Fender American Professional II P bass

[Moving Pictures]

I really like mine. It is a great bass and it will last likely longer than I will. I am particularly fond of the rolled fretboard edge, the reinforcements in the neck (cold climate here) are important to me, plus it sounds good in almost any context I play in.

If you can afford it or find one used, go for it. If you can try one out in person that will tell you if it is worth it or not. Testing one out is mandatory IMO. If it didn't feel good in my hands I wouldn't have bought mine. I will add that I like the Player series, the MIM series have greatly improved over the years, and their necks are pretty good. Given a choice I would rather have a Pro II but I would still rock the heck out of the player series.

Pic because this thread needs them

 

[Moving Pictures]

I just realized the original post was from May.

I wonder if they bought one.....

 

[MtManiac]

I hear ya , but my MIM JB was one the best playing bass I've ever owned. It was light, a very playable neck, and neck sprouts were not problem because it was usually in a climate controlled environment. The finish on the other hand, lets just say it became relic'd about 2 decades before that became fashionable. LOL!!

Seriously, if I hadn't bought it for my son to learn on, then 5 years after I got it back, he decided he wanted it back for his gig as a bassist in the Marine Corps.21 year later it's still his favorite bass to play. And with his career in the Marines, , he was able to chose to play just about any production bass made. At tax payer expense, I might add.

Dude, I can relate, I bought a cheap af Squier Affinity which had one of the most comfortable Jazz necks I've ever held. I ended up trading it, as it was a Jazz and I was using it as equity on a NOS American standard P, but that neck felt incredible.

It's not about price, it's about what you can afford - and if an amazing neck is to be found on a $150, $500, $2000 bass, how can you say it's not worth it? The question is can you afford it, and if you can and you need a bass, get it.

The sharp fretboard edges on the Player and Standard P basses were always a nope from me. The Jazz necks - different story; they're narrower so it's less of an issue.

Everyone has different hands though, so everyone needs different things - basing decisions on FOMO or keeping up with the Joneses or hiding your imposter syndrome, all bad reasons for picking a bass.

 

[Yonni]

I have the APII Roasted maple Jazz. Beautiful neck (rolled, non-sticky, perfect fretwork), lightweight, great finish all round. I spent 2 years playing every Jazz I could get my hands on from Squier up. This was only the second one I wanted to take home. The other was a vintage a way more expensive. I wanted something that didn't need modifying and that I would keep until I stopped playing. This is it. I did change strings to DR Pure Blues. It really is s great bass. Yes its expensive but I could afford it and cost per use over my lifetime makes it worth it. The band prefer it to my P bass as well.

So @John Beishline did you get one?

 

[FilipL82]

I bought a Precision American Professional II last week. I wasn't looking for a bass, but when I tried out a few at the shop, this one really stood out. 8.1 lbs, very resonant, and a fantastic quartersawn neck. It wasn't set up properly, but I can do that myself now. With TI flats on, it sounds amazing. I really like the pickups – at 70% open, they have that classic Precision sound, but you can turn them all the way up if needed. Very happy with this one! I get low action, it is very growly and the rounded fretboard is bliss.

 

[MtManiac]

Beauty!

 

[_Obra_]

I don' t understand this "upgrade" mentality.

There is no functional difference between a Player and AMP II. They're both passive. There isn't a single note you can only play on the more expensive model. You could easily upgrade the bridge, pickup and tuners for less money than buying an AMP.

Save your money. Focus on musicianship rather than gear.

Some things just inspire you and some things don't, for whatever reason. Sometimes it's just a few letters - MIM, MIA, MIJ...
I admit I fall into that trap often.

 

[MtManiac]

I don' t understand this "upgrade" mentality.

There is no functional difference between a Player and AMP II. They're both passive. There isn't a single note you can only play on the more expensive model. You could easily upgrade the bridge, pickup and tuners for less money than buying an AMP.

Save your money. Focus on musicianship rather than gear.

For some people, it's all about the sound, pick your strings, pick your pickups, and any old piece of lumber will do.

Some other people have different priorities.

None of these people are at odds with each other.

 

[jd56hawk]

I don' t understand this "upgrade" mentality.

There is no functional difference between a Player and AMP II. They're both passive. There isn't a single note you can only play on the more expensive model. You could easily upgrade the bridge, pickup and tuners for less money than buying an AMP.

Save your money. Focus on musicianship rather than gear.

Well, the Mercury and Dark Night finishes are much nicer than any of the Player series finishes, but they still have those unsightly unfinished headstocks, glaringly bad, especially with the Dark Night finish with the dark rosewood fretboard.
Other than that, we're talking V-Mod II pickups...and Fender says they're more articulate than ever while delivering the punch and growl the P Bass is known for!
Seriously though, I wish the Dark Night Precision 4-string had the maple fretboard like the Jazz bass.
I played one when they first came out, and it did feel better than the Player bass. Hard to remember how it sounded, but I did consider buying it...something better and less expensive came along, though.

