sgt-pluck Posted December 29, 2007 Share Posted December 29, 2007 (edited) So the Jazz bass spawned an entire genre of basses - ranging from direct replicas through JB 'inspired' instruments, to basses which have their roots in the JB but have evolved considerably. You can go out and buy just about any shape, style, configuration, colour etc of a jazz that you can think of, from any number of manufacturers, you can even buy an [i]actual [/i]Jazz Bass, and choose which 'era' you want it from. The options are endless. Is it because the old Precision is a bit of a one trick pony that manufacturers just don't see a market for a simple P-type bass that isn't a Fender? There are the cheapo P copies, but there don't seem to be many really nice quality precision-style basses available, that offer P-style simplicity, P-style looks and a P-style tone. Why is that? Does the market just not exist? I'm fortunate in that I don't suffer GAS too bad - I have my Tokai (JB replica!) which I really love, and really I don't feel like I need or want anything else/more. At the moment. Having said that , I do like that Precision tone, love the simplicity of it all (less is definately more in my world) and wouldn't mind a bass that would give me that. The obvious answer is 'go and buy a Fender P then!', and you'd be right, but I do wonder if I should look anywhere else first? For that dead simple, beautifully-made, single tone, (but what a tone!) style bass that will bring me Precision-ness without being a Precision. Not sure I even know what I mean, do you?! Pluck Edited December 29, 2007 by sgt-pluck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass_ferret Posted December 29, 2007 Share Posted December 29, 2007 OK its a bit Jazz shaped but pure P pup. I'm sure old git will be along shortly with his 5 string Shuker. Celinder do a P and there are a few on here. And dont forget Leo's own P update - the Stingray. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass_ferret Posted December 29, 2007 Share Posted December 29, 2007 And not forgetting Status Retro-active and Vintage ranges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgt-pluck Posted December 29, 2007 Author Share Posted December 29, 2007 [quote name='bass_ferret' post='110617' date='Dec 29 2007, 06:32 PM'] OK its a bit Jazz shaped but pure P pup. I'm sure old git will be along shortly with his 5 string Shuker. Celinder do a P and there are a few on here. And dont forget Leo's own P update - the Stingray.[/quote] Thanks - what is that Bass in your picture? Also, I'd never heard of Celinder, I'll look them up. Pluck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass_ferret Posted December 29, 2007 Share Posted December 29, 2007 [quote name='sgt-pluck' post='110629' date='Dec 29 2007, 06:49 PM']Thanks - what is that Bass in your picture? Also, I'd never heard of Celinder, I'll look them up. Pluck[/quote] Tis a GB - made by Bernie Goodfellow. Celinder are very highly rated. Made in Denmark. Kiwi has one I believe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgt-pluck Posted December 29, 2007 Author Share Posted December 29, 2007 (edited) [quote name='bass_ferret' post='110635' date='Dec 29 2007, 07:00 PM']Tis a GB - made by Bernie Goodfellow.[/quote] Nice. [quote name='bass_ferret' post='110635' date='Dec 29 2007, 07:00 PM']Celinder are very highly rated. Made in Denmark. Kiwi has one I believe.[/quote] They must be, no new orders til '09! Edited December 29, 2007 by sgt-pluck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poptart Posted December 29, 2007 Share Posted December 29, 2007 I have Skjold P style bass that should be with me shortly - mine has J style pickups, but it can be ordered with the unique Skjold single pickup in the P position which gives some more tonal options that a standard P. Mark PS Gotta love the Precision :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul, the Posted December 29, 2007 Share Posted December 29, 2007 I think the Precision prides itself on simplicity. I don't think it needs to be any better. Jazzes are nuts and flashy. How about that red Celinder (sp?), I think CK owns it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted December 29, 2007 Share Posted December 29, 2007 An American luthier I know has got a new line called the Hot Rod Vintage, which are based on his own favourite P bass. He's got custom Kent Armstrong pickups that are quad coil, they look like a humbucker, but you can switch to offset coils for the whole P bass thing. Pics here: [url="http://www.gwbasses.com/projects/DC-2B_HRV-0002_crotchwalnut/"]http://www.gwbasses.com/projects/DC-2B_HRV...2_crotchwalnut/[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass_ferret Posted December 29, 2007 Share Posted December 29, 2007 There are also the Lakland Duck Dunn and Bob Glaub models. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ergon Posted December 29, 2007 Share Posted December 29, 2007 My westfield which is a really close copy of a fender american P with and ash, yellow or 'buttersotch' body, it has a real good tone and buld quality.. except for the pots which are falling off... