New Fender American Vintage Series - Waiting Room

[Zoomie]

My 62 P was wide and flat and body and or neck was stamped May 2011 for anyone that cares.

Personally, I am a little concerned about them thickening up the neck for the 63. Really hoping that it is not offensive to me.

I had to think long and hard about replacing the 62 with a 63, versus getting a Select or American Standard. I love the modern profile.

One Drop's commentary was spot on, and this is coming from a guy that was fit to be tied when pricing was announced. 2K was just too much, however, I found the street special deals in the 16's to be fair, at least for my emotional price break point.

People seem to conveniently forget that many instruments of that time had a whole lot of fight in them. I suspect that more folks have cussed a Fender P than any other in the history of basses. There are a whole lot of dogs out there floating around. Finding a sweet one that really speaks to your soul is not as simple as opening up your checkbook and taking a second out on the house.

While I could hypothetically afford some of the true pre CBS vintage instruments, I don't want the potential headaches.

If Fender gets moderately close to the tone of that time with this line, and they managed to do a better job with tone than even the beloved 62, I will be very happy.

[backup]

i would also love to hear some DI sound samples. the video was to edited and more talk than play. i dont get why people need to demo gear through amplifiers and post processing rather than simple direct signal.

also +1 on one drop's post.

[Zoomie]

Originally Posted by backup

i would also love to hear some DI sound samples. the video was to edited and more talk than play. i dont get why people need to demo gear through amplifiers and post processing rather than simple direct signal.

also +1 on one drop's post.

I like both actually. Some of my basses sound like crap direct and awesome through MY amps based on the tone I like. Vice versa applies.

I guess it depends on what we are looking for. Killer bass to record, or killer stage bass tone. It has been my limited experience that both don't always come from the same instrument.

[drTSTingray]

Originally Posted by backup

i dont get why people need to demo gear through amplifiers and post processing rather than simple direct signal

Possibly because the majority of people purchasing basses will be using them in a live setting through an amp - and that sound will, in any case, be significantly different from a DId sound.

Would be interesting to hear the DI sound, though I agree.

I'm anticipating seeing a resurgance in 60s R and B sounds, and Beach Boys etc tribute bands, to use these instruments in an appropriate setting. There will be many, if 50000 thread views is anything to go by.

[backup]

i know what you're saying but all amps sound differently. mine sounds nothing like the ones in the video, it sounds closer to DI than that of many other bassists'. what i'm saying is, for me it's easier to determine how a bass will sound through my amp when hearing the direct signal rather than hearing the instrument through an unknown amplifier.

[Zoomie]

Originally Posted by backup

i know what you're saying but all amps sound differently. mine sounds nothing like the ones in the video, it sounds closer to DI than that of many other bassists'. what i'm saying is, for me it's easier to determine how a bass will sound through my amp when hearing the direct signal rather than hearing the instrument through an unknown amplifier.

I agree that all amps sound different. Heck, even if someone else has your identical rig, their finger tone influences color.

I have never been able to listen to a DI'd tone and get a good mental picture of potential amp tone. Usually it sounds nothing like I expect. I'll have to keep trying.

In the end, we all have to go with what works best for us.

This waiting for my 63 is killing me. Heck, it wont even ship until Thursday. It's going to be a very long week !

[One Drop]

That Sonic Blue '63 really looks good to me, I must say. I've haven't bought a new bass since 1978 when I got a Ric with my then short lifetime savings, but I now find myself with a bunch of fantastic vintage basses that I rarely play out, and a Number One that will probably remain my Fullerton. I've sold my old Tokais to a few aspiring bassists in this village so I no longer have a viable back-up, and one of these would make a hell of a nice one, me thinks. It might even supplant the Fullerton because the slim neck moves a lot in these crazy weather conditions (1500m altitude, huge seasonal and periodic humidity changes, practice room at a much more humid lower altitude, etc) and my action has gotten lower over the last few years, necessitating a more stable neck to avoid constant truss rod adjustments. Weight will be a determining factor, haven't heard much about the range of the new ones yet but I won't touch one over 8 3/4 lbs.

