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1993 Fender Precision Plus Deluxe - how do these stack up today?

Bass V

Bass V

Dec 11, 2008
6,731
16,699
Honolulu, Hawaii
#1
I got a line on a clean example for $650 in the gorgeous Caribbean Mist / maple board combo described as ''Excellent condition, no dings or dents. Great action - comes with original hard shell Fender case''. research finds no big complaints yet plenty of high praise, but it's been a lot of years since these unique Fenders came and went, has anything equaled or even topped such a stunning package? my mid '80s Fender Power Jazz Bass Special may be in direct competition but it's ALL mega Jazz Bass from head to toe while the PPD seems to be a nuclear class powered PJ that doesn't shy too far away from the classic P bass sounds. and having a J-ish neck purportedly to die for doesn't cramp my style, nor does the lack of removing the neck to adjust the rod... lol geez these look sweet n clean! did these at some point sport Kubiki electronics?
bottom line opinions, do these still get extra luv from Fender bass aficionados?

Model Name: Deluxe Precision Bass(r) Plus
Model Number: 019-7600 and 019-7602
Series: U.S. Plus/Deluxe Series
Body: Downsized Alder Body
Neck: Maple
Fingerboard: Rosewood (019-7600) or Maple (019-7602)
No. of Frets: 22
Scale Length: 34" (864 mm)
Width @ Nut: 1.625" (41 mm)
Hardware: Chrome
Machine Heads: Fender Schaller Elite
Bridge: Deluxe Plus with Fine Tuners
Pickguard: N/A
Pickups: 2 Silver Fender LaceTM Sensor pickups, (1 P Bass(r) and 1 J
Bass(r))
Pickup Switching: Pan Pot
Controls: Master Volume,
Pan Pot,
Master Treble Boost/Cut,
Master Bass Boost/Cut
Colors: (706) Black,
(715) Lipstick Red,
(732) Brown Sunburst,
(747) Carribean Mist,
(773) Midnight Blue,
(775) Midnight Wine,
(780) Arctic White,
(790) Blue Pearl Burst,
(791) Black Pearl Burst
Strings:
Unique Features: Active Electronics
Source: U.S.
upload_2018-11-21_19-37-59.png
 
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#3
I'm no expert but many versions had a 1/12" nut.
The 1 5/8" has my attention.
I had 2 friends that had the 80's version.
They sounded good but were incredibly heavy.
 
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#4
Jim C said:
I'm no expert but many versions had a 1/12" nut.
The 1 5/8" has my attention.
I had 2 friends that had the 80's version.
They sounded good but were incredibly heavy.
Click to expand...
I believe those others were quite different than these early '90s upgrades, hence the 'deluxe'? I haven't heard complaints about weight re the PPDs yet, in fact the comfort factor rates high in most reviews due to a restyling of the body, and weight being so often an issue that if these were on the heavier side I'd imagine this would be a common theme. thanx for your comments!
 
#7
Bass V said:
what kind of rig were you running thru? did it have a good P's low end and thump?
Click to expand...

I owned several sets at the time: Trace AH350 with 2 cabs, a V4B with a custom built cab and a Session 4x10" combo. Trace brought the best out of that bass but it would not meet *my* idea of low-end thump. Obviously, YMMV.

Having said all of that, $650 with OHSC seems like a good price. These basses were not cheap back then. Not at all.
 
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#8
ajkula66 said:
it would not meet *my* idea of low-end thump.
These basses were not cheap back then. Not at all.
Click to expand...
so, not pure vintage but more 'modern' sounding has been the direction I'm coming to on these, and I want the vintage access included... do you think minor mods could bring that out?
they were a bit pricey, even $650 is more than I'm thrilled about but for a superb Fender P with J goodness it's ok even if spending more is needed to get it into that happy place. I appreciate your input.
 
#10
Bass V said:
so, not pure vintage but more 'modern' sounding has been the direction I'm coming to on these, and I want the vintage access included... do you think minor mods could bring that out?
they were a bit pricey, even $650 is more than I'm thrilled about but for a superb Fender P with J goodness it's ok even if spending more is needed to get it into that happy place. I appreciate your input.
Click to expand...

