Fender American Standard Precision Bass Year to Year differences 1995-2008

[RogerTheAlien]

Was hoping for help getting this right as I'm preparing a video on this.

I'm focusing on the year to year difference of the American Standard Bass starting in 2000 and talk about the improvements Fender made to their flagship bass.

But first back to the mid-90s

1995 - the entire American standard lineup is revamped with a new body thru and top loader bridge as well as better tuners and better ‘upgraded ‘sounding pickups and electronics. Add to that graphite posi-flex reinforced neck that is returned to 20 frets, several examples are high gloss . case is chainsaw type with a few variations in the following years ( red label etc ...)

Lineup is pretty stable aside from minor finishes and a few more options, delta tone is introduced in 1997 as well as fret less models, not specifically sure for Delta tone til 2000 when it’s introduced on the basses not even mentioned in user manuals til 2003 user manual, possibly introduced earlier but manuals are hard to date.

2000 - first year rolled edges fingerboard, bridge is still vintage design,parchment pickguard and solid wood construction, first year of the American Series monicker replaces American Standard, graphite rods carried over from 90s, combined top loaded and through body bridges are still found. Some basses have factory deluxe bridge, satin finish generally found on headstock and maple finger boards but heavy gloss is on some examples. strap buttons are sourced from Schaeler. Heavier poly finish on body, factory American standards have heavier shaeller sourced tuners.

2001 - Different headstock on the five string. Minor overall changes.

2002 - Bridge is now ‘supposedly’ only thru-body, considered the vintage ‘deluxe’ bridge. Some models have a serial with 2002 and still have the leftover dual load bridge. 56003/4 standard pickups that have been common for years indicated by some others mention 33746/753.

2003 - S1 switch starts appearing, but will only appear on catalog for 2004 model.

2004 - American Series - a few extracts, Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Strat, brochure confirms continuation of Posiflex graphite neck rods standard across the line to avoid neck warping, S1 switching system, noiseless pickups on 'deluxe models' and light weight tuners, vintage style bridge, Fender catalog does not illustrate the Precision bass but discusses the 'improvements' on illustrated Jazz Basses at length. 9.5' Radius, satin poly neck finish mentioned in ads but spec wise very little changes from previous years on standard model.

2005 - Minor changes, appearance of a few limited-ed models

2006 - Fender is 60, new pearl color, Fender announces 'knurled knobs' satin necks and a few other specs as new but previous brochures going back a few years indicate this is carried over. The bass is pretty much carried over from 2002-3.

2007 - No notable changes

2008 - The bass is revamped with a new Hi-Mass bridge, thinner more breathable poly finish, new lite tuners, S-1 switch vanishes, neck is supposedly a brand new C modern profile and finish. pickups are now 61276/7, Headstock is glossed, fingerboard highly buffed with satin back.

Looking forward to correcting mistakes and getting more info from you all, cheers !

 

[Nedmundo]

Good summary! But a couple of things. In 2004, you mention the "deluxe," which was a different series known as American Deluxe (now known as Ultra). The American Deluxe basses had active electronics, and the Am. Deluxe Jazz basses had noiseless pickups.

Within the American Series, there were some special editions that had noiseless pickups. For example, I remember a limited run of Jazz basses around 2006 that were passive American Series models, but had the noiseless SCN (Samarium Cobalt Noiseless) pickups from the Am. Deluxe. I played one at a GC. (There was also a regional Am. Series Strat with SCN pickups, which I remember because I had major GAS for one. I think it was sold only in the South and Southwest.)

In 2008, the series went back to the American Standard name, and they added a five-string Precision that's been in the lineup ever since. In 2012, the basses got Custom Shop pickups. In 2017, the series was renamed American Pro, and the basses got new pickups and a few other changes I don't remember.

 

[RogerTheAlien]

Good summary! But a couple of things. In 2004, you mention the "deluxe," which was a different series known as American Deluxe (now known as Ultra). The American Deluxe basses had active electronics, and the Am. Deluxe Jazz basses had noiseless pickups.

Within the American Series, there were some special editions that had noiseless pickups. For example, I remember a limited run of Jazz basses around 2006 that were passive American Series models, but had the noiseless SCN (Samarium Cobalt Noiseless) pickups from the Am. Deluxe. I played one at a GC. (There was also a regional Am. Series Strat with SCN pickups, which I remember because I had major GAS for one. I think it was sold only in the South and Southwest.)

