Greg.Bassman Posted May 14, 2022 Share Posted May 14, 2022 On 16/04/2022 at 14:17, thebrig said: but what makes a Precision bass a Precision bass For me, a single coil pickup [original or split] and body shape are the most obvious. But there are other details such as a larger nut width, that is perhaps less of a deal for some, but a consideration for me 🙂. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebrig Posted May 15, 2022 Author Share Posted May 15, 2022 8 hours ago, Greg.Bassman said: For me, a single coil pickup [original or split] and body shape are the most obvious. But there are other details such as a larger nut width, that is perhaps less of a deal for some, but a consideration for me 🙂. That seems to be the general consensus of opinion so far, but I have four P basses and they all have J width nuts, and some late 60's and early 70's P basses had J width nuts. I'm still confused, lol. 🤔 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg.Bassman Posted May 15, 2022 Share Posted May 15, 2022 11 hours ago, thebrig said: That seems to be the general consensus of opinion so far, but I have four P basses and they all have J width nuts, and some late 60's and early 70's P basses had J width nuts. I'm still confused, lol. 🤔 As I mentioned before, this is perhaps less of a deal for some, but a consideration for me. I suppose the larger nut width is ‘traditionally’ speaking, as the first version and split coil update had this. It was not until the 60s when jazz necks started to show up on them, like you said 🙂👍. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunion Posted May 15, 2022 Share Posted May 15, 2022 P bass? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted May 16, 2022 Share Posted May 16, 2022 3 hours ago, Bunion said: P bass? No. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vin Venal Posted May 16, 2022 Share Posted May 16, 2022 22 hours ago, Greg.Bassman said: As I mentioned before, this is perhaps less of a deal for some, but a consideration for me. I suppose the larger nut width is ‘traditionally’ speaking, as the first version and split coil update had this. It was not until the 60s when jazz necks started to show up on them, like you said 🙂👍. It wasn't until the 60s that Jazz necks showed up full stop. The Jazz bass only existed from 1960 on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg.Bassman Posted May 16, 2022 Share Posted May 16, 2022 2 hours ago, Vin Venal said: It wasn't until the 60s that Jazz necks showed up full stop. The Jazz bass only existed from 1960 on. That is sort of my point 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miles'tone Posted May 17, 2022 Share Posted May 17, 2022 A Precision bass makes a Precision bass a Precision bass. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tegs07 Posted May 17, 2022 Share Posted May 17, 2022 18 minutes ago, miles'tone said: A Precision bass makes a Precision bass a Precision bass. Which is a good answer. There have been so many variations on a theme it’s pretty difficult to find a definitive answer. A reissued telecaster bass is probably the closest thing to the original unless you have very deep pockets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dclaassen Posted May 17, 2022 Share Posted May 17, 2022 Old grumpy guy answer is that a Precision bass is made by Fender or Squier, says "Precision Bass" on the headstock (NOT delux/lite/whatever) has ONE split coil pickup (P/J is a P/J). Anything else is something else, at least to a bass player. Non-bassist probably think everything is just a guitar, so they do not count.....at all. Seriously, we need to be as careful as any professional about our terms. "Hand me that P bass" does not mean "hand me that 4/5/6/7 stringed instrument with 4 pickups, active electronics, and a Hello Kitty sticker". A G&L is not a P Bass. Fancy Euro copy...still not a P Bass. P basses are like Ford Model T's..unique, old fashioned, revered. I do wish I still had one because there is nothing quite like it for what it does. Hmmm....maybe I should sell everything off and find a nice old sunburst, rosewood example???? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted May 17, 2022 Share Posted May 17, 2022 Body shape + headstock shape Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebrig Posted May 17, 2022 Author Share Posted May 17, 2022 3 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said: Body shape + headstock shape Which body shape, original "slab" body, or later "cutaway" body? 