Fender 60th Anniversary Precision vs. Fender American Standard

[bassplayer1494]

Just wanted to hear different opinions from my fellow TB members who owns one or both of these basses. Which one do you prefer? What do you think of both models? Which one has better quality

I think they are both great but IMO after owning and playing the 60th for over 2 weeks now i have to say it is an excellent bass and it is better than the american standard but only slightly. Cant go wrong with either bass

[Mastermold]

I thought the build quality the same--both good. The difference was in looks only.

[erigod23]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the 60th Ann. is basically an Am. Std with a different look. Same neck, same harware. Not sure if the pups are the same, tho. I like them both.

[soxhats]

60th are ash bodies and nitro; Standards are alder and thin poly. Neck on 60th feels just the slightest bit fatter to me. Single coil pickups on 60th are a little hotter than Standard. One or two other differences. Not the same bass. I had a 2008 Standard and liked it a lot. But I sold it in favor of the 60th, which I am crazy about.

[walkbassman45]

I went to my local music store today as I am in the market for a Precision to go with my Jazz. I tried the 60th Anniversary and the first thing I noticed was that it had some weight to it. I plugged it into a Mesa (I have the same amp) and was pleasantly surprised at the tone. The neck felt like a Precision neck would feel.I have too say it was a nice bass and I had to tell myself not to buy it because the owner said he was getting in a '57 soon and that is what I was wanting to try. Unlike some people, I actually like a heavier instrument. I'm 6'2" and prefer the feel of a heavier bass.(yes I know that I am strange)In a couple of weeks I'll head over to see how the '57 compares to the 60th Ann. and make my decision.

[Metal Mitch]

Originally Posted by soxhats

60th are ash bodies and nitro; Standards are alder and thin poly. Neck on 60th feels just the slightest bit fatter to me. Single coil pickups on 60th are a little hotter than Standard. One or two other differences. Not the same bass. I had a 2008 Standard and liked it a lot. But I sold it in favor of the 60th, which I am crazy about.

I've tried a bunch of the new Am Stds, owned one and sold it in favor of a Highway One. Generally the maple neck Am Stds seem to play a bit better than the rosewood.

When I first saw pics of the 60th Ann I thought it was just another dumb idea from Fender. But I tried one tonight and it was excellent. The neck feels/plays better than Am Std, and was clearly a different maple of higher quality.

[Jeff K]

If I'm not mistaken, the '60th Anniversary P uses the same pickups as the AV '62 Reissue P.

I've owned both the '60th Anniversary and an '08 Am. Std. P. IMO, they're both really nice basses, and both sound very good. The main difference is aesthetics. The real dilemma for somebody like me is that I like both styles!

[GrooveRonin]

Originally Posted by walkbassman45

I went to my local music store today as I am in the market for a Precision to go with my Jazz. I tried the 60th Anniversary and the first thing I noticed was that it had some weight to it. I plugged it into a Mesa (I have the same amp) and was pleasantly surprised at the tone. The neck felt like a Precision neck would feel.I have too say it was a nice bass and I had to tell myself not to buy it because the owner said he was getting in a '57 soon and that is what I was wanting to try. Unlike some people, I actually like a heavier instrument. I'm 6'2" and prefer the feel of a heavier bass.(yes I know that I am strange)In a couple of weeks I'll head over to see how the '57 compares to the 60th Ann. and make my decision.

you should get that novoselic sig that thing weighs a ton!!!

[drummer5359]

I've been seriously playing bass for a little over a year now and am finally thinking that I'm playing well enough to by myself a shiney new bass. I've always loved the look of a Jazz, but I figured out that I really like the tone of Precisions. I play an older american made Peavey Fury now.

I originally was looking at an American Precision Special. I played one and it was okay, but it didn't feel like a $1000 upgrade over my Fury. I played two defferent American Standard Precisions. That was more like it! The one with a maple neck particularly floated my boat.

