Fender Am. Prof. II Precision vs Player Precision

[MtManiac]

Anyone else compared the two and have thoughts? I'm looking at both for my next buy. Leaning towards the Pro II right now.

I don’t have a Player, but I’ve checked them out in stores and have owned numerous MIM Standards in the past.

It depends on what’s important to you. For me, the ergonomics of the American Pro II neck (and Pro neck, and American Standard Neck) is worth the difference in price. The Pro/Pro II and the American Standard have different neck profiles, and different frets, but I like both a lot. The Standard/Player neck is ok, but I really dislike the sharp edges on the fretboards, and I’m also not fan of the tan-shaded Pao Ferro fretboards.

The VMod II pickups are pretty decent IMHO, as are the CS 62’snin my AS. The Player pickups are more vintage voices than the previous Standard model, but I don’t have much of a useful opinion about them - people seem to like them ok, but if not stock pickups are pretty easy to replace with a set of trusty SPB-1 pickups.

For the rest of the differences - tuners, bridges, nuts - the American Pro II hardware is neat, but I don’t really care that much about that stuff. The Player hardware is fine to me.

For me it’s all about the neck, and how long I can stand on stage and play. The tall narrow frets and the 63 neck profile in the Pro and Pro II Are super comfortable for my hands and worth the upgrade in price. If you don’t play for hours at a time, maybe it wouldn’t matter, and also your hands are different than mine, so you’ll have your own preferences.

Quality of instrument or workmanship is the same, just different features.

 

[IPA]

I don’t have a Player, but I’ve checked them out in stores and have owned numerous MIM Standards in the past.

It depends on what’s important to you. For me, the ergonomics of the American Pro II neck (and Pro neck, and American Standard Neck) is worth the difference in price. The Pro/Pro II and the American Standard have different neck profiles, and different frets, but I like both a lot. The Standard/Player neck is ok, but I really dislike the sharp edges on the fretboards, and I’m also not fan of the tan-shaded Pao Ferro fretboards.

The VMod II pickups are pretty decent IMHO, as are the CS 62’snin my AS. The Player pickups are more vintage voices than the previous Standard model, but I don’t have much of a useful opinion about them - people seem to like them ok, but if not stock pickups are pretty easy to replace with a set of trusty SPB-1 pickups.

For the rest of the differences - tuners, bridges, nuts - the American Pro II hardware is neat, but I don’t really care that much about that stuff. The Player hardware is fine to me.

For me it’s all about the neck, and how long I can stand on stage and play. The tall narrow frets and the 63 neck profile in the Pro and Pro II Are super comfortable for my hands and worth the upgrade in price. If you don’t play for hours at a time, maybe it wouldn’t matter, and also your hands are different than mine, so you’ll have your own preferences.

Quality of instrument or workmanship is the same, just different features.

Thanks. The way the neck feels in my hand is important to me as well, so the rolled edges, narrow-tall frets and the profile are all appealing. I can change bridges and pickups easily but the neck is pretty much the way it is.

 

[Marley's Ghost]

I have AB'ing a Player vs a AMPro II. The net difference is about $450. Being lefty my selections are severely limited. I'm leaning towards the Pro since playing mostly outdoor shows in the heat and humidity the graphite rods which I have in my 2 Kiesels and Pro Jazz seem to help with neck stability.

 

[Roger W]

No.

You can still buy the player, upgrade the electronics, and get the neck dressed and leveled for less than the stock pro with the factory pickup.

This. I bought a demo Player P with at least a $50 discount (can’t precisely remember). All the potential issues with frets etc had been resolved. I changed the pickup to the EMG Geezer and tuners to Hipshot. I have a very nice playing and sounding P for at least $800 less than an Am Pro II.

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

This. I bought a demo Player P with at least a $50 discount (can’t precisely remember). All the potential issues with frets etc had been resolved. I changed the pickup to the EMG Geezer and tuners to Hipshot. I have a very nice playing and sounding P for at least $800 less than an Am Pro II.

If you can go past the bland Pau Ferro board …

 

[jmattbassplaya]

In my mind the best value is a USED Fender AmPro. Never liked the feel of the MIM Fenders, but the new prices for US instruments are fairly steep for what they are.

 

[Roger W]

If you can go past the bland Pau Ferro board …

That was very easy since it has a maple fretboard.

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

That was very easy since it has a maple fretboard.

Less of a problem then

 

[IPA]

Well, looks like I'm going to give a Player a try -- GC had the color/wood I wanted used for a good price.

 

[IPA]

So far, this is maybe a slight notch under my American Pro I, very slightly

Definitely better than the special edition player I had last year

Odd to get a bass in the mail and not need to even do a slight tweak to the setup or change the strings. Everything works great as it is. A couple of minor fret sprout areas but nothing else I can discern.

I'm sure I'd love a Am Pro II but I don't know that I'd get 2x more playability out of 2x+ the price... diminishing returns.

The neck is fantastic!



Buttercream gets all the glory but polar white is where it's at

 

[Outbush]

So far, this is maybe a slight notch under my American Pro I, very slightly

Definitely better than the special edition player I had last year

Odd to get a bass in the mail and not need to even do a slight tweak to the setup or change the strings. Everything works great as it is. A couple of minor fret sprout areas but nothing else I can discern.

