P bass scarcity

[uOpt]

Re: P bass scarcity

One big problem is a lack of AVRI's, especially used ones.

AVRI guitars are not everybody's taste due to fret/bending difficulties.

But AVRI precision basses are just perfection. And they can be very reasonably priced used, except no guitar shop seem to be interested in offering them. Too old-fashioned or what?

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: P bass scarcity

Except that he doesn't want an actual US Fender Precision. He wants a imported Squire. Other than that, you got it right.

Re-reading the opener, I can't see why anyone would sneer at a MIM P-bass in favor of a Squier. I mean, isn't that like saying you'll gladly pay 5 times what something is worth? Now if he means those much-adored Japanese Squiers that everyone raves about from days long past, ok, but the mid-90s MIM P-bass I had was not a bad bass.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: P bass scarcity

I had a Japanese Squier P-bass. It was my first bass. I found it at a pawn shop and paid about $200 for it in the 90's. It was pretty beat up but it was a good bass.

 

[Progbusters]

Re: P bass scarcity

i didn't sneer at a Fender Standard P bass. I just said these stores only have one of them, out of all the basses in their department.

Ok what I mean are at these stores there's only one really expensive groovy-looking American Pbass, One Mexican Pbass, 3-4 squier PJ basses that don't sound like P-basses to me, several J-basses and a whole bunch of others styles.

 

[BRHGM]

Re: P bass scarcity

It's true. When you absolutely have to have a P bass there is no substitute. Guitar stores tend to have more Jazz basses. They sell more and Fender is putting out lots of other bass models in vintage, modified or modern form. You might have shop on line. I got my Squier P bass in a scratch and went sale at GC years ago.

 

[marcboomer]

Re: P bass scarcity

There's so many other places to shop besides GC in the Bay Area. I was visiting stores up there for work and found so many at Gelb, Sylvan, Gary Brawer, Haight Ashbury, Bananas,
Vision, Union Grove, Keith Holland, Guitar Showcase. on and on...

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: P bass scarcity

One big problem is a lack of AVRI's, especially used ones.

AVRI guitars are not everybody's taste due to fret/bending difficulties.

But AVRI precision basses are just perfection. And they can be very reasonably priced used, except no guitar shop seem to be interested in offering them. Too old-fashioned or what?

Maybe, just maybe, the initial purchasers love 'em too much to let 'em go?

 

[uOpt]

Re: P bass scarcity

Maybe, just maybe, the initial purchasers love 'em too much to let 'em go?

Never sold one of mine (note plural...).

Well I traded one but into good hands, not to GC.

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: P bass scarcity

Step 1. Buy the PJ
Step 2. Roll off the J pickup volume
Step 3. Celebrate.

If you're paranoid about the magnetic field then lower it as far as it will go.

You now have everything a P bass is and more with an additional place to rest your thumb if you play traditional finger style. The J pickup is also there for you whenever you want it too. If this is not good enough for you in terms of sound then no other P bass really will, that is if your paramaters are strictly between P and PJ and not other things like the specs of the series of basses or the price range of something. If it is an aesthetic thing then that's also a different issue. A PJ with the J rolled off is a P bass. If you do this and it still sounds metallic or however you described then the equivalent P bass model will very likely sound the same way.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: P bass scarcity

Yeah, I've found that rolling off the J-Bass pickup gives a good p sound. You could even go one step further and just disconnect the J pickup.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: P bass scarcity

Ok, as crazy as this sounds, I'm finding the same thing. The quantity of P-Basses available is miniscule compared to Jazz Basses. :wrf: Maybe it's true, everyone that buys a precision keeps it... But even new, the GCs around here have the entire range of Jazz Basses, but only one MIM P and no Squier P's.

I just want a plank I can put an Antquity II and high mass bridge on!

 

[uOpt]

Re: P bass scarcity

Well, for the basses I am interested in, mostly AVRI, you get a ton of Ps cheaply and no Js, and if Js are available they cost 30% more although they had the same price originally

 

[Scatabrain]

P bass scarcity

Broaden your search online.
Ship to any GC from other for free. Very good return policy.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: P bass scarcity

Well, for the basses I am interested in, mostly AVRI, you get a ton of Ps cheaply and no Js, and if Js are available they cost 30% more although they had the same price originally

Cheaply is a relative statement when it comes to AVRI.

My online search is what led me to bump this post. GC used online and local Craigslist are J heavy, it reminded me of this thread.

 

[dg27]

Re: P bass scarcity

I don't know, maybe, but to my ears over the years of playing P basses and PJ basses I never noticed a difference.

My '76 Fender P and my '84 Fender Jazz Bass Special were two vastly different animals with stock pickups.

 

[blueman335]

Re: P bass scarcity

It's true. When you absolutely have to have a P bass there is no substitute.

Except when you can get a Jazz bass with split coils (Black Top) or HB's (Modern Player). There's so many versions of Jazz basses these days, I don't see a need for me to ever get a P bass.