I was never a big P-bass fan but recently I had the chance to play both a 54 and a 58 P-bass, lets just say that I can die a happy man now, both instruments had great necks and very distinctive tonal qualities that just lent themselves to playing walking bass lines but I did play some Dead Kennedys on the 58 and it sat really well. If ever I have the money to buy one of these I will grab it ,such an amazing experience .
So cool, these old instruments show that the magic of this type of electrical bass is in the dry thumpy mids. This is what make them unique and can't be replicated with modern instruments. They sound more scooped.
inspired by Jeff's copy I got a 54 p bass made to my spec but with contoured body- got the Lindy pickup - i find it quite bright, but in the sweet spot (also had 0.1 capacitor fitted) it's so great - old school sounding - i have watched this video a lot! Thanks Jeff for the idea
I found a 1968 telecaster bass body that needed some love. I finished it up with fender parts and a seymour duncan pickup. A short video of photos is on my channel.
Very cool - I've had Evan Webb make me three sets of pre-angled Saddles for my old style P-Basses. Solves the intonation issues up at the "dusty end" of the neck.
Jeff Hill mentions Bernard Odum. Bernard was one of the most under-appreciated bassists of his time. Other greats that have played this model included George Porter, Jr., Verdine White, Dusty Hill, and Keith Ferguson just to mention a few.
Monk Montgomery had a hissy fit when Lionel Hampton first handed him the P-bass. Lionel told him he could get two weeks pay and go back to Indianapolis or learn to play the P-bass. The P-bass was invented for guitarists, not upright bassists. Upright players took exception to the idea of a bass with frets. Monk took to the P-bass real quick after that. It was Bill Black's P-bass that Elvis played on "Baby You're So Square" after Bill threw it down on the studio floor in frustration. Connie "Guybo" Smith played one with Eddie Cochran. Jack Neal of Gene Vincent's bass player played one too.
Kieth Ferguson of the Fabulous Thunderbirds played the single coil Precision. I have a nice vintage sunburst MIJ 89 ash body '54 single coil Precision. Sting also played a 1954 single coil bass in the Police.
I have a Sting Signature P bass and it is amazing! The bridge is a bit of a hassle and the G string will not stay in tune and I am think about putting a new bridge on it. That bass plays and sounds so good and I paid 500$ for it brand new at my favorite music store!
Mr.wonk know what your saying I went into this new music store one night I had looked everywhere for that early style look and the bass dept. And there it was the sting signature the salesperson took it down plugged it in and I new it was going home with me put flats on and it's all I need best 425$ I ever spent
No, David Hood played a Jazz on everything. He could have used a P, but the Jazz was the first thing he saw after he decided to get a bass. David was never much of a gear guy. On the Staple Singers tune, I think he played his first bass which was a stack knob jazz. That one was later stolen.
@@richsackett3423 in today’s money that’s about 4000$ For a piece of crap with a broken pickup Bakelite saddles paint removed no nomenclature etc. plus he had to make another one just to look like this. So so stupid! It’s like buying a house but sleeping outside because it is to nice.
@@PorchBass exactly that is what made ZZ Top. A bass. So this dude better be careful! One of this days he will be as great famous and rich as ZZ Top. He has the bass.
I own a 1951 fender precision bass as well and if that is a true 1951 made by Leo Fender and his main builder who was a man named Tadeo Gomez you will see in the neck pocket the name or the initials TD most times written in pencil, but it stays very well, and there would be no reason why somebody would remove it or sand that off. It would say 51TD or 1951TD or 51 Tadeo Gomez. Without that signature it is what it is I guess. There are many fakes I have come across some that were absolutely amazing and to tell you the truth that bass is not too hard to re-create and make look old used beat up and well played when like I said it’s brand new. Look at what the fender custom shop does and I own 2 of their 1951 Precision Basses, where one is a slight relic, and the other is a heavy relic made by a master builder. Every single 51 that I have seen, you will notice the fender decal on the head stock is at an angle. The one that I have, that was my father’s is at a slight angle where others I have seen were definitely at an angle. Today I have turned down offers of up to $40,000 for my 1951, my 52, my 53, 54, 55… I own Many very prestigious pre-CBS Fender basses. Up in heaven, Jesus Christ plays a 51P bass through a 1966 Ampeg B fliptop B15 N! Nothing in the world sounds like a Pbass when played through a 1966 Ampeg fliptop!!!
I was never a big P-bass fan but recently I had the chance to play both a 54 and a 58 P-bass, lets just say that I can die a happy man now, both instruments had great necks and very distinctive tonal qualities that just lent themselves to playing walking bass lines but I did play some Dead Kennedys on the 58 and it sat really well. If ever I have the money to buy one of these I will grab it ,such an amazing experience .
So cool, these old instruments show that the magic of this type of electrical bass is in the dry thumpy mids. This is what make them unique and can't be replicated with modern instruments. They sound more scooped.
Man that bass sounds fantastic.
Really enjoyed that, Jeff is a great player and your such a relaxed interviewer Gary.
Thanks!
*you're
The original sounds awesome. Very unique tone to it. I like that old/vintage tone. Sounds dry & thumpy. 🎼👌🏼💯
inspired by Jeff's copy I got a 54 p bass made to my spec but with contoured body- got the Lindy pickup - i find it quite bright, but in the sweet spot (also had 0.1 capacitor fitted) it's so great - old school sounding - i have watched this video a lot! Thanks Jeff for the idea
Great story, sweet bass. Nice interview.
You have to wonder how Leo got it so right in 1951 when nobody on earth had even heard of an electric bass.
