Great video! Would love to see Jazz Bass history tour. If possible - add more information: the active and passive pickups, nut and wood history. I know it's not easy to produce such complex video, but it could be a great literacy company.
Thanks, This is great....As a bass player myself, it took me years to find out what you showed in this 11 min. video. I'll take the 1957, the 1958, and the 1976 please ?
You failed to mention that the split P pickup is in series, so it retains a lot of the single coil high end on the strings but really enhances the low end. Brilliant!
Although if you want true to Jamerson tone, when you're playing that '62 reissue from the 80s, you need to rest your hand on the pickup cover and play between the pickup and the heel of the neck. That was primarily Jamerson's neighborhood. And a wad of foam under the bridge cover.
Used to have a ‘54, ‘62 and now I have a few 60’s and 70’s P-Basses. My favorite is the ‘62 through the Ampeg B18. Favorite bassist, yes, James Jamerson!
10:09: "it's time to say goodbye to this and move on to the next thing, in true Fender fashion" Is that ironic? Guitar companies keep looking back, and very rarely forward. Just look at the '83 model here: they were already making '62 reissues barely 20 years afterwards! IMO the American Pro line is more of an outlier: Fender will keep releasing reissues of reissues of reissues of '50s and '60s Precision basses until we're all dead and buried...
I've watched your videos for some time now and I would like to compliment you. Your playing continues to get better and better. The subtle things (the important things), your timing, your attack, tone etc. Way to go! Enjoyable video. Thanks!
Hi Marc. Tino here. I very much enjoyed this little bit you did here. It's very important that younger, uninformed musicians learn about earlier Fender basses. Everything you covered here, I have known for many, many years- and you were RIGHT ON with all of your info. If we ever met in person, we'd be like two old ladies just talking and talking about Fender basses! I have many of the ones you brought to the demo and they all sound incredible! Let's keep in touch. Thank you Marc.
I am so happy I bought my Fender American Performer Precision Bass with both the P and J pickups last year. I also bought it’s sister...my Fender American Performer Stratocaster HSS. Both in Tri-Colour Sunburst. The bass plays through an early 2000s Fender Bassman 200 and the guitar plays through a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe V2.
This was absolutely beautiful. Fantastic overview without any boring blah-blah... straight to the point and most importantly with a terrific sound. If I had to choose only one of the very tastefully chosen and played examples we heard, I think I would go for that sweet round warm tone of 9:09, which goes to show how simplicity can meet versatility in probably the most famous example regarding bass guitar.
I went to Chicago Music Exchange on Clark Street in Chicago, it was a small store . I loved the vintage Fender Precious Bass they had but couldn't afford them at the time, I was a teenager than in the late 80's . Leo Fender RIP , Thank You for the great innovation of basses you brought to the world. You change the world and made a extreme impact on it.
I've got a great early Ibanez p-bass. It's a copy of the blond Telecaster version that Fender put out around 1970. It's got a real thin neck and sounds so good. It's such a surprisingly versatile instrument for how simple it is.
That sound in the beginning of the video is the reason I started playing bass it sounds sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo gooooooooooooooooooooood
I have an American standard pbass. Everytime i play it, puts a smile on my face. I've had many basses and sold many. This pbass is the only one that has stayed put.
Very good and informative video - I especially liked the Jamerson stuff being played using the index finger only. But two thing aspects of the P Bass history weren't mentioned which I personally regard as important. #1: The first P basses had a string thru body bridge which results in a higher pressure on the bridge saddles. Telecaster players would speak of 'more twang' - especially after the bridge saddles were changed to be made of metal. Later the P Bass was changed to the top-loaded bridge with individual saddles for each string (also used on the Jazz Bass). I have seen 80's P Basses which were prepared for both ways to string the bass up which I thing is a cool feature. #2: The wood the bodies were made off. Rule of thumb: Ash was used in the beginning, later alder was used for the basses with color laquer and 3tone sunburst.
Fantastic video! I learnt so much about the history of this noble instrument. I've had a P bass bought new in 1982 and I would never part with it. Thank you.
The tug bar wasn't meant for thumbs though (You wouldn't be able to even play that way). It was meant for your other fingers to tug on while playing the bass with your thumb (ex: Brian Wilson).
my brother Dennis bought the first bass and amp sold in Belleville On Canada in 1960, it was a Alamo and he got it at Charly Kamber,s music store on Front street .His grandson still has it.
It'd be awesome to hear some 80's metal on that 53, everyone these days thinks you gotta have all these crazy scale lengths,and pickup configurations,exotic woods,they over think the simplicity of the bass guitar,Leo Fender nailed it,you can perfect perfection, or might I say you can get more precise than the pbass,it's the Swiss army knife of basses,covers all genres with ease,I even play classical on mine,also if you could do a video like this only on the music Man stingray that'd be really cool
I've played a '57 p-bass before and really loved it, so much that I went and bought a '16 MIM P-Bass and almost felt no difference in feel besides the neck which was thicker and more comfortable to play
Nice concise history here. I have and play a few P Basses. One thing I have always wondered is why on the early models they put the thumb rest below the pickups and not above.When I play a newer model my thumb rests on the top part of the pickguard.BTW Chicago Music Exchange is a great place to buy your guitars. I sometimes dabble with lead and bought my Epiphone Les Paul Standard from them.Top notch customer service!
So refreshing to hear someone speak English without resorting to all the inane cool speak bollocks that musicians often use. Much appreciated, thank you.
Love all 9 of my tele style P-basses all made by fender and all from before 1989. Just built a Warmoth 72 tele style BASS with Norstrand POWER BLADES for pickups. Also got a DUSTY BASS BUILT BY ANDY IRVINES "GHOST BASS" CO. The Dusty is a reversed head stock WARMOTH BULD! BAD ASS
I miss the Elite II series, 2 lace sensor split coils, active electronics for first time in Fender (I guess), courtesy of Paul Gagon (now in G&L guitars), high mass bridge, micro tilt in the neckplate and micro tuners on the bridge too... that´s a breakthrough in the Precision philosophy
Years later and this video is still relevant. I love the precision bass but have fallen more in love with g&l sb-1's and lb100 over fenders. The price for them is just far too high for the quality you get. I'm not saying that fender quality is horrible whenever you get about $1500, but g&l and musicman definitely have much higher QC. That old sound is a classic, though.
Owned a Jaguar P and J bass, played many Jazz basses and am buying a new P bass soon. 1 pickup, both knobs at 10 and on your way with that iconic punchy hard hitting tone. I fucking love the P bass. Can't beat it (Ric's and Stingray's are great also though).
Leo Fender liked chrome on cars and used chrome on guitars. The chrome bridge cover had a piece of foam in the inside to make it sound like an upright bass. The finger rest was used so you could pluck with your thumb for that upright bass sound. James Jamerson, Carol Kaye, Peter Cetera, and more recorded with the bridge cover on. Just some more history
Nice job guys Great history lesson I have a 73 p it's nice knowing where it fits in the mix here Love all the demos also thanks for all the effort and time you put in for us
I hate to be 'that' guy but what's the consensus on 5 string P-basses? I ask because but, firstly, many guitarists I've met like to drop tune (obviously I realise a bass can do that too), or use 7 or 8 string guitars. Also, I saw a video by Scott Devine who said 5 strings are your best choice for doing shows/pit work. Much as I love the original 4 string bass design, if you're putting serious money down for a bass, should you get a 5 string? Does the P-bass really work as a 5 string, or are you better off with a Jazz, or something that was designed as a 5 string to begin with? Anyway, I love the Precision and all these are such beautiful instruments. I especially love the really early ones, to my ears you can't beat their thump-tone. Ah man, if money were no object...!
Vey cool Video! One question for you, I'm interested in one 1976 p bass. Is the coupling "olympic white + rosewood fretboard" correct for this era? I only see maple fingerboard with this year pieces and seller said it's all original. Can you verify please?
