Which Fender AVRI should I buy? 57 P, 62 P or 62J?

[BassDudeSA]

Hi guys. I am in love with my Road worn 50s P as well as my Road Worn 60s J, so I have decided I wanted to add to the mix by adding a Fender American Vintage Reissue to my collection as well. I have researched these three (57P, 62P and the 62J - but not interested in the 75J) and have found great reviews on all. So I'm sold, but not on one in particular. I like the thin J necks but the fat P necks are nice too, so that difference is not an issue. Also the old J vs P debate is not an issue with me either as I am fine with either.


From what I can tell, it looks as if the only difference between the two Ps is that the 57 has the gold anodized pickguard and a maple board and the 62 has the tort guard and rosewood board. Personally I like the gold pickguard better, but the board makes no difference to me. I believe there is a slight difference in the pickup, but enough to make a difference?

The J is different because it is a J, and outside of my Squier Jaguar, I have never had a Jazz with the two concentric volume/tone knobs before, like this J does, so that's kind of cool.

In any event, I have no practical hands on experience with these basses. I would like to know from anyone who has played or compared (or preferably owned) two or three of these and can tell me what you think, and which you would recommend. And I am most interested in if there really is a real difference between the two Ps outside of the looks. Thanks!

[StrangerDanger]

If it was me, I would get the '57 P in blonde and change the pickup to a Nordy or Fralin. Its the best looking of the bunch IMO but the pup is pretty thin.

[DTF]

if you already have a '50s P and a 60's J get the 62 P , the other 2 would be redundant, you can get a stack knob setup and change the one in your current J if you want

[Aspidites]

Originally Posted by StrangerDanger

If it was me, I would get the '57 P in blonde and change the pickup to a Nordy or Fralin. Its the best looking of the bunch IMO but the pup is pretty thin.

^This, although I probably would go for the Duncan Antiquity pups.

[zachbass02]

Originally Posted by StrangerDanger

If it was me, I would get the '57 P in blonde and change the pickup to a Nordy or Fralin. Its the best looking of the bunch IMO but the pup is pretty thin.

Originally Posted by Aspidites

^This, although I probably would go for the Duncan Antiquity pups.

I don't necessarily agree with either one of you on the pickup. The '57 pickup sounds great, just a good bit more high end bitey than the other mentioned pickups. I will agree though that it is a great looking bass. The trans white '57RI is an ash body and the 2 tone sunbursts are alder. The ash/maple/'57 pickup makes for a fairly agressive, grindy sounding P bass. If that's what you're after, it rocks. I personally, let my '57RI go and now have a '62RI P. I think the '62 is fair bit warmer sounding and slight rounder on the low end due to the alder/rosewood/'62 pickup combo. It's not near as agreesive as my '57 was. Both are great and you can't go wrong with any of those choices.

[air_leech]

I own a Nash PB57 (50's style P with maple neck, ash body, gold anodized PG and a Lollar pickup which is excellent), an older '62 reissue P (c.1983) and a recent '62 AVRI Jazz so I'm feeling free to share my biased, personal experience.

I got to admit I'm not much of a Jazz bass guy, I got the '62 AVRI because I thought it would most likely be the Jazz I could finally relate to (I didn't get along with a Geddy Lee I got 4 years ago and sold it). personally I'm still not sure I would pick it out of my stable if I had to make due with a single bass.
now, regarding the stack knob thing - it's the most useless control layout I've ever used on a bass. the two tone knobs affect each other and when both pups are full on the both of the tone pots control both pups. it's also quite impossible to tell where the tone knobs are set - visually.
I also recall a significant volume dropoff when changing the balance between the pickups' volumes.
needless to say, I ended up wiring my own VVT control plate with CTS knobs, Switchcraft jack and Mallory .047 cap and it sounds way better. I also changed the edgy stock Fender pups for Lollars.

so IMO, IME and YMMV - I'd take a '62 reissue, it's the one I like the most out of the pack (it shares that spot with my beloved pre-EB Stingray). everyone needs a P with flats and a P with rounds in their stable if you ask me so another P seems like a good choice.

[BassDudeSA]

Originally Posted by zachbass02

The ash/maple/'57 pickup makes for a fairly agressive, grindy sounding P bass. If that's what you're after, it rocks. .

Thanks for the tips guys! The above quote is actually exactly what I am looking for. Agressive and grindy. If that is the most so of the three mentioned, it may get a few more points from me.

