Fender American Professional series discontinued?

[Shorty3]

I recently missed an opportunity to buy a used American Standard Precision in sunburst and rosewood fretboard so I considered looking for a brand new American Professional.
No shops have the Am Pro Pbass locally and big european distributors like Thomann offer almost nothing.
Then I came accross this thread on reddit:



So, is that it? No more Am Pro?
Will Fender bring back the American Standard or issue a "new" MIA series with another name?

 

[dmt]

American Professionals are still on Fender’s website, Sweetwater has ‘em in stock, etc.

Anyway, I’m definitely partial to the "American Standard" (that’s what I came of age wanting), so I say bring it back!

 

[Gorn]

The Fender website has never been a reliable source of Fender information, and reddit is reddit. Who knows.

 

[Killing Floor]

Fender has been making Jazz and Precision basses for about 70 years. They change the series names regularly to drive interest. If it looks the same and costs the same it is the same bass. Don't panic.

 

[Warpeg]

...Then I came accross this thread on reddit....

Well, if it's on Reddit, how could it NOT be true?

 

[JimmyM]

Like it matters

 

[Shorty3]

At least, if the Am Pro is on its way out, I hope Fender are going to swap the V-mod pickup for something better.
I owned a 2014 American Standard P with CS62 pickup and it was great with flatwounds. Regret having sold it last year.
I think the V-mod pickup was the only flaw in the American Professional while everything else was great. If I have a chance to buy one I would just swap the V-mod pickup for a CS62 and swap the mint pickguard for a tort one.
I am almost convinced the current Am Pro line is discontinued because Thomann has no J bass and only one P bass in white still available in the Am Pro series.

 

[TheCouchBassist]

Let’s see.....I’m thinking the new series will be named something like:

• American Workhorse
• American Bell-Cow
• American Session
  
• American Flagship
• American Classic

I’m sure they have been reviewing their thesaurus looking for the next name

 

[Shawn Luckman]

Love my 2014 Am.Std Precision with the, CS62 pickups and strung with Dunlop flats 45-105. Maybe the next name should be The American Perfection .

 

[OptimalOptimus]

They will make a Pbass in sunburst with a rosewood fretboard and tor guard under another name like American Reissue Xtrem Pro you paid more for it

they will also move the pickup 1 millimeters left and change the metal composition of the wire for the electronics

so yeah

 

[jmattbassplaya]

Hey, I hope it’s true. I bought both my AmStd Jazz and Strat when they were liquidating the line to make room for the Pros. I got both of them brand new for $900 each. I saved myself a ton of money.

 

[Pings Bass]

When your bread and butter is cranking out the same basic models for 60 years (and nobody's much interested when you deviate/innovate), you've got to change the series names on the regular to keep people interested.

 

[TheCouchBassist]

They will make a Pbass in sunburst with a rosewood fretboard and tor guard under another name like American Reissue Xtrem Pro you paid more for it

they will also move the pickup 1 millimeters left and change the metal composition of the wire for the electronics

so yeah

How about the American Optimal Optimus

 

[TheCouchBassist]

Love my 2014 Am.Std Precision with the, CS62 pickups and strung with Dunlop flats 45-105. Maybe the next name should be The American Perfection .

Dunlop flats are amazing. That’s what I have on my AmPro. The tube was a special modification

 

[wraub]

...gee, I hope there's not a P bass shortage.

 

[74hc]

I'm still waiting for the Fender Amateur series, or the Mediocre series.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

Lemme guess, they changed the name again and they call it the "American Maestro Series" now?

 

[joel406]

Glad I got mine.

 

[jd56hawk]

Hey, Fender has a game plan that works. Just like Taco Bell, they have four or five basic flavors sold under a few dozen different names.

 

[Bassist30]

The Pro's are a good line. I have great luck with them. Love the necks and mine are extremely stable.
I have heard the Pickups many do not like. I have changed the P Pro to Lindy Fralins and really love it.
But the original Pick Ups were not bad. But PU swaps are so popular.