I bit the bullet and ordered a buttercream/maple SSS Strat (I know, it's talkBASS not talkGUITAR). Should be here tomorrow, but I won't be able to pick it up for a few days. It needed to be signed for and I'll be at work so I sent it to my dad's house in the next town over. I'm really excited to get my hands on it.
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Fender 2018 MIM Player Series
- Thread starter OllyW
- Start date
May not help with this order but what I always do is have my shipments routed to the nearest Fedex Office/UPS Store location for pickup. That way I don't have to wait around if a signature is required. With Fedex I simply login online, select manage my delivery and then identify the location where I would like it held. The process with UPS was similar but I think it changed to an all or nothing option now. Right now any UPS shipment coming to my home address automatically goes to a UPS Store location close to my home....
I'm not 100% positive, and have not compared the two, but I think all of the Classic 50s have Alnico II pickups, the same as what was in the 2008-2012 American Standards. I know my Classic 50s Lacquer had them. The new Players have Alnico Vs. Alnico Vs tend towards more bass, and scooped mids, where the IIs have more pronounced mids by cutting the lows and highs, but those are more tendencies than a statement of fact that applies to all comparisons, as there are other factors involved, like winding. I'm not sure what the physical differences are between IIs and Vs, so I don't purport to be an expert.
I did that with my last purchase. I work at two different locations (same company) and I happen to be at the one that isn't anywhere near a Fedex location this week. It's a bummer, but I'm patient. Plus we're expecting baby #2 any day now so I won't really have a whole lot of time to play with it anyway.
How is the quality os these basses of the player series in terms of cratsmanship, woods, etc, is it worth the dollar?
Obviously a Strat and not a bass but, this video is a great indication as to what's going on with the series in terms of parts and quality.
Very cool! I wonder if the Alnico's in the basses are the same as what were in the 2008-2012 American Standards? That's what was in my Classic 50s Lacquer bass.
EDIT: Too bad the basses don't get the American Standard bridges! But nothing wrong with the old Standard ones.
EDIT AGAIN: Do the Player basses have the same neck carve as the American Professionals? That would be awesome!!
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I played a new MIM Player P-Bass today while I am more a Jazz Bass guy !
I was quite impressed with the fit and finish and the playability.
I think it is worth the small up charge over the ougoing Starndard Series! It felt like a good P-Bass for not a lot of cash !!
I was quite impressed with the fit and finish and the playability.
I think it is worth the small up charge over the ougoing Starndard Series! It felt like a good P-Bass for not a lot of cash !!
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I ordered a red P-bass with ebay 15% off coupon today to drop the price $100.
The bridge on my 2017mim standard J is killer. I think it is an american standard bridge. Definitely a step up from the one on the 2006 highway 1 i owned in the past (great bass as well).
Just came home with the Jag. The pickups sound very good, particularly the P. No nut issues, no sharp fret ends. Have to get it set up just a touch, more relief than I generally like and probably change strings anyways.
Quite a bit of flame on the neck!
They also had a white/maple Players Jazz that shocked me when I picked it up, possibly the lightest J I’ve ever handled. And a buttercream P, that was a nice bass too.
Oh, how do you like my high contrast strap?
Quite a bit of flame on the neck!
They also had a white/maple Players Jazz that shocked me when I picked it up, possibly the lightest J I’ve ever handled. And a buttercream P, that was a nice bass too.
Oh, how do you like my high contrast strap?
Argh... so tempting. Nice color too.
How close is the neck pickup to a traditional Precision bass sound?
Played a couple different players series p basses today in the Toronto area, the quality was actually great on them, no sharp frets, warped necks, pot issues, jack issues. They just seemed like good basses. The pickup is a little dark and muddy compared to my AVRI, but not a deal breaker. Compared to the road worn 50s I played today too, sounded similar, but preferred the neck on the road worn. The price here in Canada is 879, which doesn’t seem too bad. I may pick up a buttercream maple neck one as my back up.
Ok, I've got a question for you tried and true P Bass lovers. My Player P is the first P that I've ever owned. It's been in my home for about a week now. It feels & plays nice but I don't think that I'm sold on the tone as of yet. With the tone wide open and these stock Fender rounds installed, it's a little too bright for my tastes. Rolling the tone all the way off is more to my liking and I'm pretty sure that a string change would help.
My question is, how do you guys that have more history with P Basses feel that the Player stacks up? Is there anything that is slightly more expensive, say $300.00 or less, that would be significantly better? I'm trying to make a decision on whether to keep mine. I'm not asking for someone to make my decision for me. Just honest opinions for me to consider.
My question is, how do you guys that have more history with P Basses feel that the Player stacks up? Is there anything that is slightly more expensive, say $300.00 or less, that would be significantly better? I'm trying to make a decision on whether to keep mine. I'm not asking for someone to make my decision for me. Just honest opinions for me to consider.
You honestly thought the pickup was dark & muddy? Was the tone rolled all the way off when you reached that conclusion?
Really close. Closer than my Aerodyne J, which tells me it’s a good P pickup, certainly passed my first impression ‘ear test’.
So, as I do with every new bass I get, I strip it down and see what I’ve got, and tighten everything up that needs it. Very little did, well put together - I got an AmPro Jazz early in the month, this Jag was screwed down tighter and has a better neck pocket!
The pots are full sized, but Korean ‘Jin Sung’. Nice shielding job, including foil under the pg.
Stringing it up with GHS Pressurewounds now, then going to crank it up in the garage. Will report back.
Nope everything all the way up, it very well could have been the ampeg 110 combo solid state I played it through. But it just didn’t have the clarity of my AVRI, which I wouldn’t expect as it is 1/3 the price.
… I cannot comment on the 'sound' comparison, which is likely to become a bit subjective to each users perception anyway, but the specs comparison of the two is going to be substantial … 1 5/8" vs. 1 3/4" at the nut, 9.5" vs. 7.25" board radius, vintage fret wire vs. medium jumbo, substantial machine differences, etc. …
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