American Standard

[JakobT]

I don't keep up with the current line up, but I'm surprised Fender discontinued the American Standard, does that include the Jazz bass too?

All models in the American Standard series are history.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

I don't keep up with the current line up, but I'm surprised Fender discontinued the American Standard, does that include the Jazz bass too?

Here is my '78 I bought new in 1981. View attachment 3056965

Awesome setup!!! Wow! Bet you can rattle some screws and fillings loose with that rig. Beautiful Standard also. Damn!

 

[fourstringburn]

Awesome setup!!! Wow! Bet you can rattle some screws and fillings loose with that rig. Beautiful Standard also. Damn!

Thanks!

Yeah, it can move enough low end air to blow your hair back.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

Thanks!

Yeah, it can move enough low end air to blow your hair back.

Awesome!

 

[EarnestTBass]

Yup, the American Standard P is a tremendous bass. Try the five-string version!

I went to the store just to get strings back in April. I ended up taking home a brand new 2015 American Standard Precision 5 string. This my first P bass. I understand now why P basses have fans. I have not touched any of my other basses since. Several sound engineers, at different gigs, have approached me on stage, with compliments, and asked to look at it after they hear it.

 

[fourstringburn]

All models in the American Standard series are history.

What a shame! Out with the old and here comes the new.

However,

After looking at spec's on the Professional series, it should be a good Bass. Graphite bars for neck stability, string thru bridge, ultra light tuners, etc.

Unless the Pickups are inferior and those can be easily swapped, it shouldn't be that bad of a Bass.

Would you guys know the differences between these and the American Standard doing a blindfold test?

Or, is it more than just sound that is different between the older American Standards?

Just asking…

 

[JakobT]

What a shame! Out with the old and here comes the new.

However,

After looking at spec's on the Professional series, it should be a good Bass. Graphite bars for neck stability, string thru bridge, ultra light tuners, etc.

Unless the Pickups are inferior and those can be easily swapped, it shouldn't be that bad of a Bass.

Would you guys know the differences between these and the American Standard doing a blindfold test?

Or, is it more than just sound that is different between the older American Standards?

Just asking…

I'm not sure I could tell them apart by just looking at them, but I'm pretty sure I would feel a difference when playing, even blindfolded, due to the difference in the neck shape and frets.

I haven't heard the V-Mod pickups in real life, so I don't know whether I would hear a difference.

At the end of the day, though, the American Professional line are just American Standards with a few tweaks.

 

[tjh]

the American series launched in 2001 and replaced... You guessed it, the American Standard series which launched in 1995 for the basses. American Standard was used twice.

… actually, the '89-'94 1/2 Fender 'Longhorns' were considered to be American Standards as well … the return to the name for the '08 model year (mid '07 production change), was termed the 'New' American Standards …

 

[ricardol]

All models in the American Standard series are history.

The Adam Clayton Jazz Bass is quite similar to the American standard spec:
Manufactured 09/2014 Model Name: American Standard Jazz Bass®
Body: Alder, Neck: Graphite Reinforced Maple, Modern "C" Shape,
(Gloss Headstock Face with Satin Urethane Finish on Back of Neck)
Fingerboard: Rosewood , 9.5" Radius (241 mm)
Frets: 20 Medium Jumbo Frets
Scale Length: 34" (863.6 mm)
Nut: 1.50" (38 mm)
Hardware: Chrome
Machine Heads: Fender®/Hipshot® Vintage Keys with Tapered Shafts
Bridge: HMV, High Mass Vintage, (Strings-Thru-Body or Topload)
Pickguard: 4-Ply Brown Shell
Pickups: 2 Custom Shop '60s Jazz Bass® Single Coil Pickups
Controls: Volume 1. (Neck Pickup), Volume 2. (Bridge Pickup), Master Tone
(Urethane Finish)
Strings: Fender® USA, NPS, Gauges: (.045, .065, .085, .105)
Other Features: Tinted Neck,
(Maple Fingerboard Neck: Satin Finish on Back, Gloss Finish on Front; )
Rosewood Fingerboard Neck: Satin Finish on Back, Gloss Finish on Headstock Front with Buffed Fingerboard,
HMV Bridge with Chromed Brass Saddles and Black Plate, and Chromed Steel Base Plate,
Fender Spaghetti Logo,
PosiflexTM Graphite Neck Support Rods,
Rounded Body Shape, Rolled Fingerboard Edges,
Molded Fender/SKB Case with TSA Locks, Glass Reinforced Nylon Trigger Latches, and Form Fitted Plush Interior,
Single Disk String Tree
Source: U.S.
Accessories: Case, Cable, Strap, Polishing Cloth
U.S. MSRP: $1,399.99
INTRODUCED: 3/2012
DISCONTINUED: 9/2016
DISCONTINUED COLORS:

