New Fender American Vintage Series - Waiting Room

[Will Kelly]

Originally Posted by gwangi

I swear on the specs on the Fender website it says bullet truss rod.

http://www.fender.com/basses/jazz-ba...-74-jazz-bass/

You're right, it does say that. Gotta be a misprint.

[gurensan]

Originally Posted by Will Kelly

You're right, it does say that. Gotta be a misprint.

Probably appeared in late '74. They were (and probably still are) notorious for changing things in the middle of a model year.

For example, there were '68 Teles with no stripe and glued-on fretboards, '57 Ps that still had the body style from '54 (or '55? I forget which year they added all the rest of the funky contouring to the original '51 body... there's one for sale right now in Duluth, MN CL), and '72 Teles with a single coil. I imagine there's probably a stack-knob '64 Jazz out there somewhere, too.

[vates]

[gurensan]

I would like to see:

'51 RI with the original neck (LOVED that when I tried a real one)
'53 RI (I think that's already been done; the Squier counts I think)
'57 RI with the anodized PG ( I KNOW that's already been done, but I don't have one.)

'62-'67 or so clay-dot P with real clay dots and the 60s neck
'78 or so maple fretless P... with modern C
'68 Tele RI; the 51 with the Tele name on it!
'74 Tele RI with modern C
'78 Tele RI (there were changes) with modern C
'84 or so P with all the colors

'64 L-series Jazz RI with a P neck on it á la Jaco.

Wait.. hasn't everything on this list already been mentioned? Half of it's already been DONE...

One last thing: I want everything made to the same quality standards as my German Warwick.

[D.M.N.]

Originally Posted by vates

Sploosh.

[Will Kelly]

i think they must be high pricing these things at 2K. For that kind of dough, Lakland or Sadowsky becomes an attractive option

[David281189]

Originally Posted by Will Kelly

i think they must be high pricing these things at 2K. For that kind of dough, Lakland or Sadowsky becomes an attractive option

you haven't played one yet. the previous AVRI line were already really well build and great sounding instruments. if the new ones are even better sounding and the build quality (wood ect..) is even better the price is definitely not too high.
people always say yeah it's a fender and that price is too high just because it's a fender. lakland usa and sadowsky NYCs are much more expensive.
i'm sick of always hearing fender's prices are too high on some products of their line-up just becuase it's an intrument made by fender.

[gurensan]

Originally Posted by David281189

...i'm sick of always hearing fender's prices are too high on some products of their line-up just becuase it's an intrument made by fender.

$2k is $2k. There are a lot of basses one can get for that, including some awesome Fenders.

But... why would someone spend $2k on a reissue when they can often get the real thing for the same $2k?

Just sayin' that the reissue needs to be less expensive than the rare vintage original it's copying, or you'd do better and have better resale just going with the original. Then you could say "hey, I have the real thing!"

[Wyattsgroove]

Wow! They really have finally given many of us something different and what we've been asking for!

Custom colors with matching head stocks.
True or more correct vintage specs.
Clay dots
Mounted covers
Real period correct sunbursts
Real accurate vintage nitro finishes

Wow!

So why all the hating on the price tag?

Shouldn't Fender be able to recoup the money it cost to re tool ( in their word most of the original tooling) to produce these basses?
Perhaps the extra steps involved that it takes to make the finishes up till now only available on custom shop instruments?
Would you take a pay cut because, people on the Internet said your company shouldn't raise prices to adjust for inflation and they decide to appease the masses?

Sorry for the rant! It looks like they did their homework this time around. Maybe they will keep switching it up and offer a " seat for every ass" in years to come.

Flame on

WG

[ChadPaulJones]

Questions:
1. Is there a reason they no longer make P-Basses with "A" sized necks like they did in the early 70's? Does a P not sound like a P if it has a Jazz type neck?
2. Is the new 74 Jazz in Natural an ash body? I'm assuming it is, but didn't see it stated as such on the Fender website.
3. In the video demo a guy is playing the 74 Jazz in 3 TSB with a maple neck and pearl block inlays. However, I don't see that combination listed on their website. Does anyone know if it will become available?

Comments
1. Its funny how most people have always mocked and ridiculed CBS era Fenders and now people pay $3,000 - $8,000 for 60's and 70's Jazzes (let alone $2,000 for copies of what were supposed to be the nadir of Fender's storied history).
2. The bridges on the originals (and the AVRI's) are terrible. The HMV Bridge on the 2012 AMSTD is so far superior (by comparison) its laughable.
3. I am a HUGE Fender fan, but it seems like your paying a lot of money for:
a) ash tray covers which I guarantee you'll remove
b) decals on the headstock (body countour, pat pending etc)

Statement - I have a massive man-crush on my 2012 AMSTD Jazz (3 TSB and maple neck). The grain on the fretboard and body is gorgeous. I've had more expensive basses, but this is far and away the best in terms of build quality, playability and tone. About the only thing I'd change is add a sculpted heel to make the upper register a bit more accessible (for my feeble attempts to do something spectacular......ha ha ha).

[David281189]

Originally Posted by gurensan

$2k is $2k. There are a lot of basses one can get for that, including some awesome Fenders.

