P-Bass Mods

Are there any mods or upgrades that are considered "musts" on a stock Fender P-Bass?

Not really, unless you want a higher output pup. I did put gotoh ultralight tuners on mine to make it balance better.

Nope. If you dig P-Basses, they're good to go right out of the box.

Tim

That's the beauty of the p-bass rock solid and simple as it gets.I've modded a bunch of them, one with another p-bass p.u. in the bridge pos,one with a music man humbucker in the bridge and the popular jazz bass p.u. in the bridge.

pickup options, tailpiece options, Flats or Tapes, add a pre amp, strap locks....
other than that I can't think of any mods that it would benefit from, and those are personal choices other than needed mods.

I just changed out the pickup in my Lakland P and put a more vintage sounding pickup in it. The pup from the factory was ok but too agressive and growly.

As other guys said - this bass is so awesome there's no need for mods.
However, for me something closest to a 'obligatory' mod for P is a set of chrome covers*.
Bass players divide into two groups: those who love chrome covers and those who have no good tast... err... who hate'm. :wink: :lol:
And of course the standard bass mods like straplocks are good idea. You don't want your bass to hit the floor in the middle of the gig.

*plus maybe some foam under the bridge cover for extra warmth.

I already have the chrome covers which I will be installing. I will order a set of strap locks.

I already have the chrome covers which I will be installing. I will order a set of strap locks.
Good man. :grin:

OK, strap locks ordered and I will also be replacing the stock bridge with this one:

I GREATLY prefer the stock bridge. YMMV.

Tim

I GREATLY prefer the stock bridge. YMMV.

Tim

Can you please tell me why you prefer the stock bridge?

They're just unnecessary, add unneeded weight, don't improve the tone of a P-Bass at all that I can hear. The one time I put one on a P-Bass, I actually found it to make the thing sound brighter and thinner.

Tim

pull the chrome (it gets in the way), pull the finger/thumb rests (they get in the way), play the damn thing!

The only "must" for me is flatwound strings. They go on the day I bring the bass home.

Do THAT, and you got yourself some P-Bass going on.

Putting the flatwounds ON the P-bass is not a mod. It's just like an increase of performance.
However, REMOVING flats from the bass is a mod. Because you remove something that will last forever on this bass, like any other its part like pickup or bridge. And it's deteriorating mod :razz:

Are there any mods or upgrades that are considered "musts" on a stock Fender P-Bass?

I don't believe there are "musts" in modding a P-Bass, or any other bass for that matter. Modding, to me, depends on what is "needed"...e.g. I "needed" a Hipshot D-extender. I don't care for a 5-string bass, but certain songs do sound better when you play a low D.
Thumb rests, upgraded pickups, lighter tuners, heavier bridges and brass nuts, and active electronics ARE all nice mods, but do you REALLY "need" it for YOUR tone?

Move the thumb rest.

Move the thumb rest.

Move it to where?

Move it to where?

He probably means if it has the old style "tug bar" down on the treble side, to move it up to the bass side. But I'm just guessing!

Tim

Are there any mods or upgrades that are considered "musts" on a stock Fender P-Bass?

Define "a stock Fender P-Bass."

The only modification I ever found meaningful was selling the BAII off an HO for $150+ and getting a real bridge.

They're just unnecessary, add unneeded weight, don't improve the tone of a P-Bass at all that I can hear. The one time I put one on a P-Bass, I actually found it to make the thing sound brighter and thinner.

Your ears work fine there. That's exactly what they do. It's what they are supposed to do.

So-called "high-mass" bridges are an abomination on a Precision unless you're using it for Punk.

Actually, the location of the thumbrest on the current models is pretty good, but some folks like it different places, some like it gone alltogether. Strap locks is another mod I would make. What I am bass..ically agreeing with a lot of folks above, is they are very good in stock condition. Really do not need pickups, bridges, tuners, etc.

OK, thank you everyone for the feedback. Once I have refinished the body I will try it stock and possibly sell off the unnecessary parts I have accumulated.

Pyramid Gold Flatwound Strings.

Wasn't it William Shakespear who wrote in 1605
"A P-Bass is a P-Bass is a P-Bass ..."

Yeah they're pretty much good to go right out of the box. I like the high mass bridge on my jazz but I took it off of the P a few months ago. I did like it when I had the fretless neck on though.

The only "must" for me is flatwound strings. They go on the day I bring the bass home.

Do THAT, and you got yourself some P-Bass going on.

Really? I just added a P-Bass to the arsenal, put flats on it to see what the fuss was all about, and I don't get it. I've been a J-Bass with rounds kind of guy for years, and just can't get used to the sound or the feel of the strings. Am thinking I need to let the strings settle down for a while and/or mess with EQ...suggestions anyone? Oh by the way it's a 1997-98 model with a string-thru-body design...no way to string up to the bridge itself.

It has been years since I tried them, but never liked flatwounds. Maybe if you are trying to imitate a stand up bass (some are).

Not really, maybe the tuners are a little cheezy but I wouldn't go out of my way to mod things on an AM std P. I had a 97 AM Std RW board a while back, it was a great player and sounded like a P should. Mine (a 97) had the old style bridge like you see on AV P basses, I like it better then the newer ones.

It has been years since I tried them, but never liked flatwounds. Maybe if you are trying to imitate a stand up bass (some are).

It's totally a personal preference thing, but my favorite bass tones tend towards stuff from before roundwounds became the norm. I also started using them during a time when I was playing 4-5 gigs a week, and my fingers really appreciated the smoothness.

There is definitely a tonal quality to roundwound strings that you won't get on flats, but I'm cool with that!

Tim

I guess the important question is what are you looking for from your p-bass? Are you wanting Duck Dunn? Or Steve Harris?

Actually it really comes down to flat or round wound like everybody said. And straplocks are always a good thing.

Actually, I use the D'addario half rounds, so I guess that is sort of a compromise.

A friend of mine has D'addario half rounds on his Fender P Bass 1975.
He has'nt changed the strings vor nearly 20 years now!

Giving flats on a P a second try (I already know rounds sound great on it, but I'll use my Jazz either with neck pickup only or via the parallel/series wiring mod for that kind of sound)...figure the strings (D'Addario Chromes) need time to settle in. In the meantime, how can I tell if the bridge on that model P is high-mass or not? All I know is it's string-through only, which means having to use super long scale strings and presents problems with using flats, especially LaBella.

In the meantime, how can I tell if the bridge on that model P is high-mass or not
What does it look like? I thought high-mass bridges were simply thicker and heavier. Maybe I am wrong.

They're just unnecessary, add unneeded weight, don't improve the tone of a P-Bass at all that I can hear. The one time I put one on a P-Bass, I actually found it to make the thing sound brighter and thinner.

Tim

Amen to that! My only mods are a mint pick guard and DA Chromes.

A bone nut is an improvement I think, but only worth it if you don't have to spend too much, or do it yourself.