People should forget looks when it comes to Fenders. I mean, the Precision is probably one of the most ugliest psycloptic basses going, but nothing matches their sound! That's what people have them for.
It can do anything, unlike a Ric (4001) IMO. A 4001 can do most things, but not everything.
You can use a Fender P for slap, funk, soft blues right through to hard, grindy rock.
There's the issue of Rics not being great touring basses, too. I.e - Geddy Lee - I.e Chris Squire.
Been told my Precision sounds like a Ric...!
Moderator: jingle_jangle
Bill,
I'd have to check in the cover, but I think the Ox was playing a basic P-bass on Live at Leeds.
Black with a maple neck if I remember right. (Looks good with his skeleton outfit!)
That album would be very high in a list of ten that I would want with me if I was ever ship-recked.
I'd have to check in the cover, but I think the Ox was playing a basic P-bass on Live at Leeds.
Black with a maple neck if I remember right. (Looks good with his skeleton outfit!)
That album would be very high in a list of ten that I would want with me if I was ever ship-recked.
There Is What You Can See. There Aren’t What You Don’t See. And That’s All There Is That You Get!
-
rickenbrother
- RRF Moderator
- Posts: 13207
- Joined: Sun May 26, 2002 5:00 am
I have a F#nd*r P Bassm it's a MIM. The difference in the price of the MIA version is realy not worth the difference in quality IHHO. I changed out the pots and output jack in that P Bass, it's fine now. The Tuners are still a little cheesy, but for the use I have for that bass, they are fine.
If you really want a nice P Bass, it's better to make one yourself out of parts like those from Warmoth.
Though Ricks are my favorite basses I like many different makes and model of bass guitars, F*nd*rs are not among my favorites.
I'm not into guitars where in the factory, someone throws a piece of wood into a machine, then a guitar pops out on the other side.
If you really want a nice P Bass, it's better to make one yourself out of parts like those from Warmoth.
Though Ricks are my favorite basses I like many different makes and model of bass guitars, F*nd*rs are not among my favorites.
I'm not into guitars where in the factory, someone throws a piece of wood into a machine, then a guitar pops out on the other side.
JETGLO should officially be renamed JETGLO ROCKS! 
-
bob_atherton
- Intermediate Member
- Posts: 1441
- Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2005 4:47 am
This is interesting that some members are thinking that Fender are getting their act together.
My Fender P is a ’73, very old school, plays and sounds very good.
My Fender J is almost brand new made at the end of ‘04. It plays like a dream and has become one of my favourite recording tools. The only thing it lacks is a true vintage J tone on the bottom end. Oh and that stupid new tone thingy is just a waste of space IMHO.
ALL the Fenders that I tried that were made in the 80’s & 90’s do not compare to my new Jazz. I also think that they are getting their act together.
My Fender P is a ’73, very old school, plays and sounds very good.
My Fender J is almost brand new made at the end of ‘04. It plays like a dream and has become one of my favourite recording tools. The only thing it lacks is a true vintage J tone on the bottom end. Oh and that stupid new tone thingy is just a waste of space IMHO.
ALL the Fenders that I tried that were made in the 80’s & 90’s do not compare to my new Jazz. I also think that they are getting their act together.
To be honest I don't care how it's made as long as it comes out the other side as a decent instrument. And I've owned basses which really ARE hand-built, by one person from start to finish. As with most things, it's all about perspective.
But I digress. The Fenders I've played recently have been decent quality, although somewhat expensive for what is essentially 2 bits of wood bolted together, something I've always thought about Fenders. There's a lot more work goes into a Rick, and yet the price of an American Fender is pretty close. However last year I took 2 of my Ricks to Overwater in the UK for a setup (my CS and V63), and Chris May said he was surprised how average the build quality was, and said that in his opinion the latest Fenders were at least as well built (and he makes some quality instruments; he's one of the best luthiers in the UK). I'd like to point out this was his opinion, and not necessarily one I agree with, but he knows a lot more about it than I do!
But that aside, and getting back to the original point, I've always found it much easier to get a Rick-like sound out of a P-Bass than a Jazz. I used to have an early 70s P-Bass with an alder body and maple neck and in anything but a side-by-side comparison I could get a fairly convincing Rick sound out of it (side by side it wasn't so convincing). It's a lot to do with how you play and set up your individual sound though. I'm sure others can get a J to sound a bit Rick-like, but I've never been able to, I always find them way too nasal when I play them. Fender-wise I would choose a P over a J 99% of the time. Oh and Henny, people have often commented how my 72 4001 "sounds a bit like an old Fender", so it's swings and roundabouts!
