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1983 precision

L

lowjoe1

Feb 3, 2011
175
2
tennessee
#1
I've pretty much stuck with '70's instruments till now, because I knew the resale value would be great. Lately, I've noticed that early '80's precisions command very good prices, and evidently there is something special quality-wise with the precisions made at the Fullerton plant. I have a few questions for those who may know.

1. Are all the early '80's precisions made at the fullerton factory?
2. Is the quality the same on all the Fullerton basses?
3. Is the quality better on the reissue instruments than the AS models, are or they just more desirable because they are reissues?

I'm looking specifically at a 1983 precision for $1100, not a reissue. Anything special about this bass? Would it have been made in Fullerton for sure?

Thanks in advance for all the help.
 
#3
Everything prior to the factory sale in the mid 80's was made in the Fullerton plant. The only intruments in which people actually denote the plant is the reissue line because they were only made there for a few years. People calling the early 80's basses "Fullertons" are really just cashing in on the name. They were nice basses and I kinda like the tone of the white pickups but I have never been super fond of the necks. They are super thin front to back which is nice but they seem to have relatively sharp edges for some reason. A rolled fretboard is much nicer. The quality was a step up from the late 70's but there was also some cost cutting going on. I actually prefer the standard series in the 90's to the early 80's.

Soooo....

1. Yes like I said, all older Fenders were made at the Fullerton plant.
2. Since there are decades of Fullerton basses this is too broad of a question to answer. I do think the quality was slightly better on the early 80's vs the late 70's but there were plenty of features that I for one didn't like. Specifically the neck and headstock truss rod access.
3. I would say yes. People really like the Fullerton reissues because the details were much closer to a vintage fender. That is not to say that the current reissues aren't extremely nice as well. I am of the opinion that the reissue line has always been better than the standard line ever since they were introduced.

An early 80's Fender priced at around $1100 is about right if not on the high end.
 
#5
The '83 P-bass had a pretty odd neck in that is was very flat (front - to - back) but very wide - 1 3/4". As far as I know - and I'm sure the real Fender historians can check me on this - it was the only year they made that neck profile.
Every '83 P-bass I've ever played (six or so, I guess) has had that same profile.

Personally, I love this neck shape. These are my favorite P-basses, but I can imagine someone else not liking such a specific shape.

Also, the quality of all the ones I've played was just fine.
 
#7
I aggree with Lo-E. I have a 83 sienna burst p-bass.The neck is effing beast. Big but easy to play.
My friends who are not "fender people" all say its the best fender they ever played, and that maybe they need to rethink ther view of Fender basses.
 
#9
'83 was when Fender decided to turn the QC issues around. In this year level of quality in construction and QA went up in a big way. For example, they introduced the Elite series. I had 2 Elite II's and the build quality was first rate. I also had an '83 AS P. They used the same necks, 1 3/4" nut. I found them a bit large to be comfortable so I flipped them, the only issue being my comfort. The AS was as well made as the Elites with excellent attention to detail.

In '83 Fender also put out the very desirable reissues. What sets them apart is that for all intents and purposes they were Custom Shop instruments and not off the line. This is why they are highly regarded and still command CS prices. "Fullerton" is used to denote they were the reissues made there and doesn't mean anything for any other model as far as value. So a Fullerton '83 AS P bass is just the garden varety available at the time.

as an aside, I had a '88 AV '62RI P and I thought it was outstanding. It really felt like a newer version of a vintage intrument and sounded great. The RI's currently in production are excellent.
 
#10
Johnny Alien said:
Everything prior to the factory sale in the mid 80's was made in the Fullerton plant. The only intruments in which people actually denote the plant is the reissue line because they were only made there for a few years. People calling the early 80's basses "Fullertons" are really just cashing in on the name. They were nice basses and I kinda like the tone of the white pickups but I have never been super fond of the necks. They are super thin front to back which is nice but they seem to have relatively sharp edges for some reason. A rolled fretboard is much nicer. The quality was a step up from the late 70's but there was also some cost cutting going on. I actually prefer the standard series in the 90's to the early 80's.

Soooo....

1. Yes like I said, all older Fenders were made at the Fullerton plant.
2. Since there are decades of Fullerton basses this is too broad of a question to answer. I do think the quality was slightly better on the early 80's vs the late 70's but there were plenty of features that I for one didn't like. Specifically the neck and headstock truss rod access.
3. I would say yes. People really like the Fullerton reissues because the details were much closer to a vintage fender. That is not to say that the current reissues aren't extremely nice as well. I am of the opinion that the reissue line has always been better than the standard line ever since they were introduced.

An early 80's Fender priced at around $1100 is about right if not on the high end.
Click to expand...

I would agree with all of the above comments. I love the sound, look, feel, and workmanship of my 83. I do wish that the fingerboard edges were rolled as that would just make it much more comfortable to play. I bring this bass along with a second p-bass to a practice I almost always have my band mates point to the 83 and say "play that one. It sounds great". As is this is my "go to" bass.

IMG_0875.jpg
 
#12
Had an 83 P. Nice and light. cool flame in the neck. HOWEVER- said neck was extremely flexible. Not a lot of what is known as stiffness. Flipped it for a 50 buck profit. End of story. Suggestion: really push and pull on the headstock making sure its not to rubbery.
 
#13
I had an 83 Jazz, no frills but the build quality, tone and playability was great. I upgraded to the Elite bridge(available over the counter at that time), those Elite bridges are great IMO and probably the only "higher mass" Fender bridges I would ever like to own again.
 
#19
Just got me a 1983 AM P Bass, maple neck and i guess alder body. Black body and White cover pick up.

The nut is large (1 3/4 i guess) but the neck seem stable and feels good.

More sustain than the S8 (1978/1980) Ash/Maple P i had in the past, which sounded very awful, but less high and mids than a lot of other good sounding 70s bass i heard. IMO Sounds more like a current Am Std P.
 

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