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted December 29, 2007 Share Posted December 29, 2007 Sadowsky, Shuker, Celinder and Lakland have a nice line in Precision basses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul, the Posted December 29, 2007 Share Posted December 29, 2007 [quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='110680' date='Dec 29 2007, 08:44 PM']An American luthier I know has got a new line called the Hot Rod Vintage, which are based on his own favourite P bass. He's got custom Kent Armstrong pickups that are quad coil, they look like a humbucker, but you can switch to offset coils for the whole P bass thing. Pics here: [url="http://www.gwbasses.com/projects/DC-2B_HRV-0002_crotchwalnut/"]<a href="http://www.gwbasses.com/projects/DC-2B_HRV-0002_crotchwalnut/" target="_blank">http://www.gwbasses.com/projects/DC-2B_HRV...2_crotchwalnut/[/url]</a>[/quote] Thats very cool. Shame about the offset markers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverfoxnik Posted December 29, 2007 Share Posted December 29, 2007 Sandberg do a nice P-bass clone too... [url="http://www.sandberg-guitars.de/"]http://www.sandberg-guitars.de/[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockinrayduke Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 [quote name='silverfoxnik' post='110712' date='Dec 29 2007, 03:44 PM']Sandberg do a nice P-bass clone too... [url="http://www.sandberg-guitars.de/"]http://www.sandberg-guitars.de/[/url][/quote] And the old BB series Yamaha Basses, the BB300 and such, great "P"basses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockinrayduke Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 [quote name='silverfoxnik' post='110712' date='Dec 29 2007, 03:44 PM']Sandberg do a nice P-bass clone too... [url="http://www.sandberg-guitars.de/"]http://www.sandberg-guitars.de/[/url][/quote] And the old BB series Yamaha Basses, the BB300 and such, great "P"basses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 Lots of old Kramers (250, DMZ), Ibanez (Blazer, Roadstar) and even Matsumoku made basses are inspired by precisions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Burpster Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 I would argue that this is a pretty good copy....... [topic="0"]Ibanez Blazer[/topic] Around this time, (Late 80's-early 90's) there seemed to be a lot of P copies floating around. However now (as identified above) the trend seems to be towards J copies and I rightly understand why, J's can easily be made active...... You have a lot more options sonically, and therefore a more versatile instrument. We all like versatility dont we? so the market dictates what the producers do in fact produce...... IMHO of course Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass_ferret Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 There is also the Sandberg California P. Thats a heck of a lot of Super P basses we have collectively come up with - in addition to Fenders own offerings of custom shop and jap re-issues. Not sure if 20 year old Ibanez Blazers was exactly what the OP had in mind though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Burpster Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 ^^^^ Subtley tho' that was my point......! Most of 'em have been there and done it...... and decided to leave it to Fender! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 [quote name='bass_ferret' post='110856' date='Dec 30 2007, 10:24 AM']Thats a heck of a lot of Super P basses we have collectively come up with - in addition to Fenders own offerings of custom shop and jap re-issues.[/quote] True, I was surprised how many there were. The starter question of the thread could have been equally said of the MM Stingray, and the answer being the same as for the P - they're both simple, stripped-down, iconic designs with less scope for "souping up" than twin p/u models. No co-incidence that many P players also use/used 'Rays (eg; John Deacon) and many 'Ray players also use/used P's (eg; Pino) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgt-pluck Posted December 30, 2007 Author Share Posted December 30, 2007 (edited) Thanks all - so they do exist! Plenty of food for thought and some beauties too (love those Laklands), although mostly a little out of my price-range I can see a precision of some sort in my future. Wonder if it'll be Fender or other....? Pluck Edited December 30, 2007 by sgt-pluck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noisyjon Posted August 21, 2008 Share Posted August 21, 2008 Just to re-kindle this topic a bit... In your opinion/experience what are the best high end, Passive, Precision bass style basses out there? Are the Fender C.S. P's the ones?, Celinder?, Lakland USA Bob Glaub? Help me out here Folks! Pictures anyone? Cheers, Jon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayfan Posted August 21, 2008 Share Posted August 21, 2008 You've got enough Ps - you don't need any more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJA Posted August 21, 2008 Share Posted August 21, 2008 you could say the Yamaha Attitude is a P clone too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.gif.9ad672bb8b84505709f76b39c8c256ec.gif)
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.