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Fender American Professional Series

Would you mind posting pics of this bass?
I'm in the early stages of contemplating another AmPro P. This time probably a 4 string and I really want to see what the Antique Olive looks like with a black pickguard (and you hopefully have a) maple neck.
Does anyone have that combo (Antique Olive, Maple neck, black pickguard)?

Just got an Antique Olive Maple Neck P and put a B/W/B pickguard on it.

20190129_103037.jpg
 
Thank you!
And congratulations to you, too!
I think I may be a black n maple guy exclusively!
Is that what you’re getting?
Please post pics when you get back from Vegas!

I am way too deep on other basses to go exclusive black and maple but moving forward I could do that...The only thing I would have a hard time with is losing my '98 thumb 5, its an amazing set of blanks they built that old girl from. Lots of quilting that you rarely see in Ovangol and tons of zebra in the wenge. (tangent)

I decided my new Berg CN212 needed a Jazz so I am unpacking a new (to me) Black and Maple Am Pro 4 Jazz on Sat. (also getting my fretless '77 P back from my tech, so Sat is a big day ;).

My 2019 bucket list bass is a 6 string Dingwall NG3 black and maple (and a B|Amp). I find the black and maple just fits my eye. Probably deep rooted...My first experience with bass when I was 8. Banjo lessons at a Samuel's music in Central IL and a guy was killing it with a black and maple jazz with tape wounds into an Acoustic 360, just shaking the place. I was like "Oh jeez I want to do THAT" - I remember it like it was yesterday, defining moment and I have always wanted a black and maple jazz although through probably 40 or so basses somehow I have just never owned a black and maple, nor a jazz. Lots of black, lots of maple but never at the same time. Very Purdy ...and somehow is full circle for me.
 
I am way too deep on other basses to go exclusive black and maple but moving forward I could do that...The only thing I would have a hard time with is losing my '98 thumb 5, its an amazing set of blanks they built that old girl from. Lots of quilting that you rarely see in Ovangol and tons of zebra in the wenge. (tangent)

I decided my new Berg CN212 needed a Jazz so I am unpacking a new (to me) Black and Maple Am Pro 4 Jazz on Sat. (also getting my fretless '77 P back from my tech, so Sat is a big day ;).

My 2019 bucket list bass is a 6 string Dingwall NG3 black and maple (and a B|Amp). I find the black and maple just fits my eye. Probably deep rooted...My first experience with bass when I was 8. Banjo lessons at a Samuel's music in Central IL and a guy was killing it with a black and maple jazz with tape wounds into an Acoustic 360, just shaking the place. I was like "Oh jeez I want to do THAT" - I remember it like it was yesterday, defining moment and I have always wanted a black and maple jazz although through probably 40 or so basses somehow I have just never owned a black and maple, nor a jazz. Lots of black, lots of maple but never at the same time. Very Purdy ...and somehow is full circle for me.
Saturday is the day then!
I get it. It's just the color combo that works.
It's easy for me to maintain a black and maple theme starting over from just one bass.
Post pics of that Jazz when you get it. I know you're psyched!
 
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Saturday is the day then!
I get it. It's just the color combo that works.
It's easy for me to maintain a black and maple theme starting over from just one bass.
Post pics of that Jazz when you get it. I know you're psyched!
Do it!
I was going to do a Player MIM jazz and spin the wheel on a good copy then I saw the black and maple MIA pro pop up at a good number. First thing I would do is replace hardware on a MIM anyway - so why not. (that said I don't care about string though body and probably won't even use it) but the hi mass bridge is OK and the tuning machines are a solid.

Interested to see my personal verdict on the Vmod pups. I haves scrubbed this site from top to bottom and there is a crazy amount of ambivalence about the Michael Bump Vmods (man that guy has some tough skin hanging here) - I am inclined to give them an honest run.
 
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The V mods are not a very high output PU so don't let that be part of your decision to replace them.
Wise. My understanding is that is a common report, but I think everyone is so used to overwound and the according behaviors they might be taking that single value as their position. (man I cannot speak for anyone, I just sort the info) I have lots of preamp available. Easy peasy. Ran a Stingray 5 first set and a comparatively weak Tobias second set (second set was a half step down) for a while till I collected a spare stinger and it was just a quick twist o the dial. I am more interested in the clarity not the output. I can throw an Audere in there if I am feeling weird but looking at giving it a good run. My fretless '77 P isn't exactly "hot' compared to my thumb 5, output isn't part of the decision process there either.

Edit: I just run great big cameras for a living now, playing the sticks in my quiver just keeps me sane. Came back to TB because I needed "my people". None of this is huge deals for me, I just appreciate all the instruments for their individuality and they all make me smile after a day (or a week on location, more accurately) of **** running six figures worth of camera gear for people that I don't exactly hang with.
 
