Does Fender USA Deluxe PBass really have THE P TONE??

[Lorenzop]

Hi!

I like the versatility of the active p/j configuration of these Deluxe PBass versions.

But:

In passive mode is it really sounding like a proper p bass? It should do right? I can't quote tell from the UTube vids out there.

I think for recording studio purposes this bass is probably best of the line but still..

How close (from 0 to 10) does it get to a P bass tone?

Cheers

[jasonbraatz]

There will always be variances even with a "proper" Precision due to strings, pickup, wood density, the phase of the moons, etc, but any P-bass with the pickup in the right place is going to sound like a P.

[Lorenzop]

Aha +1

So is the Deluxe maybe "the best" fender p bass for studio versatility?

Will it sound good with flats?

[Bongolation]

Are you talking about the passive P/J Precision Deluxe mentioned here in another recent thread?

If so, the answer is no. An unswitched V/V/T P/J has a couple of inherent problems that will always disappoint a seeker of the Platonic ideal in P-tone. A switched P/J (like the Tony Franklin) with true Precision pickups will work fine.

[AMJBASS]

Originally Posted by Lorenzop

Aha +1

So is the Deluxe maybe "the best" fender p bass for studio versatility?

Will it sound good with flats?

I have a 2012 American Deluxe Precision and it is an outstanding bass. Its as good as any boutique Fender style bass I have owned both tonally and in build quality. Will it sound like a vintage P-Bass with the Jazz pickup rolled off(passive)? Not quite. Its always going to have a bit more of a modern sound. However, it gets very close. Compared to my '62 reissue its a bit clearer and "wider" sounding. It is a very versatile bass and I would certainly recommend them. Personally aside from the American Vintage reissues I think its one of Fender's best designs ever. They sound great with flatwounds.

[Stephent28]

The MIA 60th Anniversary P-bass will give you exactly what you want and they sound fantastic with TI flats or something similar.

They pop up used every now and then.

[panamonte]

I guess it depends what P bass tone you're after, but if it's that classic, vintage P bass tone then I too would say not quite. I've got a 2010 Am Dlx P and in terms of build and playability it's the best bass I have, but after a couple of years I decided that I would like it even better if it had that vintage P bass sound, so I replaced the stock pickups with the Fender 62 R/I and DiMarzio Ultra Jazz. Sounds even better now. And it's had chromes on it for the last two years. A really lovely bass.

[Lorenzop]

It just seems to me the Deluxe seems a tad "tamed" as opposed to a standard P. ??

[Lorenzop]

Originally Posted by Bongolation

An unswitched V/V/T P/J has a couple of inherent problems that will always disappoint a seeker of the Platonic ideal in P-tone. A switched P/J (like the Tony Franklin) with true Precision pickups will work fine.

What does switched/unswitched mean?? Thanks

[AMJBASS]

The newer American Deluxe Precisions(2011 and up) are more aggressive than the previous version with the humbucker in the bridge. The single coil jazz adds a nice "gank" to the tone that you couldn't really get with the smooth sounding humbucker. I wouldn't call them tame at all, but they are definitely more modern sounding than a passive vintage style precision. A bit more hi-fi, wider sounding(more lows and highs), and clear tone. I do like how the preamp doesn't compress a lot like many active pres do. Seriously you are going to need to go out and play one. Or, buy online from a reputable dealer with a return policy. I like the American Deluxe's a lot for a versatile bass. But I also really dig the passive vintage style Precisions too. Depends on the styles of music you are playing/recording.

[panamonte]

Originally Posted by AMJBASS

The newer American Deluxe Precisions(2011 and up) are more aggressive than the previous version with the humbucker in the bridge. The single coil jazz adds a nice "gank" to the tone that you couldn't really get with the smooth sounding humbucker. I wouldn't call them tame at all, but they are definitely more modern sounding than a passive vintage style precision. .

They switched to the single rather than the double J pickup in 2010, but it's incorrect to say that it's a single coil pickup. It's the noiseless N3 pickup which has 2 stacked coils so it's still humbucking.

[panamonte]

Originally Posted by Lorenzop

What does switched/unswitched mean?? Thanks

It means whether you have a toggle switch to select pickups (as on the L2000 for instance) or separate volume controls (J bass) or a blend pot which is the case with the Am Dlx P.

[Lorenzop]

But is it possibile to mod the Deluxe then so its a switchable P/J configuration? Would that make it into a "real" pbass?

Cheers

[AMJBASS]

Originally Posted by panamonte

They switched to the single rather than the double J pickup in 2010, but it's incorrect to say that it's a single coil pickup. It's the noiseless N3 pickup which has 2 stacked coils so it's still humbucking.

You are right, it isn't strictly speaking a true single coil, but it doesn't sound anything like the side by side humbucker Fender used to use in the American Deluxe Precision.

Again, go out and play one. In all seriousness, you aren't going to find a bass that is going to do exactly what you want(a PJ that sounds like a true vintage Precision regardless of whether it has a switch or not). I would suggest going out and playing as many basses as possible. There are a LOT of threads on here discussing the PJ tone. Do a search and check them out too.

[Lorenzop]

...I did and still don't understand why!

I mean same body, wood, same (esp if you change em) pups and same pup placement.... Why won't it sound the same then???

[AMJBASS]

The Jazz pickup will always interact with the Precision pickup and the strings regardless of whether it is switched out or not. It is still present magnetically.

[jasmangan]

Pu

[panamonte]

The 'can a PJ sound like a P?' question is one that rumbles on and on. One certainty is that a PJ can never sound like a J (with the possible exception of the bridge pickup soloed). IME the P pickup soloed on a PJ CAN sound like a P, but possibly not if it's an underwound p/up designed to match the bridge p/up (as is the case with Am Dlx P p/up). With the 62 R/I P p/up, I'd say you'd be hard pushed to tell the difference, especially in a band context. Your ears may differ :-)

[bigsnaketex]

NO.........not no, but HELL NO.

I've got one and it's not even close.

Not to say it's a bad bass.........but it ain't a P-Bass!