I play two P's. An American Vintage 57 and Custom Shop 55 Time Machine. Both strung with Flats. As great as the 57's split coil muscle is for hot blues, r'n'b and rock. I absolutely love the single coil in the 55. Especially on early 50's style rock n' roll, blues and even jazzier stuff. More punch than a J, but smoother than a split coil P. Finds it's way into any arrangement just right. Hum is where the soul lives.
Danny Stitches That single coil cuts the mix, right? I have a 60 yo 57 and Have a Duncan quarter pounder in it. As good as the Fender pup sounds, the SD is way better. Tone knob makes sense and who needs active? Stock P or J pups don't compete.
When the American Standard Precision Bass had a $200 price drop I jumped on it! I am now the proud owner of a 2016 black with white pick guard, maple fret board American Standard Precision Bass. I will cherish it and may even be buried with it.
THANKS FOR WATCHING!!
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The 1958 P-Bass with the gold anodized pickguard might be my all-time favorite. So gorgeous.
The Precision is the best bass ever devised. Hell, and It doesn't even need batteries to sound good!!
hughes2397 no the jazz bass is the best. Popping and slapping is better than a mellow tone. But for country the p bass is best
@@dylanmelvin6894 shut up
@@dylanmelvin6894 Shut UP X2
@@dylanmelvin6894 shut up X3
@@dylanmelvin6894 shut up X4
I want every one of these basses. Fantastic video as always, guys!
I love your videos
Thanks! I appreciate that!
Patrick Hunter dude, thanks! love your videos.
thanks man!
Love ya and your ripper dude
Great video!
Would love to see Jazz Bass history tour.
If possible - add more information: the active and passive pickups, nut and wood history. I know it's not easy to produce such complex video, but it could be a great literacy company.
All the demos are so stylistically spot on! Bravo, y’all!
Thanks, This is great....As a bass player myself, it took me years to find out what you showed in this 11 min. video.
I'll take the 1957, the 1958, and the 1976 please ?
I’ll take all of ‘em. lel
Hell, I'm a drummer and I found this fascinating. Great work by all involved!
me too
Drummers & Bassist are badass teammates.
I play both , I can approve this 100%
You failed to mention that the split P pickup is in series, so it retains a lot of the single coil high end on the strings but really enhances the low end. Brilliant!
Although if you want true to Jamerson tone, when you're playing that '62 reissue from the 80s, you need to rest your hand on the pickup cover and play between the pickup and the heel of the neck. That was primarily Jamerson's neighborhood. And a wad of foam under the bridge cover.
And DEAD flat wounds for extra sludge!
And use just your index finger. Makes a surprising difference!
The strings on that 1st-gen look like they haven’t been changed since about 1953 either 😜
Awesome vid though 👍🏻
I have an epiphone p-bass from the 90s and i absolutely love it. The tone crushes many much more expensive basses. That thumpy attack.
Used to have a ‘54, ‘62 and now I have a few 60’s and 70’s P-Basses. My favorite is the ‘62 through the Ampeg B18. Favorite bassist, yes, James Jamerson!
10:09: "it's time to say goodbye to this and move on to the next thing, in true Fender fashion"
Is that ironic? Guitar companies keep looking back, and very rarely forward. Just look at the '83 model here: they were already making '62 reissues barely 20 years afterwards!
IMO the American Pro line is more of an outlier: Fender will keep releasing reissues of reissues of reissues of '50s and '60s Precision basses until we're all dead and buried...
I mean now we got the American Ultras that have new controls, neck cuts, and contoured neck options. They’ve improved a lot in 3 and a half years
Good
This has been my most played video since it's come out. Absolutely amazing!
I've watched your videos for some time now and I would like to compliment you. Your playing continues to get better and better. The subtle things (the important things), your timing, your attack, tone etc. Way to go! Enjoyable video. Thanks!
This video is sick! thank you guys for taking the time!
awesome vid so informative the p-bass is so classic
Hi Marc. Tino here. I very much enjoyed this little bit you did here. It's very important that younger, uninformed musicians learn about earlier Fender basses. Everything you covered here, I have known for many, many years- and you were RIGHT ON with all of your info. If we ever met in person, we'd be like two old ladies just talking and talking about Fender basses! I have many of the ones you brought to the demo and they all sound incredible! Let's keep in touch. Thank you Marc.
