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2011 Fender American Special P & Js
- Thread starter Yerf Dog
- Start date
Unfortunately the American Standard keeps going up in price. And while I (as well as many here, I'm sure) applaud Fender's attempts to keep an "affordable" MIA line, it actually has to be affordable. That "affordable" target warrants "messing around with the original" The Highway 1 would fall into that category, IMO. The "new" - "Special"...not so much.
My take on the introduction of the American Special line is to fill the price point between the Highway One and the American Standard, possibly allowing the AS price point to go up at some point. The American Special is a mixture of the features of the Highway One and the American Standard.....gloss finish, same neck as the American Standard save for the headstock decal, but using the Highway One electronics, the MIM tuners, and a cheaper vintage bridge.
My personal belief is that the American Special price point is a bit high, given that for $250 more for the American Standard, you get a nice hard case worth $130, plus set-up tools, cable and strap worth $30. For the $90 above that, you get better tuners, a high-mass bridge, the option of string-through, plus better pickups (IMHO). But if you want an American-built instrument, gloss finish, and money is tight, this is an option.
Roger
I think the game is to get the American Special out and then increase the American Standard later this year, or the next. Then Fender will have an answer to anyone complaining that the American Standard have increased in price, that there is now the American Special which contains some good qualities, except the choice of color, high mass bridge, etc. That's what I think is going to happen.
HOWEVER, I bought a Fender American Special Tele last year and that guitar is a fantastic guitar. So just wait and see, maybe in 6 to 12 months, the MIA Standard will be too expensive and the American Special will be the way to go... hope not though.
HOWEVER, I bought a Fender American Special Tele last year and that guitar is a fantastic guitar. So just wait and see, maybe in 6 to 12 months, the MIA Standard will be too expensive and the American Special will be the way to go... hope not though.
Exactly what I was thinking. Now if carvin would throw a PG and P Pup on thier B series.......Those Carvin SB basses are looking better everyday.
Man...when I saw the ad for these in BP mag a month or two ago I got excited thinking they were going to be around highway 1 prices,then when they came out and I saw the pricing I was pretty pissed off about it. If I was going to buy a bass,like everyone else said. I'd spend the extra couple hundred bucks for an MIA.
I think that the American Specials will replace the HW1s. At least that's what I've read in some other forums...
If so, I'm glad I've got my HW1 Jazz. I wanted the sunburst but couldn't get one, so I settled with black. Got myself a nice red tortoise pg too. Unfortunately I live in Brazil, so I'll have to wait for my cousin to come over from TX and bring it with him. Guess I'll just have to hold on for a month or so...
If so, I'm glad I've got my HW1 Jazz. I wanted the sunburst but couldn't get one, so I settled with black. Got myself a nice red tortoise pg too. Unfortunately I live in Brazil, so I'll have to wait for my cousin to come over from TX and bring it with him. Guess I'll just have to hold on for a month or so...
I picked up a MIA Special Jazz today. Great sounding bass. That is, this particular one. I would probably go for the Classic Series 60's Jazz over the American Special in general, especially for the price. However, this bass does sound great. Tuning machines aren't great though... Same as the MIM basses. I ordered Hipshot HB7's for it.
Sorry Jim didn't mean to come off as a bass snob. In my profile is listed what I play and have owned. Thou, not listed were the Kay and Hondo basses I started on, and I grew up down the street from Rondo Music the original importer of Essex basses.
I just don't like them, weight, electronics, feel and especially the smell if that's okay.
Now back on topic, all the goodies at Fender Corp. is coming from Squier these days. Not saying that Fender doesn't have the goods, just try a new MIA, DLX, Tony Franklin, AV series, even the Road Worns. The special is a pure bean counter move, and once again they didn't even offer some rocking colors to make it special
Its about a grand for a new one. I don't have pictures. It looks like any other MIA/HWY1 Jazz. I have already put a BAII on the bass, and it made a noticeable difference in sustain and harmonics. I am not sure how much I recommend these basses yet, as the HWY 1 is almost identical and costs less. I have only played 2 Special series basses. The only reason I bought this one is because it sounded so good.
At NAMM I had the chance to play a few of these... interesting basses. The necks on all of them were very nice... a bit slimmer than anything else they offer, except for the Geddy, I'd say. I overheard a Fender suit talked to a retailer about the necks, confirming what my hands felt. If any one thing makes these basses "special", i'd say it's the neck.
