| Alot of great advice and suggestions so far...
Coming from a bass players perspective and without actually hearing the instrument in question, I will say that I've never been overly impressed with the stock pickups on any of the MIM Fenders. Great instruments, but lousy pickups for the most part (yes there are some exceptions) But this would probably be the first place I'd look into, after that it's all in the players hands.
One thing you might try doing is this:
Take a trip down to the local music shop with your bass and check it out side by side with a USA P-bass. Chances are good if you still hear the same issues with your bass and not the USA P-bass it's the pickups which is a simply problem to address.
Now... If they both basically sound the same to you and your still not happy, then it's either your playing, technique, fretting, etc. or you are looking for another tone that you just aren't going to get from a P-bass.
Keep in mind that bass is no different then guitar in the respect that a strat is never going to sound like a les paul, and a les paul is never going to sound like a strat. The same applies here; If you want the sound of a Warwick you're not gonna get it out of a P-bass, nor are you going to get it out of an Alembic.
Hope this helps a bit...
Regards,
Chris |