2012 American Special P Bass (HoneyBurst)

[bassgreek]

Can you find a picture with mirror pick guard?
I think it would match with this color

[KyleSerlington]

i played one of these at guitar center today and i think it might be my favorite fender i've ever played, and it sounded great too! too bad i just put a bunch of money into building a warmoth

also, i'm a huge maple fretboard fan, especially on fenders, but i think this is one of the cases where i think rosewood would look better with this finish

[WoodyJ]

I was looking at one of these at a GC on the other side of town a couple weeks ago and I just couldn't get it out of my head as the finish is SO cool. But the last thing I need is another Precision as I already have six of them. And one Jazz.

Then today a commercial comes on TV announcing Guitar Center's "Guitarathon" with "substantial discounts on every guitar in the store!!".

So the wife and I jump in my car and drive to the way-across town GC, even though there are two others much closer to me. But I knew the honeyburst one I looked at was a good one and maybe it was still there...and hopefully truly on sale.

It was. Marked down to $699 including a nice Fender gig bag. The wife loved the finish and said to go for it.

So now, make that seven Precisions. NBD!

By the way, the 'white' pickguard is actually parchment and it looks way better in person than it photographs. I was planning to install a tort guard but the parchment one has that early '70's vibe and I may just leave it on there.

I also agree with Kyle that this bass would look better a rosewood fingerboard, but that's just a personal taste thing.

[fuzzy beard]

How do you think the finsh will hold up?

[WoodyJ]

It has a satin clear lacquer finish over the alder, so I think it should hold up pretty well.

I have a Roadworn Strat that has a similar finish (Satin clear over sunburst) which I've played quite a bit on stage and it still looks as good as when it was new.

But keep in mind that this is essentially a Thin Skin lacquer finish with no undercoat and it will eventually show play wear if the instrument is used a lot or banged around.

[fuzzy beard]

Oh I thought it was stain only. Thanks

[Buster Brown]

Originally Posted by WoodyJ

I was looking at one of these at a GC on the other side of town a couple weeks ago and I just couldn't get it out of my head as the finish is SO cool. But the last thing I need is another Precision as I already have six of them. And one Jazz.

Then today a commercial comes on TV announcing Guitar Center's "Guitarathon" with "substantial discounts on every guitar in the store!!".

So the wife and I jump in my car and drive to the way-across town GC, even though there are two others much closer to me. But I knew the honeyburst one I looked at was a good one and maybe it was still there...and hopefully truly on sale.

It was. Marked down to $699 including a nice Fender gig bag. The wife loved the finish and said to go for it.

So now, make that seven Precisions. NBD!

By the way, the 'white' pickguard is actually parchment and it looks way better in person than it photographs. I was planning to install a tort guard but the parchment one has that early '70's vibe and I may just leave it on there.

I also agree with Kyle that this bass would look better a rosewood fingerboard, but that's just a personal taste thing.

I'm telling you Bro....this thing is quickly replacing my other Ps in the lineup. I can not tell you how addicting this baby is....glad to see you got it at a nice discount. I probably should have waited for the sale, but what the hell, you only live once! I ended up paying and even $795 for mine, they kept their bag and threw in a G&G Case, and for the quality bass that it is - I got a STEAL!!

[Buster Brown]

Originally Posted by Mojo-Man

I like the finish.
Don't like the white pickguard at all.
Sweet looking bass.
What is width at nut?

1.625

[Clef_de_fa]

First time I find a P-bass beautiful. Normally they leave me cold.

[meatwad]

Awesome bass as is! Gratz!

[ThudThudThud]

So, we're watching Jools Holland's program (Mumford and Sons, Lisa Marie Presley...etc..) and a GC commercial comes on.
That bass (with the black p'up covers - which looks awesome) comes up on the screen.
I pause the TV and start into 'er indoors and third-born about how gorgeous that bass is.
"Oh, come on! Nothing for my birthday, and only PJ's for Christmas, and if you're lost for things to buy me..."
Lots on them.
Completely.

It's gorgeous.
I think I'm in love. GAS. F*** you.

[ShowLow]

These babies are lovely. Really nice looking with white pup covers. Saw one in person at GC last night. Beautiful, and on sale.

Unfortunately, also saw the Amber Hand-Stained Am Std Precision in ash. Conflicted!!

[A-Step-Towards]

Just saw one at GC , beautiful and yep tell sunday there $699

[Dredmahawkus]

I wish I waited a week to buy my bass! I went to GC to buy a p bass and left with a jazz. Can't beat that 699 price!

[Buster Brown]

Yep! Glad to see that GC is having such a great sale!! Unfortunately, if I drop another penny this soon, I will be looking at sleeping on the couch for a LLOOONNNGGG time.....


BTW, played around with the "grease bucket" control and it is sort of cool....a a general rule, when you roll off the treble on the tone control, most Ps ( as we at all aware ) tend to become very "bass heavy". With the grease bucket cap, you actually roll off treble WITHOUT adding bass. ort of a novel idea, I guess...

[gcbake]

Originally Posted by Buster Brown

I'm telling you Bro....this thing is quickly replacing my other Ps in the lineup. I can not tell you how addicting this baby is....glad to see you got it at a nice discount. I probably should have waited for the sale, but what the hell, you only live once! I ended up paying and even $795 for mine, they kept their bag and threw in a G&G Case, and for the quality bass that it is - I got a STEAL!!

Remember, GC has a thirty or forty-five day price protection, so if anyone bought this or any other Bass in that time period and it was on sale this weekend take in your receipt and they might give you the sale price.

[Buster Brown]

Originally Posted by gcbake

Remember, GC has a thirty or forty-five day price protection, so if anyone bought this or any other Bass in that time period and it was on sale this weekend take in your receipt and they might give you the sale price.

Thank you! Excellent point and to be honest, I hadn't considered that! I will either hit the LA or San Diego store and make a correction!

Thanks again!

[Buster Brown]

And, as a sort of "ending" to this great post....I visited GC today with my receipt and got the remainder of the price refunded. Thanks GC!!!

An outstanding bass and, at a KILLER price!!

[ThudThudThud]

One. I didn't think I was going to like the white pickup covers on the parchment pickguard. I was wrong. It looks cool.
Even so, I like the vibe of the black against white.

Two. Went into a GC and played one today.
Oh...my...word....
The greasebucket thing is pretty cool. There's a sweet spot at about 1/3 of the way off full. It goes really thumpy, but jazzy at the same time.
The headstock seems pretty beefy (thicker) compared to other P's, but I think it helps with having extra wood on the neck where the "C" shape neck is quite shallow. The unplugged resonance was quite startling. No dead spots at all.

I MUST have one. I'm going to either start saving in earnest, or I'm going to try 'puppy eyes' on 'er indoors.
Perhaps the GC Black Friday sale will have a ridiculous price on this thing.

In person the finish is quite understated. The neck is more satin than I'm used to (I like glossy necks...), but it played beautifully.

Lovely.

[PCR]

I'm diggin the pics with white covers.

Finally got around to taking a few pics of my J:

I'm thinkin White or Cream covers on this: