Fender Standard American Precision

jedgargroover · #1 03-27-2011, 09:28 PM

I've been looking and looking for a bass to replace my MIJ Fender P. I'm just not in love with the 1.75" nut width but I do like the neck profile. I've looked at a lot of basses and considered Lulls and Laklands as front runners. But the new P basses seem to have all the goodies...ultralight tuners, graphite reinforced necks, thinner finishes...and at about half the price of the Lulls and a third of the USA Laklands. Plus the 1.625" necks seem like a happy medium while still retaining that P bass feel.

So...is there any reason not to get one? What's the word on the street regarding the newer USA P basses?

klokker · #2 03-27-2011, 09:48 PM

I have a 2008 American Standard. Fit and finish is perfect. But what impresses me the most about it how responsive it is to how I play it. Wide, solid tone even up high on the G string with a very light touch. Great dynamic range. Of course that means you can make it sound pretty bad as well. Not as easy to play as some basses I've had, but with a little "heavier" feel in your fingers it comes to life.

People come up after I play and say, "Wow the bass was really solid tonight", way more often with this bass than any other that I've played.

Super easy to adjust the truss rod and to keep the action, intonation etc. right.

Bongolation · #3 03-27-2011, 10:22 PM

I'm not a huge fan of the current American Standard basses.

There are a bunch of things I think FMIC did wrong to please gristlehead focus groups, including (but not limited to):

The higher-mass bridge/saddles

The overtight neck pocket (something antithetical to a correct Fender build, particularly, but buyers refuse to be educated on this)

The thin, extremely vulnerable finish (more pandering to ignorant focus groups who refuse to believe that finish doesn't have any significant effect on the "tone" of a heavy solidbody instrument)

I'm also not completely sold on the Hipshot/Fender machines which have plated alloy.

FMIC goes off the rails a lot and lets marketing have too much influence in what they make and how they make it. I know that a lot of designers at FMIC were disgusted by some of these changes.

Jeff K · #4 03-27-2011, 10:23 PM

No reason at all not to get one (unless you can't afford it). You don't want to deprive your family of food or anything just so you can buy a bass. That said, the 2008 > American Standards are very nice. I have an '08 P and Jazz. Both very nice. And in addition to great tone, they're extremely comfortable. Not sure where you're located, but if possible, play a bunch of them until you find "the one"...

ljazz · #5 03-28-2011, 03:10 AM

I wouldn't hesitate to try one out. My '08 MIA P is one of the most comfortable basses I've ever played, and it sounds great. While I wasn't part of a focus group, I think the updates made by Fender with the '08+'s have been great for the comfort, playability and overall tone of the instruments. And the hipshots rock!

HMZ · #6 03-28-2011, 03:54 AM

My 2010 American standard P bass is by far my best Fender ever! I have a 2010 Jazz as well. The jazz sounds and plays great but the P bass get most of the play time.

faulknersj · #7 03-28-2011, 04:34 AM

Fender....Please Please Please offer a new jazz bass with 70's....actually 77' bridge pup spacing! THAT WILL EARN MY BUSINESS!

HMZ · #8 03-28-2011, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faulknersj

Fender....Please Please Please offer a new jazz bass with 70's....actually 77' bridge pup spacing! THAT WILL EARN MY BUSINESS!

Or an American standard passive PJ...

**StrangerDanger** · #9 03-28-2011, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HMZ

Or an American standard passive PJ...

Its called a Tony Franklin Signature fretted P-bass and it costs $1700

To answer the OP's question: NO! There is no reason not to buy the New Am Standard. Unless you dont like easy playing, good looking, great sounding well built basses.

My '08 is my #1 and it has yet to let me down. It stays in tune better than any bass I have tried. The neck is the modern P-bass but thinner front to back than the previous iterations imo. The rolled fingerboard and thinness make it faster and easier to play any jazz neck I have tried. The fretwork is simply perfect. Super easy to set up and intonate.

Just play some and see. The body resonates quite well and sounds good unplugged. I got the charcoal frost metallic with RW board and the only mod I did was to put a black 3 ply PG on it. I got mine NOS last year for $850 brand new and I still cant believe my luck.

Get one and as the review is BP said: it will become a lifelong companion.

**StrangerDanger** · #10 03-28-2011, 07:40 AM

Oh and the new HSC is the allsum!

SteveC · #11 03-28-2011, 07:43 AM

Have you tried a Highway One P? I am GASing badly for on eat the local store. The neck is so nice - feels a little thinner and more narrow than a traditional P. It's super light, and sounds great.

SteveC · #12 03-28-2011, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StrangerDanger

Oh and the new HSC is the allsum!

I love how the new case is advertised and promoted almost as much as the bass. My basses just go in a gig bag anyway, but I suppose if you are flying a lot it's nice.

**StrangerDanger** · #13 03-28-2011, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveC

I love how the new case is advertised and promoted almost as much as the bass. My basses just go in a gig bag anyway, but I suppose if you are flying a lot it's nice.

I dont have much use for gig bags as they dont offer very much protection. I stack a bunch of gear in the back of my truck and a HSC is a must and these are much better IMO than the G&G's.

Yodhan · #14 03-28-2011, 07:55 AM

I personally think that the updates that Fender made are great. I work at a music store and had many customers coming in and stating that they wished that Fender would get back to their roots with basses. There were too many weird colors and funky options. They are one of the best selling basses now that the updates went through in '08. I have a couple of bass playing friends who have them and they love them.

I would get one right now if I needed another P, but I am building one right now form some parts I have had lying around.

Nobody · #15 03-28-2011, 08:03 AM

I'm glad someone started a thread talking about Fender Precision basses. It is about time.

mcm · #16 03-28-2011, 08:05 AM

i just got one and love it. i havent had a fender in years or a pbass in years. it sounds awesome. very easy to play and looks great. light also. i would love to complain about a big co. like fender, but really cant on this one!