spongebob Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 I'm downsizing my basses to a more useable and diverse set-up, for a whole number of reasons! Yesterday, I was checking out recent Dinosaur Jr footage, with Lou Barlow now playing what I think is a '51 P-bass. It's hard to make out the tone on record and on the footage, so I was wondering what peoples' opinions are on these. You can pick them up for under £550, so they are relatively low-priced, and MIM? How do they compare to a regular Precision - sound-wise, weight, and neck size? I suppose I'd like a tone that works all-round on different styles - is the single pup a disadvantage to power and tone? Lou's an ex-Ric man (until it was stolen a couple of years back), so he's got taste as well as style in my book! I'm a real newbie to Fenders, so please forgive me....and don't worry about telling me the obvious!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 I had one of these recently (MIJ though, deffo better than the MIM ones), sold it to another BassChatter a month ago. Absolutely lovely bass, gorgeous to look at, excellent tone, but not particularly flexible. It's been described elsewhere as "a tone only earthworms could love" which is a bit harsh, but funny anyway. Didn't feel hugely like a standard P. The slab body feels quite different and hangs differently from the strap too. Also, it's VERY unwise to use the pickup as a thumb-rest; it's nowhere near as solid as the subsequent split jobbies. I'd happily have another as one-of-several-basses-I-own but I would never have one as an only bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarnacleBob Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 How would Leos later G&L ASAT compare to the original P? I know the sound would be totally different having 2 big humbuckers but they were v similair in shape so I wondered how they compared playing wise? BB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 They are awesome... actually MIJ not MIM though. They sound nice and growly & are good fun. Unless you are majorly punching above your weight so to speak the lack of cut away isn't an issue. In fact from 54 the cut away kicked in so if you are look for a 54 (which I believe the blue flower and pink paisley are copies of). Try a 51 one though, great fun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spongebob Posted July 4, 2009 Author Share Posted July 4, 2009 Is it a discontinued model? I've seen some for sale new, but both the Fender UK and US sites fail to mention it anywhere! Can anyone confirm this? Also, what can anybody tell me about Lou Barlow's? Modified? Please help - pic link below! [url="http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=5568156&albumID=2310772&imageID=50299186"]http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?...mageID=50299186[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickeyboro Posted July 4, 2009 Share Posted July 4, 2009 I loved the one i had but being a fat b*****d found the lack of belly cut a pain. Kept scraping my right arm... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Telebass Posted July 4, 2009 Share Posted July 4, 2009 (edited) It is still a current model, they are very well made, and they are ALL Japanese. They've never made them at Ensenada. Mine (which was Mickey's^^^^) is my main bass, and even though I am also a bit of a salad dodger, I find the lack of contours completely irrelevant. Great basses. Even better for a stark punky tone than a regular '57 style P-bass. Edit: "Also, what can anybody tell me about Lou Barlow's? Modified? Please help - pic link below!" That's a Mike Dirnt Signature Precision, which is a MIM. Edited July 4, 2009 by Telebass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~tl Posted July 4, 2009 Share Posted July 4, 2009 [quote name='spongebob' post='532428' date='Jul 4 2009, 01:44 PM']Is it a discontinued model? I've seen some for sale new, but both the Fender UK and US sites fail to mention it anywhere! Can anyone confirm this?[/quote] Is this not it? [url="http://www.fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0271902550"]http://www.fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0271902550[/url] [quote name='spongebob' post='532428' date='Jul 4 2009, 01:44 PM']Also, what can anybody tell me about Lou Barlow's? Modified? Please help - pic link below! [url="http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=5568156&albumID=2310772&imageID=50299186"]http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?...mageID=50299186[/url][/quote] That looks like a Mike Dirnt signature model since it has the split Precision pickups and Badass II bridge. [url="http://www.fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0138400306"]http://www.fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0138400306[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spongebob Posted July 4, 2009 Author Share Posted July 4, 2009 Thanks for clearing that one up! The Mike Dirnt bass has according to the Fender site - a thick neck. I prefer a thinner style - is the original '51 more normal precision thick or jazz thin? BTW - I thought Lou's bass was the same one as in this clip. It's obviously a different colour.....is this a 51? I'm probably wrong again......! [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KznecxqnnWM"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KznecxqnnWM[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted July 4, 2009 Share Posted July 4, 2009 [quote name='spongebob' post='532488' date='Jul 4 2009, 03:52 PM']I prefer a thinner style - is the original '51 more normal precision thick or jazz thin?[/quote] It's a baseball bat of a neck! Not thin at all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy67 Posted July 4, 2009 Share Posted July 4, 2009 I had one too, fantastic basses - I'll always regret getting rid! however I will say this...it is not a patch on my MIM 50's classic pbass - go on dare you to try one out! andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted July 4, 2009 Share Posted July 4, 2009 [quote]BTW - I thought Lou's bass was the same one as in this clip. It's obviously a different colour.....is this a 51? I'm probably wrong again......! [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KznecxqnnWM"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KznecxqnnWM[/url][/quote] In the Late Show clip it looks like a MIJ 2TS 51 reissue - check this link on Japanese Fenders from Guitar Emporium, its the second bass down the page [url="http://www.guitaremporium.co.uk/index.php?f=data_fender_japan_new_guitars&a=2"]http://www.guitaremporium.co.uk/index.php?...guitars&a=2[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spongebob Posted July 5, 2009 Author Share Posted July 5, 2009 Thanks for clearing that up! The amount of knowledge on here is awesome!