Fender American Deluxe P 5 or American Standard P 5

[IotaNet]

Here's an interesting conundrum ...

I've been wanting a Precision 5 for a while but haven't been sure which way to go. Now I have a couple of options and I'd like some input.

I play Gospel almost exclusively in a big church setting with a dense mix of choir, organ, drums, guitar, etc. What's my better choice (Neither of these are the exact bass I'd be buying):

The American Deluxe Precision V (9 volt w/5-inline tuners)


Or the

American Standard P Bass V (With aftermarket East P-Retro preamp)



I'd be buying used and the net price will be about the same. I like the P-Bass vibe but I'm very sure that a plain passive P won't cut it in the mix for what I'll be playing. Both of these look like really good options and excellent complements for my Valenti Jazz and my Stealth Bongo.

I'm interested in experiences/opinions on one of these basses vs. the other.

[bal704]

What are you trying to accomplish by adding either one of these? That will probably determine which you go with.

I have a 2008 American Std. P5 (passive), and it does the P bass thing very well. It sounds awesome in a rock band setting. It is a phenomenal bass, with a great neck and a pleasure to play. I've never tried the East pre-amp. However, if that sound isn't what you're shooting for, I may just come down to how each bass speaks to you.

[jmattbassplaya]

I'd go with the P5 standard. A guy posted this sound clip a year or two ago and I haven't been able to get it out of my head (it's R&B, so it should give you some idea of how the bass will work in gospel fairly well):

SoundClick artist: Paul Theriault - page with MP3 music downloads

[IotaNet]

Originally Posted by bal704

What are you trying to accomplish by adding either one of these? That will probably determine which you go with.

Seriously and honestly?

I want a nice Fender bass -- just because the purist in me would like to have one in my collection. I'm not a slave to the P-Bass tone but I don't want to duplicate what I already have with the Bongo and Valenti.

On the other hand, I need something that will work when playing this kind of thing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saHq854_N9k.

I don't need to cop this exact tone but I need to be able to operate in this idiom.

[bal704]

Try the Amer. Std P5. Wonderful playing bass.

Originally Posted by IotaNet

Seriously and honestly?

I want a nice Fender bass -- just because the purist in me thinks I need to have one in my collection. I'm not a slave to the P-Bass tone but I don't want to duplicate what I already have with the Bongo and Valenti.

[jmattbassplaya]

There's actually a MIA Fender P5 std in the classified right now. Might be worth picking it up and flipping it if you decide you don't like it.

[madbassplaya]

Originally Posted by IotaNet

Seriously and honestly?

I want a nice Fender bass -- just because the purist in me would like to have one in my collection. I'm not a slave to the P-Bass tone but I don't want to duplicate what I already have with the Bongo and Valenti. On the other hand, I need something that will work when playing this kind of thing: YouTube - ‪Hezekiah Walker and LFC-I've Got a Reason‬‏. I don't need to cop this exact tone but I need to be able to operate in this idiom.

if you want a nice Fender bass that will work in that style, you need to go with the American Standard P5 with the East Pre. IMHO.

I was never impressed with the American Deluxe P's and I have played two P's with the East pre installed and they both killed. Simple, yet very very effective.

[Dan Knowlton]

I like a passive P-bass but the example sounds like there is some of the J-bass bridge pickup mixed in...

I'd go with the Deluxe because of the bridge pickup.

Dan K.

[Nedmundo]

I've owned the four string versions of both, and to me it comes down to this: Do you want it to be able to sound like a classic, passive P-bass? If so, American Standard. IMO, the Deluxe just doesn't do it, even panned all the way to the split-coil with the pre set flat. If you don't need the classic tone available, then I'd call it even. The Deluxes are beautifully built and have excellent playability, that's for sure.

[flyingfinbar]

FWIW, I love my Lakland Skyline P5. It's passive, but it has the Nordstrand MP5 pickup, which is nice and punchy. The biggest reason I got it over the Fender AmStd P5 is that it is 35" scale.

[nostatic]

Can't speak to the 5-string variants, but can comment on the 4-bangers. A 2010 AmStdP was the bass that got me back into 4-string. Great bass. I then picked up a 2011 AmDlxP. Outstanding bass. The AmStd got sold, not because it sucked but because the AmDlxP was just more flexible. imho if you put the AmDlxP in a mix, no way anyone can tell the difference between the AmStdP and the AmDlxP (running the neck pup).

[Nedmundo]

Originally Posted by nostatic

imho if you put the AmDlxP in a mix, no way anyone can tell the difference between the AmStdP and the AmDlxP (running the neck pup).

For the 2010/2011 model, that's probably true. They have a passive mode, and the split-coild tone reminded me of a Fralin. I agree with you it's an awesome, very flexible bass. I probably would pick it over a current American Standard.

The OP posted a pic of the previous generation Deluxe, however, which had a different pickup (I think) and didn't operate in passive mode. Very different beast IMO. Not only would I not pick it over an American Standard, I sold my '99 Deluxe to get the passive American Series back in 2004.

[IotaNet]

Gents -

My decision is made and I appreciate the feedback and viewpoints. It ultimately came down to me thinking hard about what I was really looking for;

1) A nice Fender five-string
2) Something that was NOT a J-Bass
3) Something to complement my Valenti J and Stealth Bongo
4) Bonus points for a Maple fretboard

As i mentioned before, I am not a slave to the "Traditional P-Bass Tone" and I need something that has some real active tone shaping capabilities. I also wasn't all that particular about having to buy a bass and then mod it.

So I decided to go with this:



We'll see how it works out!

[harrybosch]

I've played many Am Dlx P 5's and could never quite get the P sound I prefer. I believe it has something to do with that big humbucker and all those magnets screwing up the solo P pickup. I have an 08 Std P 5 that is one of the best basses I've ever owned/played, which include all the high end's you've ever heard of. It has the sweetest neck and the build quality is as good as it gets. Most important, it sounds just like a great passive 4 string P but with a very nice B. I've no need of a preamp but I doubt adding one would hurt the overall tone.

[Hamerguy]

Nice bass guitar. I love the previous US Deluxe series. They had something of their own. I guess that is not what most Fender players want.

[Aspidites]

Originally Posted by IotaNet

Gents -

My decision is made and I appreciate the feedback and viewpoints. It ultimately came down to me thinking hard about what I was really looking for;

1) A nice Fender five-string
2) Something that was NOT a J-Bass
3) Something to complement my Valenti J and Stealth Bongo
4) Bonus points for a Maple fretboard

As i mentioned before, I am not a slave to the "Traditional P-Bass Tone" and I need something that has some real active tone shaping capabilities. I also wasn't all that particular about having to buy a bass and then mod it.

So I decided to go with this:



We'll see how it works out!

That is also what I would have picked. IMO the second best bass Fender ever made.

[Musicman20]

Nice choice! But for me, it would have been the Passive AS 5 String P.

[rust_preacher]

The tort 'guard is just the icing on this cake that completes the looks. Congrats!

[DWBass]

Passive will work but active works better for that genre. It offers you a bit more flexability sound wise. Good choice. I would have gone with the active model myself if I had a choice.

[ebradfordrich]

Good choice. I have a four string AmDlx and love it. I like that inline 5 headstock as well.