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Fender '70s Precision Bass
- Thread starter BEKyle
- Start date
My question is why did they discontinue these!
I'm on the hunt for a white one.
Curious to know how the owners are liking them over time . Any issues or concerns ?
If anyone wants to sell, I'm here.
I'm on the hunt for a white one.
Curious to know how the owners are liking them over time . Any issues or concerns ?
If anyone wants to sell, I'm here.
Can't answer when or why they discontinued the model, but did find the picture of the real vintage P with black blocks from the Fender Bass: An Illustrated History book by Black & Molinaro:
One of the "complaints" from people when the model first came out was that it wasn't historically accurate. I think they were just jealous!
I still love mine but of course it's pretty heavily modded. Especially given the fact that there is likely no more Fender Japan, I'm glad to have an MIJ one.
One of the "complaints" from people when the model first came out was that it wasn't historically accurate. I think they were just jealous!
I still love mine but of course it's pretty heavily modded. Especially given the fact that there is likely no more Fender Japan, I'm glad to have an MIJ one.
Can't answer when or why they discontinued the model, but did find the picture of the real vintage P with black blocks from the Fender Bass: An Illustrated History book by Black & Molinaro:
One of the "complaints" from people when the model first came out was that it wasn't historically accurate. I think they were just jealous!
Nice find! What mods have you done to yours? I did CTS pots, new cap, Duncan SPB-2 and Babicz bridge. Can't say enough about the Babicz. So good. Once my Stingtay gets here I'm bringing the P in for a bone nut, maybe Hipshot tuners but the stocks are pretty solid. My MIJ is a keeper for sure, love that neck.
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I know these sound great with round wounds and the tone wide open. How do these sound with flats and the tone rolled off?
I've posted pics earlier in the thread but always ready to post more!
Alembic PJ Activators with added 3-position Q-switch & witch-hat knobs + Badass II bridge that I've owned for almost 25 years.
Nice! I think the tuners are fine. Haven't had a chance to check out a Babicz. Wait, isn't the SPB-1 single-coil?!! That would be cool too. I have a Duck Dunn Signature (the MIJ (CIJ?) Fender one) that I have with flats for that sound, though there's something up with the pickup - getting buzz from the EA coil - if it's not an easy fix might throw a different pickup in there...
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Still got my MIJ , it's a keeper for sure.
I fitted new quarter pounder pups in and then back out after a few weeks.I didn't like them,so the stock pups went back in and after trying both I like the tone better actually from the stock items.
Tried TI Jazz flats for a while but after a few weeks I went back to Rotosound rounds.I guess flats aren't for everyone.
The Hip Shot D tuner and vintage oil filled cap remain.
Shame they stopped making them.
I fitted new quarter pounder pups in and then back out after a few weeks.I didn't like them,so the stock pups went back in and after trying both I like the tone better actually from the stock items.
Tried TI Jazz flats for a while but after a few weeks I went back to Rotosound rounds.I guess flats aren't for everyone.
The Hip Shot D tuner and vintage oil filled cap remain.
Shame they stopped making them.
Built one.
Highway 1 body resprayed Vintage Oly White by Pat Wilkins and added a GFP neck with a period correct ('70's) Hipshot (love that company!) drop-D and Aguilars. This was formerly my Dee Dee Ramone tribute with maple neck and red pickguard. Stole that maple neck for another project.
Highway 1 body resprayed Vintage Oly White by Pat Wilkins and added a GFP neck with a period correct ('70's) Hipshot (love that company!) drop-D and Aguilars. This was formerly my Dee Dee Ramone tribute with maple neck and red pickguard. Stole that maple neck for another project.
I just got one of these last month (will post pics when I get off my butt to take them) but I have a question.
Mine has exposed brass saddles, and I recall seeing another at my local L&M a few years back with brass saddles. I'm assuming that's stock but I see pics in this thread with chrome saddles. What gives? Mine's CIJ, for what it's worth.
Mine has exposed brass saddles, and I recall seeing another at my local L&M a few years back with brass saddles. I'm assuming that's stock but I see pics in this thread with chrome saddles. What gives? Mine's CIJ, for what it's worth.
I've swapped pickups a few times on this bass. I reached into the parts pin to grab the original (as far as I know) harness and pots. The tone cap is a .1 and not a .047. Has anyone else checked theirs? Mine is a 2011 MIJ.
Can't answer when or why they discontinued the model, but did find the picture of the real vintage P with black blocks from the Fender Bass: An Illustrated History book by Black & Molinaro:
One of the "complaints" from people when the model first came out was that it wasn't historically accurate. I think they were just jealous!