But... why would someone spend $2k on a reissue when they can often get the real thing for the same $2k?

Just sayin' that the reissue needs to be less expensive than the rare vintage original it's copying, or you'd do better and have better resale just going with the original. Then you could say "hey, I have the real thing!"

you won't find a 64 jazz for 2k...no chance. you will need a shot load of luck to get a 74 jazz for 2k and if you find one, it probably has some serious issues with the neck.
a 63 p for 2k? can you tell me where to find one?

the idea behind the reissue is that you can leave your beloved vintage instrument, which are becoming more and more valuable, at home and gig or go to jams with the reissue.

the construction and quality is much more consistent and better with the reissue in comparison to the real vintage jazzes and precisions.

[2meterbassman]

...did I tell you that I wanna see a Fender original specs 60 Jazz Bass with stacked pots, nicely reliced etc. - but as a 5-string? ;-)

[Will Kelly]

Originally Posted by David281189

you haven't played one yet. the previous AVRI line were already really well build and great sounding instruments. if the new ones are even better sounding and the build quality (wood ect..) is even better the price is definitely not too high.
people always say yeah it's a fender and that price is too high just because it's a fender. lakland usa and sadowsky NYCs are much more expensive.
i'm sick of always hearing fender's prices are too high on some products of their line-up just becuase it's an intrument made by fender.

I've owned several of the previous iterations of the AVRI series, jazzes and p's. Of course, I have not played one of the newest ones.

Yes, the build quality has always been excellent. How much better can it be? A thousand dollars better? This puts Fender in a price category I don't think they can compete in successfully. If I am going to spend 2k on a Fender, I am probably going to save an extra thousand up and drop it on something somewhat higher end.

Do new colors and correct chrome covers and dot placement justify an almost thousand dollar price increase for the jazz bass?

I don't think the price is too high because it's made by Fender, I think the price is too high because I don't see the value in what they are asking.

I would love to buy one, and was seriously considering buying one of the P's till I saw the price tag... but my 2012 American Standard P is already a killing bass, and if I get bored with that, I have a real '60 I can play on too.

[sigmafloyd]

Originally Posted by D.M.N.

Sploosh.

I've been more of a p bass guy lately, but that black jazz is hot.

[-=DanAtkinson=-]

One thing I really dig about the '74 is how they duplicated the look of the darker headstock. The headstock was sprayed with nitro which darkens over time.

[Anthony Fury]

Originally Posted by ChadPaulJones

3. In the video demo a guy is playing the 74 Jazz in 3 TSB with a maple neck and pearl block inlays. However, I don't see that combination listed on their website. Does anyone know if it will become available?

Edit - found the video.

This is blowing my mind, man. I'll take my ball and go home with an American anything bolted to a 4 bolt, TV logo, pearl/maple neck, but add in a 3TSB....that would seriously be my birthright.

The '74 in that video doesn't exactly look like it has a "TV" logo.....but whatever, I want!

[David281189]

Originally Posted by Will Kelly

I've owned several of the previous iterations of the AVRI series, jazzes and p's. Of course, I have not played one of the newest ones.

Yes, the build quality has always been excellent. How much better can it be? A thousand dollars better? This puts Fender in a price category I don't think they can compete in successfully. If I am going to spend 2k on a Fender, I am probably going to save an extra thousand up and drop it on something somewhat higher end.

Do new colors and correct chrome covers and dot placement justify an almost thousand dollar price increase for the jazz bass?

I don't think the price is too high because it's made by Fender, I think the price is too high because I don't see the value in what they are asking.

I would love to buy one, and was seriously considering buying one of the P's till I saw the price tag... but my 2012 American Standard P is already a killing bass, and if I get bored with that, I have a real '60 I can play on too.

it's not a thousand dollar price increase for the jazz bass! the street price increased by around 400-450.
if you don't see the value that's fine.

[sneha1965]

Originally Posted by gurensan

I would like to see:

'51 RI with the original neck (LOVED that when I tried a real one)
'53 RI (I think that's already been done; the Squier counts I think)
'57 RI with the anodized PG ( I KNOW that's already been done, but I don't have one.)

'62-'67 or so clay-dot P with real clay dots and the 60s neck
'78 or so maple fretless P... with modern C
'68 Tele RI; the 51 with the Tele name on it!
'74 Tele RI with modern C
'78 Tele RI (there were changes) with modern C
'84 or so P with all the colors

'64 L-series Jazz RI with a P neck on it á la Jaco.

Wait.. hasn't everything on this list already been mentioned? Half of it's already been DONE...

One last thing: I want everything made to the same quality standards as my German Warwick.

I would love to see a 66 bound neck with dots and paddle tuners.

[A-Step-Towards]

Originally Posted by David281189

it's not a thousand dollar price increase for the jazz bass! the street price increased by around 400-450.
if you don't see the value that's fine.

Increased by $750

62's were $1449.99 not $2199.99

[David281189]

Originally Posted by A-Step-Towards

Increased by $750

62's were $1449.99 not $2199.99

that was maybe the price recently because they had to sell the ones retailers still had in stock. the years before that i've never seen one under 1500-1600.