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A Few Of Our Favorite Fender Precision Bass Gear
The Fender Precision Bass is easily one of the most well-known instruments in the world, used by numerous bass players and on countless different genres of music. Whether it's the shape, the feel, the playability or tone, there are numerous reasons why the P-Bass is so popular. But as good as the Precision bass is on its own, there's nothing wrong with spicing things up by grabbing some complimentary parts and accessories. Whether you're a veteran player or a relatively new owner of a P-bass, we have plenty of gear to go along with your instrument of choice.
Precision bass players are spoiled for choice as far as pickups are concerned. And as good as the tone of the stock set is, there's nothing wrong with looking for something a little different, something that sounds more like your style. If you're looking for something hotter, able to deliver a stronger tone, I highly recommend Duncan's Quarter Pounds. If you're simply looking for a traditional set to replace a damaged or worn pair, Lindy Fralin's P-Bass set. And for all of you slap-bass players out there, I highly recommend the EMG Active set. Not only do they pack plenty of extra power but installation is also as easy as it gets.
In general, bass players don't have quite the selection as guitar players do. Still, pedals remain powerful tools in a Precision Bass player's arsenal. For example, compressor and booster pedals are two types of stompboxes that any type of bassist can benefit from. While these two effects don't create distinct sounds like a distortion or flanger pedal would, they do give players better control of their signal -- something that is arguably more important. The MXR Bass Compressor and the Xotic RC Bass Boost are two of my personal favorites in that regard. Another type of pedal that I highly recommend adding to your collection is a good chorus as it is an easy way to add some thickness to your bass tone. The Ibanez Mini Chorus is a good choice. Not only can it get the job done without taking too much real estate, but it's also very affordable. If you plan on dabbling in funk bass, a solid wah-wah like the Jim Dunlop Cry Baby Bass Wah is a must.
Every guitar and bass will undoubtedly be familiar with the unpreventable experience of changing strings. Whether it's due to them losing their initial shine or simply breaking, strings are always needed. For an average user that plays his bass a few hours a week, it's recommended that strings be changed every three months. And while bass strings are pricier than your average set of guitar strings, about twenty to forty dollars every three months or so is a small price to pay for top-notch performance. The D'Addario ECB82 set and the Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinky are a few of my personal choices. And for those that are feeling a little more adventurous, why not give Fender's Flat Wound Bass Strings or Ernie Ball's Custom Gauge Flat Wounds a shot? Compared to traditional round wound strings, flat wounds tend to be warmer sounding, smoother feeling, and more durable.
Whether you're trying to restore an old workhorse or simply upgrade your current set up, there are plenty of great Fender P-bass parts around. For example, I recently replaced my old rusted hardware with a set of Fender American Vintage 70's tuners, a 1958 Bridge Assembly, and genuine Knurled Knobs. If you're having issues with the electronics or simply want to upgrade, there are plenty of great choices. Transportation also shouldn't be an afterthought. I've been using the Mono Vertigo Bass Case for a few months now and I can't recommend it enough.
Pickups
Precision bass players are spoiled for choice as far as pickups are concerned. And as good as the tone of the stock set is, there's nothing wrong with looking for something a little different, something that sounds more like your style. If you're looking for something hotter, able to deliver a stronger tone, I highly recommend Duncan's Quarter Pounds. If you're simply looking for a traditional set to replace a damaged or worn pair, Lindy Fralin's P-Bass set. And for all of you slap-bass players out there, I highly recommend the EMG Active set. Not only do they pack plenty of extra power but installation is also as easy as it gets.
Pedals
In general, bass players don't have quite the selection as guitar players do. Still, pedals remain powerful tools in a Precision Bass player's arsenal. For example, compressor and booster pedals are two types of stompboxes that any type of bassist can benefit from. While these two effects don't create distinct sounds like a distortion or flanger pedal would, they do give players better control of their signal -- something that is arguably more important. The MXR Bass Compressor and the Xotic RC Bass Boost are two of my personal favorites in that regard. Another type of pedal that I highly recommend adding to your collection is a good chorus as it is an easy way to add some thickness to your bass tone. The Ibanez Mini Chorus is a good choice. Not only can it get the job done without taking too much real estate, but it's also very affordable. If you plan on dabbling in funk bass, a solid wah-wah like the Jim Dunlop Cry Baby Bass Wah is a must.
Strings
Every guitar and bass will undoubtedly be familiar with the unpreventable experience of changing strings. Whether it's due to them losing their initial shine or simply breaking, strings are always needed. For an average user that plays his bass a few hours a week, it's recommended that strings be changed every three months. And while bass strings are pricier than your average set of guitar strings, about twenty to forty dollars every three months or so is a small price to pay for top-notch performance. The D'Addario ECB82 set and the Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinky are a few of my personal choices. And for those that are feeling a little more adventurous, why not give Fender's Flat Wound Bass Strings or Ernie Ball's Custom Gauge Flat Wounds a shot? Compared to traditional round wound strings, flat wounds tend to be warmer sounding, smoother feeling, and more durable.
Parts And Accessories
Whether you're trying to restore an old workhorse or simply upgrade your current set up, there are plenty of great Fender P-bass parts around. For example, I recently replaced my old rusted hardware with a set of Fender American Vintage 70's tuners, a 1958 Bridge Assembly, and genuine Knurled Knobs. If you're having issues with the electronics or simply want to upgrade, there are plenty of great choices. Transportation also shouldn't be an afterthought. I've been using the Mono Vertigo Bass Case for a few months now and I can't recommend it enough.