I bought a used MIM version of this bass. It such a nice playing bass that Its my daily driver over my 97 Jazz deluxe. It blows away my old MIM P-Bass.
Mine is a weird variant with some mods which the original owner said he made to match the photo from the book. Ive been tempted to find a cream pickguard or go off the photo and add a brown tort pickguard. He also said the black was a store special order.
Wow that is very cool! I was going to say "the thumb rest became a tug bar!" then re-read your post - interesting that they replicated the one from the book! Personally I think it looks great as-is. Or you could go nuts and add a Badass II & white Dimarzio Jazz pickup! Really '70s-cize it!
I'm about to add a brown tort pickguard... just to change it up. I can say though... for anyone on the fence about the MIM, the quality is really top notch. Its one of the best playing P-basses Ive played. Its really all about the neck though.Wow that is very cool! I was going to say "the thumb rest became a tug bar!" then re-read your post - interesting that they replicated the one from the book! Personally I think it looks great as-is. Or you could go nuts and add a Badass II & white Dimarzio Jazz pickup! Really '70s-cize it!
I have been playing my Alembicized '70s PJ bass again after a three month hiatus from playing. Had put D'Addario NYXL Bass strings on it (one of the beta sets), considering whether to try a set of the Dunlop Marcus Miller sets I got for free when I saw him play at Yoshi's in June 2015, or stick with the NYXL. I don't have any gigs or recording coming up, so I think I'll try the Dunlops just to see how they feel and have another point of comparison for the NYXL - I previously had the stock Fender strings on it, I think the NYXL are a little lower tension. Whatever I decide on, I think I will then try to set it up, or maybe even splurge and have someone set it up for me. I have neither the measuring acumen nor tools to do it right.
Another thing I did was take the thumb rest off - I'm not 100% in love with it, though I got used to playing with it - I tend to anchor my thumb by the neck so it's placed ok for me. But wanted to try without. Duh, it would have made sense to take a pic without! Instead, I decided to get a black brass Hipshot one - here a couple of pics installed (and black on black isn't easy to photograph well!)
The jury is still out whether I like it - going to have to record a bit with it - I tend to hit it with my finger when I'm playing on the E string - wondering if it's audible electronically?!! But I like how it looks!
Another thing I did was take the thumb rest off - I'm not 100% in love with it, though I got used to playing with it - I tend to anchor my thumb by the neck so it's placed ok for me. But wanted to try without. Duh, it would have made sense to take a pic without! Instead, I decided to get a black brass Hipshot one - here a couple of pics installed (and black on black isn't easy to photograph well!)
The jury is still out whether I like it - going to have to record a bit with it - I tend to hit it with my finger when I'm playing on the E string - wondering if it's audible electronically?!! But I like how it looks!
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I played one of these in London a couple of weeks ago. I really liked it but didnt want to commit. Luckily I happened upon one on ebay last week so I snapped it up for about almost half the price.
I played it in anger for the first time last night at a private party. I gotta say - its loud! It has SD Quarter Pounders in, not the stock pu's. Ive played a few Pbasses - and this one is just great! The neck is so fast - its almost too easy to play!
See photos below.
3 questions:
1) When I play up to - and past - the 12th fret I can not hear the notes at all (above the drummer and guitarist). Ive always had this issue. Turning up the treble on my amp doesnt seem to help much, and if I do I obviously lose all the warmth of the bottom end of the guitar. How can I overcome this? Maybe the action is too low to the fretboard at that part of the neck?
2) Im going to sound like a right dumbo, but what does the tone knob 'actually' do? I hear people say "dial in the tone", but what does that mean? Does it just make the bass sound warmer? How?
3) If I put flatwounds on, will that have a big negative impact on tone when I play slap?
I played it in anger for the first time last night at a private party. I gotta say - its loud! It has SD Quarter Pounders in, not the stock pu's. Ive played a few Pbasses - and this one is just great! The neck is so fast - its almost too easy to play!
See photos below.
3 questions:
1) When I play up to - and past - the 12th fret I can not hear the notes at all (above the drummer and guitarist). Ive always had this issue. Turning up the treble on my amp doesnt seem to help much, and if I do I obviously lose all the warmth of the bottom end of the guitar. How can I overcome this? Maybe the action is too low to the fretboard at that part of the neck?
2) Im going to sound like a right dumbo, but what does the tone knob 'actually' do? I hear people say "dial in the tone", but what does that mean? Does it just make the bass sound warmer? How?
3) If I put flatwounds on, will that have a big negative impact on tone when I play slap?