🤔 Which headstock shape, original "tele" shape, or later "standard' Fender shape? 🤔 Which pickup, original "single coil pickup, or later "split-coil" pickup? 🤔 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted May 17, 2022 Share Posted May 17, 2022 53 minutes ago, thebrig said: Which body shape, original "slab" body, or later "cutaway" body? 🤔 Which headstock shape, original "tele" shape, or later "standard' Fender shape? 🤔 Which pickup, original "single coil pickup, or later "split-coil" pickup? 🤔 The body outline. Either 'traditional' Fender shspe, rehardless of size. Pups... too much variation to be meaningful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebrig Posted May 17, 2022 Author Share Posted May 17, 2022 1 hour ago, Stub Mandrel said: The body outline. Either 'traditional' Fender shspe, rehardless of size. Pups... too much variation to be meaningful. I guess it's really hard to say what makes a P a P to be honest. I've had many precisions over the years, most of them Fenders, but I'm now into Lakland precisions and I love them, they look like P's apart from the headstock, they play and sound great, just like a P 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dclaassen Posted May 17, 2022 Share Posted May 17, 2022 47 minutes ago, thebrig said: I guess it's really hard to say what makes a P a P to be honest. I've had many precisions over the years, most of them Fenders, but I'm now into Lakland precisions and I love them, they look like P's apart from the headstock, they play and sound great, just like a P 😉 But, Yet, NOT a P...:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebrig Posted May 17, 2022 Author Share Posted May 17, 2022 11 minutes ago, dclaassen said: But, Yet, NOT a P...:) Yep, but, my Lakland that is the same shape as a P, and has just a split coil pickup is more like a P than a Fender PJ 😏 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dclaassen Posted May 17, 2022 Share Posted May 17, 2022 3 minutes ago, thebrig said: Yep, but, my Lakland that is the same shape as a P, and has just a split coil pickup is more like a P than a Fender PJ 😏 What name is on the headstock? And, a PJ (see above) is not a P-Bass..... Your Lakland is lovely...totally agree....and yet, not a P Bass... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted May 17, 2022 Share Posted May 17, 2022 I don't call my G&L Tribute LB-100 a "Precision bass" or a "P bass". That's because it's a G&L Tribute LB-100. It is definitely reminiscent of a Precision bass, until you notice the 21st fret (which admittedly some Precisions have, but most don't), the bridge, the headstock, the slightly slimmed down horns, the shortened lower horn, the deeper lower cutaway, the pickguard shape, the fact it's not a Fender... As far as I'm concerned a Precision bass is whatever Fender say it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebrig Posted May 17, 2022 Author Share Posted May 17, 2022 (edited) 3 minutes ago, dclaassen said: What name is on the headstock? And, a PJ (see above) is not a P-Bass..... Your Lakland is lovely...totally agree....and yet, not a P Bass... That's true, it doesn't say Precision anywhere on it, but it's a P to me 🙂 The Fender PJ I owned a few years ago had Precision on the headstock, so it must be a P 😉 Edited May 17, 2022 by thebrig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dclaassen Posted May 17, 2022 Share Posted May 17, 2022 1 minute ago, thebrig said: That's true, it doesn't say Precision anywhere on it, but it's a P to me 🙂 And I would totally fight for your right to say so! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor J Posted June 1, 2022 Share Posted June 1, 2022 Having wanted to try the EMG Geezers for a while, I picked up this old Highway 1 body, a while back, which already had them installed. The good people at Warmoth delivered another lovely roasted J neck last week and, as a result, I can positively and affirmatively confirm without doubt that neither of these are Precision basses, no matter how much they sound like them. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoulderpet Posted June 1, 2022 Share Posted June 1, 2022 (edited) On 15/05/2022 at 22:03, Bunion said: P bass? Yes ...imo Edited June 1, 2022 by shoulderpet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dclaassen Posted June 1, 2022 Share Posted June 1, 2022 2 hours ago, shoulderpet said: Yes ...imo Nope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.