The pre-amp is based on Phil Kubicki's 2 stacked pots + 4+off switch (2 active/2 passive)18v Factor pre. Fender did a 9v 3+off (2 active/one passive) switch version and also this version with two stacked pots (no switch). They all have that very distinct Kubicki tone which one either is drawn to or not. I've owned a few Factors and personally love the way they sound, and studio engineers agree with me. I never use the passive setting - the active setting is a tone hammer. High quality build and underrated basses in my book which you are lucky enough to own for peanuts. When new, these were Fenders premier basses, just below a FCS bass.

Having said this - if you are considering removing the pre - I'll gladly take it off your hands.
 
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#11
Bass V said:
so, not pure vintage but more 'modern' sounding has been the direction I'm coming to on these, and I want the vintage access included... do you think minor mods could bring that out?
Click to expand...

Two things - both pertaining to my own bias - need to be kept in mind here:

a) While "thump" and "vintage sounding" mean different things to different people and I would argue that they have more to do with one's technique and choice of strings, I would want a bass with passive electronics if I were chasing such a sound.

b) At that time I already owned an active Fenderesque bass - G&L El Toro - which did everything I needed it to and in a far more convincing manner (IMO) than the bass that we're discussing here. Had I kept the Precision I would've probably swapped in a set of old active Duncans (with switches) and called it a day. Lace Sensors were never my favourite offering on any instrument.

Once again, PPDs are fine instruments. What exactly you need to do in order to get it to perform well for your needs is not something I can comment on. Maybe you'll love it OOTB. A set of flats - I only play rounds - might be a step in the right direction for your needs as well.

My $0.02 only...
 
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#12
thanx! all excellent and interesting points, gentlemen, leaving me still sitting on the fence lol
it's probably another 'never know til I try it thru my amps for a while' kinda thing, which on cheap basses is nothing, but dumping thi$ amount on an iffy which may need modding can be a bit um... challenging.
 
#13
I wanted to buy one when they were new...but never did, played as bunch and really liked them all. $650 is way underpriced for a 30-year old US made Fender that for whatever reason isn't on anyone's radar. People are asking more than that for early 80s P Standards which are nowhere near as nice. That fine tuning bridge was also on the original Elites of the 1980s and my favorite Fender bridge ever. I would have already bought it by now...but that's just me.
 
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#15
Hi,
I had one of these. I loved the neck but I found the lace sensor pickups very anemic. Thick punchy and biting are NOT adjectives that I would describe. Mine was very light and easy to play, but the electronics really left a lot to be desired. I would more likely go for a used am std j or p for the same price range. At the time I was running a mark bass ii (still am ) with 2x12 cabs and my roadworn fender at the time blew this away.

Best of luck either way.
 
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#16
I have the exact same bass but with a rosewood fretboard and it was my number 1 for 10 years, but I like active basses. Still have it, but I exclusively gig fivers. It's a great player, but better active systems have come out since. (Except lane poor modulus, imo).
 
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#19
Smooth_bass88 said:
I probably wouldn't do this deal. It's like a Fender that doesn't really have the old school vibe.
Click to expand...
I can fully understand that but fortunately I got my OSV covered re Fender bases and simply had the big one for this beauty, they didn't call it the 'boner bass' for nothing! lol but Fender has put out some spectacular product in the past which it seems most of us are yet to catch up to and this example was a new one on me.
the seller just confirmed it's been sold to someone ready to jump so this will be a sad turkey day in my house for a minute but the birds are already dead and the pressure is off for now. I think these will haunt me til I find out with some hands on and this stunning Mist / maple mix is one for the ages.
I thank all who've been willing to help figure this out.
 
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#20
Bass V said:
I can fully understand that but fortunately I got my OSV covered re Fender bases and simply had the big one for this beauty, they didn't call it the 'boner bass' for nothing! lol but Fender has put out some spectacular product in the past which it seems most of us are yet to catch up to and this example was a new one on me.
the seller just confirmed it's been sold to someone ready to jump so this will be a sad turkey day in my house for a minute but the birds are already dead and the pressure is off for now. I think these will haunt me til I find out with some hands on and this stunning Mist / maple mix is one for the ages.
I thank all who've been willing to help figure this out.
Click to expand...
I don't think the one you're looking at is considered to be the infamous (ugly) "boner", is it??
 
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