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Fender 75th Anniversary Basses
- Thread starter Shorty3
- Start date
I was just thinking the same thing and seeing what slab basses Fender offer at the moment. For 50s slab basses, there is the Mike Dirnt Road worn (MIM), and two squiers; the Paranormal and a 50s CV. An American slab bass would've made much more sense, especially as there isn't a AM 50s bass available at the moment other than a custom shop.
As for upgrades, just make it not too heavy and with a tight neck pocket for starters.
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I don't think Fender will ever stray too far away from their initial design(s)... and personally, I like that... it's refreshing when you consider many other companies "advancing" their R&D/designing teams. If people aren't satisfied with a Fender, they have a ton of other companies to consider.
What would you 'upgrade'?
It’s hard to upgrade perfection lol but here’s what I would be interested in:
- ‘53 styled slab body but with rounded edges. Not a fully contoured body but maybe a pseudo-transitional style. In other words, something a little unique
- Select grade, lightweight body wood (I’m not sure if pine was ever used like with the original Broadcasters but that could be unique)
- Nitro finish with no relic
- Reversed headstock
- Contoured neck heel
- Easy-access truss rod
- Vintaged-voiced, hum-canceling single coil pup
- Two-saddle bridge with compensating brass saddles
- Maybe something like lightweight, lollipop tuners
The Bourbon looks like Sienna that loses so much value!
The 1980s sienna burst lead III used to command $1000, but the 2019 lead iii in sienna burst is in the dumps.
The mustang(s) in sienna also do poorly on the used market.
Fender did so well with the Professional II Dark Night and Mercury bursts.
As for the MIM silver one, I just got a 60th anniversary silver pbass a cpl weeks ago. Doh!
I wonder if the 75th silver has color changing properties like the H.E.R strat?
I wonder how cool the new inca silver guitar case will be?
The 1980s sienna burst lead III used to command $1000, but the 2019 lead iii in sienna burst is in the dumps.
The mustang(s) in sienna also do poorly on the used market.
Fender did so well with the Professional II Dark Night and Mercury bursts.
As for the MIM silver one, I just got a 60th anniversary silver pbass a cpl weeks ago. Doh!
I wonder if the 75th silver has color changing properties like the H.E.R strat?
I wonder how cool the new inca silver guitar case will be?
Interesting!
I'd subscribe to quite a few of these!
How does a hum-canceling single coil work?
Would see light weight pine as an upgrade over light weight ash or alder?
Reversed head an upgrade or just 'unique'?
(I like them too, btw.)
No, but how important that is is down to your preference. Side by side coils are preferred over stacked coils by some people. I would definitely use a hum cancelling bridge pickup if gigging with a PJ although I prefer single coils.
I agree with all you say and was noting the word 'hum-cancelling singlecoil'.
How would you describe the typical tonal differences between side-by side coils vs. stacked humbuckers?
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I agree with all you say and was noting the word 'hum-cancelling singlecoil'.
How would you describe the typical tonal differences between side-by side coils vs. stacked humbuckers?
No idea, I've just heard people say they prefer them. I have an old set of Fender Vintage noiseless which are stacked, that sound really good, but could benefit from a preamp as they're a bit low output, but they haven't quite got that 'single coil sound'. Fender used to make a side by side pickup called 'super 55s', which was said to be good, but discontinued them. Basically, if you're going to be using the bass in any circumstances where there might be noise caused from lights, etc, I'd recommend humbuckers.
I got my MIM 75th Anniversary P yesterday. Here are my first impressions:
The finish is gorgeous. It looks silver or gold, depending on the light, angle, what it's near, etc. When I took it out of the bag, my wife noted that it was already scratched. After I freaked out, I realized that it was just some polishing compound or something that just wiped off. Anyhow, nice sparkly smooth poly. The headstock looks good, too.
The nut looks pretty good, the bridge seems solid, and the tuners are ... all right. They seem pretty tight when turning (which is better than slop), and the E seems to have one spot where it slips just a tiny bit. But I haven't had to adjust the tuning since I first tuned it up, and it's been getting a fair amount of play in the last 24 hours, so they hold a tuning well. The neck needed about a quarter turn of the truss rod, and the intonation needed adjustment.
It sounds great. With the tone all the way up, I get a great clank out of my Rumble 500. Good range on the tone knob. It also handles the Vintage setting on the Rumble well -- something my MIJ Jag and MIA Musicmaster don't. Most of my playing so far has been unplugged, but from what I've heard so far, I like the sound quite a bit.
The neck feels great in my hand. Basically the Player series neck. The only negative I have is the work on the fret ends. The edges of the fret are square, not round. So someone installed the frets and filed the ends at the proper angle, polished them up, and sent it out the door without rounding the edges. I don't really notice this when I'm playing, but if I grab the neck and run my hand down it, there are speed bumps. It's not fret sprout; it's little fret edges at the edge of the neck, if that makes sense. Again, I barely can tell it's there when I'm playing, but I still might buy a fret dressing file and do a bit of work. I hear it's easy. I'll practice on something crappy first.
The gig bag is adequate, though it honestly looks like it was designed in the 80s. Decent padding, but cheap shoulder straps with plastic slider whatevers on them. They clip on to metal rings on the bag, and there's no place to store the straps unless you unhook them and put them in one of the pockets. Kind of a hassle. I'm replacing it.
Is it worth $100 more than a Player? For me, you bet.
The finish is gorgeous. It looks silver or gold, depending on the light, angle, what it's near, etc. When I took it out of the bag, my wife noted that it was already scratched. After I freaked out, I realized that it was just some polishing compound or something that just wiped off. Anyhow, nice sparkly smooth poly. The headstock looks good, too.
The nut looks pretty good, the bridge seems solid, and the tuners are ... all right. They seem pretty tight when turning (which is better than slop), and the E seems to have one spot where it slips just a tiny bit. But I haven't had to adjust the tuning since I first tuned it up, and it's been getting a fair amount of play in the last 24 hours, so they hold a tuning well. The neck needed about a quarter turn of the truss rod, and the intonation needed adjustment.
It sounds great. With the tone all the way up, I get a great clank out of my Rumble 500. Good range on the tone knob. It also handles the Vintage setting on the Rumble well -- something my MIJ Jag and MIA Musicmaster don't. Most of my playing so far has been unplugged, but from what I've heard so far, I like the sound quite a bit.
The neck feels great in my hand. Basically the Player series neck. The only negative I have is the work on the fret ends. The edges of the fret are square, not round. So someone installed the frets and filed the ends at the proper angle, polished them up, and sent it out the door without rounding the edges. I don't really notice this when I'm playing, but if I grab the neck and run my hand down it, there are speed bumps. It's not fret sprout; it's little fret edges at the edge of the neck, if that makes sense. Again, I barely can tell it's there when I'm playing, but I still might buy a fret dressing file and do a bit of work. I hear it's easy. I'll practice on something crappy first.
The gig bag is adequate, though it honestly looks like it was designed in the 80s. Decent padding, but cheap shoulder straps with plastic slider whatevers on them. They clip on to metal rings on the bag, and there's no place to store the straps unless you unhook them and put them in one of the pockets. Kind of a hassle. I'm replacing it.
Is it worth $100 more than a Player? For me, you bet.
Saw one in person. The color is wicked. Its the mirror finish I've always coveted (2006 60th anniversary silver vs 2013 LE platinum, and all of the recent inca one offs), this high glitter silver/gold/copper cross is sweet against the pure white 0-figuring maple neck. The bass was light too. Maybe 8.5 lbs?
Kinda like c3p0 in certain angles.
Kinda like c3p0 in certain angles.
