New Brown Bass Day!

[Telebass]

After the sad departure of the Squier Sonic P-bass in California Blue, it's replacement has just arrived. And what a replacement! Just unboxing it, and it has already exceeded my expectations. The packaging itself is on another level between the Chinese Sonic and this Indonesian Classic Vibe 70s Precision.

Quick tune up, not much needed. Action good, might be tweakable better. Intonation appears spot on, too, which I've never had even from a USA Fender...Relief could be a little better, maybe? The point is, this is playable right out of the box.

My one trepidation was the spec saying the nut width was 1.685", which is between the two normal P sizes. Well, that's obvious garbage, just from feeling it. It's a 1.625", bang on. And slim front-to-back! It's just a great feeling neck. A quick noodle, and I feel right at home. Flatwounds will be installed soonest, because I have a phobia about rounds on a lacquered board!

Because my first Fender Precision was a 75 Fullerton, I've always liked the shiny gloss-finished type of neck. This one is really nice, darker-coloured than I was expecting - vintage tint? - but not roasted dark.

 

My other walnut P-bass was a 79 fretless, seen here with two nieces, the older of whome is nearly 50 now...eek!

[jd56hawk]

You might want to consider GHS black tapewounds.

I was big on flatwounds until I discovered these strings...even better than TI flats and they look great on a maple fretboard.

 

[Telebass]

1 hour ago, jd56hawk said:

You might want to consider GHS black tapewounds.

I was big on flatwounds until I discovered these strings...even better than TI flats and they look great on a maple fretboard.

 

And even easier on the frets, too!

[Steve Browning]

I so wish they did these with rosewood or laurel and dot inlays. 

[Telebass]

9 hours ago, Steve Browning said:

I so wish they did these with rosewood or laurel and dot inlays. 

66 Jazz-style? Would be a great option! Add in lolipops for an even greater mash-up! But that would be 60s and this is suppose to be 70s.

[Telebass]

Pickups: these are alnico-based, and sound pretty good, much less harsh than the Sonic's pickups. Still have a Tonerider and @KiOgon loom I bought for the Sonic (and had to carefully remove!), but not sure that it needs changing on this one.

Will play it a while and see. I'm not so much as taking off the pickguard film until I know this one is good in every respect!

Edit: truss rod definitely works!

[diskwave]

Ive got one of these too...so good I sold my two vintage P's and that thick ole neck is to die for. How do they do it for the money?

[Telebass]

On 30/12/2023 at 13:37, diskwave said:

Ive got one of these too...so good I sold my two vintage P's and that thick ole neck is to die for. How do they do it for the money?

No idea, but glad they manage it! Flats on, everything tweaked and adjusted, and it plays really well. I also put identical new strings on the FrankenFender, so was able to A/B them for sound. The CV is still notably harsh compared to the 1994 American Standard pickup in the black bass, so I may yet install the Tonerider and KioGon loom and see if that changes anything. Overall, a great purchase.

[Maude]

That neck looks fantastic! I love how dark it is without being the oh so trendy roasted maple. 

 

The Tonerider is an excellent pickup. I put one in an old Encore P along with a ten year old set of Chrome flats, it sounds glorious. 

[Baloney Balderdash]

On 07/12/2023 at 08:40, Telebass said:

66 Jazz-style? Would be a great option! Add in lolipops for an even greater mash-up! But that would be 60s and this is suppose to be 70s.

Well, aren't we writing 2024?

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

Am I the only one who came here expecting Alembic content? 😎