He got it so right he completely changed the body, bridge and pickups 6 years later
@@AndreaAustoniThen he radically revamped the p-bass in 1975 in the form of the musicman stingray
Mad respect for the Monk Montgomery shoutout. Love the tone and playing!
Wow very cool! Wes Montgomery also played with his thumb!
I found a 1968 telecaster bass body that needed some love. I finished it up with fender parts and a seymour duncan pickup. A short video of photos is on my channel.
Sir, I love your video!
@@monolith385 Thank you so much. I just bought an early 70s Gibson slot head bass for my next project. This one will not be as involved.
Saw him and the bass a couple times with CRB amazing player. Amazing band.
Thanks for coming out - hope to see all the fans soon
Very cool - I've had Evan Webb make me three sets of pre-angled Saddles for my old style P-Basses. Solves the intonation issues up at the "dusty end" of the neck.
Chris Robinson Brotherhood's bassist!
Omg that '51 sounds phenomenol !!!!
thanks - great interview - phenomenal bass..!!
Awesome interview Gazza!!
Jeff Hill mentions Bernard Odum. Bernard was one of the most under-appreciated bassists of his time. Other greats that have played this model included George Porter, Jr., Verdine White, Dusty Hill, and Keith Ferguson just to mention a few.
Monk Montgomery had a hissy fit when Lionel Hampton first handed him the P-bass. Lionel told him he could get two weeks pay and go back to Indianapolis or learn to play the P-bass. The P-bass was invented for guitarists, not upright bassists. Upright players took exception to the idea of a bass with frets. Monk took to the P-bass real quick after that. It was Bill Black's P-bass that Elvis played on "Baby You're So Square" after Bill threw it down on the studio floor in frustration. Connie "Guybo" Smith played one with Eddie Cochran. Jack Neal of Gene Vincent's bass player played one too.
Kieth Ferguson of the Fabulous Thunderbirds played the single coil Precision. I have a nice vintage sunburst MIJ 89 ash body '54 single coil Precision. Sting also played a 1954 single coil bass in the Police.
I have a Sting Signature P bass and it is amazing! The bridge is a bit of a hassle and the G string will not stay in tune and I am think about putting a new bridge on it. That bass plays and sounds so good and I paid 500$ for it brand new at my favorite music store!
Mr.wonk know what your saying I went into this new music store one night I had looked everywhere for that early style look and the bass dept. And there it was the sting signature the salesperson took it down plugged it in and I new it was going home with me put flats on and it's all I need best 425$ I ever spent
Great interview! Killer bass too :)
What's the date on the neck. Maybe you don't know how to check it.
Amazing tone
Any idea what the body wood is?
tell me more about this humbucking pickup from Lenny who?
David Hood played that line on Fender Jazz bass. His bass was stoled while he was on the tour with Traffic.
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
$2800 good deal! kinda expensive 16 yrs ago for a gamble worked out in the end
jeff hill is ed jurdi
Lucky Guy 👍
Shout out to CT! 203
0145! 😯
No, David Hood played a Jazz on everything. He could have used a P, but the Jazz was the first thing he saw after he decided to get a bass. David was never much of a gear guy. On the Staple Singers tune, I think he played his first bass which was a stack knob jazz. That one was later stolen.
👍🏻😊
Dam dude you don’t know where the ashtrays are?! You gotta keep these things around!!!
No, David Hood used a Jazz for everything.
Just play don't talk !!!!
how much it's worth you think?
Beautiful. Got a genuine 1952. It also rings like a bell in comparison to any reissue ones. 🎯
It’s raelly the second bass sound to the double bass’s one.
Replica sounds nothing like it. Looks alright though, needs black pickguard screws.
No logo,no serial numbers...are we sure about genuinity?
An ACTUAL '51. Crap!
Putting the original serial number on his backup was unnecessary. It changed it from a tribute/clone to a forgery.
Just a stupid bass ! Made expensive by a number on a plate. People are such victims. People are just stupid!!
He didn't pay that much for it. Yes you are.
@@richsackett3423 in today’s money that’s about 4000$ For a piece of crap with a broken pickup Bakelite saddles paint removed no nomenclature etc. plus he had to make another one just to look like this. So so stupid! It’s like buying a house but sleeping outside because it is to nice.
Yeah, those '51 basses are common as muck. Everyone thinks they are rubbish. Zz top just prove how bad they are.
You must be smoking again
@@PorchBass exactly that is what made ZZ Top. A bass. So this dude better be careful! One of this days he will be as great famous and rich as ZZ Top. He has the bass.
Awwww what's-a-matter little boy, mommy can't afford to buy you a '51??
I own a 1951 fender precision bass as well and if that is a true 1951 made by Leo Fender and his main builder who was a man named Tadeo Gomez you will see in the neck pocket the name or the initials TD most times written in pencil, but it stays very well, and there would be no reason why somebody would remove it or sand that off. It would say 51TD or 1951TD or 51 Tadeo Gomez. Without that signature it is what it is I guess. There are many fakes I have come across some that were absolutely amazing and to tell you the truth that bass is not too hard to re-create and make look old used beat up and well played when like I said it’s brand new. Look at what the fender custom shop does and I own 2 of their 1951 Precision Basses, where one is a slight relic, and the other is a heavy relic made by a master builder. Every single 51 that I have seen, you will notice the fender decal on the head stock is at an angle. The one that I have, that was my father’s is at a slight angle where others I have seen were definitely at an angle. Today I have turned down offers of up to $40,000 for my 1951, my 52, my 53, 54, 55… I own Many very prestigious pre-CBS Fender basses. Up in heaven, Jesus Christ plays a 51P bass through a 1966 Ampeg B fliptop B15 N! Nothing in the world sounds like a Pbass when played through a 1966 Ampeg fliptop!!!