i've been looking for a new bass and i like the look of this. i've heard good reviews also. anyone played it and if so how is it? thanks
I have one and like it alot. The fit & finish is excellent, as is the vintage tone. The action is also excellent but I would like taller frets. The ones that come with it are a little flat for my tastes, but that seems to be what comes on Japanese built Fenders.
For this price you can't go wrong on it, if you want one (click on the small image for an excellent photo spread of the instrument). These are not strict copies of a real '51, as they have '55-style pickups, no covers, a good neck adjusting access rout and some other little improvements, plus there was never a production Fender Precision sunburst slab-body with a white pickguard before, but the sunburst is hardly less historically realistic than the schoolbus yellow. I've written a lot about these basses, as well as the similar "Sting" and '54 Paisley/Floral. There are some hassles, such as the somewhat later-vintage copy of the two-saddle bridge, single-coil hum and a vulnerable uncovered pickup, but if you like the '51 style, this is a good deal. The Fujigen Gakki build is superior to US Fender's by a substantial margin, particularly in the neck finish and detailing.
My bass teacher just told me a story about a guy who had like a 50 precision but he assumed it was a Telecaster bass. He sold it for he thought was a lot of money and later it saw in a store window in NYC for about many times that amount (i didnt get an amount). He had checked the serial number think it was a tele, but using the number for a P the number was 9. as between 8 and 10. may be this is the kind of tale that goes around but i believed it.
