Upgrading a P-bass?

[Funkfingers]

Re: Upgrading a P-bass?

I am dropping QP's in my P as well and was reading through this thread, when I came upon this post I laughed out loud! I had a '78 J way back when, I pulled all the fret wires and filled the slots. I loved that thing! Now I'm thinking about my P. I'm older now with more cash, I might just buy another neck.

My 78/79 P was (and still is) factory fretless, no lines, no dots (except on the edge of the neck).

I have a defretted Yamaha RBX bass project underway. This has been on hold for quite a while because I cannot decide whether the fret line filler should be dark or light? IMO, if the lines are dark, the position inlays should be too. To be honest, I would prefer that they were not there at all.

 

[BRHGM]

Re: Upgrading a P-bass?

I would definitely consider the EMG PX set. I just put a JX set in my Squier Jazz bass and it now kicks my Warwick's butt. I love the SD Quarter pounders in my P Bass, but even with all the anti-hum wiring, they still distort and hiss a bit. Active is the way to go for clean and clear bass tones and way huge volume. You can still get a good vintage sound with a few adjustments at the amp and eq. Many of the old bass dudes from the 60's like the late John Entwistle, Roger Glover, Jack Bruce, Jack Casady and Geezer Butler have switched to active basses and they can still get their classic tones and go modern as well. I'm still not sure I like the EMG guitar pickups, but the bass pickups rock.

 

[ginormous]

Re: Upgrading a P-bass?

If you go active, get a setup where the battery compartment can be isolated from the rest of the control cavity. 9V battery acid on pup wires = .

Advice on tone? Ask this guy...

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Upgrading a P-bass?

Active is the way to go for clean and clear bass tones and way huge volume. I'm still not sure I like the EMG guitar pickups, but the bass pickups rock.

One of my basses gets clean, clear and way huge volume from passive Bartolinis. Another does it with a pair of DiMarzio Will Power pickups. BTW, I'm not knocking EMGs here. That's what I have had in my 78/79 P Bass for the last twenty one years. (Gor, blimey! Twenty one years, beef hooked.)

There is no single solution.

 

[Gingrel]

Re: Upgrading a P-bass?

My aforementioned bassist has EMG's (40P5 and 40TW) in his Warmoth Gecko 5 (swamp ash body, maple neck, pau ferro fretboard), they sound awesome. He can get a really diverse range of sounds out of that baby.

 

[threechordcharlie]

Re: Upgrading a P-bass?

My 78/79 P was (and still is) factory fretless, no lines, no dots (except on the edge of the neck).

I have a defretted Yamaha RBX bass project underway. This has been on hold for quite a while because I cannot decide whether the fret line filler should be dark or light? IMO, if the lines are dark, the position inlays should be too. To be honest, I would prefer that they were not there at all.

The biggest thing I noticed was that I had to fret right on top of the lines. This was a big adjustment for me as I was used to fretting in the middle of the box. The dots on the edge threw me off because they were positioned in the middle as well. Are the dots oriented differently on a factory fretless kneck. OBTW: I filled my lines with orange BONDO (ha ha ha) it looked like a turd but played great.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Upgrading a P-bass?

while that sounds awesome, im content with the tones the quarter pounder puts out. some of my favorite bassists use it. thanks though.

i think im getting black hardware for this bass... tuners, string tee, knob... everything.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Upgrading a P-bass?

this certainly looks interesting...

uh... is this the set of 4 or what?

http://www.allparts.com/Gotoh-Bass-Tuning-Keys-Black-p/tk-0790-003.htm

 

[Bass_Medic_05]

Re: Upgrading a P-bass?

If you want to beef up your Squire Bass (white) might I suggest Seymour Duncan Antiquity II pickups, a Badass II bridge and a tortoiseshell pick guard and some hipshot tuners and a bone nut.

And Some D'Addario XL chrome flat wounds to top it off!

 

[CapoFirstFret]

Re: Upgrading a P-bass?

I have a highway 1 P-Bass that looks like this:
(logo is different, I have the older better looking logo)

Eventually I want it to look like this:

I just haven't gotten around to making the uprades yet. I also badly want to upgrade the pickup.

so no, I don't think it's dumb that you wanna upgrade a bass

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Upgrading a P-bass?

this certainly looks interesting...

uh... is this the set of 4 or what?

http://www.allparts.com/Gotoh-Bass-Tuning-Keys-Black-p/tk-0790-003.htm

Yup. That price is for four.

Perhaps, it would be wiser to purchase a chrome Gotoh 201 bridge and fit that instead of the black one currently on your Squier P.