Music videos that feature EB0 to EB4 and SG variant basses...

[Dave W]

Maybe the strings are dead, but that SB-450 sounds so unremarkable it confirms even Dave's worst preconceptions.

That's the right word. Not bad, just unremarkable.

[uwe]

I follow everything you say slavishly, always have.

[Dave W]

I follow everything you say slavishly, always have.

You never forget what I don't like, that's for sure.

[uwe]

The refrigerator poster!


Hasta la
victoria,
siempre!

[Dave W]

That was on the fridge of a blind date I had, 53 years ago. But of course you remember. 

[Alanko]

The bassist for the Alabama Shakes plays a P bass with foam under the strings.  I don't know why.  Whatever his reason is for doing so, it's likely I would find it unconvincing.  I can't say I'm particularly interested in getting that kind of sound.

I played a gig earlier this year with my P Bass and used foam on half the set. Good for cutting down sustain and resonance, so I was just a musical pulse sync'd to the kick drum.

The Jamerson/Motown tone is a studio creation and doesn't necessarily work live.

[Pilgrim]

Let's not forget that for years, the sound a P-bass was one with foam on the underside of the bridge cover.  I still have the original foam from the bridge cover on my '63 P and it's in good shape since it hasn't been in sunlight.

[uwe]

"And even with flats and foam mute, it still sounds brighter than the distinguished forum's beloved mudbucker."

Ilan, how often do we have to tell you, mudbuckers are meant to be felt not heard!



I felt what he played, did you?

[westen44]

Let's not forget that for years, the sound a P-bass was one with foam on the underside of the bridge cover.  I still have the original foam from the bridge cover on my '63 P and it's in good shape since it hasn't been in sunlight.

I was never around P basses enough to notice if they had foam or not.  Besides playing them in music stores, the only extensive exposure I had to a P bass was when I once had to borrow one for a very long gig.  Through the years, I discovered I liked J basses better.  In general, though, I was never drawn to Fender.  I'm more open now than I used to be.  I've mostly played short scales and unless you play a Mustang, I don't know what kind of Fender short scale you're going to play.  To me playing a long scale is just as comfortable as a short scale.  But like I've mentioned in prior threads, it is ideal to play a short scale if you're going to sing and play at the same time.  For me, I've always found EB-O, EB-3 and SG basses to be what suits me best.  In addition, there is also, of course, the Gibson Les Paul Jr. Tribute DC I like playing and the Vintage Vs4cr, which although not an actual Gibson, looks a lot like my SG and gets a surprisingly great sound. 

[uwe]

I foam whenever I see a P Bass.

[Alanko]

I foam whenever I see a P Bass.

Out of which orifice?

[ilan]

Ilan, how often do we have to tell you, mudbuckers are meant to be felt not heard!

I hope the mudbucker feels well inside its box in my parts drawer, while a nice vintage Gibson single coil does a better job inside its old rout in my magnificent EB-0L.

[uwe]

But you have to adopt our faith, Ilan, how else can your soul find redemption?

[uwe]

Out of which orifice?

While they're crap looking basses, the upper one.

[Pilgrim]

In 1967 my parents bought me a 1963 P (originally white, rather chipped up in the body...which is why I had it re-painted in 1972...) a blackface Bassman and a 2x15 Fender cab.  I still have the P and the Bassman amp.

That P was my only electric bass, and I liked the look of the covers.  The foam was still in the bridge cover and I played it the way it was...mostly dinner jacket dance band stuff.  I never even thought about removing the foam. I briefly had a cheap Japanese violin bass copy but the pickups were so microphonic that I couldn't really use it. Then I moved from home in 1973.

Fast forward to 1997 and the parents moved into a smaller home, so I picked up my gear and started playing bass again.  That's when I got brave enough to remove the covers and look under them.  After a while I carefully removed the foam and found that I liked the open strings just fine, so I've left it that way. But IMO that foam mute still has a place in music.

I know this isn't a forum where there are many Fender fans, but that old P is light, sounds good (even with the original strings still on it) and is the most valuable instrument I own.