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Fender American Original

Got the 60s P yesterday; in Olympic White; and it's great!! I also have a red AVRI '63 P which I got when those came out in 2013. So it's basically the same bass, only with the 9.5" radius fingerboard, which makes for slightly better playability IMO. Anyway they're both great, and I'm a happy and lucky boy. Two Ps, one with flats and one with rounds. What more do you need? (Of course I need more! :P ) Highly recommended! :)
 
I know there are a number of naysayers when it comes to this bass (and I can definitely understand the arguments), but after watching this video, I've got to say, the bass looks and sounds killer.

I dont think many are naysayers, were just saying that for the price you can have a used American Standard for half the price, with the same sound and just as playable. It's a P bass for crying out loud, not that complicated of an instrument to get a great sound out of. I'd put my 2008 American Standard up against one of these American Originals any day of the week. I played a couple of these American Originals (both Jazz and Precision) a couple weeks ago and can't deny they weren't nice, but nothing that screamed "buy me" over an older used AVRI or used American Standard aside from the colors. Heck, even the MIM Classic 50's can hang with these for a fraction of the price.
 
Just placed my order with MF. LPB P should be here Monday!

Also, I received a substantial discount by just calling them. It was like buying a used one price-wise, but it’s new and I get 45 days to decide to keep it. I am really hoping for a nice piece of rosewood with no streaks. I also am buying a white guard because I can’t do the tort with blue :)
 
Significant discount. They used to have “call-in” deals in the past, but they stopped it a couple years ago. I saw they had a Presidents’ Day sale and call it in sale this week, so I just thought I’d give it a try. Ended up buying!
 
Received my 60’s P in LPB. My impressions after playing it for 5 minutes in the work parking lot cramped in my 4 door Jeep Wrangler backseat:

Neck: feels really really good. Nice and full, and I like the radius. Very solid feeling and straight as an arrow. Finish is spotless. A little streaky in the rosewood, but not extreme in any way. That was my concern when opening it up. I’m sure after applying some Fret Doctor, it will look even sweeter.

Body: flawless LPB nitro finish. Just beautiful.

Playability: it feels really solid and resonant. I did not want to put it down, even with the roundwounds on it.

I’m getting the feeling that this bass is a long time keeper, which would be somewhat of a miracle for me. It just checks all the boxes for me personally.
Color, playability, neck profile...it’s all there for me. I am more giddy about this bass than I have been for one in quite a while. I feel like this was built for me as corny as that sounds.

I give it a 9.5 out of 10 on my scale without plugging it in yet. I’ve owned a 63 RI, so I know what to expect from the pickup. Only thing that keeps it from being a 10 is it’s probably in the upper 8lb range and I had to buy a white guard for it. I will say that the tort is growing on me with the LPB, but white looks a little better IMO.

Can’t wait to string it with some broken in LaBellas and plug it in!

2C4B0141-B6DE-46C9-9B6D-A64F7B6A4382.jpeg
 
Received my 60’s P in LPB. My impressions after playing it for 5 minutes in the work parking lot cramped in my 4 door Jeep Wrangler backseat:

Neck: feels really really good. Nice and full, and I like the radius. Very solid feeling and straight as an arrow. Finish is spotless. A little streaky in the rosewood, but not extreme in any way. That was my concern when opening it up. I’m sure after applying some Fret Doctor, it will look even sweeter.

Body: flawless LPB nitro finish. Just beautiful.

Playability: it feels really solid and resonant. I did not want to put it down, even with the roundwounds on it.

I’m getting the feeling that this bass is a long time keeper, which would be somewhat of a miracle for me. It just checks all the boxes for me personally.
Color, playability, neck profile...it’s all there for me. I am more giddy about this bass than I have been for one in quite a while. I feel like this was built for me as corny as that sounds.

I give it a 9.5 out of 10 on my scale without plugging it in yet. I’ve owned a 63 RI, so I know what to expect from the pickup. Only thing that keeps it from being a 10 is it’s probably in the upper 8lb range and I had to buy a white guard for it. I will say that the tort is growing on me with the LPB, but white looks a little better IMO.

Can’t wait to string it with some broken in LaBellas and plug it in!

View attachment 2930668
Very nice. I’m leaning toward one of these for the next Fender I purchase. Let us know how it sounds!
 
Received my 60’s P in LPB. My impressions after playing it for 5 minutes in the work parking lot cramped in my 4 door Jeep Wrangler backseat:

Neck: feels really really good. Nice and full, and I like the radius. Very solid feeling and straight as an arrow. Finish is spotless. A little streaky in the rosewood, but not extreme in any way. That was my concern when opening it up. I’m sure after applying some Fret Doctor, it will look even sweeter.

Body: flawless LPB nitro finish. Just beautiful.

Playability: it feels really solid and resonant. I did not want to put it down, even with the roundwounds on it.

I’m getting the feeling that this bass is a long time keeper, which would be somewhat of a miracle for me. It just checks all the boxes for me personally.
Color, playability, neck profile...it’s all there for me. I am more giddy about this bass than I have been for one in quite a while. I feel like this was built for me as corny as that sounds.

I give it a 9.5 out of 10 on my scale without plugging it in yet. I’ve owned a 63 RI, so I know what to expect from the pickup. Only thing that keeps it from being a 10 is it’s probably in the upper 8lb range and I had to buy a white guard for it. I will say that the tort is growing on me with the LPB, but white looks a little better IMO.

Can’t wait to string it with some broken in LaBellas and plug it in!

View attachment 2930668

Ungh! Nice!!
 
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Received my 60’s P in LPB. My impressions after playing it for 5 minutes in the work parking lot cramped in my 4 door Jeep Wrangler backseat:

View attachment 2930668

Very nice!
I saw this in the latest Sweetwater catalog and it really stood out to me.
Lake Placid Blue with that pick guard is super snazzy.

The other Fenders that stood out to me were the American Elite Precision and Jazz - same prices as the AM Original.
There's a nice Jazz in Ocean Turquoise/tort guard/block rosewood neck and a P/J congfig Precision in Champagne that look great.
 
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Are the necks on these the same as the American Standards or American Professionals?
The neck has a round laminate fingerboard which the standard and professonal don't have. My first introduction to a round laminate fingerboard was with the Custom Shop Time Machine '64 Jazz. I was actually surprised to see it on a non Custom Shop bass.
 
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