Favorite Fender Bass Series

[TheCouchBassist]

Of the following series which is your favorite and why?
- American Special
- American Standard
- American Deluxe
- American Vintage Reissue

 

[bholder]

I dunno. Which comes closest to a '54?

 

[drummer5359]

I have a Honeyburst P Special with a particularly light body that is really sweet.

The thing is that I like the neck and tuners better on the American Standard, and the bridge that allows top load or through body string mounting is something that I prefer as well.

I have a Select P that I bought as new old stock this year. It is lightweight, has the bridge and tuners that I like and as a bonus has the flamed maple neck and body. It is at the top of my food chain.

 

[Lucas Dauphinais]

American Special! I love the Greasebucket tone circuit and the modern C-shape neck with a satin finish. The Strat player in my band says he prefers the way my bass plays to his guitar, haha. The tone circuit sounds a lot more crisp and clear to me when A/B'ed with a Standard's circuit, even with its Custom Shop pups! You can't go wrong with an American Special.

 

[sambass0124]

Am Standard. Reliable.

 

[west al]

American Standard. I've used other brands, or Fender Series, and always go back to the Am. Std. They feel good to me, they play well, and the ones I have, are well made also.

 

[bluesblaster]

the originals, before they felt the need to have various "series"

 

[wvbass]

I like the ones that say Fender on the headstock best.

 

[Clark Westfield]

American Special.

Love the slim neck and finish.

One of my favorites.

I wanted to love the Standard with all of its extra goodies, but the Special neck just sold me.

 

[A-Step-Towards]

I would have to go with the reissues series, I love the colors, simplicity and those little vintage frets are effortless to play.

 

[Midak]

American Vintage Series for me, too.

 

[TheCouchBassist]

I wonder if they'll ever make AVRI's with A and B neck options (like in the late 60's and early to mid 70's)?

 

[pjbassist]

AVRI or Elite II. Niether of which have I owned.

 

[Nedmundo]

American Standard (and previous American Series) for their quality, consistency, and generally great feel and tone. IMO, they provide all the benefits of the classic designs with modern updates I happen to like, such as bridges, easy truss rod adjustment, and flatter fretboards than the vintage reissues. I also like the American Deluxe line, but I prefer the more straightforward, old school approach of the Standards. (BTW, I also like the American Standard/Series for guitars. I have two excellent American Series Strats and might get a Tele.)

 

[Pet Sounds]

I like the new AVRIs very much, pricey though they are.

 

[TMARK]

Of those listed, the AVRI are the best constructed and feel like Fender basses. Some of the signature models are incredible, such as the Tony Franklin fretless and the marcus Miller Jazz V.

The American Standards are great basses, but I never bonded with the two Standards I owned. Sounded great stock, sounded better with Nordstrands (jazz) and Fralins (P). BUT, they felt sort of generic to me. Now that I think about it, the Standards aren't modern enough but lost some of the feel of the older Fenders, so they are somewhat compromised. Play like butter though. If I were going modern I'd get a Stingray or a Sabre. Its all the improvements and modern features of teh Standards while it retains its feel from the time it was introduced, for the most part.

 

[mpdd]

i really like the american specials, however my main "fender bass" is an 84 squier jazz

 

[Flaked Beans]

I'm pretty happy with my am. standard jazz bass.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Been Gassing for an American Deluxe Jazz with sunburst, tort guard, and bound blocked rosewood neck for years. Gonna build my own.

 

[Salicete]

I have played American Standards of one description or another since 1977 when my parents bought me a spanking new Precision, all black with a maple neck. I still remember opening the case for the first time....

Anyway, I digress, the American Standards are priced reasonably and can be gotten at great prices used. The quality is good; I've never had one let me down, and the fit and finish is good. They always deliver the sound I want, and just feel "right" in my hands.