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Fender P bass 2012 US standard advice

#41
I generally prefer stringing through the bridge (less sharp bends in strings), but.....
with strings being wound longer to accommodate 35 inch scale instruments, on a 4 on a side Fender headstock, a lot of string sets will end up with the fat part of the E string wound around the tuner post. Some folks think this is OK, some avoid it like the plague. With a through body stringing option (I have that on all my basses), you can take up an extra inch or so of string, and this becomes a non-issue.
 
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#42
How would an American Standard P bass compare to my Precision Plus Boner bass sound wise? Obviously the neck 100% different but what about sound? I was sort of ok with the boner but recently bought a little Yamaha 80s motion 111 short scale and really the sound and playability to me, the Yamaha blows the Fender away. Neck seems to be very finicky on the Fender (very thin necks on the boners), seem to be forever adjusting it and 2 days later its buzzing again, or the action has changed
 
#43
I had a beautiful 2011 MIA P-Bass for awhile. I believe that all the top end US Fenders have string-through-body.

I like it because it makes it nearly impossible to buy a string that is too long. As for its sonic value, I’m not exactly sure what that is. Everybody seems to have an opinion about it.

However, I do like the idea of the body and strings being more structurally integrated.
 
#44
Texaspandj said:
I don't play with a pick and my '97 sounds really good.
We accept the '60s were good Basses, the '70s hit or miss and heavy, the '80s were the dark years for Fender and trying to keep up with the trends didn't help the Basses any. But in the '90s Stevie Ray Vaughan, Nirvana, and the like playing Vintage brought a resurgence of Fender to the front again. Fender went back to designing what brought them there in the first place. Quality, classic, tradition, and that's why the '90s are some of the consistently best quality American basses you can find in any Decade.
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Sure, sure. Differences of opinions, and all that. Some people think teal is green, some people think it’s blue. Anyway, lots of people besides me do like those pickups, and they were better than whatever Fender was using in the late 2000s.
 
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#47
I have been very happy with both MIM and USA Precisions giving a nod to a slighty nicer neck on the USA. The USA's modern era are all string thru body or bridge so up to you and I've never had a problem using regular long scale strings to string thru body. Certain strings may sound better one way or the other, but I'd never buy a bass solely on that feature. Its all about feel and sound so if you find one you really bond with just go with your guy. Good luck and let us know what you decide.
 
#48
MtManiac said:
Hmm… where did you see the specs published? Every 2012-2016 P bass I’ve seen has referenced the Custom Shop ‘62 Precision pickup; the Jazz set was referred to by Fender as the Custom Shop 60s set.

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Custom Shop Custom ’60s Jazz Bass Pickups | Parts
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Not sure if correct or not but this is the specs list the guy is advertising with the guitar

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#50
I have this same model - an '08. The string-through made no difference at all, so I don't use it.
String it with the LaBella 760 flats and you will definitely get the classic P sound. Put a little foam under the strings to make the thuddier!
 
#51
Craig Williams said:
Yeah I wouldn't even attempt putting flats on unless I was 100% sure of the length required. Been there done that and flats are EXPENSIVE in Thailand. Broke a set only a few months ago. Luckily was the shops fault, they sent the wrong size and replaced them. I never knew it was an issue
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You shouldn't use flats strung through the body. You should top load flats.
 
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#52
tpaul said:
As far as I know all US Fenders are string through and always have been.

(Someone will point out exceptions, but I believe that's been the standard.)

I've never had a problem with regular strings on mine. No need to get extra long strings IME.

Should be an excellent bass.
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Not correct. American vintage/Original basses are top load only with threaded saddles. A better bridge, IMHO.
 
#54
tpaul said:
It's not a big surprise that I got that wrong.

Still, the string-through arrangement is hardly new or unusual, where US Fenders are concerned.
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As far as I recall, in 1995 Fender introduced the string thru bridge on the American Standard P and J basses. Initially, your only choice was string thru. In 2004, Fender modified the bridge to string thru or top load. They also put tracks on the plate so the saddles stayed put.
 
#56
MtManiac said:
This is incorrect. String-through is made for regular long scale 34” scale strings.

Putting extra long scale strings on is a bad idea.
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It really depends on the string. Some will have the silk on the fretboard side of the nut if you do string through body. Best to look for the lengths befogging purchasing, especially flats for whatever reason.
 
#59
lermgalieu said:
I've strung Chromes through the body on this very bass for years with nary an issue.
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Shocking! Chromes must be incredibly flexible. I'd like to see how they look at the bridge saddle. That's a hell of a break angle.
And, FWIW, I have an '04 American Precision so I too am very familiar with string thru.
Personally, I really don't hear a difference but I sense additional string tension when strung thru the body.
 
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#60
Haans said:
In a 2012 model there's probably a 50% chance of a CS pickup then, possibly more. Anyway, the rest of the instrument is top notch, and even the crappy pickups are quite alright. I would say jump on it if the price is right. Worst case you can replace the pickup, but there's a good chance you end up with the CS-pickup.
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You may be right, but I had a late 2011 American Standard Jazz Bass in a 2012 color (Jade Green Metallic) that had the Custom Shop pickups already.
 

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