Fender Precision American Pro 2: best modern pbass?

[BigDrew]

I thought I was the only one!! I've owned many basses and my Amer Pro II is my favorite by far! I does everything well...and the neck finish is some type of amazing voodoo! It's glossy and not at the same time! I really love this bass.

 

[tvbop]

Owned many P's over the years, including vintage. I now own one a CV 70's P with the baseball bat neck and it pretty much smokes all of them, and for 350 bucks its crazy.

 

[Pet Sounds]

Petsounds—love your handle btw, with my Angora cat’s typically blase’ approval—I totally agree with your assessment of the Pro I pickup. After trying nearly
EVERYthing the market offers (several of which were disappointing when playing at home, in rehearsals and during gigs, ultimately returning them) I hesitated to try out Fender’s newest P bass, the American Pro II. It sounded even BETTER (than I anticipated) during gigs at a variety of clubs/venues. I really didn’t have the “scratch” to afford one, but since it sounded so close to the old P I cut my teeth on, and had a similar feel to the neck, I bit the bullet. I’ve included two pics, with a pearlescent pickguard replacement (since I’ve never been a fan of torties).

Pet Sounds approves of your Olympic White P-Bass! My Pro I also is Oly White with a rosewood 'board and mint 'guard. It looks and plays great, but I don't like the sound. I'm going to have to replace the pickup one of these days.

 

[BaltoNealio]

Haven't played one, but I'd like to. The rounded neck joint is the only thing I notice as a potential concern. I'm worried the bass sacrifices neck joint integrity for the ease of playing high notes. Not a worthwhile trade for me.

Again, have never played one. Anybody/OP who has experience, please enlighten me.

John

Hi, jlo95! I bought this P bass—its pic is in my response to Petsounds—around the turn of this year. Few of the P’s I tried scratched my itch for one that sounds and has a neck that feels like my old P from the early 70’s. Understand that it’s ME who’s digging the F outta this axe, so until you put one in your hands to hear and feel it what I say is irrelevant. Yet after at least 50 rehearsals and six gigs—our band is on sabbatical after the drummer came down with a bad health ailment, temporary thank God (for him)—it’s just as sweet as when I bought it...except I swapped out the pickguard. Along the way I was getting nice compliments from FOH sound guys, two of them serious bass players, as well as from other bassists in audiences; that was a kinda new thing for me—it’s usually our tall and handsome lead guitarist .

Look, fwiw, I had a bad experience with a American Pro 1 J bass, and was compelled to return it, so very disappointed with those thin-sounding pups. So I was a little hesitant to check out the split coil Pro 2’s, but when I plugged it in to my rig, sheet-eating grin came over me. As you can read, I’m a very satisfied dude. In other news: our band plays tons of Green Day, Clash, Rancid, Joe Jackson, high tempo punk covers; the bass cuts—more like smoothly bulls its way—through the mix: singer/guitarist, lead, drummer with a huge kit.

I hope my (typically) rambling response helps you out.

 

[joel406]

Love mine.