well, i gotta ask the same question mike asked....what's lacking in your P?
sound(s)? weight? or are ya just jonesing for something new?
i'm not a big fan of ABG's (acoustic bass gtrs w p/u's). i find they don't have enough acoustic volume to hang w anything bigger than a parlor gtr and plugged in they just sound like a crappy $100 electric. and i've played some high dollar ones...a bigass TAYLOR and a WARWICK Alien. meh.
john, you mention Warwick...good choice. i've got a 1990 Warwick Stage One Streamer. (see pic below)
besides being drop dead gorgeous AAAA quilted maple.... it sounds amazing, and has great ergonomics and comfy weight. it plays like butter and it's always the one i bring when i'm playing anywhere w questionable acoustics. i can ALWAYS dial in good useable tone. So i give the Thumb Bass a big "thumbs up". (sorry)
i came up playing P basses. love 'em (when they're good uns).
my #1 bass is my 63 P that i've had coming up on 40 yrs now. i've modded it over the yrs w Grovers, Bartolini p/u's (P and J), and i've countersunk a BADASS bridge into it. heresy i know, but pretty early on i realized i'm going to my grave w this bass and i'm not worried about keeping it original. every change i've made has greatly improved the bass...even if it's hurt it's "resale value". (it's the one i'm playing in my avatar)
if you're looking for something lightweight that packs a heavy punch i heartily recommend trying to find yourself a FENDER Precision Lyte. i bought one from a student a few months back and have fallen heads over heels in love w it. smaller body shape, J-bass type 34" neck and P-J active pickups that sound great. excellent EQ options. they can be found for $500 and under. i got mine for $250 and two lessons. it's great for those 4 set gigs and it's the one i use most often for my regular 9-1 truckstop gigs.
it's a little embarrassing that i am now up to SEVEN basses (and an upright) in my stable. in my defense i will say they are all different animals that wear different hats!
they are:
'63 P Bass
Zebra wood P-bass w fretless '66 neck and pickups
'80's Japanese FENDER J-bass w fretted and fretless J necks
FENDER Precision Lyte 1987(?)
'67 Guild Starfire II
Washburn XB600 6 String (KILLER bass)
'90 WARWICK Stage One Streamer
1938 KAY C-1 upright