Otherwise... they're pretty nice, albeit normal, Fenders. Picked up a candy-apple red precision with a maple neck (which is a STUNNING color combo in person, very '70s w/ the black guard) and it played like a dream, as good or better than most MIA fenders I've played. Felt fairly light, I would have happily owned that one. Then picked up a jazz in the same color combo... and it was, comparatively, a boat anchor. Still played great, but it was at least a pound heavier. Didn't get a chance to plug em in (little good it would have done at NAMM), but both basses had a very nice neck-feel, and they felt solid and resonant. Honestly, some of the newer Fender products have felt like there's been a bit more attention to fit and finish, regardless of price point, and these seemed to follow that trend. The Blacktop Guitars, for example, while cheap, play like a dream. Interesting to see what more knowledgeable Fender afficionados think of these American Specials when they play them.
Otherwise... they're pretty nice, albeit normal, Fenders. Picked up a candy-apple red precision with a maple neck (which is a STUNNING color combo in person, very '70s w/ the black guard) and it played like a dream, as good or better than most MIA fenders I've played. Felt fairly light, I would have happily owned that one. Then picked up a jazz in the same color combo... and it was, comparatively, a boat anchor. Still played great, but it was at least a pound heavier. Didn't get a chance to plug em in (little good it would have done at NAMM), but both basses had a very nice neck-feel, and they felt solid and resonant. Honestly, some of the newer Fender products have felt like there's been a bit more attention to fit and finish, regardless of price point, and these seemed to follow that trend. The Blacktop Guitars, for example, while cheap, play like a dream. Interesting to see what more knowledgeable Fender afficionados think of these American Specials when they play them.
Seriously, I do not mean to be a jerk. However, I just have to ask. If you could do it all again, would you have just gone with a new American Standard Jazz? I mean, you've paid $1,000 for the Special. You've added a BadAss bridge and you mentioned you wanted to replace the cheap MIM tuners with Hipshots. Upgrading a $500 MIM Jazz is one thing. But pumping that much into a brand new $1,000 bass? I don't know, it just seems like a lot of needless fuss and additional expense to me.
In my failed attempt of trying to locate one of the now discontinued White Highway One precision basses with the tort pickguard (the color is discontinued not the bass itself) I got into contact with a Fender dealer in NV who has posted a video of one that they had in their shop some 6 months ago. To my great disappointment they did not have it anymore...
ANYWAY, he told me he could get me an American Special since they come in Oly. White but since I have been noticing the specials going for such high prices I did not wait for him to get back to me on a price and last night placed an order for a transparent wine highway one from a different dealer that i was going to put a black pick guard on...... The NV dealer got back to me today via email with a message that he would get me an American Special for $850 dollars shipped to my door....with the option of a white color scheme (which I really, really, really wanted. And Yes i checked, there are no highway ones in that color left anywhere) I am starting to wish I would have waited for his reply!! DOH!
From previous quotes on the Specials and what I had been reading on here I was expecting them to be along the lines of $950-1000
ANYWAY, he told me he could get me an American Special since they come in Oly. White but since I have been noticing the specials going for such high prices I did not wait for him to get back to me on a price and last night placed an order for a transparent wine highway one from a different dealer that i was going to put a black pick guard on...... The NV dealer got back to me today via email with a message that he would get me an American Special for $850 dollars shipped to my door....with the option of a white color scheme (which I really, really, really wanted. And Yes i checked, there are no highway ones in that color left anywhere) I am starting to wish I would have waited for his reply!! DOH!
From previous quotes on the Specials and what I had been reading on here I was expecting them to be along the lines of $950-1000
A special at a restaurant is usually lower priced version of a menu item.
I don't really care what they call it, it's just a word. I think it's good that they have a lower priced MIA bass with a real finish on it. I've never been a huge fan of the way the HWY 1's look. what I don't like is why fender is charging $200 more for basses than guitars. IMO if an american special and standard tele are 800 and 1000, a bass should be about 850 and 1050. Especially when a nice used MIA standard bass is about $750-800. I could see buying a new American Special if it was same as a used MIA standard ($800). I won't jump on one of these at $950 but I might prefer a used one for $600 over a used HWY 1 for $400. Just my preference.
FWIW I like the look of the roadworn's too, but I think they are way overpriced new. I think Id pay $400-500 for one, new or used, but no where near $900 or whatever street price is.
I don't really care what they call it, it's just a word. I think it's good that they have a lower priced MIA bass with a real finish on it. I've never been a huge fan of the way the HWY 1's look. what I don't like is why fender is charging $200 more for basses than guitars. IMO if an american special and standard tele are 800 and 1000, a bass should be about 850 and 1050. Especially when a nice used MIA standard bass is about $750-800. I could see buying a new American Special if it was same as a used MIA standard ($800). I won't jump on one of these at $950 but I might prefer a used one for $600 over a used HWY 1 for $400. Just my preference.
FWIW I like the look of the roadworn's too, but I think they are way overpriced new. I think Id pay $400-500 for one, new or used, but no where near $900 or whatever street price is.
