New Fender American Vintage Series - Waiting Room

[sigmafloyd]

Originally Posted by GregC

Just curious, have you tried a US Lakland Glaub or Dunn?

My experience: I bought an '83 (Fullerton) AVRI P about 6 years ago. Great bass in a lot of ways; the reputation of this era of AVRIs is deserved. And yet the US Glaub I received at the end of 2011 is even better (to me) in terms of the neck, fretwork and balance. (I also got a much, much wider ranger of choices in terms of customization than I would buying a new AVRI.) I'm sentimental and slow to move on things, but the Fender is going on the block soon. It simply isn't getting played now.

Now, the Lakland should be better and have a lot more options, given the price difference. But it absolutely delivers on that end for me.

Fender may be getting into tough territory with the new pricing. You can get a used US Lakland (as well as Sadowsky Metros, Lulls and many others) for less. You couldn't say that about the previous AVRIs.

I have played US laklands. They were fine instruments, but lacked something that I couldn't really put my finger on. The sound was maybe a little too sterile. I didn't find any of them to be markably better than my US fender in terms of feel or sound. For someone looking to buy sight unseen and willing to spend the money, a US lakland might be a safer choice, but fenders just have a better vibe for me. If I went the lakland route I'd probably swap the pickup and the bridge to look and sound a bit more classic fender. For the price diff I could have an avri refinished in any color I wanted.

[Vincent P]

Originally Posted by eyecandy

I'm hoping to see a '65-'66 jazz bass i guess.. one that looks like Paul Turner's Jazz bass..

Amen Brother!!!

[David281189]

Originally Posted by sigmafloyd

I have played US laklands. They were fine instruments, but lacked something that I couldn't really put my finger on. The sound was maybe a little too sterile. I didn't find any of them to be markably better than my US fender in terms of feel or sound. For someone looking to buy sight unseen and willing to spend the money, a US lakland might be a safer choice, but fenders just have a better vibe for me. If I went the lakland route I'd probably swap the pickup and the bridge to look and sound a bit more classic fender. For the price diff I could have an avri refinished in any color I wanted.

+1 exactly my experience with lakland's jazz und precision basses

[sneha1965]

Maybe it's just this particular photo but the Sonic Blue of the AVS 63 precision looks a little anemic in comparison to some of their other interpretations of this color. Compare the new AVS 63 to other previous Sonic Blue instruments out of the Fender Custom Shop. All three look a little different with the lighting and color temp but the CS offerings do have a darker hue of blue than the 63 AVS precision.












This one is currently at Chicago Music Exchange




And this one is currently being sold online through Musicians' Friend. So Fender is capable of making a more blue or what I understand to be a more correct version of Sonic Blue.





I think the bass they really got right with this color was the Mark Hoppus bass. I would say this was also a successful photo shoot.

[ShowLow]

Originally Posted by sneha1965

Maybe it's just this particular photo but the Sonic Blue of the AVS 63 precision looks a little anemic in comparison to some of their other interpretations of this color. Compare the new AVS 63 to other previous Sonic Blue instruments out of the Fender Custom Shop. All three look a little different with the lighting and color temp but the CS offerings definitely have a darker hue of blue than the 63 AVS precision.

Agreed, I strongly prefer a real Sonic Blue as opposed to the "Faded Sonic Blue" on the new '63 reissue. If it's faded now and it's nitro, I guess in 50 years it will be Oly White.

[One Drop]

Or more greenish if they are using the old style nitro clear coats?

[j.kernodle]

yeah the "faded sonic blue" is an odd choice to me. if they're making these more like actual brand new instruments released in the 50's and 60's and ditching the amber neck tint, why give it a faded version of an original color?

[petrus61]

That's what I was wondering.

[sneha1965]

There's not much to distinguish in color when compared side to side with Olympic White. I guess in calling it Faded Sonic Blue there's not much one can say. Personally, I kind of like the white on white Brian Wilson thing going on with the Olympic white version.

[bigsnaketex]

Originally Posted by sneha1965

There's not much to distinguish in color when compared side to side with Olympic White. I guess in calling it Faded Sonic Blue there's not much one can say. Personally, I kind of like the white on white Brian Wilson thing going on with the Olympic white version.

The Faded Sonic Blue looks very cool in person. It has a "shimmer" about it that your mind distinguishes from white immediately. Doesn't photograph very well though due to the subtle shade.

But I also like the Brian Wilson thing going on with the white!

[sneha1965]

You wouldn't happen to be able to post a picture of the one you have seen? I love Sonic Blue but I'm not really getting the feel of it from this particular photo. Sonic Blue with the tort guard would be pretty interesting.

[TESPE]

Originally Posted by sneha1965

I think the bass they really got right with this color was the Mark Hoppus bass. I would say this was also a successful photo shoot.

Don't forget, that is Daphne Blue and not Sonic

[RS]

I dig the fade/lighter sonic blue myself.

[bassman_al]

Hey guys, great thread. I have been out of the loop somewhat recently, and today I happened to go looking online to see what was on MF and also on Fender's site, and the new line is there. Looks like no more stacked-knob '62 AV Jazz basses? Is that right, they got phased out? I know many will say "good riddance" but as an owner of one, I'm curious. I guess if that is the case, time will tell if my model will increase in value over time, or not. Mine is not a Fullerton era, nor is it a very desirable year overall, but I love her just the same!

[sneha1965]

Originally Posted by TESPE

Don't forget, that is Daphne Blue and not Sonic

You're right. The Mark Hoppus was Daphne.

Here are some color samples from Curtis Novak.



Daphne Blue


Sonic Blue

[sneha1965]

And..... I have noticed that in "The Fender Bass An Illustrated History" there is a 1965 Sonic Blue precision on page 40 that is pretty light. Not as light as the one which appears as the Fender 63 AVS but, lighter than the examples that I posted earlier. I guess this is a color that has a lot of variation depending on the paint used at any particular point. True that neither is necessarily better as this is a subject thing narrowed down by personal preference. I would personally just like to see a little more pigment in that Sonic to really distinguish it from the Olympic White. Again this particular photo could be making it look whiter than it really is in person as mentioned by bassman_al.

[backup]

concerning the stacked knobs jazz. it may increase in value due to its being phased out though one must consider that it is fairly easy to install stacked knobs. as long as you can get the nessecary parts

[vates]

IIUIC, the three-bolt neck is gone as well.

[gwangi]

I was to lazy to look thru the whole thread to see if this was mentioned so I do apologize if this was already brought up but I noticed on the Fender-"First Impressions" video that the guy playing the white '74 jazz bass didn't have the bullet truss rod so was he really playing one of the new AV '74 Jazz bass or is Fender just trying to hurry and get any sort of promo out and hope nobody noticed the bass didn't have a bullet truss rod.

[kai_ski]

anybody know where I could get one of those new p-bass bridge covers with mutes?

I suppose I could just make one.