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 The earthworm tone is regarding the humbucker on the Early 70s Telecaster bass. The '51 is a growly beast. If it wasn't for hum of the single coil pickup and the amps at the time not being able to handle the pickup, we probably wouldn't have the standard split P pickup that we have today. The lack of contouring is an issue - the reason that I also cannot play Rickenbackers. The whole reason why I went with the later '54 contoured body which the Sting bass has. Its identical in every other way. I've had a mustard yellow one and the sunburst one. I was really lucky and managed to find myself a brand new sunburst in Japan and had it shipped here for £340 including taxes etc. I nearly had the body down to Martin Sims to contour it and repaint it but in the end decided to sell mine and go with the Warmoth. Personally, they are the ultimate bass for me - simple, look good and sound unbelievable. They are very well made and the shiny maple fretboard looks so cool as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doctorbass Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 I love mine. Strung with heavy flatwounds, that single coil has an unmistakable thump! Check out the early Fabulous Thunderbirds recordings - the intro to Rich Woman is the tone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry norton Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 I want one. I'm probably going to have to make one as I want a fretless maple board version. The 51 neck is fantastic, like a big old tree trunk. The only thing I don't like about them now is the fact that Gordon Sumner plays one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4-string-thing Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 Has anyone tried the Squier version of the 51? I'm poor and can't afford the real thing! Things are so bad, I'm even thinking of hacking up an old Hohner p bass copy and turning it into a lookalike... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 (edited) If I bought the Sting version, how much would it cost to get rid of the inlay that says Sting? I've got nothing against him, he's a very good bassist, but I don't think I could put up with his name staring at me from the twelfth fret. Edited July 5, 2009 by EssentialTension Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretlessguy Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 It is a great bass to play. I own the Sting 54 reissue bass, and there is not a lot of difference between the two. I preferred the sunburst finish to the yellow one, which is supposed to look like an aged original butterscotch version. I think Fender missed the boat on that one. Mine has the contoured cutouts whereas the 51 does not. The only thing I do not like, as one poster stated, was the ugly Sting thing on the 12th fret. It appears at this time Fender has dropped the 51 (but not the 54 Sting reissue) from their production models, but can still be bought since there are still a lot of new ones in stock. It did not sell well here in the U.S., and after Fender raised their prices 30%, it probably was the deathknell of the bass. The bass has all the great features of the original 51 including the barking single coil sound, amoeba pickguard, cool headstock, body through strings, and lends itself well to playing roots music such as rockabilly, blues, and early country as well as folk music. It's a great converstion starter as well. The reissue allows us to play a bass that most of us will never be able to buy as an original. That being said, there are reasons why the bass was redesigned in 1957. It has all the quirks of the original including the single coil 60 cycle humm which occurs when the hands are taken off of the strings. Also, there is the infamous dead spot on the 5th or 6th fret on the G string. The orginal bridge makes precise intonation virtually impossible. If you do get one, a set of Thomastic-Infeld Nickel flats sound very cool on this bass. You can also get the period correct ashtray pick up and bridge covers for it as well. If the quirks of the bass won't bother you, I think you would enjoy the bass. Kindest regards, FG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acidbass Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 Played one of these in a local music shop last week for 20 minutes or so, just to get used to the ins and outs of it really. My initial impressions were that it was a very comfortable instrument to play. I preferred to anchor my thumb over the end of the neck to get a boomy sound, which perfectly complimented the flatwound strings. It was a used bass, and the previous owner had had the stock pickup replaced with a Bareknuckle version, which meant that the output was slightly higher than normal, but tone-wise, it was pure classic Precision. As has been said above, I don't think I'd buy one to use exclusively, but it would certainly be a good addition to any player's arsenal, if only for looks alone! Danny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skankdelvar Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 [quote name='fretlessguy' post='534271' date='Jul 6 2009, 11:07 PM']It is a great bass to play..... I think you would enjoy the bass. Kindest regards, FG[/quote] Useful info - thanks FG! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 I was playing so hard that I managed to get the E string stuck under the rim around the top of the pickup again on Saturday :blush: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spinynorman Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 I've got an MIJ 51 RI. It's gradually taking over from my standard P. The yellow colour isn't as bad as it looks in pictures and the hum is easily got rid of by shielding the control cavity. Nice growl, plenty of attack, even does a passable imitation of a Cream/Free EB3 sound if you push it hard (which is odd, as it's single coil). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bh2 Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 I've always wanted one of these. One day... one day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linus27 Posted July 11, 2009 Share Posted July 11, 2009 In the early 90's, Fender Japan made the 51 Precision in Sunburst and a very pale lemon yellow. My dream is to own the pale lemon yellow one but they are so so rare. In fact, I have never seen one in the flesh, only in pictures. Much nicer than the butterscotch colour. Here is a picture on it, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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