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Fender 2018 MIM Player Series
- Thread starter OllyW
- Start date
(Edit: I found the culprit, and the issue wasn't the bass. See post #443 for full details).
I agree, and lifting the ground significantly lowers the noise. Is that typical though for a Precision? I have no noise whatsoever with my active StingRay.
I guess my question is: is it normal for passive basses like my precision to be more susceptible to ground issues? I wouldn't be surprised if the answer is yes, I just want to make sure there isn't an issue with my bass.
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I'm happy to say I have an update on the noise front! I'll update my posts above to reflect my finding just so that it doesn't cause any undue concern among readers future forward.
I set everything up for my usual recording chain again today, tested that it was quiet with my StingRay, and then proceeded to plug in my Player Precision, and still - buzz city, though again, it could be mitigated by lifting the ground on my DI.
I went through component by component for my entire audio signal, and nothing helped. So then I started working on other things that were hooked up. Not my laptop power supply... not my mouse... and then I unplugged my secondary monitor!
I didn't get complete silence - I'm not so naive to expect the same low level of noise as I get my active 'Ray, but acceptable golden silence-ish nonetheless! It was my secondary monitor all along, and I couldn't be happier!
In fact, it was so happy, that I decided to just do a little down and dirty sound sample that I figured I'd share. Please disregard the sloppy playing, these were just to have some quick sound samples on hand for reference with the bass by itself, and then through my recording chain (basically just my VTDI). Both obviously use my Player Precision with the stock strings (that I still dislike
):
Player Precision and Fresh, Stock Strings Direct:
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Player Precision and Fresh, Stock Strings + VTDI (mind my fumbles, at at least one point I went searching for my nonexistent B-string)!:
Invalid Link Removed
I set everything up for my usual recording chain again today, tested that it was quiet with my StingRay, and then proceeded to plug in my Player Precision, and still - buzz city, though again, it could be mitigated by lifting the ground on my DI.
I went through component by component for my entire audio signal, and nothing helped. So then I started working on other things that were hooked up. Not my laptop power supply... not my mouse... and then I unplugged my secondary monitor!
I didn't get complete silence - I'm not so naive to expect the same low level of noise as I get my active 'Ray, but acceptable golden silence-ish nonetheless! It was my secondary monitor all along, and I couldn't be happier!
In fact, it was so happy, that I decided to just do a little down and dirty sound sample that I figured I'd share. Please disregard the sloppy playing, these were just to have some quick sound samples on hand for reference with the bass by itself, and then through my recording chain (basically just my VTDI). Both obviously use my Player Precision with the stock strings (that I still dislike
):Player Precision and Fresh, Stock Strings Direct:
Invalid Link Removed
Player Precision and Fresh, Stock Strings + VTDI (mind my fumbles, at at least one point I went searching for my nonexistent B-string)!:
Invalid Link Removed
Just checked the delivery tracking and my set of these comes in tomorrow. I can't wait to get them on my Precision and do a proper setup to my liking! The Player Precision pickups sound very promising, but it's been hard for me to tell what their true character is like with unfamiliar strings. Tomorrow that changes, and even with a set that'll need some breaking in, I'm very excited to hear how it sounds!
I've been out of the office sick with a really nasty cold for the past two days, but this delivery is pretty much enough to make me look forward to going in... though now that I think about it I probably won't be able to install them until Thursday due to my band being set to track guitars tomorrow all night. 
I've been out of the office sick with a really nasty cold for the past two days, but this delivery is pretty much enough to make me look forward to going in
... though now that I think about it I probably won't be able to install them until Thursday due to my band being set to track guitars tomorrow all night.
Just checked the delivery tracking and my set of these comes in tomorrow. I can't wait to get them on my Precision and do a proper setup to my liking! The Player Precision pickups sound very promising, but it's been hard for me to tell what their true character is like with unfamiliar strings. Tomorrow that changes, and even with a set that'll need some breaking in, I'm very excited to hear how it sounds!
View attachment 3276603
I've been out of the office sick with a really nasty cold for the past two days, but this delivery is pretty much enough to make me look forward to going in
Those are my strings too! I have them on three out of four basses.
For me it was only the pickups that I could fault on my Player. I replaced them straight away, though they are better than the Standard previous version,they are just not good enough for me.
Usually I'm not too picky - as long as I don't feel like the pickup is omitting anything (usually highs, as I've typically found to be the the case with cheaper pups), I find that I can be pretty happy. Given the sound clips that I posted above, I'm not sure that's too big of an issue, though I acknowledge that the tone received a good highs boost from the fresh rounds.
Obviously I'd prefer to not need to replace them, so I'm biased by that desire, but we'll see soon enough...
Oh yeah... that's the stuff... that thumpy stuff.
Now, I know that these Chromes still need to wear-in a bit, but I dunno - these pickups sound pretty good to me!
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Now, I know that these Chromes still need to wear-in a bit, but I dunno - these pickups sound pretty good to me!
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Got my player as a backup, it is an amazing bass ,, but Few things.
1. The nut was spaced very noticeably off, I replaced it.
2. The sound was great out of the box, me being me replaced it with a fralin
3. I also changed out the pots, knobs and wiring. Added tort and labellas complete setup.
4. Holy crap!
1. The nut was spaced very noticeably off, I replaced it.
2. The sound was great out of the box, me being me replaced it with a fralin
3. I also changed out the pots, knobs and wiring. Added tort and labellas complete setup.
4. Holy crap!
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You're crazy, but I like it.
Just out of curiosity, what issue did you have with the pots, knobs, and wiring? They seem pretty serviceable.
edmidlifecrisis
Registered mediocre bass player
I have played a handful of gigs with my white Precision, I love it and everyone loves the sound, including lots of fellow musicians. I play through Markbass cabs and a Genz Benz amp with Ampeg DI. I am coveting that butter cream color, though!! The pics here make me crazy. My wife convinced me to get the white as I already have two yellow-ish basses, a Schecter six string in natural and the standard Epi Jack Casady. I still want that butter cream P!!!! Mine is completely stock, all I did was a minor setup and string change. It came from a local GC.
I understand now. 
I had a parts bass a few years ago that I slapped together with a loaded Gamma Lake Placid Blue Jazz body, a maple Mighty Mite neck and a Gotoh bridge. I put a tort guard on it and I thought it looked and sounded great. Of course, per my usual behavior when I get something I like, I sold it...and regretted selling it. I just liked the look of the thing. Something about Lake Placid Blue and maple. Anyway, I wound up picking this tide pool Player Jazz up today for pretty much what I sold the parts bass for - about $400. It much lighter than most Jazz Basses I’ve owned at just about 8.5 pounds. And now for the mods. What to do what to do.
Any suggestions on bridges, pickups and so forth?
Any suggestions on bridges, pickups and so forth?
I have got a MIM player series Jazz Bass, white/maple board and I am impressed, great neck and fret work, playing and feel, great classic Jazz Bass tone with tons of punch and growl from stocks pickups, nice electronics, zero hiss, like much better than my AVRI 62, It just needed some adjustments as strings were too high at nut, once setup this bass is a keeper.
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Mine sounds great stock, no need for any mod, korean electronics works great, also pickups, bridge and tuners, if you want to make any investment in the bass, just order a nice setup.
What do you miss from original pickups and what replacement pickups did you install?
That’s exactly what I’ve decided to do. I’m going to keep it stock except for maybe the tort guard and Dunlop straplocks. I played it out over the weekend and it sounded really, really good. Easily the best Mexican Jazz I’ve owned and as good as some US models I’ve had. I’m very impressed.
