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Fender honeyburst p-bass

#43
I have one as well, purchased last year. I shopped around for the one I wanted during the time that GC had plenty in stock. I noticed early on that there were quite a few turds mixed in with some decent ones as well. It's a great bass, but it does have some neck dive as the body is really light. Also it's not as deep, resonant and growly sounding as a normal American P. Possibly because of the lighter body. It's nicer than a standard MIM P bass but not quite as nice as the standard MIA P.
 
#44
image.jpeg
Just, you know, an action shot from this weekend.
 
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#45
How many others have neck dive? Is it just mine or are they all this way? And how do you guys deal with it? Like I said in my post selecting the right strap helped me out, but I half debated putting a roll of pennies or something in the control cavity to add some weight to the body. I know I could change the tuners or bridge, but I personally like the vintage looks of the tuners and bridge it has.
 
#48
Buzz E said:
I have one as well, purchased last year. I shopped around for the one I wanted during the time that GC had plenty in stock. I noticed early on that there were quite a few turds mixed in with some decent ones as well. It's a great bass, but it does have some neck dive as the body is really light. Also it's not as deep, resonant and growly sounding as a normal American P. Possibly because of the lighter body. It's nicer than a standard MIM P bass but not quite as nice as the standard MIA P.
Click to expand...
This is why I think the stock bent bridge is perfect. The body is lighter in weight and the finish very thin, so a high mass bridge for me was "too much" , I liked the stock sound better. Also some of what you may be hearing is the stock pickups, mine were the pre-2012 generic and somewhat scooped.
 
#49
Tbone76 said:
The Satin Honeyburst uses the American Special neck (it even has the stamp on the back of the headstock labeled "American Special"). I've played both an American Special P and my Honey P, and they have the same Slim C profile. I also had an older Honeyburst P that developed a twist in the neck. I replaced it with an American Special rosewood neck from the Stratosphere ebay shop, and the profiles we the same. I wish I didn't trade that one......
Here's mine:
View attachment 730234
And the back of the neck:
View attachment 730235
The Honey P is an American Special model with the following exceptions:
1-No Greasebucket tone control (early ones did have it, but it was removed shortly after)
2-Hand stained finish with satin nitro top coat.

Hope this helps!
Click to expand...
I like the pick guard you put on it! I was thinking of changing mine, but haven't gotten around to it.
 
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#50
leegreenman said:
I like the pick guard you put on it! I was thinking of changing mine, but haven't gotten around to it.
Click to expand...
Thanks:)
On my previous Honey P I swapped between a black pg and the Fender tort. Both look good, as well, and the tort almost gave it a vibe like it was an older bass with a stripped "hippie refinish". I just wanted to try something different with this bass, and the slight yellowish tint on the aged pearl matches the body nicely.
 
#51
I have an Ibanez semi-hollowbody that neck dives really badly. Compared to that my American Special P doesn't neck dive at all, and even less with my wide strap.

I am going to swap out the pickups either this week or next, which should round out this bass nicely. Even with the cost of the pickups, new pickguard, chicken head knobs, and bridge cover I have less in it than the $899 I've seen GC try sell these for. I can dig that.
 
#52
Fielding said:
I have an Ibanez semi-hollowbody that neck dives really badly. Compared to that my American Special P doesn't neck dive at all, and even less with my wide strap.

I am going to swap out the pickups either this week or next, which should round out this bass nicely. Even with the cost of the pickups, new pickguard, chicken head knobs, and bridge cover I have less in it than the $899 I've seen GC try sell these for. I can dig that.
Click to expand...
If you don't have any particular pup in mind, I'd suggest the EMG Geezer Butler passive pup. It comes with new volume and tone pots, output jack, and solderless quick connectors, all for $100. I have them in my Honey P, and they are a big improvement over the stock pups. The stock pups are good, but the GZR set are at another level, imo. The supplied pots do have a smaller diameter solid-shaft than the stock Fender pots, but the stock knobs will still fit.
 
#55
Tbone76 said:
If you don't have any particular pup in mind, I'd suggest the EMG Geezer Butler passive pup. It comes with new volume and tone pots, output jack, and solderless quick connectors, all for $100. I have them in my Honey P, and they are a big improvement over the stock pups. The stock pups are good, but the GZR set are at another level, imo. The supplied pots do have a smaller diameter solid-shaft than the stock Fender pots, but the stock knobs will still fit.
Click to expand...

As I was looking at which to put in this bass, it came down to the EMG Geezers or the Fender CS '62 pickups. I ended up going with the Fenders b/c I came across a set that were less than a hundred bucks. The Geezers are still in the back of my mind in case these don't work out. Thanks for the heads up.
 
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#56
Fielding said:
As I was looking at which to put in this bass, it came down to the EMG Geezers or the Fender CS '62 pickups. I ended up going with the Fenders b/c I came across a set that were less than a hundred bucks. The Geezers are still in the back of my mind in case these don't work out. Thanks for the heads up.
Click to expand...
Any time. The Custom 62's are another great pup choice.
 
#57
Rusty2867 said:
There are 6 of them on their used list ranging from $599 to $674.I Just got home from GC and the salesman said they had them in the warehouse new,it was just on a flash sale for $699 but I could not get in there.I figure before Christmas they will be on sale again,if not and they run out then I will look for used.If they put them on sale again I will just do it online if I can't make it to a store!
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Keep us posted if you see them on sale again. I want to buy one for my nephew but sometimes I miss the one day sales. Thanks Thomas
 
#58
Tbone76 said:
The Satin Honeyburst uses the American Special neck (it even has the stamp on the back of the headstock labeled "American Special"). I've played both an American Special P and my Honey P, and they have the same Slim C profile. I also had an older Honeyburst P that developed a twist in the neck. I replaced it with an American Special rosewood neck from the Stratosphere ebay shop, and the profiles we the same. I wish I didn't trade that one......
Here's mine:
View attachment 730234
And the back of the neck:
View attachment 730235
The Honey P is an American Special model with the following exceptions:
1-No Greasebucket tone control (early ones did have it, but it was removed shortly after)
2-Hand stained finish with satin nitro top coat.

Hope this helps!
Click to expand...
Thanks for the clarification, wasn't sure if my December 2015 model had greasebucket or not.
 
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#60
TB24 said:
Thanks for the clarification, wasn't sure if my December 2015 model had greasebucket or not.
Click to expand...
No problem. If you pull the pg off and look at the tone control, you can visually see if you have it. The standard tone control will have 1 capacitor on it, while the Greasebucket has more than 1. That's how it's been described to me, anyways.
 

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