In 2008, the series went back to the American Standard name, and they added a five-string Precision that's been in the lineup ever since. In 2012, the basses got Custom Shop pickups. In 2017, the series was renamed American Pro, and the basses got new pickups and a few other changes I don't remember.

thanks for the feedback !

 

[neptunedriver]

Was hoping for help getting this right as I'm preparing a video on this.

I'm focusing on the year to year difference of the American Standard Bass starting in 2000 and talk about the improvements Fender made to their flagship bass.

But first back to the mid-90s

1995 - the entire American standard lineup is revamped with a new body thru and top loader bridge as well as better tuners and better ‘upgraded ‘sounding pickups and electronics. Add to that graphite posi-flex reinforced neck that is returned to 20 frets, several examples are high gloss . case is chainsaw type with a few variations in the following years ( red label etc ...)
Looking forward to correcting mistakes and getting more info from you all, cheers !

Probably too late for your video, but I believe that the 1995 Am Std Precision bridges were only string through body. I bought mine new and it's string-through only. Not sure when the dual string-through/top load option was added.

 

[Aussie Player]

Was hoping for help getting this right as I'm preparing a video on this.

I'm focusing on the year to year difference of the American Standard Bass starting in 2000 and talk about the improvements Fender made to their flagship bass.

But first back to the mid-90s

1995 - the entire American standard lineup is revamped with a new body thru and top loader bridge as well as better tuners and better ‘upgraded ‘sounding pickups and electronics. Add to that graphite posi-flex reinforced neck that is returned to 20 frets, several examples are high gloss . case is chainsaw type with a few variations in the following years ( red label etc ...)

Lineup is pretty stable aside from minor finishes and a few more options, delta tone is introduced in 1997 as well as fret less models, not specifically sure for Delta tone til 2000 when it’s introduced on the basses not even mentioned in user manuals til 2003 user manual, possibly introduced earlier but manuals are hard to date.

2000 - first year rolled edges fingerboard, bridge is still vintage design,parchment pickguard and solid wood construction, first year of the American Series monicker replaces American Standard, graphite rods carried over from 90s, combined top loaded and through body bridges are still found. Some basses have factory deluxe bridge, satin finish generally found on headstock and maple finger boards but heavy gloss is on some examples. strap buttons are sourced from Schaeler. Heavier poly finish on body, factory American standards have heavier shaeller sourced tuners.

2001 - Different headstock on the five string. Minor overall changes.

2002 - Bridge is now ‘supposedly’ only thru-body, considered the vintage ‘deluxe’ bridge. Some models have a serial with 2002 and still have the leftover dual load bridge. 56003/4 standard pickups that have been common for years indicated by some others mention 33746/753.

2003 - S1 switch starts appearing, but will only appear on catalog for 2004 model.

2004 - American Series - a few extracts, Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Strat, brochure confirms continuation of Posiflex graphite neck rods standard across the line to avoid neck warping, S1 switching system, noiseless pickups on 'deluxe models' and light weight tuners, vintage style bridge, Fender catalog does not illustrate the Precision bass but discusses the 'improvements' on illustrated Jazz Basses at length. 9.5' Radius, satin poly neck finish mentioned in ads but spec wise very little changes from previous years on standard model.

2005 - Minor changes, appearance of a few limited-ed models

2006 - Fender is 60, new pearl color, Fender announces 'knurled knobs' satin necks and a few other specs as new but previous brochures going back a few years indicate this is carried over. The bass is pretty much carried over from 2002-3.

2007 - No notable changes

2008 - The bass is revamped with a new Hi-Mass bridge, thinner more breathable poly finish, new lite tuners, S-1 switch vanishes, neck is supposedly a brand new C modern profile and finish. pickups are now 61276/7, Headstock is glossed, fingerboard highly buffed with satin back.

Looking forward to correcting mistakes and getting more info from you all, cheers !

First sentence is wrong. The 1995 American Standard was not top load, only body through. I have one.

The other factor never spoken of is that the headstock facia has a more shallow scallop making it thicker, certainly and visually obvious compared to my other fenders.
The neck is stable and I have never had to adjust the perfect truss rod. It sustains longer than any other Fender I have or have played. It does not have ski jump nor 7th fret buzz. Its literally the best P Bass I've played in decades which is why I still own it.