Then I played a 60th Anniversary Precision. I feel like Goldilocks. I've found my "just right" bass. This may pull me out of retirement to afford it. lol

[countbassiedad]

I'm in the same camp and we are not alone in liking the P tone but the J look.

My solution is split coil J pickups which allow you to solo the neck pup. For me thats the best of both worlds. Not exactly a P tone but darn close. Of course you can also get the J sounds and another P variant if you run both pups in series.

Of course there are P/J basses too, but those always look like mutants to me.

Lindy Fralin and Nordstrand make them. I use the Dimarzio Area J's which are $100 pair.

[Rip Topaz]

I'm really stuck on this bass, except for the weight.

I've been dealing with MAJOR back problems (5 surgeries in 3 years!!) and have recently switched to a P copy. Long story short, it's tax time!! That means a NBD for me, and a NDD (new dryer day???!) for the wife.

Everyone is raving about these basses, but the weight keeps coming up. How manageable is it? If it balances well, a 9 pound P is better than a 7 pound unbalanced bass.

Anyone? Advice? I've fallen in live with these but if the weight is that horrible, I'll get Warmoth to make me one.

[Jeff K]

Originally Posted by Rip Topaz

I'm really stuck on this bass, except for the weight.

I've been dealing with MAJOR back problems (5 surgeries in 3 years!!) and have recently switched to a P copy. Long story short, it's tax time!! That means a NBD for me, and a NDD (new dryer day???!) for the wife.

Everyone is raving about these basses, but the weight keeps coming up. How manageable is it? If it balances well, a 9 pound P is better than a 7 pound unbalanced bass.

Anyone? Advice? I've fallen in live with these but if the weight is that horrible, I'll get Warmoth to make me one.

I never weighed my 60th Anniv. P, but always considered it to be pretty light. Probably right around 9 pounds. It felt very comfortable to me. Some of the guys who own them now can probably chime in on the weight.

[Mastermold]

Originally Posted by Jeff K

I never weighed my 60th Anniv. P, but always considered it to be pretty light. Probably right around 9 pounds. It felt very comfortable to me. Some of the guys who own them now can probably chime in on the weight.

I don't know why they'd be any heavier than an American Standard P-bass, e.g., mid 8 to low 9 lbs range.

[jfitz451]

Mine is Mid 8 lbs range. I believe Sweetwater shows the weight of each bass they have in their bass gallery.

[Templar]

Does anyone know if the necks reinforced on these basses?

[petrus61]

These basses have everything I could want in a Fender besides that darn pickguard. Anyone know if a '51 pup cover fits over the split coil on this bass? It seems to on the Lakland version. That might just sway me! It seems like these came out as an answer to Laklands '51' style bass and it wins hands down. Lakland is awesome but theirs just looks a little, dare I say, cheap? I'm sure they play amazingly though.

[iammr2]

Originally Posted by walkbassman45

...In a couple of weeks I'll head over to see how the '57 compares to the 60th Ann. and make my decision.

I'd be interested to hear what you think. Please post about it afterwards.

I've played half a dozen 60th Anniv's and have been generally quite impressed.

[drummer5359]

Originally Posted by drummer5359

I've been seriously playing bass for a little over a year now and am finally thinking that I'm playing well enough to by myself a shiney new bass. I've always loved the look of a Jazz, but I figured out that I really like the tone of Precisions. I play an older american made Peavey Fury now.

I originally was looking at an American Precision Special. I played one and it was okay, but it didn't feel like a $1000 upgrade over my Fury. I played two defferent American Standard Precisions. That was more like it! The one with a maple neck particularly floated my boat.

Then I played a 60th Anniversary Precision. I feel like Goldilocks. I've found my "just right" bass. This may pull me out of retirement to afford it. lol

I put one on lay away yesterday. Woo-Hoo!

[JimB52]

The 60th has had less wood routed out of the body.