Thank you for making a top history of the p bass video. And nice chops on the basses. That send off 👍
I am so happy I bought my Fender American Performer Precision Bass with both the P and J pickups last year. I also bought it’s sister...my Fender American Performer Stratocaster HSS. Both in Tri-Colour Sunburst. The bass plays through an early 2000s Fender Bassman 200 and the guitar plays through a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe V2.
My compliments Marc, your bass playing is improving very nicely! It's a pleasure to listen to you play these basses.
I love how Adam gets to have his bass-work be featured in the very beginning of this video. Such an underrated bassist.
This was absolutely beautiful. Fantastic overview without any boring blah-blah... straight to the point and most importantly with a terrific sound. If I had to choose only one of the very tastefully chosen and played examples we heard, I think I would go for that sweet round warm tone of 9:09, which goes to show how simplicity can meet versatility in probably the most famous example regarding bass guitar.
Can we get more "History of XX"
Yeah, I would love to know the history of the Roman numeral for 20.
Thuddy Waters troll status: supreme
@@strangernajjar You're jealous because you're not funny.
Props for using the one-finger method when playing the Jamerson lines. Well done.
All great bass guitars! Thanks Leo! Thanks Marc! Thanks Chicago music exchange! Goodnight John Boy! Goodnight grandpa!
Excellent video for the best bass made! Marc is the man....Thanks
I went to Chicago Music Exchange on Clark Street in Chicago, it was a small store . I loved the vintage Fender Precious Bass they had but couldn't afford them at the time, I was a teenager than in the late 80's . Leo Fender RIP , Thank You for the great innovation of basses you brought to the world. You change the world and made a extreme impact on it.
Thank you for this Fender P Bass history!
Gave me chills when you played the American standard. Beautiful
I've got a great early Ibanez p-bass. It's a copy of the blond Telecaster version that Fender put out around 1970. It's got a real thin neck and sounds so good. It's such a surprisingly versatile instrument for how simple it is.
Marc is the coolest and dreamiest. Love this video! Great tribute to the P Bass!
Sarah Neczwid
Nah, you are
That sound in the beginning of the video is the reason I started playing bass it sounds sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo gooooooooooooooooooooood
soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo stupidddddddddddddddddddddd
oliver harmon lame. What are you? 11?
what's the name of the song?
Love these "history of..." videos you guys do. Great stuff! And so many tasty guitars
I have an American standard pbass. Everytime i play it, puts a smile on my face. I've had many basses and sold many. This pbass is the only one that has stayed put.
Excellent video! I learned so much about the great P-bass.
that was awesome ! great job man - entertaining and informative - the two most desirable elements --
Great video guys, thanks to everyone at CME who put this together. +1 to previous comments, would love to see more "History of..." videos!
Very good and informative video - I especially liked the Jamerson stuff being played using the index finger only. But two thing aspects of the P Bass history weren't mentioned which I personally regard as important.
#1: The first P basses had a string thru body bridge which results in a higher pressure on the bridge saddles. Telecaster players would speak of 'more twang' - especially after the bridge saddles were changed to be made of metal. Later the P Bass was changed to the top-loaded bridge with individual saddles for each string (also used on the Jazz Bass). I have seen 80's P Basses which were prepared for both ways to string the bass up which I thing is a cool feature.
#2: The wood the bodies were made off. Rule of thumb: Ash was used in the beginning, later alder was used for the basses with color laquer and 3tone sunburst.
Man Mark is the man, such a cool dude to talk to in the Bass-ment of the store. he gotchu on whatever you need!
The ending scared me. I thought Fender might be discontinuing the P-bass.
Me too. I almost shat myself.
So you weren't paying much attention, LOL
They never will lol. Too Iconic a tone.
If they ever did, that'd be Fender's biggest mistake!
LOL - yeah, they want to move away from making money.
