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Post subject: Re: What Mods/Changes have you made to your P Bass ?
Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2013 6:29 pm
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I have a 92 MIM P which I modded with back in the day a Fender Silver Lace Sensor pup, Badass II bridge and strap locks. It has been used on records in Nashville, played live all over the country and is still one of my best sounding and playing basses! I will never get rid of her!
ABS :D


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Post subject: Re: What Mods/Changes have you made to your P Bass ?
Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2013 9:19 pm
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TheKingofPain wrote:
stroker vance wrote:
As Bro Dave has mentioned- the difference in magnets in pickups- USA vs. Mex- is why I noticed the sound of Mex pu's is not quite as good as USA- therefore I changed pu's from Mex to either USA or Duncans or Dimarzio in all my Mex basses. I'm glad I did it every time.
I only have 2 Mex basses now and they sound every bit as good as a USA. They are an 09 Roadworn P and an 05 50's Classic P. They are basically the same bass as far as wood and build and parts.
I have an 03 P that I removed the S-1 switching from. I installed Dimarzio model P's in it. The S-1 switching did nothing for me.

Another mod I did to my 74 P bass was a mini switch. That only lasted about a year. It did the same thing as the S-1 switching .



I find it interesting that you changed pups on two Mexican basses that actually have upgraded vintage style pups. In one case to put in DiMarzio's which don't sound anything like a vintage Fender. At least to me.

My Antigua FSR has the Vintage style Alincos and I'll be damned if it doesn't sound like the real deal. I played a Classic 70's P which has a model of pick up that is called the "Split Single Coil". As opposed to the "Standard Split Single Coil, Vintage Split Single Coil, or any of the American Split Single Coils wether they be Vintage or Standard Series" and it sounded pretty darn close to my actual 78 Precision. I'm not sure what model pick up it is as that is the only bass that lists that specific model pick up that I've come across.

I just find it odd that you say the Roadworn and Classic P sound more like a US P bass. Which I find the American P basses to sound less like actual P basses. Especially the previous American Standard and Highway 1. Neither of those basses actually sounded like a real Fender P to me. I could understand if you were to swap out a Standard Series P as they usually have very low out put pick ups. However, to swap out pick ups on two mexican bases that actually have pup upgrades just seems funny to me.




Naw not funny- you see....the Dimarzio pickups of today are not the same as the Dimarzios from the late 70's. The pickups I put in both Mexi P basses were ones that were made pretty much when Dimarzio started making them-- at least the first ones I knew about were around 78-9. Those are what I'm using. The J pickups by Dimarzio, I believe came after that but still in the late 70's or very early 80's. That's when I first came in contact with them. They do sound different than modern day Dimarzios to my ears..

I have Dims from the late 90's and 2000's and they just don't quite have the same sound as the old ones-- so I can see why you may question my move to the old Dimarzios. If I see any of those old ones at a guitar show or somewhere I'll snatch them up. I don't see too many any more.

I had a friend who owned a 64 P bass back in the 70's and I got to play it a lot- even at gigs. It was killer. The RW P bass I have now with the Dims in it doesn't sound quite as good as the 64 USA P but it's the closest I have to that. It just sounds powerfull with tons of bass and ring , sustain and honk. Just enough mids and highs too. A "colorfull" sound. People ask me about the bass and other bassists ask me about it. I do have a good amp and I don't use any pedals or any of that junk. I tell the people I use Rotosound strings and old Dimarzio pickups. But we all know there is a lot to getting a good sound. I start with the strings and pickups then go on to the amp and settings and end up with the the fingers. That's all I know.


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Post subject: Re: What Mods/Changes have you made to your P Bass ?
Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2013 9:25 pm
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Dalembic wrote:
Six nights a week? You just got alot more interesting.

The best opinions on bass come from old road dogs.



yeah six nights a week- 5 sets a night- I could tell you some stories.

my hands got really strong from it .