One thing though, I generally am not much for modding the basses I buy. If I don't like it, or if the reviews are poor as is, stock, then I won't buy it. Especially for a vintage resissue. I must admit that part of the idea I like about these basses is that they are reissues, so modding one with a new pickup seems to take away from the vintage reissue part, one of the main reasons I am going for one of these basses in the first place. I love everything about my MIM Road Worns, and I'd imagine the pups on these AVRIs are probably of even higher quality.

Anyway, thanks again for the tips. Hopefully there will be more coming. I should be making a purchase of one of these three within a week or so.

[sedan_dad]

I have the Blonde 57 and as good as the pick-up is ,I put in a set of Nords. Love it. I put the 57's in a great playing MIM.

[BassDudeSA]

OK, this is what a bad case of GAS will do for ya'! I just made my purchase, ended up finding a great deal on a new shell pink medium-relic '59 (or is it a '60?) Precision Custom Shop model. I also purchased my Custom Shop active Jazz V from this same dealer and had no issues. Check out this link and tell me if I did the right thing.

FENDER CUSTOM SHOP P BASS '59 MED. RELIC NEW 2011 - eBay (item 270765950624 end time Jul-05-11 17:01:53 PDT)

[timsmcm]

That is very very nice my friend. I think you did well.

[air_leech]

Originally Posted by BassDudeSA

Especially for a vintage resissue. I must admit that part of the idea I like about these basses is that they are reissues, so modding one with a new pickup seems to take away from the vintage reissue part, one of the main reasons I am going for one of these basses in the first place. I love everything about my MIM Road Worns, and I'd imagine the pups on these AVRIs are probably of even higher quality.

the stock pups are the least vintage-y feature of the reissues and share little in common with the pickups of yesteryears in means of the manufacturing process and specs.
Fralins, Novaks, SD Antiquities, Lollars etc. are much closer to pre-cbs ones than the stock pups.

[air_leech]

and...congrats on the CS P, it looks great!

[BassDudeSA]

Originally Posted by air_leech

the stock pups are the least vintage-y feature of the reissues and share little in common with the pickups of yesteryears in means of the manufacturing process and specs.
Fralins, Novaks, SD Antiquities, Lollars etc. are much closer to pre-cbs ones than the stock pups.

Thanks, that's why I asked you guys as I have little experience with vintage reissues other than with my Road Worns. I guess with Fenders though I just like to keep my basses stock, and if I don't like them as is, they get sold.

In any event, I guess I am set now with my pink CS '59 on the way!

[king_biscuit]

Originally Posted by zachbass02

The '57 pickup sounds great

+1 The Fender pickup is vintage wound on fiber bobbins with cloth wires and brass grounding plates. It's as good as or better than any of the aftermarket pickups. That's not going to stock the Honda modders, though

[BassDudeSA]

Originally Posted by king_biscuit

+1 The Fender pickup is vintage wound on fiber bobbins with cloth wires and brass grounding plates. It's as good as or better than any of the aftermarket pickups. That's not going to stock the Honda modders, though

That is pretty much where my mindset has always been, even though I have not mace the comparisons. I have always felt if I am unhappy with a bass, get rid of it, why bother with guessing what will improve it, not to mention the extra expense involved. With my limited pup modding experience, mostly on inexpensive MIMs and Squiers, installing these "much better" aftermarket pickups only made a slight improvement, if any, and not necessarily even better, so I've learned through that and with swapping bridges and etc to take it as a whole or move on. Works great for me!

[johnk_10]

Originally Posted by king_biscuit

+1 The Fender pickup is vintage wound on fiber bobbins with cloth wires and brass grounding plates. It's as good as or better than any of the aftermarket pickups. That's not going to stock the Honda modders, though

+100.
IME, Fralins and Nordstrands don't sound like real vintage ones at all.

IMO, Fender AV RI is a great, very authentic sounding pickup. Also IMO, the duncan SPB-1 is as close as it gets (and always has been), and actually even little closer to an original 60's p pickup..

[air_leech]

Originally Posted by johnk_10

+100.
IME, Fralins and Nordstrands don't sound like real vintage ones at all.

IMO, Fender AV RI is a great, very authentic sounding pickup. Also IMO, the duncan SPB-1 is as close as it gets (and always has been), and actually even little closer to an original 60's p pickup..

well, there isn't a single example to what a vintage sound is but I can attest the stock pups don't sound a lot like what I hear in vintage or modern Jazz bass recordings. regarding P pickups, I think the Lollar I've put in my Nash does the P thing better than the stock 28 y/o pup in my '62 RI Precision.

I do agree about Nordys not sounding vintage, they have a very refined tone lending much more to modern than to vintage.