Do the Jazz Bass
Etan "Wow Ethan, great moves, keep it up, proud of you"
Javier Metivier Papa Bless
Etan papa bless
Etan 💯👌🙏🍕
Hell yeah
Well Done as usual Mark. Lots of great investment quality Basses as well.
Fantastic video! I learnt so much about the history of this noble instrument. I've had a P bass bought new in 1982 and I would never part with it.
Thank you.
The tug bar wasn't meant for thumbs though (You wouldn't be able to even play that way). It was meant for your other fingers to tug on while playing the bass with your thumb (ex: Brian Wilson).
Wow, beautiful and nicely done sir. Whew, it gave me goosebumps.
Didn’t I just see that 1958 P-Bass on Reverb’s youtube channel? It’s pretty distinctive. Fantastic video, Marc!
The black '76 is the one for me!
great camera work early on with the precision looks!
Thumbs up JUST for the Bubba joke.
I have watched this so many times love you’re work bro
I saw the one finger Jamerson! Nice
Awesome video man! I agree with etan, do the jazz bass!!
Enjoyed the video a lot, I wanna stop by the shop when I come to Chicago.
Much love from Europe.
Nicely done. Only wish I'd kept the Fender P-Bass and J-Bass I used in the 70s. Folks, hang on to your guitars!
my brother Dennis bought the first bass and amp sold in Belleville On Canada in 1960, it was a Alamo and he got it at Charly Kamber,s music store on Front street .His grandson still has it.
Awesome video, thanks for making this!
I fell in love with the first riff
Thanks for making this great informative video.
KRAZEEIZATION you’re welcome!
It'd be awesome to hear some 80's metal on that 53, everyone these days thinks you gotta have all these crazy scale lengths,and pickup configurations,exotic woods,they over think the simplicity of the bass guitar,Leo Fender nailed it,you can perfect perfection, or might I say you can get more precise than the pbass,it's the Swiss army knife of basses,covers all genres with ease,I even play classical on mine,also if you could do a video like this only on the music Man stingray that'd be really cool
great video~ and your bass tone is perfect~!! I love precision~
Awesome video! I have the 2013 American standard p bass in the same guise, and it rocks.
Belo vídeo.um pouco dos bass da fender precision que adoro.
Yesss U2's "New Year's Day" has one of the best basslines ever
Great video!! Waiting for the History of the Fender Jazz Bass video!!! Please!
60's p just sounds sooo damn good i cant get enough of it
Great job Marc!
I've played a '57 p-bass before and really loved it, so much that I went and bought a '16 MIM P-Bass and almost felt no difference in feel besides the neck which was thicker and more comfortable to play
Really great video!!!
Precision Bass and an Ampeg is the best combo ever. Ampeg amps bring out the best of a P Bass.
Nice concise history here. I have and play a few P Basses. One thing I have always wondered is why on the early models they put the thumb rest below the pickups and not above.When I play a newer model my thumb rests on the top part of the pickguard.BTW Chicago Music Exchange is a great place to buy your guitars. I sometimes dabble with lead and bought my Epiphone Les Paul Standard from them.Top notch customer service!
I can't stand most demos on UA-cam, but Marc is a doll.
Also, where was the first riff you were playing from?
Omer Brand thanks, bub!
'New Years Day' - U2
marc najjar
How come you guys haven't demoed a MIJ bass in this vid? :(
So refreshing to hear someone speak English without resorting to all the inane cool speak bollocks that musicians often use. Much appreciated, thank you.
It's gotta be gen 1 and gen 4 for me for sound, but that '58 is absolutely beautiful!
He has huge hands, the bass looks like a toy with him!
looks like he's playing a ministrat
well you know what they say about guys with big hands.
I was going to comment it looks like he's playing one of My Fender Mustang Offsets!
Or is it big old ass? I can't remember...
BOTH! He's obviously a man mountain, that full scale bass looks like a miniature on him!
Great video! Learned alot!!!
Nice video guys!!!!
So good man I got heaps out of this thanks
I always wondered how the Precision got it's name. Great video!
Awesome video! Thanks.
