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Fender American Professional II Series

#241
Have a change to setup and play a while the new Pro II Jazz bass in Surf Green(standard alder body).

Notable different/improvement between II Vs I are;

- Fretboard edge, smoother and rounder on II, but still not as round as the Sire included the fretwire edge.

- Maple fretboard tint , the light-yellowist tint sit between white (Pro 1) and vintage tint (Vintera), sharp looking and match with Surf Green body nicely.

- Sculpted Neck Heel , nice design but the horn cut not deep enough which still can feel less comfortable while fretting on last 2 fretwire (i have short finger). My Cort GB74JJ neck heel sculpt work much better which also has deeper horn cut.

About the tone on Pro II Jazz , i only able compare to Flea Jazz (from same owner ). The Flea J loaded DR Sunbeam and sound full,warmth and beautiful MID voice. The Pro II with stock string has bright, clean and modern Jazz bass tone but lacking some LOW. Swap with Dunlop SBN45-105 make the Pro II J sound fuller and has smoother string surface.

This bass weight 3.85kg, i believe weight able get less on Roasted version.
 
#242
Yahboy said:
Have a change to setup and play a while the new Pro II Jazz bass in Surf Green(standard alder body).

Notable different/improvement between II Vs I are;

- Fretboard edge, smoother and rounder on II, but still not as round as the Sire included the fretwire edge.

- Maple fretboard tint , the light-yellowist tint sit between white (Pro 1) and vintage tint (Vintera), sharp looking and match with Surf Green body nicely.

- Sculpted Neck Heel , nice design but the horn cut not deep enough which still can feel less comfortable while fretting on last 2 fretwire (i have short finger). My Cort GB74JJ neck heel sculpt work much better which also has deeper horn cut.

About the tone on Pro II Jazz , i only able compare to Flea Jazz (from same owner ). The Flea J loaded DR Sunbeam and sound full,warmth and beautiful MID voice. The Pro II with stock string has bright, clean and modern Jazz bass tone but lacking some LOW. Swap with Dunlop SBN45-105 make the Pro II J sound fuller and has smoother string surface.

This bass weight 3.85kg, i believe weight able get less on Roasted version.
Click to expand...
I purchased the tobacco version in September. I’ve been running DR Nickle Low Riders. I can get a nice rounded sound.
 
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#244
Well got the one I ordered online and it's got a slight gap in the neck joint. I dunno if I should return it now. It's not overly serious looking but for the price a bit disappointed.

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#245
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#247
Rnr..........4 said:
Well got the one I ordered online and it's got a slight gap in the neck joint. I dunno if I should return it now. It's not overly serious looking but for the price a bit disappointed.

View attachment 4108886 View attachment 4108887 View attachment 4108888 View attachment 4108889 View attachment 4108890
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1 paper's width is supposed to be just about the exact clearance it's supposed to have.

Different woods expand and contract at different rates, it's good to have a very small amount of clearance.
 
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#248
Rnr..........4 said:
Thanks, yeah it's probably just me nitpicking.
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rather busy than sorry,...rather return than regret,....

it's okay to be nitpicking,,,,you paid then you expect professionalism and quality,.....things like that shouldn't pass quality check....ask professional is it forgivable or will gives you any risk of trouble on the future,..i aint fender user so i cant give much comment about that
 
#249
Rnr..........4 said:
Well got the one I ordered online and it's got a slight gap in the neck joint. I dunno if I should return it now. It's not overly serious looking but for the price a bit disappointed.

View attachment 4108886 View attachment 4108887 View attachment 4108888 View attachment 4108889 View attachment 4108890
Click to expand...

after reviewing mine I can say I have a bit of a gap but not as bad as that. How’s tuning can you tighten the screws? Does it go out of tune at all? If your experiencing any kind of issue I would return for a different one better safe than sorry. Granted it probably is nit picking but if you tend to keep it for years to decades who knows what could happen. 1600 dollars doesn’t grow on trees haha.
 
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#250
micguy said:
My favorite part of their marketing message on these is (I know this isn't new) the "Vintage Himass" bridges - two words that are essentially contradictory to those who know about such things, they choose to ignore all that, and just slam those words together because.....it'll probably sell. It sounds good, who cares it it makes sense?

Fender continues to get their new product design ideas from examining their own recycling bin.
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It’s been the same bridge with the same name since 2008.
 