 

[JakobT]

The Adam Clayton Jazz Bass is quite similar to the American standard spec:
Manufactured 09/2014 Model Name: American Standard Jazz Bass®
Body: Alder, Neck: Graphite Reinforced Maple, Modern "C" Shape,
(Gloss Headstock Face with Satin Urethane Finish on Back of Neck)
Fingerboard: Rosewood , 9.5" Radius (241 mm)
Frets: 20 Medium Jumbo Frets
Scale Length: 34" (863.6 mm)
Nut: 1.50" (38 mm)
Hardware: Chrome
Machine Heads: Fender®/Hipshot® Vintage Keys with Tapered Shafts
Bridge: HMV, High Mass Vintage, (Strings-Thru-Body or Topload)
Pickguard: 4-Ply Brown Shell
Pickups: 2 Custom Shop '60s Jazz Bass® Single Coil Pickups
Controls: Volume 1. (Neck Pickup), Volume 2. (Bridge Pickup), Master Tone
(Urethane Finish)
Strings: Fender® USA, NPS, Gauges: (.045, .065, .085, .105)
Other Features: Tinted Neck,
(Maple Fingerboard Neck: Satin Finish on Back, Gloss Finish on Front; )
Rosewood Fingerboard Neck: Satin Finish on Back, Gloss Finish on Headstock Front with Buffed Fingerboard,
HMV Bridge with Chromed Brass Saddles and Black Plate, and Chromed Steel Base Plate,
Fender Spaghetti Logo,
PosiflexTM Graphite Neck Support Rods,
Rounded Body Shape, Rolled Fingerboard Edges,
Molded Fender/SKB Case with TSA Locks, Glass Reinforced Nylon Trigger Latches, and Form Fitted Plush Interior,
Single Disk String Tree
Source: U.S.
Accessories: Case, Cable, Strap, Polishing Cloth
U.S. MSRP: $1,399.99
INTRODUCED: 3/2012
DISCONTINUED: 9/2016
DISCONTINUED COLORS:
View attachment 3058234

Well, sure, but that one's history as well.

But the difference between the new American Professional basses and the old American Standards is modest, and none of the changes would be deal-breakers to me, at least. On the other hand, I have an American Standard P which I have no intention of giving up, so...

 

[MtManiac]

… actually, the '89-'94 1/2 Fender 'Longhorns' were considered to be American Standards as well … the return to the name for the '08 model year (mid '07 production change), was termed the 'New' American Standards …

Actually the Pre-2008 ones were American Series, the ones before that were American Standard Series, and the 2008 ones were American Standards. They were also referred to as "new American Standards" in marketing literature but "new" wasn't part of the name.

 

[tjh]

... the American Standard series which launched in 1995 for the basses. … American Standard was used twice.

… actually, the '89-'94 1/2 Fender 'Longhorns' were considered to be American Standards as well … the return to the name for the '08 model year (mid '07 production change), was termed the 'New' American Standards …

Actually the Pre-2008 ones were American Series, the ones before that were American Standard Series, and the 2008 ones were American Standards. They were also referred to as "new American Standards" in marketing literature but "new" wasn't part of the name.

You are correct, Bill, thanks … to clarify my posting, the middle quote (mine) above was just adding that the term 'American Standard' was used prior to the 1995 timeline that DT mentions, and my use of 'New' (in quotations) was how it was differentiated (at that time) from the earlier version(s) of 'American Standard', that is why I put it in quotes, it was not part of the official terminology … thanks for clarifying in case there was anyone that read it different than I intended …

That would be the same as the referral in this thread to the 'American Series' … where, for the 2001 model year (production started July of 2000) Fender dropped the word 'Standard' from the name, and introduced the line as the 'American' series …. but, since there were other models of Fenders produced in America, I have also always described it as the 'American Series' to avoid that confusion … but the 'Series' would not be part of the actual name, but the line of product offered in that category … just like other Fender models ('Standard' series, 'Deluxe' series, 'American Deluxe' series, 'American Vintage' series, etc.)

This thread is starting wander a bit, but to get back on track for the OP inquiry about the years of 'New' American Standard availability, 2008 (model year) was the introduction, but there are quite a few floating around with the 2008 specs, produced in 2007, as the production began in July of '07 … so look closely at any you see with a Z7xxxxx serial number … the components used will easily differentiate the model ... as mentioned above, the 'New' American Standard presented with the smaller, lightweight tuning machines, and the 'High Mass Vintage Bridge' (an oxymoron if there ever was one), and if you look closely, you will see the absence of the S-1 Switch which was only ever present during the 'American' series …

Sorry for any confusion caused by my earlier posting …