Fender Vintage Reissue Precision changes over the years?

aglide · #1 11-20-2011, 05:58 PM

So I'm in the market for a Vintage RI P-Bass. Based on some of the classifieds, it seems they've been reissuing the 57 and 62 for awhile now. How have they varied over the years? When did they first come out?

If I ordered a new 62 RI from Guitar Center today, what would be different on it than one from 10/15/20 years ago? Are there any resources online that keep track of this kind of thing?

There are a few threads that show up in search with some of this info, but reading them has somehow raised more questions than answers for me and I still don't feel informed enough to pull the trigger on one yet.

Any help is appreciated

dedpool1052 · #2 11-20-2011, 06:00 PM

i believe they started making them around '82 or so. as far as differences throughout the years, i couldn't tell ya.

Wannabass · #3 11-20-2011, 06:00 PM

Subscribed. I would like to know as well. I have been told the necks can be hit or miss for certian years..

shrimpflea · #4 11-20-2011, 06:36 PM

The early Fullerton years 1982-84 are generally considered to be the best, or at least the most sought after. The body and neck shape most closely resemble the original Fenders from the day as the were made with the same templates and machines in the Fullerton factory. Fender moved to Corona in 1985.

I have a 1990 J-bass 62 reissue and a 97 P-bass 62 ri and they're both great, especially the P. I've never played a Fullerton era so I can't comment on them but I would love to have one.

Johnny Alien · #5 11-20-2011, 08:45 PM

Once they started making them in the Corona factory in the mid-80's they have remained unchanged spec-wise. The early Fullerton ones are different but past that they are all the same.

aglide · #6 11-20-2011, 09:18 PM

From what I've read, the 57 P and 62 P reissues are pretty similar except for:

maple fretboard on the 57 vs rosewood fretboard on the 62
there's an ash version of the 57 in one of the colors
the pickups are different

Has that always been true? Do both have C neck width and C neck profile? What's the difference in the pickups?

Great info from everyone so far. Just what I've been looking for.

Mastermold · #7 11-20-2011, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aglide

From what I've read, the 57 P and 62 P reissues are pretty similar except for:

maple fretboard on the 57 vs rosewood fretboard on the 62
there's an ash version of the 57 in one of the colors
the pickups are different

Has that always been true? Do both have C neck width and C neck profile? What's the difference in the pickups?

Great info from everyone so far. Just what I've been looking for.

Yeah that's pretty much it. You should check out Sweetwater's website, they have high res pics of both versions.

Dubista · #8 11-20-2011, 11:33 PM

I believe that the pickups are the same on the 57 and the 62 spec wise, the only difference being raised A pole pieces on the 57 RI.

Caca de Kick · #9 11-20-2011, 11:39 PM

Really, since the move to Corona only a couple details changed: the headstock decals started out in the wrong position on the headstock, and I think sometime in the late 90's the decal moved to the correct spots.
Early on had lighter red tort pickguards, early 90's and newer had much darker red tort.
One other thing I noticed, at least on the newer two I tried, it seems lately the 57 has gotten lazy on the back neck profile. The 57 used to mean a definite V shape on the back like the originals, and the newer ones seemed to have a regular C shape like the 62.
On the Jazz Bass the neck has definitely gotten thicker in the last few years, probably to keep neck issues from happening that alot experience.

markoSirec · #10 11-21-2011, 12:23 AM

I can only comment on the difference between my 57 reissue from 96 and my fullerton 62 reissue from 84. The neck profiles are a little different, the 96 feels chunkier. It is also heavier and the body contours seem a little different too. Or maybe i'm seeing things... The pickups also seem different but it could be the general difference between the 57 and 62 pickups.

The fullerton feels much better in my hands and the sound is to die for. But both are excellent guitars!

bassie12 · #11 11-21-2011, 12:29 AM

Newer Ps no longer have the "router hump" in the treble cutaway and the '62 reissues are different behind the nut where the rosewood meets maple. The line is straight. It used to have a nice arc that mad it easy to identify vintage "slab" necks... I also think newer AVRI instruments lack the "router dowels" on the back. I know... BS minutiae, but it's the details that count to some.

mazdah · #12 11-21-2011, 12:41 AM

The pickup changed. I have AV 62 P-bass from '97-98 and the pickup is different - the pickup poles are flat. In the newer '62 pickup poles are raised and bevel shaped. In older ones are flat and not raised above the pickup,.

aglide · #13 11-21-2011, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mazdah

The pickup changed. I have AV 62 P-bass from '97-98 and the pickup is different - the pickup poles are flat. In the newer '62 pickup poles are raised and bevel shaped. In older ones are flat and not raised above the pickup,.

Good catch, I can see that raised bevel effect in the pics at sweetwater.com.

Can someone talk about what's different/better/worse about the pickups or electronics in the AV RI P basses compared to what Fender is selling now in the American Standard line?