I got my first P bass in about 1988. Swapped a lovely Manson 335 type guitar for it. It was black and maple, late70s pssobly early 80s (the later, slightly smaller TV logo)
It just had that sound. I also dabbled with other basses at the time. I was gigging 4 somtimes 5 times a week, all over Kent and East Sussex. A Hamer Scarab came and went, JayDee Mark King. A couple of other P basses came, a 1962, an american re=issue 62, a 70s, immaculate white one that had lived in a loft. The paint was all cracked and crazed but clean as a whistle.
Then in 1991, I bought my '73. Still got it, along with 2 awesome bitsa P basses. Fretless maple, Fender ''62 reisuue pickup and fretted maple, custom shop '62 pickup with flats.This black one is particularly amazing sounding thing.
I'm on JMJ Mustang now, easier on my aching body but when I need a P..............