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Fender American Professional Series

#321
"Well worth" buying one over the other is a good question. I've played both. I bought an AM STD because it was on sale AND that particular bass was amazing. The Pros I played were admittedly nice and the 5ers were remarkably good IMO.

I think with time, the AM STD will become a classic if not already. To me, it's not a modern bass by any means and that's the idea... it is what it is -a classic bass. It's a classic feeling and sounding P bass (in my case).

IMO, The new pro series brings a few tweaks that puts their specs in line and with the basses being produced by top fender style builders. Fender is picking up the details that these expert luthiers have been implementing over the past few years. These tweaks are a welcome addition to those players who demanded them in the first place and I think will be welcomed by the next generation of fender bass players.

I feel that anyone looking for a more modern take on the the AM STD basses of old... will appreciate the new pro series basses.

Edit: And I think this rings true even more so with the new Elite series basses. The ones I tried are nearly on par with my Nordstrand. That's say a lot.
 
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#322
murphy said:
So, are you saying it would be well worth buying the Professional Series Jazz v over the AM STD 5ver?
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If I had the cash and I was looking for a Fender Jazz V I'd get the Pro over the Std. I own an Am Std and IMO the Pro Jazz V I tried was better.

The downside is people are complaining that the price of the Pro basses is too high. . . for a Fender!! That might be a little unfair. If it's a better Fender then that's where the money went.

There must be guys out there who are buying the Pro basses and can give a more comprehensive run down.

Edit. Just seen (and like) speyer's post.
 
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#326
What's next an America Professional Elite Deluxe Series? It's mind twisting to me how many copies of the same design they can market and at different price points. I'm not really a Fender Guy but I own a Fender JB and have lost track of how many selections Fender offers of same two Basses.
 
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#327
phillybass101 said:
What's next an America Professional Elite Deluxe Series? It's mind twisting to me how many copies of the same design they can market and at different price points. I'm not really a Fender Guy but I own a Fender JB and have lost track of how many selections Fender offers of same two Basses.
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And don't forget all the other companies that make their living off those very same basic designs! You'd never want to buy any of those copies.
 
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#328
Linnin said:
And don't forget all the other companies that make their living off those very same basic designs! You'd never want to buy any of those copies.
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Very True Statement. From SX's to Boutiques. Everyone makes a JB or a P. :-) But since I don't follow Fender when I talk to a Fender Cat I start cracking up they know the year, make, model, differences and the names just crack me up. I can't help it. We have the Indonesian made import P, The Korean made P, the made in Japan P, the Vintage Modified import, the Classic Version import P, the American made P, American Standard Made P, American Deluxe Made P, American Professional made P, The American Elite made P. the Mexican Made import P.
 
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#330
I played a 4 string professional jazz today....It was dreamy to play, but something I wasn't thrilled about in the pickups sound. Great smooth sound , but not quite the bite that I like when both pickups on....Slightly lower High to my other basses marcus Miller 5 and AMSTD jazz V
I had the same impression when the new AM standard Jazz v came out.
I have an older ...2006 AM standard V with the series switch in the volume control 5 inline headstock....Fantastic tone...and gets the Marcus tone (in my opinion) with no modifications when strings are new

I then tried the Flea bass for fun....played very nicely and had a tone I preferred a little....but strings prob older...They were similar...the Flea neck felt a little bit thicker/rounder

No Professional 5ver to try
 
#334
The pro p I played was set up wonderfully. No fret buzz at all. And I absolutely love the neck and the narrow tall frets. Really my only concern is with the pickups. But that might just be a matter of getting used to them
 
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#337
chris_b said:
If I had the cash and I was looking for a Fender Jazz V I'd get the Pro over the Std. I own an Am Std and IMO the Pro Jazz V I tried was better.

The downside is people are complaining that the price of the Pro basses is too high. . . for a Fender!! That might be a little unfair. If it's a better Fender then that's where the money went.

There must be guys out there who are buying the Pro basses and can give a more comprehensive run down.

Edit. Just seen (and like) speyer's post.
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Well, the Professional V here is $600 more expensive than the American standard V right now
So the question is ...Is it still worth getting the Professional jazz V over the American Standard V
 
#339
murphy said:
I wonder if the neck shape was slimmed down on the 5ver?
and what difference the pickups are?
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The neck on the Precision V does not feel super slim, but it's not too chunky, either. It's in the ballpark of the American Standard Precision V I tried some years ago and the Precision Deluxe V I owned for a while, but I have not tried a more recent American Standard Precision V. Regarding the pickups, they are brand new, with different alnico blends on the lower strings versus higher strings (I think it's alnico 5 on the B, E, A and alnico 3 on the D and G). The goal is to make the response and feel from string to string as even as possible. So far, I feel like they did achieve this goal, nicely.
 
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