The Official Fender Precision Bass Club (Part 7)

[marc_chassay]

Here's mine...

[xUptheIronsx]

Originally Posted by sbpark

Here's my 1976 Precision. I'm a guitar player who has secretly been wanting to seriously pursue bass, and recently scored this amazing instrument. I was born in '76 so it makes it a little more special.

that thing is in great shape! I'll bet my 72 looked like that when it was born! I would ne worried to lay it in the grass tho...especially string side down. I am assuming it was dry that day...

[xUptheIronsx]

Originally Posted by marc_chassay

Here's mine...

OMG!!!! That is sweet! The gold sparkle and pearl Pg is over the top! DAMMIT!!! Now I have GAS......again

[Catbuster]

Originally Posted by sbpark

Here's my 1976 Precision. I'm a guitar player who has secretly been wanting to seriously pursue bass, and recently scored this amazing instrument. I was born in '76 so it makes it a little more special.

Dude, that's beautiful. The sunbursts with the bright yellow from the '70s look killer.

[chuck norriss]

Well I did it; I played every Fender in the store. They may look the same but they certainly don't sound the same. I tried to put prejudices aside--after an hour of playing the USA P sounded best, American Special was up there too. Hofner Beatle bass was nice, not bad, and light as a feather. Squier VM was loud and clear but I found myself messing with the eq (Ampeg 115 combo) too often. With the US Precision it sounds perfect out of the gate. No eq business required. How is it that they get it so right with the USA P & not so with other Fenders? I do this about once a year--play every bass they got, see if my opinion has changed & get to see what's out.
What do you think is the element that sets apart the US P's & makes them sound so good? The pickup?

[slick_tu]

Originally Posted by chuck norriss

...How is it that they get it so right with the USA P & not so with other Fenders?...What do you think is the element that sets apart the US P's & makes them sound so good? The pickup?

I think it's a combination of all parts of the bass including the wood and the craftsmen. In another thread, I saw a picture of a stack of MIM body blanks that were made up of eight pices of wood with thin veneers for the tops (solid colors don't use the veneers). Seems like that must affect tone somehow compared to a two-piece body.

You get what you pay for.

[Catbuster]

Originally Posted by chuck norriss

Well I did it; I played every Fender in the store. They may look the same but they certainly don't sound the same. I tried to put prejudices aside--after an hour of playing the USA P sounded best, American Special was up there too. Hofner Beatle bass was nice, not bad, and light as a feather. Squier VM was loud and clear but I found myself messing with the eq (Ampeg 115 combo) too often. With the US Precision it sounds perfect out of the gate. No eq business required. How is it that they get it so right with the USA P & not so with other Fenders? I do this about once a year--play every bass they got, see if my opinion has changed & get to see what's out.
What do you think is the element that sets apart the US P's & makes them sound so good? The pickup?

Who knows? But they get it right- and that's what matters to me.

[Tommygunn]

photo (1) by thomas_lee_bass, on Flickr


photo by thomas_lee_bass, on Flickr

No shot of the headstock but its a new MIM, slightly modded

[Tommygunn]

I'm also a first time club member, so # please!

[slick_tu]

Originally Posted by Tommygunn

photo (1) by thomas_lee_bass, on Flickr


photo by thomas_lee_bass, on Flickr

No shot of the headstock but its a new MIM, slightly modded

Take a picture of the headstock.

[can_v]

Can I have a number?

[tbplayer59]

My 76 P. The bridge and tuners have been replaced by Wilkinson and Schaller, respectively. A couple of the original saddles height adjustment screws had seized from perspiration. One of the tuners started sticking making tuning difficult. I still have the original parts. Otherwise, it's original. I've owned this since 1980. One interesting note... This 76 has a different decal (smaller letters for the words "Precision Bass") than most I see. Well, it's interesting to me. And I need a number...whatever that means.

[tbplayer59]

Let's try this..

[petrus61]

Is it me, or are there a ton of 70's P's floating around lately?

[petrus61]

Originally Posted by slick_tu

I think it's a combination of all parts of the bass including the wood and the craftsmen. In another thread, I saw a picture of a stack of MIM body blanks that were made up of eight pices of wood with thin veneers for the tops (solid colors don't use the veneers). Seems like that must affect tone somehow compared to a two-piece body.

You get what you pay for.

That means absolutely nothing. A good MIM, on the right day, in good hands, will sound better than any custom shop bass imaginable. The same is true the other way. There is no single factor that will determine the end result of a mass
produced bass, but an alignment of multiple things will increase the chances
of a better result. There are 2 piece bodies that are dogs and multi piece bodies that are dogs.

[chuck norriss]

OK but in general it's probably fair to say USA P's are typically better in sound & quality & material & feel. Why? For what it's worth, I played each bass before looking at the tag to see what/where/model.

[maxrathburn]

yesterday was NBD! didnt take any pics yet, but when I get home..

[Selios]

Originally Posted by cvsurg

What's a new thread without a beautiful babe on the front page-




My '77, had since early '78; got me through college punk bands, then sat in a case for nearly 30 years, but has been put back in action. Currently strung with TI flats- very classic sound!

Looks great! Is the black piece around the Badass bridge a custom addition? I like the look of it. I always thought that the look of a Fender would benefit from a wider bridge.

Maybe I'll get in on this club and post my first and only P-Bass, my '08 American Standard. Made me love P-basses and turned them into my favourite guitars. I'm GASing pretty heavily for a MIJ Classic 70's model in white, because I'd love a P with a maple fretboard.

[petrus61]

Originally Posted by ShowLow

Delicate topic...but I have to say I'm shocked at the prices that are appearing on TB for American Standard Precisions. Even practically new ones seem to be going for between $700 and $800 with HSC. That seems more like used MIJ prices to me. I have been sorely tempted but the thought of medium-jumbo frets has stopped me from pulling the trigger.

Those who've been around awhile...is this the new normal? Or have there always been deals like this? The price differential between new and nearly-new MIA Precisions has got to be hurting someone...in particular, music store owners, recent retail buyers, and the Americans who build Fenders!

I don't buy used basses so I unfortunately can't reap the savings that you're seeing, but I've often wondered the same thing. Also, where the heck do all these basses eventually wind up??

[roadkill2309]

Originally Posted by petrus61

I don't buy used basses so I unfortunately can't reap the savings that you're seeing, but I've often wondered the same thing. Also, where the heck do all these basses eventually wind up??

A fool and his money and all that

Of course, here I am getting all snooty when the ugly truth is that my current three were all bought new. But I generally like to buy used whenever possible. These things don't get used up the way cars and stuff do, so the classifieds are a great way to get a wicked bass at a great price.