Love all 9 of my tele style P-basses all made by fender and all from before 1989. Just built a Warmoth 72 tele style BASS with Norstrand POWER BLADES for pickups. Also got a DUSTY BASS BUILT BY ANDY IRVINES "GHOST BASS" CO. The Dusty is a reversed head stock WARMOTH BULD! BAD ASS
I love you guys. flats are where it's at. much bass love your way
I miss the Elite II series, 2 lace sensor split coils, active electronics for first time in Fender (I guess), courtesy of Paul Gagon (now in G&L guitars), high mass bridge, micro tilt in the neckplate and micro tuners on the bridge too... that´s a breakthrough in the Precision philosophy
Years later and this video is still relevant. I love the precision bass but have fallen more in love with g&l sb-1's and lb100 over fenders. The price for them is just far too high for the quality you get. I'm not saying that fender quality is horrible whenever you get about $1500, but g&l and musicman definitely have much higher QC.
That old sound is a classic, though.
Owned a Jaguar P and J bass, played many Jazz basses and am buying a new P bass soon. 1 pickup, both knobs at 10 and on your way with that iconic punchy hard hitting tone. I fucking love the P bass. Can't beat it (Ric's and Stingray's are great also though).
Leo Fender liked chrome on cars and used chrome on guitars. The chrome bridge cover had a piece of foam in the inside to make it sound like an upright bass. The finger rest was used so you could pluck with your thumb for that upright bass sound. James Jamerson, Carol Kaye, Peter Cetera, and more recorded with the bridge cover on. Just some more history
hahahah the blink at 6:58, Great video!
This video rocks!
Nice job guys
Great history lesson I have a 73 p it's nice knowing where it fits in the mix here
Love all the demos also thanks for all the effort and time you put in for us
I hate to be 'that' guy but what's the consensus on 5 string P-basses?
I ask because but, firstly, many guitarists I've met like to drop tune (obviously I realise a bass can do that too), or use 7 or 8 string guitars. Also, I saw a video by Scott Devine who said 5 strings are your best choice for doing shows/pit work.
Much as I love the original 4 string bass design, if you're putting serious money down for a bass, should you get a 5 string?
Does the P-bass really work as a 5 string, or are you better off with a Jazz, or something that was designed as a 5 string to begin with?
Anyway, I love the Precision and all these are such beautiful instruments. I especially love the really early ones, to my ears you can't beat their thump-tone. Ah man, if money were no object...!
Vey cool Video! One question for you, I'm interested in one 1976 p bass. Is the coupling "olympic white + rosewood fretboard" correct for this era? I only see maple fingerboard with this year pieces and seller said it's all original. Can you verify please?
I play two P's. An American Vintage 57 and Custom Shop 55 Time Machine. Both strung with Flats. As great as the 57's split coil muscle is for hot blues, r'n'b and rock. I absolutely love the single coil in the 55. Especially on early 50's style rock n' roll, blues and even jazzier stuff. More punch than a J, but smoother than a split coil P. Finds it's way into any arrangement just right. Hum is where the soul lives.
Danny Stitches
That single coil cuts the mix, right? I have a 60 yo 57 and Have a Duncan quarter pounder in it. As good as the Fender pup sounds, the SD is way better. Tone knob makes sense and who needs active? Stock P or J pups don't compete.
When the American Standard Precision Bass had a $200 price drop I jumped on it! I am now the proud owner of a 2016 black with white pick guard, maple fret board American Standard Precision Bass. I will cherish it and may even be buried with it.
I liked the video, it was fun...I own a 79 fender, and a 72 Fender P Bass
Thanks, great video!
Great video. Itajaí, Brazil Rock with you man. Could you please confirm if you changed the amp gain among the "years"?
Rosewood board with clay dots is so cool. Sitting here with my 68 tele bass on my lap.
Anything Leo was involved in is still the best to this day!
The Stingray 👌
Already own a Fender Jazz. Wouldn't mind seeing U guys profile Peavey basses. I also own a Peavey TL-5 bass.
Nice. Hope you get lots of views and feel compeled to do a video on the history of the Jazz Bass.
Russell Keating :-)