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Wise. My understanding is that is a common report, but I think everyone is so used to overwound and the according behaviors they might be taking that single value as their position. (man I cannot speak for anyone, I just sort the info) I have lots of preamp available. Easy peasy. Ran a Stingray 5 first set and a comparatively weak Tobias second set (second set was a half step down) for a while till I collected a spare stinger and it was just a quick twist o the dial. I am more interested in the clarity not the output. I can throw an Audere in there if I am feeling weird but looking at giving it a good run. My fretless '77 P isn't exactly "hot' compared to my thumb 5, output isn't part of the decision process there either.
I think the V Mods may be right for you then. Clarity is what I was looking for and they are certainly clear. All the way down to the B string.
I have this if i need more output:
C85BF148-6ABF-4A46-A707-698C45C1B704.jpeg

As a second bass, I think I’ll probably end up getting the exact same thing: AmPro P but in 4 string and make the same mods. Black and maple of course! ;)
 
Niiiice. I might need to get the twin man child (p bass) just because I still (clearly, please legitimize my GAS here) need a fretted P. I mean Cmon. It's like peanut butter without jelly. Ricky without Lucy. Hannibal without Clarise...

My '77 fretless P was COMPLETELY destroyed from open/close in hot/cold frozen gear van to hot bar for so long (previous owner) I stripped it down, it wasn't that nice "beat up" look, it was more "holy **** what happened to that poor thing - she might go black as well if I decide - but it's a pristine rosewood fretboard. (Bare nekkid poly undercoat on Ash right now)
Side: I am an old school lead sled guy just finally catching up, I decided if I don't do it I probably never will so I just added a 'Berg Neo 212 and will throw a B|Amp on it this spring. (3 channels technically so plenty of room for adjusting three basses to unity gain there) But that's all off topic for this thread.
Just stoked to add another American Fender to the quiver, and I am literally counting down the hours till I get off location and back home so I can unbox my new baby. Hope the brown truck man was kind.
 
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I think the V Mods may be right for you then. Clarity is what I was looking for and they are certainly clear. All the way down to the B string.
I have this if i need more output:
View attachment 3322880
As a second bass, I think I’ll probably end up getting the exact same thing: AmPro P but in 4 string and make the same mods. Black and maple of course! ;)

Meant to ask - how's that B? My '98 Thumb 5 has a wicked B but its's not exactly the most versatile stick I've had.
 
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I got a new American Pro Precision. I'm noticing on the tone knob, it doesn't affect the sound much at all until the knob is nearly all the way down. There's an abrupt drop in treble once the knob is down to about 10%. There's not really any tone difference through the upper 90% of the knob. Has anyone else experienced this?
 
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I got a new American Pro Precision. I'm noticing on the tone knob, it doesn't affect the sound much at all until the knob is nearly all the way down. There's an abrupt drop in treble once the knob is down to about 10%. There's not really any tone difference through the upper 90% of the knob. Has anyone else experienced this?

I don't find that to be with mine. But I understand a little what you are saying as the p has a treble roll off instead of separate tone knobs. But it may not be the answer for you. What strings are you using?
 
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Wise. My understanding is that is a common report, but I think everyone is so used to overwound and the according behaviors they might be taking that single value as their position. (man I cannot speak for anyone, I just sort the info) I have lots of preamp available. Easy peasy. Ran a Stingray 5 first set and a comparatively weak Tobias second set (second set was a half step down) for a while till I collected a spare stinger and it was just a quick twist o the dial. I am more interested in the clarity not the output. I can throw an Audere in there if I am feeling weird but looking at giving it a good run. My fretless '77 P isn't exactly "hot' compared to my thumb 5, output isn't part of the decision process there either.

Edit: I just run great big cameras for a living now, playing the sticks in my quiver just keeps me sane. Came back to TB because I needed "my people". None of this is huge deals for me, I just appreciate all the instruments for their individuality and they all make me smile after a day (or a week on location, more accurately) of **** running six figures worth of camera gear for people that I don't exactly hang with.

Yea sometimes loudness is a misconception to the quality of the tone. As with some pre amps compared to passive basses. Not saying one is better but one should not take the output alone as their primary reason for tone. I mentioned before but a engineer purposely showed me how he can convince me that the sound of an instrument can convince you it sounds better at a very little increase in volume. First is getting a great tone than raising it to taste.
 
I got a new American Pro Precision. I'm noticing on the tone knob, it doesn't affect the sound much at all until the knob is nearly all the way down. There's an abrupt drop in treble once the knob is down to about 10%. There's not really any tone difference through the upper 90% of the knob. Has anyone else experienced this?
No, mine is quite gradual ...
 
I got a new American Pro Precision. I'm noticing on the tone knob, it doesn't affect the sound much at all until the knob is nearly all the way down. There's an abrupt drop in treble once the knob is down to about 10%. There's not really any tone difference through the upper 90% of the knob. Has anyone else experienced this?
<---I have the AmPro Jazz. I had about the same thing happening with mine but I usually just set and forget the tone knob. Recently, while noodling around, I found that I had no response from the tone knob at all. So I opened her up and found that the tone pot had no ground wires to it at all. Also, I found that there was no ground to the output jack either. Both volume pots have the pup grounds and are tied together. I know that the metal plate is being used for the rest but I believe that might not be good enough. Not sure if this is your issue but might be worth looking into. My son-in-law is going to solder in some grounds for me next week. I'll update if it worked.
 
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