Differences between 4-string Fender Am Standard vs Boutiques

[rmayer]

Actually, that would depend on the business you are in. Certain studios and producers will scoff at anything less than an American Standard, which can hinder getting future jobs. It's stupid but it does happen.

I had a teacher that did a lot of recording sessions and he let me in on a little secret. A good amount of these producers, or more accurately, engineers are a bit lazy. They've spent a lot of time getting a great bass sound for a P or a J, and they simply don't want to take the extra time to adjust EQs, etc.

 

[rmayer]

The fact that gear snobs can brag about how much their bass cost.

Well then enlighten us, what is the acceptable state sanctioned amount I should be spending on my basses. I wouldn't want to offend anyone.

 

[TonyP-]

I know that the term "tighter" is difficult to describe, but those basses all seemed to resonate throughout the instrument, where most of the Fenders I have played, well, don't.

I totally get it...
Its elusive but yet very there...

 

[Acoustic356]

I own a 1972 Fender P bass... You can tell the difference in the tone, possibly because it's been gigged with regularly for 40 years. I also own $200 bass guitars and everything in between.

Without exception, all the basses sounds pretty much the same, with the exception of the P-Bass which has that familiar sound that you're use to hearing on classic records.

What gets played most is what is most comfortable for me, which is usually one of my lighter (in weight) guitars. I would much rather hold a 7 pound instrument for 2 hours than a 9 or 10 pound one.

Trust your ears and trust what you feel... if it doesn't sound good or feel good, it will sit in the corner unplayed.

 

[jim777]

I've seen a lot of guys over the years say things like "I have to fight it a bit" or "you need to work it for that sound" or what not when describing why they love their basses so much. And I have no problem with them loving their basses for whatever reasons they have. Me, I like a bass that is insanely easy to play. I use the whole neck, all 5 or 6 strings or whatever I've got, and I need a bass that gets the heck out of my way when I play it. In the end, the bass is not the thing anyway, the music is the thing. The music is ALWAYS the thing, not the tool in your hand. If a bass has me thinking about it instead of the music then it has to go - end of story. I don't care who made it, what's on the headstock or how much it cost. In the last couple of years I've had Elricks, W&Ts, MTDs, Smiths, Zons, Moduli, etc. (you get the point) come and go. If it doesn't work for ME, it doesn't work. Same should be for you. Search until you find what works and ignore what others think of the name on it - the audience honestly does not care at all anyway.

 

[Acoustic356]

I agree... Adam Nitti, Victor Wooten, Scott Devine, Anthony Wellington or Oteil Burbridge - to name a few, would sound the same on their signature model or on a cheap no-name brand.

Tone... is in the hands!

 

[joeyw]

As others have said its way too much of a blanket. I love Jazz basses but I love my Thumb bass more, no matter what way you cut it a Fender Jazz won't sound like my thumb, different tools y'know?

 

[Dave W]

I had a teacher that did a lot of recording sessions and he let me in on a little secret. A good amount of these producers, or more accurately, engineers are a bit lazy. They've spent a lot of time getting a great bass sound for a P or a J, and they simply don't want to take the extra time to adjust EQs, etc.

Of course, but that wasn't my point. Inferior tone was.

 

[jessicabass]

Well then enlighten us, what is the acceptable state sanctioned amount I should be spending on my basses. I wouldn't want to offend anyone.

You can spend whatever you like.
Just saying thats what alot of people do.

 

[PJ Muzikmansky]

• Tighter tolerances;
• Material quality;
• Premium features (A back-of-neck volute, for example)
• Premium parts
• Premium finishes

This is what you pay for when you buy something like a Lull, Sadowsky or Lakland rather than a Fender.

I have no axe to grind either way, but I've said it before and I'll keep saying it...

My 2012 American Standard Jazz bass is:

a) finished slightly better;
b) sounds better (...well to my ear anyway); and
c) is as well-constructed as my Sadowsky Metro UV 70.

Brand new, it was just over half the price of what I paid for the new Metro and thus represents - to me at least - much better value for money.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

I have no axe to grind either way, but I've said it before and I'll keep saying it...

My 2012 American Standard Jazz bass is:

a) finished slightly better;
b) sounds better (...well to my ear anyway); and
c) is as well-constructed as my Sadowsky Metro UV 70.

Brand new, it was just over half the price of what I paid for the new Metro and thus represents - to me at least - much better value for money.

That's great news. Truly.

I've played a few new Fenders / EBMMs that seemed as good as it gets. But they ARE mass production, so some also kind of stink (though I've played VERY few EBMMs that were less than good. That's what good QA gives you).

 

[PJ Muzikmansky]

That's great news. Truly.

I've played a few new Fenders / EBMMs that seemed as good as it gets. But they ARE mass production, so some also kind of stink (though I've played VERY few EBMMs that were less than good. That's what good QA gives you).

I agree Harry, and I'm glad I landed a really good one.

Actually, what prompted me to look into getting an American standard jazz was a gig I did a couple of years ago. Our band was playing at a private party and some young kid (16 and already a great player) played the set before I did. He was using a maple-necked CAR American standard jazz through my amp and I was really taken with how good it sounded. Severe GAS onset and the rest -as they say- is history.

 

[RedHotFuzz]

IMHO, a Fender Am Std bass is all the bass that anyone would ever need.

A Toyota Camry is all the car that anyone would ever need. Thankfully not everyone wants to drive a Toyota Camry.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

A Toyota Camry is all the car that anyone would ever need. Thankfully not everyone wants to drive a Toyota Camry.

Good point. It gets the job done well, but without flair.

I very nearly picked a US P-bass deluxe back in 2010 but I like my lakland 4-94 for four string so much I didn't see the point; All the sounds that I care to get I can get out of the Lakland - so what does the P deluxe get me except yet another bass?

But if all I had left was that P-Dlux, I would be just fine. Good bass.