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Post subject: Re: What Mods/Changes have you made to your P Bass ?
Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2013 5:59 am
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stroker vance wrote:
TheKingofPain wrote:
stroker vance wrote:
As Bro Dave has mentioned- the difference in magnets in pickups- USA vs. Mex- is why I noticed the sound of Mex pu's is not quite as good as USA- therefore I changed pu's from Mex to either USA or Duncans or Dimarzio in all my Mex basses. I'm glad I did it every time.
I only have 2 Mex basses now and they sound every bit as good as a USA. They are an 09 Roadworn P and an 05 50's Classic P. They are basically the same bass as far as wood and build and parts.
I have an 03 P that I removed the S-1 switching from. I installed Dimarzio model P's in it. The S-1 switching did nothing for me.

Another mod I did to my 74 P bass was a mini switch. That only lasted about a year. It did the same thing as the S-1 switching .



I find it interesting that you changed pups on two Mexican basses that actually have upgraded vintage style pups. In one case to put in DiMarzio's which don't sound anything like a vintage Fender. At least to me.

My Antigua FSR has the Vintage style Alincos and I'll be damned if it doesn't sound like the real deal. I played a Classic 70's P which has a model of pick up that is called the "Split Single Coil". As opposed to the "Standard Split Single Coil, Vintage Split Single Coil, or any of the American Split Single Coils wether they be Vintage or Standard Series" and it sounded pretty darn close to my actual 78 Precision. I'm not sure what model pick up it is as that is the only bass that lists that specific model pick up that I've come across.

I just find it odd that you say the Roadworn and Classic P sound more like a US P bass. Which I find the American P basses to sound less like actual P basses. Especially the previous American Standard and Highway 1. Neither of those basses actually sounded like a real Fender P to me. I could understand if you were to swap out a Standard Series P as they usually have very low out put pick ups. However, to swap out pick ups on two mexican bases that actually have pup upgrades just seems funny to me.




Naw not funny- you see....the Dimarzio pickups of today are not the same as the Dimarzios from the late 70's. The pickups I put in both Mexi P basses were ones that were made pretty much when Dimarzio started making them-- at least the first ones I knew about were around 78-9. Those are what I'm using. The J pickups by Dimarzio, I believe came after that but still in the late 70's or very early 80's. That's when I first came in contact with them. They do sound different than modern day Dimarzios to my ears..

I have Dims from the late 90's and 2000's and they just don't quite have the same sound as the old ones-- so I can see why you may question my move to the old Dimarzios. If I see any of those old ones at a guitar show or somewhere I'll snatch them up. I don't see too many any more.

I had a friend who owned a 64 P bass back in the 70's and I got to play it a lot- even at gigs. It was killer. The RW P bass I have now with the Dims in it doesn't sound quite as good as the 64 USA P but it's the closest I have to that. It just sounds powerfull with tons of bass and ring , sustain and honk. Just enough mids and highs too. A "colorfull" sound. People ask me about the bass and other bassists ask me about it. I do have a good amp and I don't use any pedals or any of that junk. I tell the people I use Rotosound strings and old Dimarzio pickups. But we all know there is a lot to getting a good sound. I start with the strings and pickups then go on to the amp and settings and end up with the the fingers. That's all I know.




Ah, that makes much more sense. lol I was trying to figure out how modern Dimarzio's would sound more like a vintage spec'd Fender copy. Most of the modern Dimarzio's I've heard haven't sounded anything like a P to me. Good call. :wink:

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Post subject: Re: What Mods/Changes have you made to your P Bass ?
Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2013 6:57 pm
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I've also used Duncan Antiquity pickups in Jazz and P basses. I've had maybe 8 or nine different sets- that's way too much cash BTW-- but out of all those I have found that I favored only 1 set of Jazz and 1 P set-up. So that's 2 out of 8 r 9. They IMO are a bit irregular in comparing different ones. I don't know why. But the 2 I like definitely are extra nice and I use them. The others all got sold. I don't know why they are different. I've even swapped out sets in the same guitar and still the one set I start with will sound better.


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Post subject: Re: What Mods/Changes have you made to your P Bass ?
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 5:10 am
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I put a set of the Duncan Antiquity Raised A's in an 05 MIM Standard once. It was all that bass needed. Amazing. The Duncan Antiquities, really any Duncans, are the aftermarket I swear by. I'm usually either chasing a vintage, or hard rock tone. Or in my current case, both. In my opinion, SD makes the best offerings for both those applications.

