Fender Honey Blonde vs Vintage Blonde

[Jose Cunha]

Anyone can describe the difference or has any photo with the two colors side by side?

My question is regarding
Fender Classic Series 50s Precision Bass "Honey Blonde" VS Fender Vintera 50s Precision Bass "Vintage Blonde".

Thank you!

 

[garp]

I have never held a Vintage Blonde Vintera in my hands. However, in looking at photos of one, I'd have to say that "Vintage Blonde" and "Honey Blonde" are nearly identical.

I own a Classic Series '50s Precision in Honey Blonde (poly, not nitro). At a distance, the finish appears to be opaque, but upon close inspection, it's actually semi-transparent. On mine, I can actually see a fair amount of wood grain beneath. It's quite nice, actually. If you look at the Vintera pictured on Sweetwater's site – particularly the back-of-body-shot – you can see a similar level of semi-transparency to the finish, with enough detail to determine that this particular example is a 3-piece body.

 

[Jose Cunha]

I have never held a Vintage Blonde Vintera in my hands. However, in looking at photos of one, I'd have to say that "Vintage Blonde" and "Honey Blonde" are nearly identical.

I own a Classic Series '50s Precision in Honey Blonde (poly, not nitro). At a distance, the finish appears to be opaque, but upon close inspection, it's actually semi-transparent. On mine, I can actually see a fair amount of wood grain beneath. It's quite nice, actually. If you look at the Vintera pictured on Sweetwater's site – particularly the back-of-body-shot – you can see a similar level of semi-transparency to the finish, with enough detail to determine that this particular example is a 3-piece body.

Thanks for your insight!

 

[bassdude51]

Isn't Honey Blond kind of a translucent cream white? Vintage Blond is a very yellow translucent. Mary Kay is translucent white.

Isn't this the story with those finishes?

 

[Jose Cunha]

Isn't Honey Blond kind of a translucent cream white? Vintage Blond is a very yellow translucent. Mary Kay is translucent white.

Isn't this the story with those finishes?

I have never seen neither in person, that's why Im asking for help. But i'm more inclined to choose the Honey Blonde. Somehow it looks less yellow, at least in the images I found online. But it could be a matter of white balance and light conditions when the pictures were made.

 

[garp]

Isn't Honey Blond kind of a translucent cream white? Vintage Blond is a very yellow translucent. Mary Kay is translucent white.

Isn't this the story with those finishes?

Complicate that all by the fact that FMIC also has a White Blonde, used for example on the Squier Classic Vibe '50s Precision. All I can say is that when the Vintera line was first introduced and I saw decent photos of the Vintage Blonde version, I had trouble differentiating it from my Classic Series '50s Precision in Honey Blonde.

 

[micguy]

I married a Blonde, and she's a twin, so I understand this issue - sometimes it's critical to be able to tell one Blonde from another.

My wife's twin is 7 minutes older, so she's the Vintage Blonde. I'm married to my Honey.

 

[consectaneus]

Complicate that all by the fact that FMIC also has a White Blonde, used for example on the Squier Classic Vibe '50s Precision. All I can say is that when the Vintera line was first introduced and I saw decent photos of the Vintage Blonde version, I had trouble differentiating it from my Classic Series '50s Precision in Honey Blonde.

My take (from the pictures) is that the Vintera blonde is the "honey" variety like the old Hwy 1 Precision bass. It appears to be more on the tan side. IMO it looks great with the maple neck and gold anodized pickguard!

Even back in the 50s Fender seems to have used a couple of types---what we call Butterscotch and the laterr 50s white blonde (like the current AVRI/American Original 50s Precisions).

(Actually, comparing a bunch of google images of the Vintera, most of the pictures tend to a straw yellow, moral of the story being best to see one in person since lighting--hence color--can be deceptive.)