Bob, flats wise, I started 20 odd years ago on flats; the day I changed to rounds was the happiest day of my life. I can remember the moment like yesterday. Flats do sound solid but don't give me any of the sound I want(which is buzzy and stringy, think Chris Squire to Stanley Clarke); there are plenty of recorded sounds that I like where flats were used, but I cannot get a sound out of them that encourages me to play at all. I don't like the, well, flatness of them, and I hate the clicky top you get when you crank the treble. If you're going for a 60s kind of sound obviously they're the way to go, but they're not for me I'm afraid. And it's not through lack of experience of them. I suspect that between strings and amps we're probably going for somewhat different sounds
But I digress. The Fenders I've played recently have been decent quality, although somewhat expensive for what is essentially 2 bits of wood bolted together, something I've always thought about Fenders. There's a lot more work goes into a Rick, and yet the price of an American Fender is pretty close. However last year I took 2 of my Ricks to Overwater in the UK for a setup (my CS and V63), and Chris May said he was surprised how average the build quality was, and said that in his opinion the latest Fenders were at least as well built (and he makes some quality instruments; he's one of the best luthiers in the UK). I'd like to point out this was his opinion, and not necessarily one I agree with, but he knows a lot more about it than I do!
But that aside, and getting back to the original point, I've always found it much easier to get a Rick-like sound out of a P-Bass than a Jazz. I used to have an early 70s P-Bass with an alder body and maple neck and in anything but a side-by-side comparison I could get a fairly convincing Rick sound out of it (side by side it wasn't so convincing). It's a lot to do with how you play and set up your individual sound though. I'm sure others can get a J to sound a bit Rick-like, but I've never been able to, I always find them way too nasal when I play them. Fender-wise I would choose a P over a J 99% of the time. Oh and Henny, people have often commented how my 72 4001 "sounds a bit like an old Fender", so it's swings and roundabouts!
Bob, flats wise, I started 20 odd years ago on flats; the day I changed to rounds was the happiest day of my life. I can remember the moment like yesterday. Flats do sound solid but don't give me any of the sound I want(which is buzzy and stringy, think Chris Squire to Stanley Clarke); there are plenty of recorded sounds that I like where flats were used, but I cannot get a sound out of them that encourages me to play at all. I don't like the, well, flatness of them, and I hate the clicky top you get when you crank the treble. If you're going for a 60s kind of sound obviously they're the way to go, but they're not for me I'm afraid. And it's not through lack of experience of them. I suspect that between strings and amps we're probably going for somewhat different sounds
"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."
-
chris_scruggs
I think Precision Basses with MAPLE fretboards can get close to the bright, growling, punchy Ric sound most here seem to speak of, especially when played with a pick.
The Ric sound I am the most fond of, however, is that super fat and round McCartney sound, ala "Lovely Rita", "Rain" and "Dear Prudence". I think a Precision can definitely get a very similar "big bottom" sound, especially if you play on the lowest strings possible, and as high as possible.
I love "the growl", too. Especially Paul Simonon on the Clash's "Give 'Em Enough Rope" LP. "Last Gang In Town" is the Rickiest.
CS
The Ric sound I am the most fond of, however, is that super fat and round McCartney sound, ala "Lovely Rita", "Rain" and "Dear Prudence". I think a Precision can definitely get a very similar "big bottom" sound, especially if you play on the lowest strings possible, and as high as possible.
I love "the growl", too. Especially Paul Simonon on the Clash's "Give 'Em Enough Rope" LP. "Last Gang In Town" is the Rickiest.
CS
-
jwr2
Here is one of my basses ... it is made from a mighty mite maple body and a mighty mite neck ... the neck is one piece of maple ... the fret board and neck is all one piece of wood ... the neck has a nice profile that is a little like a 60's 4001 ... I put in seymour duncan 1/4 pound p and j pickups ... I use high quality pots and jack and dunlop straploks ... also I used an independent bridge system ... there are 5 small bridges ... one for each string ... this is of course a 425 bass ... that is a 4 string neck with 5 strings ... fender 5 string basses for the most part just plain suck ...
this bass has a nice look and a cool sound ... I was using it with my band the other day ... and I got comment on how good it sounded ... then I switched to a Ric bass and that looked and sounded better ...
this bass has a nice look and a cool sound ... I was using it with my band the other day ... and I got comment on how good it sounded ... then I switched to a Ric bass and that looked and sounded better ...
As far as Roadworthy, I've never had problems with them, and the new 4003's are built so they could fall out of an airplane and still be ok. I brought 78 and 79 4001's to Lima Peru and back, one went to Brasil for a week and they were both still in tune when I opened them (the 79 a week late and luckily).
-
jwr2
-
rickenbrother
- RRF Moderator
- Posts: 13207
- Joined: Sun May 26, 2002 5:00 am