is my 2012 Fender P Bass Old or New pickups?

Slpbass81 · #1 05-12-2013, 05:52 PM

What's up fellas,

I just bought a used Fender American P Bass from Guitar Center online that is in perfect condition. It is a 2012 model but I think it may be before they made the switch to the custom shop 60's pickups. It's not a huge deal but I would like to know. How can I tell which pickups they are? The sticker that is on the pick guard does not say anything about new pickups which led me to believe it is the older model.

Thanks for the help.

Johnny Alien · #2 05-12-2013, 06:36 PM

If I had to take a guess (meaning I don't know for sure) the old pickups used plastic covered wire and the custom shop one's probably use cloth wire. Pop the pickguard and see what kind of wires you have.

mickster2 · #3 05-12-2013, 06:58 PM

The 2012 CSs have raised pole pieces that stick out quite a way above the plastic covers. The pole pieces are *not* bevelled.

hth

Slpbass81 · #4 05-12-2013, 07:49 PM

So basically the pole pieces in the orignal pickups were level to the plastic and the 2012 CS's are all raised above?

lolmont · #5 05-12-2013, 07:59 PM

If the poles are flat even with the pup cover it's old. If it raised over the pup cover it's the CS pup.

here is a picture of my 2012

If your pup is not like that it has the 2008-2011 pup. Hope this helps.

Slpbass81 · #6 05-12-2013, 08:11 PM

Here are pictures of my pickups. So they are 2012's? I know my 2008 Fender Jazz bass has poles that are level to the plastic. But I wanted to make sure that they were custom shop 60's since I know the stickers on the pickguards have said that on the Fender advertisement sticker and mine does not. Thanks again for the help guys!

Slpbass81 · #7 05-12-2013, 08:12 PM

Here is one more picture

lolmont · #8 05-12-2013, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slpbass81

Here are pictures of my pickups. So they are 2012's? I know my 2008 Fender Jazz bass has poles that are level to the plastic. But I wanted to make sure that they were custom shop 60's since I know the stickers on the pickguards have said that on the Fender advertisement sticker and mine does not. Thanks again for the help guys!

Those are the CS pups for sure, Fender used the 2008-2011 sticker on the 2012's for the first batch. Later in the year they switched the the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD sticker. The bass itself is 100% the same though. Also looks really mint form "used" how much did you pay?

Slpbass81 · #9 05-12-2013, 08:16 PM

$899 from Guitar Center. I think it was $958 after shipping and tax. I saw it online, called the guy and he said it was a customer who buys basses, keeps them for 2-3 months then sells them back to buy another constantly and it was in brand new condition. He said it was 2012 but I forgot to ask if it was the updated pickups. I love my 2008 jazz bass, but I'm playing with a country group now and feel the P bass will do the job a little better. Really wanted it in white, so I am jealous of what you have but can't complain when its basically mint and you save $300-400

lolmont · #10 05-12-2013, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slpbass81

$899 from Guitar Center. I think it was $958 after shipping and tax. I saw it online, called the guy and he said it was a customer who buys basses, keeps them for 2-3 months then sells them back to buy another constantly and it was in brand new condition. He said it was 2012 but I forgot to ask if it was the updated pickups. I love my 2008 jazz bass, but I'm playing with a country group now and feel the P bass will do the job a little better. Really wanted it in white, so I am jealous of what you have but can't complain when its basically mint and you save $300-400

Not bad at all, also yeah I really like the white as well :P but I found a picture of a 2011 on ebay. Here is a picture of the pups on it

Also to make you jealous a picture of my white one in full haha

Slpbass81 · #11 05-12-2013, 08:49 PM

Such a great bass in white. Plus can change around pickguards for a few different looks. I still can't believe the guy who originally bought this didn't even take the plastic off the pick guard and included everything that came with it when he sold it back. This bass is going to take a beating after a year of shows with me.

Bongolation · #12 05-12-2013, 10:00 PM

Yes, those are the later pickups, but the previous 61276/7 pickup set aren't bad and were used on nearly every Fender Precision falling between the MIM Standard and the AV until the American Standard upgraded in 2012. Both Classics, RW, HO, Special... Most Precision owners don't realize how prevalent this set is.

lolmont · #13 05-12-2013, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slpbass81

Such a great bass in white. Plus can change around pickguards for a few different looks. I still can't believe the guy who originally bought this didn't even take the plastic off the pick guard and included everything that came with it when he sold it back. This bass is going to take a beating after a year of shows with me.

Have fun with her man, just don't purposely beat her up or I'm calling bass abuse

Slpbass81 · #14 05-12-2013, 10:55 PM

Haha, never abuse it on purpose. That's cheating...bringing a new bass or guitar to a luthier so they can beat it up to make it look vintage should be outlawed. You need to earn those scuffs, scratches and belt rash with sweat and hard work.

lolmont · #15 05-12-2013, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slpbass81

Haha, never abuse it on purpose. That's cheating...bringing a new bass or guitar to a luthier so they can beat it up to make it look vintage should be outlawed. You need to earn those scuffs, scratches and belt rash with sweat and hard work.

Amen to that, worn series and custom shops that look beat up are so silly.

aedaza · #16 05-13-2013, 12:20 AM

Hi guys,

I have tried searching, but have not found a good comparison. How is the difference between the old PUs and these new Custom Shop PUs in the P Bass Am Std line? Should I consider the upgrade?

Johnnywad · #17 05-13-2013, 10:28 AM

So here's a question, I have the exact bass as the OP, even same color, anyway are the pickups supposed to make a noise through the amp when my thumb touches then? Kind of like if you touch a cable end while its plugged into a powered up amp. I use my pickup as my anchor point for the e string and then move to the e for anchor while playing the a and so forth.

lolmont · #18 05-13-2013, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnnywad

So here's a question, I have the exact bass as the OP, even same color, anyway are the pickups supposed to make a noise through the amp when my thumb touches then? Kind of like if you touch a cable end while its plugged into a powered up amp. I use my pickup as my anchor point for the e string and then move to the e for anchor while playing the a and so forth.

I just tested it on my 2012 p touching the plastic does nothing. Touch the poles has buzz sound.

Bongolation · #19 05-13-2013, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aedaza

I have tried searching, but have not found a good comparison. How is the difference between the old PUs and these new Custom Shop PUs in the P Bass Am Std line? Should I consider the upgrade?

There's a slight difference, but not worth the time and money to swap out, especially if you're using flats.

Pickup swapping is rarely worthwhile, in my experience -- producing differences that are exaggerated in the listener's imagination, misattributed, rarely impress in DI-recorded digital A/B testing and could in any case be duplicated by upstream EQ. In short, it's just more fussy scab-picking in all but extreme cases.

tbplayer59 · #20 05-13-2013, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bongolation

There's a slight difference, but not worth the time and money to swap out, especially if you're using flats.

Pickup swapping is rarely worthwhile, in my experience -- producing differences that are exaggerated in the listener's imagination, misattributed, rarely impress in DI-recorded digital A/B testing and could in any case be duplicated by upstream EQ. In short, it's just more fussy scab-picking in all but extreme cases.

+1, Agreeing 100%. I'd say the only time to change the pickups is for something completely different. Like to a hotter PUP. Or a humbucking jazz from a single coil.