I'm sure I'd love a Am Pro II but I don't know that I'd get 2x more playability out of 2x+ the price... diminishing returns.

The neck is fantastic!

View attachment 5000581


Buttercream gets all the glory but polar white is where it's at

Congrats!

 

[jmattbassplaya]

So far, this is maybe a slight notch under my American Pro I, very slightly

Definitely better than the special edition player I had last year

Odd to get a bass in the mail and not need to even do a slight tweak to the setup or change the strings. Everything works great as it is. A couple of minor fret sprout areas but nothing else I can discern.

I'm sure I'd love a Am Pro II but I don't know that I'd get 2x more playability out of 2x+ the price... diminishing returns.

The neck is fantastic!

View attachment 5000581

Buttercream gets all the glory but polar white is where it's at

Glad you found one you like!

 

[TexasEdition]

After going through a MIM Player P Bass, a MIM Deluxe Artist serries, and a MIM limited edition, the quality of anything coming out of the Ensenada is vastly substandard than the USA (and Japanese) counter parts; particularly the quality of the components and the neck work. Anyone that says otherwise has either not had their hands on both or is flat out lying.

Despite the electronics, tuners, and bridge components, the neck work is god awfull. The finger board is not rolled over like they are on the USA and MIJ, and the fret ends are not finished.... They are just nipped off at the ends and a file is ran up and down the neck to give them somewhat of a crude bevel. I thought the Duff Deluxe would be better since it's a USA neck, but no.... It appears the necks are rough cut in USA and sent to Mexico to be finished with the same procedure. In the end, it will take more work to roll over the finger board, level and dress the frets, and refinish the neck than it would be a just buy a brand new USA factory neck.

On the other hand, I'm not saying the MIM guitars are shoddy... Let's face it, they are price-point commodity instruments and some of the finesse work was left out. If you're handy and don't mind spending a few more bucks, you can probably upgrade the eletronics and tuners and do the fret job yourself.

​

 

[andare]

After going through a MIM Player P Bass, a MIM Deluxe Artist serries, and a MIM limited edition, the quality of anything coming out of the Ensenada is vastly substandard than the USA (and Japanese) counter parts; particularly the quality of the components and the neck work. Anyone that says otherwise has either not had their hands on both or is flat out lying.

Despite the electronics, tuners, and bridge components, the neck work is god awfull. The finger board is not rolled over like they are on the USA and MIJ, and the fret ends are not finished.... They are just nipped off at the ends and a file is ran up and down the neck to give them somewhat of a crude bevel. I thought the Duff Deluxe would be better since it's a USA neck, but no.... It appears the necks are rough cut in USA and sent to Mexico to be finished with the same procedure. In the end, it will take more work to roll over the finger board, level and dress the frets, and refinish the neck than it would be a just buy a brand new USA factory neck.

On the other hand, I'm not saying the MIM guitars are shoddy... Let's face it, they are price-point commodity instruments and some of the finesse work was left out. If you're handy and don't mind spending a few more bucks, you can probably upgrade the eletronics and tuners and do the fret job yourself.

​

I haven't seen rolled edges on MIJs but what you say about MIM necks is absolutely true. They fret ends aren't even beveled sometimes. I've also had fret sprout on every single MIM neck and none on Squier necks. Squiers have absolutely worse materials than MIMs but better manufacturing and QC.
MIM electronics and tuners are fine IMO but they are the same that come with Squiers, with possibly better wiring.

 

[sc_precision]

I really like my Am Pro II P bass. The neck is definitely chunky tho. I actually really like the player neck because it’s more comfortable for small hands, has the skunk stripe which I love and traditional four bolt heel. I plan to upgrade with Geezer EMGs and Hipshot tuners and throw on a vintage bridge or bada$$ bridge.

The VMod II pickups are killer tho and I don’t plan on selling the Am Pro II any time soon. They are rock solid basses.

It just comes down to whether you need to save money or want a solid bass with no upgrades required. The Player series are more customizable because of their price which makes them cool, plus you don’t have to worry about damage or theft so much.

What helped me deciding was getting an Am Pro II in olympic white w/rosewood because they don’t offer that color in the player series and getting a black player p bass with maple.

 

[Swerve]

I’ve owned an Am Pro I & II Precision and two Player P’s. I ended up selling the US’s and 1 of the Players.

My favorite is the Ebony fretboard Player P.

The reason I prefer the Player is numerous. Now don’t get me wrong the Am Pro’s are very well made and have a high end feel to them. Many people will prefer them. BUT none of the “upgraded” features appeal to me.

I’m not interested in string thru, high mass bridge, sculpted neck heel, rolled fret boards, etc.

I love the sound of the Player stock pickup vs the V-Mod. Prefer the feel of the neck on the Player. Prefer the classic bridge.

Honestly the only thing I liked better on the Am Pro’s (besides coming with a hardshell case) is the tuners. But the MIM tuners work fine and stay in tune well, just not as smooth. I can live with that for the nearly $1k price difference.