The '58 interests me a lot, too, as I love those old neck widths and the voicing of the two real ones from the period I've heard, almost more aggressive than some later ones, if they get it right. I like the way they have shellacked the gold guard like the originals, I never liked the feel of the modern repro ones on the old AVs.

Euro prices will probably be mental, I would pick one up next visit home to Montréal, I guess. Never thought I'd be gassing for a new Fender when I own a few holy grail ones already, but the difficulty of playing vintage ones out except for a few occasions is beginning to get to me. I have a LPB '66 P that is truly the fattest sounding yet still articulate P I've ever played, but it really belongs in someone's studio. My '61 refin is the voice of Zeuss himself with flats, but the fret wear is pretty advanced so it only will ever wear flats, which don't work for me live with my current band, and is my practice and play at home bass, while my Fullerton only gets play on stage so I can keep the Rotos spanking fresh for the longest time possible. I hate buying new strings.

Sorry for the rambling, it's kind of a way to think aloud and be honest about how I use my instruments and what I really need as opposed to what my love for vintage instruments dictates.

[backup]

sweetwater has these models in stock:

'58 9lbs 2oz
'63 8lbs 10oz
'63 9lbs 2oz

[D Bopp]

Just wanted to post this. Really for no reason other than it's making me excited to get that 58!

[One Drop]

Originally Posted by backup

sweetwater has these models in stock:

'58 9lbs 2oz
'63 8lbs 10oz
'63 9lbs 2oz

Thanks for that!

I'm intrigued by the idea of a maple/ash '58, all my Ps have been alder and rosewood up to now. I'll wait it out a bit, as the Faded Sonic blue is driving me nuts, and I wouldn't make a decision until I could play a bunch anyway.

Great picture above!!

[One Drop]

Looking closely at the photos around, the sunburst on the '63 looks very authentic, nothing like the later yellowish to bright yellow painted versions of the originals from '64 onwards, as seen also on the CS basses. A good repro tort guard (these still seem way off, c'mon Fender!! Even your CS ones are horrendously wrong, as in inaccurate and looking wrong with the old finishes, more reddish or orangeish is necessary IMO) would make these virtually indistinguishable from the classics.

The Sweetwater photos are flash ones and probably exaggerate the brightness og the yellow and red in the burst, and the whiteness of the neck.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PBass63R3TSB

Additionally, from looking at Sweetwater specimens, the '58 has the brown capped case, while the '63 has black cap ends. The pictures in the provide.net link show the earlier brown/tan case, while the pictures of the later ones with the black/tan figure in the photos in the Fender Illustrated history book with the appropriate instruments. Fender did their homework, it seems.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PBass58MBk

[uOpt]

Originally Posted by backup

sweetwater has these models in stock:

'58 9lbs 2oz

Deeply regretting now that I didn't get the 57 for one thousand dollars before Christmas and now I'm supposed to pay two :sad:

[backup]

the '63 comes with a cream tolex case while the '58 ships with the common tweed case. they already had the latter out for long time but ive never seen a new cream tolex case.

also, excuse my ignorance, who is the man in the picture?

[Harpo61]

Originally Posted by backup

the '63 comes with a cream tolex case while the '58 ships with the common tweed case. they already had the latter out for long time but ive never seen a new cream tolex case.

also, excuse my ignorance, who is the man in the picture?

Just some old dude

[lowsideonacurve]

Originally Posted by backup

also, excuse my ignorance, who is the man in the picture?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Fender

[Harpo61]

That my friend is Leo Fender

[Dubista]

Originally Posted by backup

also, excuse my ignorance, who is the man in the picture?

Just some old guy who made some guitars. They never really hit it off.

[rodl2005]

Freddy's brother

[slick_tu]

Originally Posted by rodl2005

Freddy's brother

Different family; this is Crumpled's brother.

.

[dmk]

Originally Posted by One Drop

Additionally, from looking at Sweetwater specimens, the '58 has the brown capped case, while the '63 has black cap ends. The pictures in the provide.net link show the earlier brown/tan case, while the pictures of the later ones with the black/tan figure in the photos in the Fender Illustrated history book with the appropriate instruments. Fender did their homework, it seems.

I'm not convinced they did their homework. Maybe they exist, but I haven't seen a black interior in any vintage case.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/JazzB64RBlk/