Fender Hot Rod Precision Bass questions

[Bongolation]

thanks for the info bongo. if they brought these things back with the same set-up as the TF sig, they might be better sellers. but like you've stated numerous times, the VVT syndrome on these is bad.

"Bad" is an inadequate adjective for the V/V/T on these.

As I've mentioned before, these have unique P/J pickups not used on any other Fender, which is part of the problem. They also had the Invalid Link Removed Fender didn't get around to dealing with for a few years (that's mine).

Aside from a pretty interesting one-trick sound with everything dimed (which is the damage-control fallback argument for failed P/Js), these are pretty much a bust.

If I actually cared about this instrument, and I don't, I'd throw the stock pickups in the trash, get the best Precision pickups and the best Jazz bridge pickup I could find and replace the first volume pot with a three-position rotary switch and make a stealth TF out of it.

But in that Invalid Link Removed and have numerous good Ps and Js for studio, I just keep this pig in stock configuration for that neat one-trick sound should I ever feel the need for it in recording. With the stock 8250Ms it is a unique tone.

 

[sensei_steve]

I bought a 2001 hrpb about a year ago on ebay for about $900 after shipping. Its natural with rosewood neck and pristine. The previous owner installed quarter pounders and a badass bridge. It now has a fender 62 reissue p-pickup and a dimarzio area j. They blend together real nice, no balance issues. Am guitars did the passive electronics setup vbt. The volume control i believe is bourne, when pulled out the area j and the blend control are bypassed making for a pure p bass. The tone control is a six position varitone. It has a new badass II bridge with grooves.
I just sold the quarter pounders and original badass to a tb'er this week. The bass is still listed and stil for sale. Pm me if anyone is interested.

 

[gndboy]

I prefer the V/V/T setup. Over the 14 years since I bought the bass new I haven't had any kind of problem with the finish or the instrument even though it has been shipped intercontinentally a couple times. As stated previously, the small tone pot took a couple tries to get one (CTS) that functioned over time. This is my all-time favorite bass. Just a few weeks ago it got Bartolini passive pickups installed which I really like. The J p/u is now totally silent, and the overall tone vibe is slightly more low mid. We'll see how I like the Bartolini's over time. I see Fender is reissuing these (with a different bridge) for big bucks.

 

[rigorous bass]

I bought one new in '98 or '99 with tolex case for around $700.00. It's Arctic white with maple fretboard. The small tone pot crapped out twice in short order, but the third one has been fine ever since. Around 2006 I replaced the faux tortoise pickguard with a pale mint green piece. This bass has seen serious use but still looks great; just had the frets leveled and it sings as well as ever. To me, it's the all-weather bass.

I'm pretty sure I own your bass now. Barts right? Anyway, I'm taking it on a 5 month tour starting January. I'm really enjoying it alot! I sure hope it is the All Weather Bass!

 

[RonInConn]

Hello, forum experts. Sorry for re-opening old thread, but I hate to start another and have a few of HRPB questions, if anyone is game.

I just got a Trans Orange (don't hate) HRPB from 2000 via Craigslist. It's been modded to have Curtis Novak P and J pickups, and SEEMS to behave OK, although I've mainly been just after a solid vintage P-bass sound.

I guess my first question, which will quickly expose me as a newcomer to passive V/V/T world, is: If my bass was experiencing ' bad V/V/T syndrome', what would I be hearing? Was the knock on the old HRPBs just that the stock pickups interacted badly, and I should be OK with the Novaks?

I DO notice that the taper on the volume pots seems really wacky; very, very sensitive on the high side - like super-log pots or something. Was this a defect in the pots or were they designed like this? It basically makes both volume pots unuseable; have to essentially leave them at full, since the sound changes drastically when you turn down even a little. Is there a recommendation for replacement pots? While I'm in there, is it worth replacing the tone pot as well?

Many thanks to all who view / respond! Have a great New Year's!

 

[txhawaii]

Bought a HRP in 2001 and still love it today. Can't seem to find anybody else with a sunburst body/maple neck/FB combo people always seem to have rosewood FB.

View attachment 2061346

I purchased the same maple neck three tone sunburst hrp bass online from musician's friend back in 1999. I applied for a "no interest for 15 month" credit card to buy it and purchased a 1 year treasury bond to pay off the debt at the end and earned interest!

 

[Texaspandj]

The walking thread alert.
Saw one in a music store years ago. I picked it up and played it, liked it But didn't buy it. I wish I had.

 

[philthygeezer]

after talking with another TB'er on here and the pics of tokemon and nightsun's HRPB's, i've confirmed a long-standing suspicion that these basses came with two different bridge pickup spacings. the one in nightsun and angelofdeath003's has the bridge pickup spaced at 1-11/32" between the P's treble coil and the bridge pickup. and the spacing on tokemon's and my HRPB is 1-3/4" between the treble coil and bridge pickup.

Yep, I remember choosing one with the J closer to the bridge from the ones in stock during the blowout sale. I reasoned that the pickups would be 'more different'.

 

[Tokemon]

Still have never come across another one of these Hot Rob P-basses as far as the sunburst body with maple fretboard. Let me know if anyone has ever seen one! Cheers!

 

[txhawaii]

Still have never come across another one of these Hot Rob P-basses as far as the sunburst body with maple fretboard. Let me know if anyone has ever seen one! Cheers!

I have a 1999 one as described, maple neck and all. I'm thinking about selling it of all things...

 

[BassHappy]

Fender Hot Rod Precision Bass: