Fender Standard P vs American Special P
 

Is there any substantial difference between the Fender Standard (MIM) P bass and the American Special P? Specs seem to be pretty much identical?

The American Spec doesn't have a gloss neck and the neck is slimmer and faster. Plus the 70's logo and the satisfaction of buying American!

The pick ups and circuitry are different, as are the frets.

They're both American ;)

The MIM Standard is American?

Well, "Special" in the name of a P bass usually indicates that it has a jazz pickup at the bridge position in addition to the regular P pickup (unless I'm mistaken).

You might want to provide some links to what you're looking at to clear up any confusion.

No, this is an American Special.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass/...precision-bass

You sir are absolutely correct. From Canada all the way down to the south of Chile everything manufactured in that huge geographic span is American. The diference between the basses is that one is made in Mexico and the other is made in the United States of America

The last part means squat....but the rest is somewhat right. Some Mexican Fenders have satin necks, too.

The big difference is the weight & the tone control. The Am Spec tends to be much lighter and the tone control is a Grease Bucket, instead of a typical control. It's supposed to be able to roll off the highs without getting muddy. Some like it, some don't. I liked it on mine.

American Special is a line of guitars priced above the Mexican Standard & below the American Standard. It uses Vintage style hardware on American necks & bodies, with a 70s style headstock & a Grease Bucket tone circuit.

Oh, "Deluxe" is what I was thinking of then. My bad.

LOLzers. I think people know what I mean. I personally dont know many Canadian or Mexican citizens that would call themselves Americans because their country is on the continent of NORTH America.

Country of origin is the accepted method of referring to where an instrument is made not the continent of origin.

All that being said, happy trolling to you both!

Not if someone prefers to support US labor and environmental standards. However given the OP's question, I doubt that's a concern of hers/his and obviously yours.

Nah, even the Deluxe P bass has a regular P neck. The Precision Special is what you were thinking.

How much of your US labor comes from immigrants? I'm all for keeping currency local, but we're talking a multi-million dollar a year business, here. Not some mom & pop. Besides, Mexico's covered under NAFTA, so they're essentially the same economy as the US & Canada now for the consumer. We're so intertwined that the only thing that defines the areas is the taxes & state/provincial laws.

Environmental Standards...Yeah, cuz the US environmental standards are ever so superior to the rest of the world. lol
What's your main source of power and your most lucrative business? Where does the US stand on the Kyoto protocols? How much advancement have you made towards clean energy compared to the rest of the world?

/ends rant

the Special has graphite rods in the neck

I was actually just trying to find the name of the P basses with a J in the bridge. I thought they had a special term... :help:

And seriously, are we bringing up environmental standards in a forum where the primary topic of discussion is an instrument made out of *gulp* trees that have been killed?

That's about as ludicrous as discussing animal rights in a barbecue forum.

[comment retracted].
I stand corrected.

America is a country (at least it still is at the moment). Mexico and Canada are also countries, North America and South America are continents. Government school Eh ?

Yeah, The P Special is the one with the P/J setup & J neck.

I now want to go on a PETA forum & ask them how best to BBQ a duck...

You're confusing the question, I think. OP was asking about MIM Std vs MIA Spec. The necks on the Spec are quite thin, thinner than most MIA Std I've played, too.

I don't care where the workers are from. It's not about supporting white folks rather than dirty ethnic people. Nor does it matter the size of the business or local economies. It's about labor standards in first world countries.

Strawman.

Have you been to the Fender Mexico factory personally? Or are you just basing your bias on stereotypes and generalizations?