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American Standard P vs 1962 American P Reissue
- Thread starter slipitin
- Start date
Then go with the Standard. The new Standards are great basses and you will probably be most comfortable with the neck on it. The Deluxe has a more modern tone and the Standard sits between that and a traditional sound.
The new Standards feel amazing! The necks are sweet, and truss rod adjustments are a snap. I would love to try a 62 but they never have the AV's locally. From what I hear, the main difference in the tone is the bridge on the Standards. You can always put flats or 7150's on to get a more vintage sound.
I've been in the market for MIA P so have given both these bad boys a look. There's a certain simplicity about the American P Bass that I just prefer. I'm a gen-Xer (30 now, but raised with Nirvana et al) so the slightly more aggressive tone mentioned above is more appealing to me.
The candy that comes with the '62 is awesome though.
Reading through your posts, I get the feeling you're looking for someone to justify what your gut says, which is that you'd prefer the american standard p bass even though it's less expensive (with the implication that it might not be as good).
In the end, either is going to be awesome.
The candy that comes with the '62 is awesome though.
Reading through your posts, I get the feeling you're looking for someone to justify what your gut says, which is that you'd prefer the american standard p bass even though it's less expensive (with the implication that it might not be as good).
In the end, either is going to be awesome.
I just don't believe the tone differences to be all that significant in either of these basses. Really, I think they're both a bit tame when it comes to P sounds over the years.
The AS is really a nice take on the classic though. The thin finish, modernized neck, graphite reinforcements, new bridge, easily assessible truss...... all make for a great bass. IMO, a pup swap is just not a big deal, and the things I don't like about the AS pup are present in the reissue pup. My '08 P has become my primary player.... light as all get out, beautiful unamped tone (probably even better than the reissue), incredible fretwork, and with the right strings, it sounds beautiful plugged in. Mine weighs in right at 8 lbs.... with the 1 5/8 width neck, it's an absolute breeze to play all night.... incredibly comfortable!
When I bought mine, there was a '62 reissue hanging right next to it. Upon playing both back to back, it was no contest...... AS won hands down.
The AS is really a nice take on the classic though. The thin finish, modernized neck, graphite reinforcements, new bridge, easily assessible truss...... all make for a great bass. IMO, a pup swap is just not a big deal, and the things I don't like about the AS pup are present in the reissue pup. My '08 P has become my primary player.... light as all get out, beautiful unamped tone (probably even better than the reissue), incredible fretwork, and with the right strings, it sounds beautiful plugged in. Mine weighs in right at 8 lbs.... with the 1 5/8 width neck, it's an absolute breeze to play all night.... incredibly comfortable!
When I bought mine, there was a '62 reissue hanging right next to it. Upon playing both back to back, it was no contest...... AS won hands down.
Between that, and the tone when strung up with chromes, it really has become my primary player.
I have an '87 G&L SB1 that is probably the most wicked sounding P you've ever heard...... it's seriously awesome sounding. I roll the vol back to about 60-80% full, tone back a bit, and it cops vintage all night long. Roll up the vol and tone, and it's a monster.
But I've found the tone I want out of the the MIA P.... combined with the playability and comfort level, I don't take the SB1 out a whole lot these days.
Something I only touched on in my first reply, but bears mentioning is the ease of adjusting the truss. The AV '62 that was in the store when I bought mine was still there last month (not sure if it's still there now).... but the action was a mile high. Now, when I played that bass last year, it was nice and low. To those that say the AV necks don't move, I say BS..... That thing is in dire need of a truss adjustment.
I have an '87 G&L SB1 that is probably the most wicked sounding P you've ever heard...... it's seriously awesome sounding. I roll the vol back to about 60-80% full, tone back a bit, and it cops vintage all night long. Roll up the vol and tone, and it's a monster.
But I've found the tone I want out of the the MIA P.... combined with the playability and comfort level, I don't take the SB1 out a whole lot these days.
Something I only touched on in my first reply, but bears mentioning is the ease of adjusting the truss. The AV '62 that was in the store when I bought mine was still there last month (not sure if it's still there now).... but the action was a mile high. Now, when I played that bass last year, it was nice and low. To those that say the AV necks don't move, I say BS..... That thing is in dire need of a truss adjustment.
I have had a few AVRI basses and I currently own a Fullerton model which is very thin from front to back. In my area ALL bass necks need adjustments here and there as it is high humidity with big temperature changes through the year.
The RI basses need adjusted but no more than a US Standard with graphite. So anyone saying they never need adjusted are either exaggerating or live in a temp consistent area.
With that said what you are describing sounds worse than a simple neck shift. That sounds like someone cranked on the rod and didn't know what they are doing.
Not really.... what I'm describing is a bass that hasn't been adjusted in a year. If memory serves, it was early spring here when I first played that particular bass. When I last played it we were in the middle of a cold snap. My point is the same as yours.... wood necks will expand and contract with temp and humidity changes.
However, the lack of needing fewer truss adjustments on the RI's has been made on these boards on more than a few occassions.
However, the lack of needing fewer truss adjustments on the RI's has been made on these boards on more than a few occassions.
You said the action was a mile high. If I didn't adjust mine the action might get higher but not as high as what you are describing. And then when the temperature changed again it might actually go back close to the way it was before. I would have to actually see it but if it was really that high I would bet it was adjusted at one point very poorly and then left alone and shifted.
Also I would question a shop that let their instruments get that way without adjustments.
Unless it was GC in which case that is just par for the course.
Unless it was GC in which case that is just par for the course.
I'm not saying you are wrong, but I have never read that on here. At any rate, you can't possible generalize all reissues Fender basses based on that single example.
Graphite rods in am std necks are designed to flex at the middle of the bow like normal necks, so it probably will need to be adjusted as often as necks without reinforcements. In fender necks ,the point of graphite bars is to prevent neck twisting or humps along the length of the fretboard, while letting it flex in the middle to allow easy adjustments. "Posiflex" rods are wooden rods wrapped with carbon weave, with different thickness in the middle to allow flex. So who knows. Time will tell if the am std necks are more resistant to twists and humps. Double action truss rods used in am std are also supposed to be less prone to causing humps on the neck.
I have a Standard with the graphite rods and it gets adjusted about as much as my AVRI.
Agreed on all counts. And don't get me wrong..... I'm not generalizing anything on the example stated. I'm only trying to make the point that the RI's do require adjustment..... as do the AS's. And I don't believe for a second this particular shop touched that truss.... everything in the store needs adjustment, including the AS's.
When it comes time to make that adjustment, having the truss easy to get at is pretty dagnabbin' swell!..... wouldn't you agree?
When it comes time to make that adjustment, having the truss easy to get at is pretty dagnabbin' swell!..... wouldn't you agree?
Yes they do. I would say unless you are really in a perfect environment in regards to temp. and humidity you will probably have to adjust the neck on an AVRI once and awhile.
I agree but it doesn't bother me since I only have to access maybe once a year but yes....easier to get to is always better IMO.
I just settle because I love vintage Fenders
Do you think a pickup swap in the American Standards would give more of a vintage tone, or maybe it's the bridge? Neither?
