I had a chance to play the 60th, 62 and American Standard. The 60th that I played fell between the 62 and American Standard. The American was a little tighter, more agressive, more clank, the 60th was rounder and fuller but still had good note definition, the 62 sounded rounder and fuller still yet, more old school. I liked the 60th the best as it seemed to really balance all of the attributes that I liked between the 62 and American Standard. The necks on the Amer and 60th seemed to have about the same shape, the 62 was wider and flatter. All 3 basses seemed light with the Amer under 9 pounds (about 8.5) the 60th was about (8.8) and the 62 was about 9.2. All very comfortable. A thought all 3 were finished well and sounded great (all sounded like a P) although the ones I played were very different from each other.
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Fender 60th Anniversary Precision Bass
- Thread starter Lobster11
- Start date
The '57 and '62 RI pickups are different from eachother ... the '57 has raised A pole pieces and the tops of the pole pieces on the '62 are beveled. The three 60th Anniversary Precisions I've seen had neither of the above attributes.
I didn't know that the 60th Anniversary Precision had a nitro finish ... that certainly puts a few points back in the plus column from my standpoint.
I think Fender did get it right imho.
The pickup is the stock 62 RI P, and its a great pickup.
I also have a 50th and I actually do like that slightly better...its lighter than my 60th but the 50th is unusually light but the 60th is far from the boat anchor my 76 P was and is average weight.
The 50th pickup was the same as the American Standard in 2001 and I didn't care for it so I put a Duncan SPB-1 in it.The electronics in the 50th were sub par also, I upgraded those as well. The 60th seems to have much smoother pots and better parts.If the necks are a different profile on the 50th and 60th, I can't tell.
I don't mind the headstock on the 60th, honestly the first time I saw it and read the specs I wanted one. I dig that its different. Its a 60th, hardly the same milestone as 50th...so it made sense to do something a little more out the ordinary aesthetically than just a 51-56 with a split coil.
Unless I'm mistaken...its the only current factory production P that has the specs I love in a P-bass that were the standard for most of the 70's.
Ash body
Transparent finish (ie Butterscotch,Blonde or Natural)
Maple board
MIA
"B" but width
Passive electronics
Like the 50th it has the look that reminds me of both Blackguard Telecasters and 70's P's (Natural Ash/Black pickguard)
What I would really love is a true AV 70's P bass, natural ash, maple board, B nut width and a black pickguard.
Ok, I'm rambling...I should just say I don't think its overpriced at all and I'm very happy with it in every aspect.
The pickup is the stock 62 RI P, and its a great pickup.
I also have a 50th and I actually do like that slightly better...its lighter than my 60th but the 50th is unusually light but the 60th is far from the boat anchor my 76 P was and is average weight.
The 50th pickup was the same as the American Standard in 2001 and I didn't care for it so I put a Duncan SPB-1 in it.The electronics in the 50th were sub par also, I upgraded those as well. The 60th seems to have much smoother pots and better parts.If the necks are a different profile on the 50th and 60th, I can't tell.
I don't mind the headstock on the 60th, honestly the first time I saw it and read the specs I wanted one. I dig that its different. Its a 60th, hardly the same milestone as 50th...so it made sense to do something a little more out the ordinary aesthetically than just a 51-56 with a split coil.
Unless I'm mistaken...its the only current factory production P that has the specs I love in a P-bass that were the standard for most of the 70's.
Ash body
Transparent finish (ie Butterscotch,Blonde or Natural)
Maple board
MIA
"B" but width
Passive electronics
Like the 50th it has the look that reminds me of both Blackguard Telecasters and 70's P's (Natural Ash/Black pickguard)
What I would really love is a true AV 70's P bass, natural ash, maple board, B nut width and a black pickguard.
Ok, I'm rambling...I should just say I don't think its overpriced at all and I'm very happy with it in every aspect.
I tried two more of them today. A blond and the two tone. Both were very nice. I compared it to an Amer Std and the 60th was just so much better.
A month after I got mine, I love it more every day. Initially had DR Marcus Miller Fat Beams on it, but changing to LaBella Deep Talkin' flats (as someone else observed earlier) is what the bass really wanted. I'll likely gig with it for the first time next Saturday and will post video if I get some.
Yesterday I got mine:
And one more shot with "Older Sister":
I just need to find a 1/16" wrench and adjust the action, the strings are really stiff and action is medium-high. Strung them through bridge and part of this stiffnes went away, but still need to lower the strings to get perfect setup. I might put flats later on her, but now I'm happy with stock rounds on Blonde and 2-years old Labella 760FL on Sunburst.
She's just FANTASTIC, and the price tag was not as bad as some people wrote here. US Standard costs in Polish zlotys 5499 (sunburst) or 5249, this baby was for 5799, got her for 5500. My friend bought US Std, I got 60th Anniversary and we are both super happy.
Funny thing - my AVRI 62 is from '97 and has a flat pole pieces. And hotter signal (I'll try to get the same output from Blonde when I get the wrench. In Poland we use have 1,5mm and 2mm, US bridge saddles need 1.60mm :/
And one more shot with "Older Sister":
I just need to find a 1/16" wrench and adjust the action, the strings are really stiff and action is medium-high. Strung them through bridge and part of this stiffnes went away, but still need to lower the strings to get perfect setup. I might put flats later on her, but now I'm happy with stock rounds on Blonde and 2-years old Labella 760FL on Sunburst.