 

[Steve Park]

...reviving an old thread...
The American Pro II P really stood out when I was recently in a shop killing time and randomly checking out basses. It's still a P, but the ergonomics are better and the pickup is slightly hotter and more dynamic than a typical P, in a very good way. Side by side, my hands and ears preferred the pro II over the pro classic and various other Fender P's.

I really swore off 34" basses a while ago, in favor of short and medium scale Sereks, but the Pro II P was a delight to play. I'm seriously thinking finding a good one to take home.

 

[krispn]

Thread revival

Wasn't actively searching for a new P Bass but an Am Pro II (Miami Blue/maple neck) has appeared locally for the equivalent of $1075 here in the U.K. there's a slight mark on the fingerboard but we'll see if it is noticeable when playing.

Very keen to try it as I've played basses before with the smaller frets (Dingwall Super P) and they all have been very effortless to play and the new neck finish looks to be very intriguing too.

The pick up sounds interesting and I've read some folk have flipped the coils as I believe they have A5 and A3 to even out the sound. Pick up swaps are no big deal so if I don't dig it they can be swapped out.

I'll update tomorrow once I've had a play and if it makes it home! Quite excited to try it!

 

[One Way]

Best of luck with it, my Am Pro II P5 is awesome! The tuning stability, quality, and playability make it really enjoyable. I haven't changed a thing about it aside from replacing strings.

 

[krispn]

Best of luck with it, my Am Pro II P5 is awesome! The tuning stability, quality, and playability make it really enjoyable. I haven't changed a thing about it aside from replacing strings.

I've really been enjoying LaBella polished rounds and the IMA signature set so I'll definitely put those on if I get it to hear how they sound (I currently have two jazz basses one set of each string type on each bass).

I may even get some Pino flats as there's a discount on them on Amazon just now and the saving on this P is crazy good!

 

[One Way]

I installed a set of IMA Super Polished LaBella strings on mine yesterday and looking forward to hearing how they sound in the recording of today's band rehearsal.

 

[krispn]

I installed a set of IMA Super Polished LaBella strings on mine yesterday and looking forward to hearing how they sound in the recording of today's band rehearsal.

I think they sound great. The tension is a little less (softer feel under the fingers) than the regular SP and maybe a touch darker but I like both. The IMA's get played more so that might explain the difference plus pick up differences (PV 64's versus DiMarzio Ultra Jazz) etc etc

 

[Thom Fioriglio]

Thread revival

Wasn't actively searching for a new P Bass but an Am Pro II (Miami Blue/maple neck) has appeared locally for the equivalent of $1075 here in the U.K. there's a slight mark on the fingerboard but we'll see if it is noticeable when playing.

Very keen to try it as I've played basses before with the smaller frets (Dingwall Super P) and they all have been very effortless to play and the new neck finish looks to be very intriguing too.

The pick up sounds interesting and I've read some folk have flipped the coils as I believe they have A5 and A3 to even out the sound. Pick up swaps are no big deal so if I don't dig it they can be swapped out.

I'll update tomorrow once I've had a play and if it makes it home! Quite excited to try it!

I love my Am Pro II! Fantastic bass that is well made, balances really nicely, sounds fantastic and has a wonderful fretboard. Pickups are even and have that classic P tone. They can be aggressive or dark. I've kept mine total stock as I think most have. Give it a week or so before you make any mods. Enjoy!

 

[sonic boogaloo]

after selling off some guitar gear, i decided that i wanted to use the money to buy a US precision. i tried out the PRO II at a store and loved how the neck felt. the price of €2100 was too high so i had to turn to the used market. even then, the prices were crazy high. i managed to find one in mint condition for €1500. can't wait to receive it. it will be my first p bass, my first US fender bass and my first bass with a maple fretboard. it's also very likely (i know, i know) to be my last bass guitar.

i know it's been discussed on other threads, but the prices for US fenders has gone through the roof, especially here in the EU. i'm glad i managed to snag one before the prices become completely prohibitive.

 

[krispn]

after selling off some guitar gear, i decided that i wanted to use the money to buy a US precision. i tried out the PRO II at a store and loved how the neck felt. the price of €2100 was too high so i had to turn to the used market. even then, the prices were crazy high. i managed to find one in mint condition for €1500. can't wait to receive it. it will be my first p bass, my first US fender bass and my first bass with a maple fretboard. it's also very likely (i know, i know) to be my last bass guitar.

i know it's been discussed on other threads, but the prices for US fenders has gone through the roof, especially here in the EU. i'm glad i managed to snag one before the prices become completely prohibitive.

Same £800 is the price of the one I'm going to view tomorrow. That's basically what so folk are asking for used Mexican/RW models. I really hope it's in decent condition.

 

[sonic boogaloo]

Same £800 is the price of the one I'm going to view tomorrow. That's basically what so folk are asking for used Mexican/RW models. I really hope it's in decent condition.

that's an amazing price! almost too good to be true. hope the viewing goes well.

used prices in the US seem pretty good too.

 

[krispn]

that's an amazing price! almost too good to be true. hope the viewing goes well.

used prices in the US seem pretty good too.

All looks legit.