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Fender P-bass MIA with 18v preamp?!

Mister_Munro

Mister_Munro

Mar 2, 2014
42
1
41
Alberta, Canada
#1
Hey everyone! So I tried out a Fender P-bass that had an 18v pre-amp in it that had a stacked control where the tone knob usually is. It was stacked with bass and treble controls and the volume had a pull feature to run it passive. Anyways, I've sadly now fallen for it (although it has some wear on the body.. nothing that affects it, well.. the price as I will argue with the store) and well, long story short. I'm in love. I want to know some info on it to see if this was a model that Fender had as I know they like to try different stuff with their standard models. Thanks!
 
#3
Just a P. I think it's a custom job to be honest. I did a quick 5 minute search online to see if Fender did a series one year with this kind of configuration. No luck.

It is of noting that the neck didn't have the width (at least by feel) of a standard p.
 
#4
The Fender American Deluxe Precisions from 2003 - 2008 had an 18V preamp. But that instrument generally featured the standard precision pickup plus a humbucker in the bridge position. The controls on that instrument included a master volume, pan pot, stacked bass & treble boost/cut and a midrange boost/cut.

Now, if the bass you tried didn't have that humbucker at the bridge position? Then I'm not sure what you tried out. But perhaps someone like the onboard preamp from an American Deluxe P-bass and put it, or something similar, into the bass you tried out.
 
#5
It's not the american deluxe with the humbucker in the bridge position. I'm thinking it might be a frankenstein kind of deal as it doesn't have an option to be strung through the body. Sounds absolutely wonderful in passive and especially in active. From experience, I think the pre-amp is a type of aguilar .. I may have to take the hit to the bank account just so I can find out more.. hmm
 
#6
I would guess its a MIM body routed with American neck. Can't think of another scenario. Pull the neck off if you can and see what you can see on the body. Might not even be a fender body.



Mister_Munro said:
It's not the american deluxe with the humbucker in the bridge position. I'm thinking it might be a frankenstein kind of deal as it doesn't have an option to be strung through the body. Sounds absolutely wonderful in passive and especially in active. From experience, I think the pre-amp is a type of aguilar .. I may have to take the hit to the bank account just so I can find out more.. hmm
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