66 P Bass Vs 67 Mustang

J

Jakelorenz

Dec 7, 2023
8
3
31
#1
Hi Justin,

I think it's time for me to invest in a 60s Fender bass for studio purposes (I'm a producer/guitar&bass player)
I'm already a happy owner of a 74 P Bass, 77 Jazz Bass, Hofner 185 and EKO 995. Just to put things in context.
I've found a couple of great pieces online. One is a 67 Mustang and the other one a 66 P bass, like yours. Knowing you use and love pretty similar units, and taking into account the other bass I have and my job as a producer: which one would you take first? I know the correct answer is both! Sadly I can't afford both right now. Thanks!!!
 
#2
Is your '74 P a maple board? If so, and the '66 P being rosewood, I would go with the P. The rosewood board would offer a darker mellower tone vs. the snap of maple. If both are rosewood the Mustang might offer a more "bubbly" tone. Quick decay. Cut through nicely on stage.
Mustangs are in vogue these days and the prices seem to be reflecting that. They're fun and comfortable to gig and if you're mainly a guitarist they will be less fatiguing. You probably know this already. If it were me, and using strictly for recording I'd go with the '66 P. The P will hold its value if original (or mostly) more than the Mustang. Mustangs are "in" now the P will always be and '66's are pretty special. Just my opinions. Good luck!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wannabass and Jakelorenz
#4
Jakelorenz said:
Hi Justin,

I think it's time for me to invest in a 60s Fender bass for studio purposes (I'm a producer/guitar&bass player)
I'm already a happy owner of a 74 P Bass, 77 Jazz Bass, Hofner 185 and EKO 995. Just to put things in context.
I've found a couple of great pieces online. One is a 67 Mustang and the other one a 66 P bass, like yours. Knowing you use and love pretty similar units, and taking into account the other bass I have and my job as a producer: which one would you take first? I know the correct answer is both! Sadly I can't afford both right now. Thanks!!!
Click to expand...

The answer is: '66 P
 
  • Like
Reactions: brennanmcnally, Wannabass, bass08053 and 3 others
#5
Hey Justin,

I followed your advice and got a '66 P bass. It arrived today, and the first impression is great! I'd like to ask you something specific about the low end, pickups, and strings.

The '66 has LaBella flats on it and original pickups. I tried it next to my '74 Bass with rounds and Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounds (the same pickups you used on a white P Bass on tour with NIN or the same as used by Greg and Ken from Failure).

The main thing I noticed was that the '74 loaded with Seymour Duncans had more output, which is not a surprise. The second thing is that I find the '66 stronger in the midrange but not as big on the sub-low end (50-60Hz and below). The '74 has a monstrous low end, maybe too much(?)

My question is: Do you find your '66 lighter in the low end compared to your '75? Is it inherent to flats to have a stronger low end but less sub-lows compared to the more scooped-sounding rounds?

I guess the difference I'm hearing is coming from the higher output pickups, but I'd like to be sure that my '66 doesn't have any problem in the lower end of the spectrum. I don't know if I'm explaining myself well...

Many thanks!!!
 
#6
Jakelorenz said:
Hey Justin,

I followed your advice and got a '66 P bass. It arrived today, and the first impression is great! I'd like to ask you something specific about the low end, pickups, and strings.

The '66 has LaBella flats on it and original pickups. I tried it next to my '74 Bass with rounds and Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounds (the same pickups you used on a white P Bass on tour with NIN or the same as used by Greg and Ken from Failure).

The main thing I noticed was that the '74 loaded with Seymour Duncans had more output, which is not a surprise. The second thing is that I find the '66 stronger in the midrange but not as big on the sub-low end (50-60Hz and below). The '74 has a monstrous low end, maybe too much(?)

My question is: Do you find your '66 lighter in the low end compared to your '75? Is it inherent to flats to have a stronger low end but less sub-lows compared to the more scooped-sounding rounds?

I guess the difference I'm hearing is coming from the higher output pickups, but I'd like to be sure that my '66 doesn't have any problem in the lower end of the spectrum. I don't know if I'm explaining myself well...

Many thanks!!!
Click to expand...
Not Justin, but my experience with the Quarter Pounder Precision pickup is that it does have a relatively more mid-scooped character as you describe, which translates to relatively more lows and particularly low-midrange vs the more mid and higher-midrange hump and relatively tighter low-end voicing of a more traditional vintage Precision pickup. Definitely rounds (depending on which ones and how worn-in they are) could accentuate that built-in QP voicing- steel round wounds in particular. The QP is also definitely somewhat higher output than a traditional P pickup design, but the string difference can also account for a significant difference in output too.

