What P Bass?

[-asdfgh2-]

23 hours ago, ead said:

Some of the later Japanese Squiers had narrower necks and are shockingly good value.  Pretty sure that there's a Silver Series P bass on here that is nicely run in and has a 40mm nut.  It used to be mine.

The JV I had was 42mm, but very shallow front to back.

[ead]

The Silver Series used the same 40mm nut width neck for both the P and J basses.  I can't recall the exact profile, but it wasn't chunky in any way.

[bremen]

8 hours ago, -asdfgh2- said:

The JV I had was 42mm, but very shallow front to back.

I have a 1984 Japanese Squier like that. Beautiful neck.

[PaulHornBass]

The 2011 MIC CV 60s P Bass in fiesta red I had had a lovely neck. Online I can see the nut width listed as 42mm, but I remember the neck felt slim and very easy to play. One I wish I hadn't sold!

[bloke_zero]

I'd go old Japanese as well. I know this isn't a popular idea, but when you say resonant body I think the wood ages and can become lighter and more crystalline over time making it more resonant. So an eighties J Fender or Squier

[-asdfgh2-]

16 hours ago, bloke_zero said:

I'd go old Japanese as well. I know this isn't a popular idea, but when you say resonant body I think the wood ages and can become lighter and more crystalline over time making it more resonant. So an eighties J Fender or Squier

 

You want a body that isn't resonant. If any crystallization happens (debatable) it will result in higher stiffness and less resonance. With less resonance, you hear the strings better acoustically. A neck dead spot is an example of resonance.

[bloke_zero]

52 minutes ago, -asdfgh2- said:

 

You want a body that isn't resonant. If any crystallization happens (debatable) it will result in higher stiffness and less resonance. With less resonance, you hear the strings better acoustically. A neck dead spot is an example of resonance.

In my mind the the words resonant and resonance are distinct - for example lee sklar talks about trying to find a nice resonant body (see video linked below 3:25), which I would describe as light and with a more crystaline inner structure - you tap it and can hear it is resonant. An example is alder body vs a swamp ash body - the swamp ash is 'desirable' becuase it is lighter and stiffer, more resonant. The same principle applies to roasted maple neck - if you want it, you want it because it will be lighter, stiffer and more resonant. Whether any of that makes a difference is of course up to you.

 

You are of course right to say resonance is a problem and causes a variety of issues.
 

 

[gjones]

As mentioned earlier, the Japanese Silver Squier Precisions and Jazz basses shared a neck which was 40mm at the nut and very shallow. I own a Silver Squier Jazz Bass and the neck is great.

[Jonesy]

You should also check out Limelight. They fit the bill for that played in feeling you're after and you can spec it to suit your taste, they pop up every now and again in the classifieds too. 

[Misdee]

On 12/01/2025 at 14:21, Lozz196 said:

The US Standards of 2013-16 have a deep neck (though regular Precision width) it’s a chunker. Took me a while to get used to it, so may be worth avoiding this range. 

Sounds like they changed the neck profile in 2012 when they relaunched the range   loaded with Custom Shop pickups.

 

I've got a 2009 American Standard P with a B width nut and the neck profile front-to-back is fairly slender and very comfortable for someone like me who dislikes big fat chunky necks. It's very reminiscent of a nice early '70's P bass neck. I really enjoy that bass.

[Lozz196]

Agree, I’ve had a few of the 08 - 12 range and exactly as you describe. When I first got my 2015, after a 2009 model I was rather worried as it was a handful to say the least, luckily I soon found it to work really well for me.

[PinkMohawk]

The best P-bass is of course....

 

 

 

 

 

The BC Rich Mockingbird. Double the P, double the good. 

 

 

 

On a slightly more serious note, I'd have someone's arm off for a Matt Freeman signature P bass at a reasonable price. If I wasn't a broke student, that is. 

[Lw.]

Can't help but think it would have been easiest & cheapest to just buy a different neck to bolt into the roadworn but as that's not an option now, Limelight are a good shout - they can build one to your spec. 

 

I've played loads of Fender derivatives and the best have been from thier Custom Shop but they are pricey. Limelight aren't at that same level but they're pretty decent and come in way cheaper than even a used CS.