#252
MtManiac said:
It’s been the same bridge with the same name since 2008.
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"Vintage" to a Fender person doesn't mean 2008 - you missed my point. The point is Fender is trying to say "vintage" (1950's and 60's - the stamped steel, distinctly low mass bridge) and "Hi mass" at the same time when referring to the same bridge. It's like a Ballerina who's bulked up from taking steroids, and weighs 300 pounds - she's not really a ballerina at that point. You can't really have both "vintage" and "Hi mass" at the same time.
 
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#253
micguy said:
"Vintage" to a Fender person doesn't mean 2008 - you missed my point. The point is Fender is trying to say "vintage" (1950's and 60's - the stamped steel, distinctly low mass bridge) and "Hi mass" at the same time when referring to the same bridge. It's like a Ballerina who's bulked up from taking steroids, and weighs 300 pounds - she's not really a ballerina at that point. You can't really have both "vintage" and "Hi mass" at the same time.
Click to expand...

I don't know about that. "hi-mass bridge" usually equals ugly ungodly hunk of metal.

Their vintage hi-mass is a "vintage-styled" beefier bridge. I get that it sounds weird, but honestly it does look more similar to their vintage fare while totally being better constructed (mass is actually beside the point IMO).
 
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#254
I just upgraded my 1969 Telecaster bridge to a new Fender American Standard Big Block High Mass Bridge. One came on my 2011 Precision and I vastly prefer it over the vintage bent plate versions Fender used for decades. Especially that old two-saddle bridge. The string thru back stop is chromed brass. Sustain is excellent.

Fender Part #: 007-5124-000
 
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#256
micguy said:
"Vintage" to a Fender person doesn't mean 2008 - you missed my point. The point is Fender is trying to say "vintage" (1950's and 60's - the stamped steel, distinctly low mass bridge) and "Hi mass" at the same time when referring to the same bridge. It's like a Ballerina who's bulked up from taking steroids, and weighs 300 pounds - she's not really a ballerina at that point. You can't really have both "vintage" and "Hi mass" at the same time.
Click to expand...

I didn’t say it was vintage because it came out in 2008, I said it came out in 2008 so it’s not something new. Fender branded it the “high mass vintage” bridge, and companies can brand things however they like. Did you also think a Jazz bass can only be used to play Jazz, or. Precision isn’t a Precision if it’s fretless? Ford Escapes are often used for going to work and getting groceries, not escaping, and Ford Broncos are not actual horses.
 
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#258
Reviewing this thread after a while.
I would like to know if anyone has tried the Pro II Precision and how the "V-mod II" pickup sounds. I still miss the 2012-2016 American Standard P-bass and at the same time I am GASing for a brand new MIA Precision.
However I had a chance to test the first Am Pro series Precision and did not like the tone of the V-mod.
This makes me wonder if it makes sense to spend about 1800/1900 Euros on a brand new Fender and immediately swap the pickup (I would go for a Pure Vintage 63) or if it would be better to wait until this year's Summer NAMM and see what Fender is going to bring out for the 70th Anniversary of the P-bass.
 
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#259
RobertAuCoin said:
On the P-bass (as distinct from the Telecaster), I would like to know whether anyone has heard a noticeable difference between using the string-thru versus strictly top-loading the bridge? Is there any reason not to use the string-thru option?
Click to expand...

I have two basses with the same bridge, one top strung, the other strung thru body. It’s anecdotal but I can’t tell a difference.
 
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#260
Shorty3 said:
Reviewing this thread after a while.
I would like to know if anyone has tried the Pro II Precision and how the "V-mod II" pickup sounds. I still miss the 2012-2016 American Standard P-bass and at the same time I am GASing for a brand new MIA Precision.
However I had a chance to test the first Am Pro series Precision and did not like the tone of the V-mod.
This makes me wonder if it makes sense to spend about 1800/1900 Euros on a brand new Fender and immediately swap the pickup (I would go for a Pure Vintage 63) or if it would be better to wait until this year's Summer NAMM and see what Fender is going to bring out for the 70th Anniversary of the P-bass.
Click to expand...
I’ve had this for about 3 months now and been playing it non stop after tweaking the eq for awhile this bass sounds great. The pickups are different but at the same time there pretty good less high end on the eq and you should be good to go. Very modern sounding p. If you want more of a vintage tone you could switch out for a vintage type pickup but rolling off the tone does help with that the quality of this instrument is awesome. Feels great in the hand and really nice for all styles of playing
 
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