Are you using LaBella Deep-Talking flats or one of their other versions? The Deep-Talking flats generally don't lack in beef down low and are known for a pretty mid-scooped character themselves, but LaBella Low-Tension and Olinto flats are tighter and more midrange-centric. What rounds are on the other P?

Unless you are hearing a clearly anemic tone from the 66 P I would guess there isn't an issue with the instrument. It would be possible for a pickup with degraded windings to output a thin and weak tone, but it would likely be a very striking difference (and it would be hard to directly compare your two basses with totally different strings to troubleshoot the difference).
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jakelorenz
#7
I don't think there is any issue with the '66; in fact, after spending a day with it, it sounds fantastic! I guess the main difference comes from the QP pickups. The strings on the '73 are Ernie Ball Nickel Rounds 45-105, pretty standard stuff. The flats on the '66 are LaBella Deep Talkin' flats.

I want to have different basses for different tasks, so I think it's a good idea to keep their differences. I should probably go back to the original pickups on my '73 P Bass or, even better, get another '70s P Bass. The Quarter Pounds sound incredible with high gain.
sunbeast said:
Not Justin, but my experience with the Quarter Pounder Precision pickup is that it does have a relatively more mid-scooped character as you describe, which translates to relatively more lows and particularly low-midrange vs the more mid and higher-midrange hump and relatively tighter low-end voicing of a more traditional vintage Precision pickup. Definitely rounds (depending on which ones and how worn-in they are) could accentuate that built-in QP voicing- steel round wounds in particular. The QP is also definitely somewhat higher output than a traditional P pickup design, but the string difference can also account for a significant difference in output too.

Are you using LaBella Deep-Talking flats or one of their other versions? The Deep-Talking flats generally don't lack in beef down low and are known for a pretty mid-scooped character themselves, but LaBella Low-Tension and Olinto flats are tighter and more midrange-centric. What rounds are on the other P?

Unless you are hearing a clearly anemic tone from the 66 P I would guess there isn't an issue with the instrument. It would be possible for a pickup with degraded windings to output a thin and weak tone, but it would likely be a very striking difference (and it would be hard to directly compare your two basses with totally different strings to troubleshoot the difference).
Click to expand...
 
  • Like
Reactions: LowendG and sunbeast
#8
Jakelorenz said:
I don't think there is any issue with the '66; in fact, after spending a day with it, it sounds fantastic! I guess the main difference comes from the QP pickups. The strings on the '73 are Ernie Ball Nickel Rounds 45-105, pretty standard stuff. The flats on the '66 are LaBella Deep Talkin' flats.

I want to have different basses for different tasks, so I think it's a good idea to keep their differences. I should probably go back to the original pickups on my '73 P Bass or, even better, get another '70s P Bass. The Quarter Pounds sound incredible with high gain.
Click to expand...
I agree with enjoying the diverse palettes! That’s how I justify owning as many basses as I do. Sounds like you have a nice complement in those two
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jakelorenz
#9
Jakelorenz said:
I should probably go back to the original pickups on my '73 P Bass
Click to expand...
Personally I think that's worth a try. Or try something like standard-wind Fralins. I've come to the conclusion that much of the time, hotter overwound pickups are often hyped not in a good way for recording. You might have more lows but IME they're often wooly or blurry going "to tape". Can always add heft, but hard to shave off wool if it's baked-in.
 
Last edited:
#10
LowendG said:
Personally I think that's worth a try. Or try something like standard-wind Fralins. I've come to the conclusion that much of the time, hotter overwound pickups are often hyped not in a good way for recording. You might have more lows but IME they're often wooly or blurry going "to tape". Can always add heft, but hard to shave off wool if it's baked-in.
Click to expand...
That's my thought too, and I tend to err on the side of lower-wound vintage-style pickups for this reason- they can be coaxed to be warmer and grittier using EQ or drive, but coaxing an overwound pickup to be clearer and cleaner after the fact is not so easy. I love the Fralin stock-wind too (somehow seems to have a bigger bottom than some other vintage-style pickups while also being very clear up top) but I bet the original pickup is no slouch!
 
  • Like
Reactions: LowendG
#13
waynobass said:
Many people believe this is a myth, and that there's really no difference in the sound of rosewood vs. maple fretboards. What do you think, JMJ?
Click to expand...
Best thing is to run a test with two different necks on the same bass.

I did it on one of my jazz bass.

The first neck was a Warmoth, slim taper jazz bass neck, all roasted maple, steel reinforced.

The second neck is a MIM Fender, C shaped jazz bass neck, all roasted maple wood without any reinforcement.

The Warmoth neck was more midrangy and clanky while the Fender is punchier but I lost a bit of treble and midrange aggressiveness.

I didn’t compare to a neck with a rosewood fretboard but it would certainly sound different.

You need to know the differences might be subtle for some and you really need a good amp kit that is very transparent to hear any difference.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back