Luckily for me I'm now chasing the tone my 78 P had for that classic punk sound. A sound Fender still produces fairly well with the exception of the pick ups not being as over wound as they were in the late 70's.

The Antigua P I have comes close. Very close. I played the 70's RI in a store before ordering mine. That thing was a monster. It probably doesn't quite have the output of my 78, but it could hit the tone dead to rights. Just plenty of clank, but still a ton of oomph behind it.

As late 70's P's weren't really very sought after outside the punk crowd I doubt I'll ever see a Duncan Antiquity model that is just a really overly wound Alinco P pup. I doubt the market would support that.

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Post subject: Re: What Mods/Changes have you made to your P Bass ?
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 10:02 am
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My 83 P std has the "clank" sound. It's stock all the way.I know exactly that sound as you describe it as "clank". The "clank" sound is different than the "honk" sound of the old P basses (pre CBS). I don't think any other basses- in fact I know none- have that clank and honk like the P basses of the era we're talking about. I played a 56 P once (all day) that had a really fat honk to it like Stings bass does. The Duncans come close and maybe some others but I haven't experienced much outside of Dimarzio and Duncan. I just don't feel the need to.


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Post subject: Re: What Mods/Changes have you made to your P Bass ?
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 11:44 am
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That is exactly how I describe it to my wife when trying to talk to her about bass sounds, its the CLANK, and for punky/metal type music only a P gives that clank! So glad I am not the only one :mrgreen:


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Post subject: Re: What Mods/Changes have you made to your P Bass ?
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 9:43 pm
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Fender Precision Bass Guitars : Home of Clank and Honk.


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Post subject: Re: What Mods/Changes have you made to your P Bass ?
Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2013 4:21 am
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Lynottfan wrote:
That is exactly how I describe it to my wife when trying to talk to her about bass sounds, its the CLANK, and for punky/metal type music only a P gives that clank! So glad I am not the only one :mrgreen:




Here's an old punk band I was in. I'm using my old 78 P here. I miss that bass. WARNING!: NSFW, listening to with kids around, or anyone with taste in music. :lol:
Enjoy:


http://youtu.be/q4EZwxdT438


I agree. It's only this era of basses that can get this sound. You can get the honk out of a vintage style P, the springy sound from a P/J combo like Duff McKagan. However, only these old boat anchors can get that clank and still have all that low end drive. Like a cross between an M-60 and a jet taking off. Very, very good for punk and hard rock.

My Antigua P can actual get some of the clank, as could the 70's RI I played. However, neither seem to have the brutal output that these old over wound basses had. Something that can't be faked with active pick ups, either. It's a sound only attainable through over winding a pick up, apparently. The SD 1/4 lber gives you a massive amount of output but it's too round. Too smooth for a classic punk application, for me. Much better suited to modern punk or hard rock.

So yeah, it may only be me, you, possibly the bassist from Against Me! and some others. :? However, if Duncan Antiquity would ever put out a simply over wound traditional spec alinco P pick up I'd buy a case. Just because.

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Post subject: Re: What Mods/Changes have you made to your P Bass ?
Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2013 5:53 am
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Thats Clank, thats what i'm talking about, you are so right about the pickups, classic case for me was turning down a black and maple 78 P bass that really had a great Thin Lizzy meets the Stranglers clank to it, looked sweet to, the guy even had a mirror plate for it, price was a little high, but the machine was in great condition, but I passed on it doh! So I thought I could replicate the sound with bass lines etc... wrong.

Liked the vid, I bet you do miss that bass.

Cheers mate.


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Post subject: Re: What Mods/Changes have you made to your P Bass ?
Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2013 6:14 am
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Lynottfan wrote:
Thats Clank, thats what i'm talking about, you are so right about the pickups, classic case for me was turning down a black and maple 78 P bass that really had a great Thin Lizzy meets the Stranglers clank to it, looked sweet to, the guy even had a mirror plate for it, price was a little high, but the machine was in great condition, but I passed on it doh! So I thought I could replicate the sound with bass lines etc... wrong.

Liked the vid, I bet you do miss that bass.

Cheers mate.