She's just FANTASTIC, and the price tag was not as bad as some people wrote here. US Standard costs in Polish zlotys 5499 (sunburst) or 5249, this baby was for 5799, got her for 5500. My friend bought US Std, I got 60th Anniversary and we are both super happy.
Funny thing - my AVRI 62 is from '97 and has a flat pole pieces. And hotter signal (I'll try to get the same output from Blonde when I get the wrench. In Poland we use have 1,5mm and 2mm, US bridge saddles need 1.60mm :/
Congrats, mazdah!... I ended up not gigging with mine Saturday (didn't want to use it during the gig from hell -- outdoors under a roof that didn't keep out all the rain) -- so no video to post yet.... Have realized one of the many things I really love about this bass is the neck. Perfect P Bass neck for me -- not overly chunky but just the slightest bit more pleasant chunkiness than the 2008 American Standard that this replaced.
I am thinking of trading mine if anyone is interested. I love it and will probably regret it but my 08 MIA is getting more love.
gnjpowell
Inactive
- Nov 12, 2010
- 562
- 2
- Disclosures
- Bass & guitar tech, FOH sound, backline rentals
"after actually using it in a live situation for 4 hours, it is a keeper and I am extremely happy I bought it."
-- Pete, post #53, this thread
What happened!!!????
I'm still in the "can't imagine ever selling it" honeymoon phase myself 
Back in 2003 I had a 2001 50th Anniversary and I sold it in 2005, I've regretted it ever since. I have another one now and luckily it touches me the same way as my first one did and its my #1. The 60th is my #2 but I think I would really regret selling it also. I have a terrible habit of fixing things that aren't broken or not leaving well enough alone.
Be careful is all I'm saying
Back in 2003 I had a 2001 50th Anniversary and I sold it in 2005, I've regretted it ever since. I have another one now and luckily it touches me the same way as my first one did and its my #1. The 60th is my #2 but I think I would really regret selling it also. I have a terrible habit of fixing things that aren't broken or not leaving well enough alone.
Be careful is all I'm saying
Lobster11 said:
That's a great question. A better question is "what's wrong with me?". Three words: Gear Acquisition Syndrome. I have an offer now and I am teetering but I don't know. The fact that o haven't pulled the trigger is a testament to this bass.
Wow, that's some serious GAS. By my arithmetic, it was about six weeks ago that this bass displaced one that you expected to be buried with!
Seriously, though, if there's anything more to it I'd really like to hear about it. Your comments earlier in the thread were some of the most influential to me in terms of confirming my thought that I ought to get one. (I haven't yet, but that's another story....) Is there anything about the bass that you've changed your opinion about over time? Something you overlooked originally that you don't like about it now? If it really is just a matter of you being, um, fickle, that's fine, but if you have any other insights to share about the bass itself (and the degree to which you would recommend it) I'd very much appreciate hearing your thoughts.
Seriously, though, if there's anything more to it I'd really like to hear about it. Your comments earlier in the thread were some of the most influential to me in terms of confirming my thought that I ought to get one. (I haven't yet, but that's another story....) Is there anything about the bass that you've changed your opinion about over time? Something you overlooked originally that you don't like about it now? If it really is just a matter of you being, um, fickle, that's fine, but if you have any other insights to share about the bass itself (and the degree to which you would recommend it) I'd very much appreciate hearing your thoughts.
Will let Fletz speak to his own situation (obviously), but speaking for myself, after six weeks with my 60th Anniversary P, I remain convinced that the 2008-and-beyond P's are excellent... and that the 60th is excellenter. But one's feelings about any bass at any particular time can be so dependent on a range of factors, and then you throw in GAS, and it becomes an emotional Wild West. I myself posted my finest bass, a Roscoe, for sale the other day before realizing I'd lost my mind and closing the thread. I'm not saying Fletz has lost his mind by any means; just the opposite, I can identify with his thinking process. But I think the 60th is a gem and, while I don't speak in absolutes, it's hard for me to imagine a scenario (unless I needed funds) where I'd sell it.
Lobster11 said:
I still stand by everything I said about this bass. It is a fickleness on my part. At the end of the day, I feel like the "love affair" I have with my 08 P (seen in my profile pic) is what drives me to pick it up over the 60th (and my RIC and my Franklin fretless). That said, I feel like perhaps the "premium" value I can get from a top notch bass that is playing second fiddle can be applied to another bass to diversify my tone or satisfy a curiosity. It is not an easy choice, mind you. Having traded and sold and regretted in the past, I KNOW I will miss this one if I sell it. But the psychosis of GAS has me believing I can add that premium J-bass I am considering.
I do have to say that these conversations are making me think that (a) this GAS will not go away and whatever I replace the 60th with will be short lived as well and (b) perhaps I am better off keeping it as a phenomenal second stringer.
)
Thanks for that, Pete. There certainly is an argument to made for having a premium P and a premium J rather than two premium P's competing for the same niche in your playing.
Thanks to soxhats too for your comments. Sooner or later I'm gonna own one of these.....
