Fender P Bass 60th anniversary

bearbear · #1 02-14-2013, 05:03 PM

I recently got back to playing my bass because my Warwick 5 Streamer LX wide neck just was uncomfortable to play( I hated to get rid of it). So I ended up trading it in for a new P Bass 60th ann.The owner of the store( high end Basses) told me that it was a Hot bass guitar just great. My question is what makes this bass($1999.00) any different than a regular P bass($799.00) that I could buy for 1/2 the price and for that matter other P bass guitars. I know mine has a small metal plate on the back that states it's a 60th anniversary but anything else. I just finished reading an article about a player that had 3 P Basses 1960, 1980, and something else. I hope I don't sound stupid I jus want to know this kind of stuff. Thanks

Personatech · #2 02-14-2013, 05:15 PM

Hmmmmm... The 60th Anniversary lists for $1999 and has a typical street price of $1499 or so. An American Standard Precision lists for $1649 and has a street price of around $1249. You're talking about an upcharge of around $250 for a limited edition bass that has been described by some as the best Pbass on the market. The "regular" $799 Pbass you mentioned must be a made-in-Mexico bass. While the quality is very good for the money, the devil's in the details as the USA bass has superior electronics, a nicer neck, and nitrocellulose finish.

lolmont · #3 02-14-2013, 05:19 PM

Two things like above it's limited edition and it looks a little different.

Rip Topaz · #4 02-14-2013, 05:21 PM

The page for it on Fender's site is down, but I can tell you that I love mine, and wouldn't sell it for anything.

To set it apart from other P's is:

Nitro finish on body AND neck;
"Strong-arm" string retainer;
Kick-ass tele bass look;
(I think) the first of the P's that have the CS pickup. (I may be wrong on this point, either way the bass sounds awesome.)

Several reviewers have stated that the tone control seem to have more of something, but couldn't pinpoint what. I think it's just a really smooth transition from wide open to closed. Hard to explain. Again, it sounds awesome.

The neck is perfect (my opinion). There's nothing I can think of off the top of my head that I'd change, and mine hasn't been modded except for straplocks.

bearbear · #5 02-14-2013, 05:23 PM

I had been asking 1500.00 so I think the deal was good and I like the bass as it's a 4 string also so i can getmy chops back. I hope to have another Warwick some day

smcd · #6 02-14-2013, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Personatech

Hmmmmm... The 60th Anniversary lists for $1999 and has a typical street price of $1499 or so. An American Standard Precision lists for $1649 and has a street price of around $1249. You're talking about an upcharge of around $250 for a limited edition bass that has been described by some as the best Pbass on the market. The "regular" $799 Pbass you mentioned must be a made-in-Mexico bass. While the quality is very good for the money, the devil's in the details as the USA bass has superior electronics, a nicer neck, and nitrocellulose finish.

+1

ics1974 · #7 03-06-2013, 07:58 AM

Is $1150 a good deal for a sunburst 60th P in mint condition?

Personatech · #8 03-06-2013, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ics1974

Is $1150 a good deal for a sunburst 60th P in mint condition?

If the sunburst finish is worth a $100-200 upcharge to you, yes. It *is* a rare bird, but I own (and prefer) the blonde version of same and paid less than $1K for it.

smcd · #9 03-06-2013, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ics1974

Is $1150 a good deal for a sunburst 60th P in mint condition?

I've seen 60th Anniv Precisions go for around $850-$900 used (all were blond color). $1,150 for a sunburst is a decent price if in fact the bas is mint, and the hardshell case and all the case candy is included.

hdracer · #10 03-06-2013, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smcd

I've seen 60th Anniv Precisions go for around $850-$900 used (all were blond color). $1,150 for a sunburst is a decent price if in fact the bas is mint, and the hardshell case and all the case candy is included.

You've seen 60th's sell for $850-900?
I haven't seen one under $975 yet. Most that I have seen go for around $1000 with the burst ones over $1100.

Now that they are getting harder to find I think the price is going up. I have been looking for one for the past 3-4 months.

Personatech · #11 03-06-2013, 09:25 AM

The lowest price I've seen is $950 shipped (which, incidentally, was the price of the one I purchased from WillieB

) but they're frequently offered for less than $1K. Looking at eBay completed listings, one did indeed go for $850 - I suspect it was a fire-sale BIN, poor devil!

smcd · #12 03-06-2013, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hdracer

You've seen 60th's sell for $850-900?
I haven't seen one under $975 yet. Most that I have seen go for around $1000 with the burst ones over $1100.

Now that they are getting harder to find I think the price is going up. I have been looking for one for the past 3-4 months.

Surprisingly that $850 bass wasn't on ebay. It was in a shop somewhere on the west coast.

Rip Topaz · #13 03-06-2013, 10:46 AM

$850???

Sign me up for a second one!! Seriously.

I got mine in January of 2012, after my local GC told me that they couldn't get me one. I sense this was laziness on their part. I ended up getting mine for $1100, in factory condition. No complaints.

But $850?? I'll take another.

JSpradBass · #14 03-06-2013, 11:27 AM

How does the Fender Mike Dirnt Sig Bass compare to the 60th Anniversary P Bass other than the obvious MIM vs MIA?

Personatech · #15 03-06-2013, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSpradBass

How does the Fender Mike Dirnt Sig Bass compare to the 60th Anniversary P Bass other than the obvious MIM vs MIA?

Superficially, there's not much difference. They're both ash (I'm actually surprised at this, was expecting the Dirnt to be basswood or alder), the 60th has a maple neck vs. the Dirnt's rosewood, the 60th has a high-mass bridge that you can either string through body or top load vs. the Dirnt's BadAss (which I've never been a fan of), the 60th has nitro finish on body and neck (whereas I suspect the Dirnt is poly), the 60th has several sweet design touches (unique tone pot, string hold-down on A tuner, etc.) that the Dirnt lacks, the 60th comes with TSA-approved case while the Dirnt gets a gigbag. Ultimately, it's a matter of quality and some minor features giving the edge to the 60th, which is not to say that the Dirnt isn't a fine bass in its own right.