I hear ya. I had to sell my 78 and my 74 Bassman 100 head when my girl was out of work for a complication in her pregnancy with our second son. Money got tight after a while, and you gotta do what you gotta do. I wish I never sold it, but someday I'll find another one. Until then the "reissues" are getting me by just fine. I'm in a Post-Punk/Goth Rock outfit now anyhow. So being a little tamer isn't really hurting me.

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Post subject: Re: What Mods/Changes have you made to your P Bass ?
Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2013 7:07 am
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Strings, if that counts.

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Post subject: Re: What Mods/Changes have you made to your P Bass ?
Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 9:25 pm
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Clank is real with the late 70's and early 80's P basses for sure. I noticed it back then and now since I have an 83 with the Clank. The Honk however is a little different in that it doesn't have the hard hitting muffled "burp" sound that starts the Clank tone. The Honk is smoother and doesn't have the percussive minute distortion of the Clank. The Honk is apparent on my 72 and 74. It's a smoother type metal ringing sound more so than a percussive Clank. You can hear the Honk if you listen to Jaco "8:30 Live" with Weather Report. You'll just have to listen for it in a few of the songs. This stuff is like fine wine. It has to be savored. understood and appreciated. It is the real deal of the sound of different Fender basses.

For example although my 98 P D-Lux had a very good sound that could be appreciated ...... it had no real Honk or Clank. Too bad. It's gone. There is one amp that is very good for hearing the honk and clank of a Fender bass. I can't stinking think of the amp name but before it's all overwith I'll post it. It had tubes and wasn't real powerfull. They quit making them along time ago. They came out in the late 70's.

One thing about the basses of the late 70's and early 80's is that they seem to be pretty heavy. The wood with that kind of weight to it must have something to do with it along with the pick-up and bridge.

Guitar players would never think this discussion is cool BTW.


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Post subject: Re: What Mods/Changes have you made to your P Bass ?
Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 5:59 am
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stroker vance wrote:
Clank is real with the late 70's and early 80's P basses for sure. I noticed it back then and now since I have an 83 with the Clank. The Honk however is a little different in that it doesn't have the hard hitting muffled "burp" sound that starts the Clank tone. The Honk is smoother and doesn't have the percussive minute distortion of the Clank. The Honk is apparent on my 72 and 74. It's a smoother type metal ringing sound more so than a percussive Clank. You can hear the Honk if you listen to Jaco "8:30 Live" with Weather Report. You'll just have to listen for it in a few of the songs. This stuff is like fine wine. It has to be savored. understood and appreciated. It is the real deal of the sound of different Fender basses.



Agreed. If you were to ask what my favorite Fender tones were it would be that Late 70's Boat Anchor clank with some gnarly steel rounds, some old well played flats on a Single Coil P bass, and then the sound of Nickel Rounds on a set of Raised A's in an ash body maple necked P. Those are the tones that shaped me as a bassist. The ones that speak to me. The ones I've chased. To someone who doesn't appreciate them there is no difference. Yet the way those bass tones sit in a mix greatly affects how the music sounds to me. It also effects how I would attack a song. If you handed me those three configurations and asked me to play something like "Johnny B. Goode" I wouldn't play the same line on any of them. I could, but those tones have very special uses to me, and they are like arrows in an archer's quiver, or brushes in a painter's pocket. Each is a tool that I use for a specific effect. Each moves me to play and feel a song differently.


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For example although my 98 P D-Lux had a very good sound that could be appreciated ...... it had no real Honk or Clank. Too bad. It's gone. There is one amp that is very good for hearing the honk and clank of a Fender bass. I can't stinking think of the amp name but before it's all overwith I'll post it. It had tubes and wasn't real powerfull. They quit making them along time ago. They came out in the late 70's.

One thing about the basses of the late 70's and early 80's is that they seem to be pretty heavy. The wood with that kind of weight to it must have something to do with it along with the pick-up and bridge.


They were very heavy. My 78 P weighed 13.5 pounds. I agree that the weight likely added to the clank of the attack of those basses.

Quote:
Guitar players would never think this discussion is cool BTW.


I try not to spend too much time worrying about what guitar players think as a rule. ;)

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