fender 50s classic precision vs American vintage 57

[MtManiac]

The American Vintage Fenders are very very nice! I can't believe that with the prices of the various Fender clones -- some of which are made in Malaysia or Indonesia and cost as much or more than the AVs -- people are complaining about the $1400.00 price of the American Vintage Fenders.

Especially if you buy used... $950 for my '57 AVRI.

 

[lpdeluxe]

Especially if you buy used... $950 for my '57 AVRI.

That's a great deal. I ordered mine (and the Classic '50s as well) through my local dealer, who gave me "internet" price. Around here, everybody but me, it seems, plays a black Jazz Bass. I guess they never heard or held a P.

 

[BabyBoyShafe]

An AV '57 goes on the internet for $1499.99. The Classic 50s is $749.99; a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound will add $64.95 and a tweed case, $149.99, for a total of $964.93.

What does the extra $535.06 buy? Alder or ash body instead of mystery wood, nitro finish instead of poly, and pickup and bridge covers and a retro strap, all with a case that's a bit nicer than the "vintage tweed" one. (Of course, the fact that the Classic '50s is MIM versus MIA for the '57 means the price will be higher -- but that's not part of the debate, and, in fact, I've owned several MIM Fenders and each one has been a gem.)

This is not an academic exercise: I gigged with the Classic '50s for a long time before its slick finish finally turned me off. Once I got my hands on the AV '57, the Classic '50s never left its case again, and is here only because I'm waiting on payment from a buyer. As I said before, the Classic '50s is my favorite bang-for-the-buck P, but that doesn't make the A '57 overpriced: you get what you pay for. The superior feel of the '57 is well worth the extra amount -- and, you'd be hard pressed to find an equivalent bass elsewhere for the price.

They all come with alder bodies, wanna tussle about it?

 

[TN WOODMAN]

I don't think the body wood of the Classic 50's is a mystery-everything official Fender I've read indicates alder-on all colors. Even on the 2 tone burst, which often were ash.

The mystery to me is what the pickup is. Most recently it's been posted that it is an American standard, which I don't think it is. Mine is stock and plays and sounds great, with flats, of course. I see no reason to change the pickup unless it fails.

Admittedly the weight might lead one to suspect a basswood body, but they don't seem to be ding prone. Fender wouldn't lie, would they?

Best bass for the money hands down-for my money, IMO.

 

[lpdeluxe]

The late single-coils went from ash to alder, reportedly because they took the sunburst finish better, so it's unlikely any sunbursts are now ash. Both my Classic '50s and my AV were specified as alder, but Fender has removed that spec from their web site, leading some to conclude that they are no longer necessarily alder (I am trying to verify that, but I'm at the public library -- my home has lost its electrical power -- where the connection is not good).

As to the pickups, there has been much debate over them for the last few years on TB, but on my Classic '50s, I (and my band) much preferred the QP. The '57, on the other hand, sounds so good I don't intend ever to change it out, unless it is damaged. Both use the .01 microfarad capacitor. In fact, the two basses are very similar: had the Classic '50s had a finish that I could tolerate in the 100+ Texas summer (outdoors) I would have kept it.

 

[BassDudeSA]

What does the extra $535.06 buy? Alder or ash body instead of mystery wood, nitro finish instead of poly, and pickup and bridge covers and a retro strap, all with a case that's a bit nicer than the "vintage tweed" one. (Of course, the fact that the Classic '50s is MIM versus MIA for the '57 means the price will be higher -- but that's not part of the debate, and, in fact, I've owned several MIM Fenders and each one has been a gem.)

.

The Classic 50s are not made of "mystery wood", they are made of alder. I would remove the pup and bridge covers as they just get in the way, and though the cases are nice, I prefer a nice padded gigbag as they are more convenient in many ways. Granted the pickup is a mystery to me. The pups on my Road Worn and Classic both sound great, but it would be nice to know exactly what they were. I'd never change the pup on the RW but possibly on the Classic, though I don't want to take a chance and buy a new pup if I've already got a decent one in there (sounds good already but could maybe sound even better?).