own experience and having owned a few P-basses, I have found that the old 50's style P basses with the thick necks and maple boards have the fat vintage sound in buckets.

I have my roadworn P strung with flats just for that vibe. (bit like the video posted above) 

I think thick necks are critical to that Vintage, thick P bass sound. That’s why I now have two Vintage, thick-necked Ps, the 50s in my video and a 59 CS... Everything with a skinnier neck didn’t manage to do it. The other bass that came close? The Yamaha attitude II, based on a thick Telecaster bass neck. 

It can’t be the be all and end all, but it makes a huge difference in my opinion! 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, TJ Spicer said:

I think thick necks are critical to that Vintage, thick P bass sound.

The belief that a bass sounds different depending which wood the  body is made from (tonewood), is largely risible IMHO, but in my experience the chunkiness of a neck does seem to have a bearung ob tobe. I'm sorry, I have a cold.

  • Like 1
  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Fender Cabronita has a thick neck, but take out that god awful Fidelitron pick up and it’s a decent bass.

it would possibly need a rout and a different pickguard to make it look cool.

G&L tribute line are good affordable basses with thick baseball necks

Sandberg VS4, passive with either Hauessel or Sandberg in house pick ups (not Delano’s) will be a good bet also

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 minutes ago, Panos Bobolas said:

What about some Limelights (pbasses) I see here?

I've owned one and would rate it to be at least as good as a RW P, if not better in some ways. Bear in mind I rate RWs to be on a par with US Fenders. Limelights are very good value, too.

Edited by discreet
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...