Fender Precision differences

I can't answer your Fender questions, but Sterlings and Stingrays are active basses.

 

The American Series is a USA made bass (MIA) & the Standard series is a Mexican (MIM) made bass. For the most part, the MIA is made w/better hardware, wood (ash or alder) & electrinics. The wood (poplar) on the MIM's is softer & is supposed to have the same tonal characteristc of alder. For the money, the MIM's are a great bass. If in the future you have some extra cash & or desire, the MIM bass is extremely upgradable. w/a new bridge, set of pickups & tuning machines, you have a bass that is plays & sounds as good or better than a stock MIA. IMO. Since Fender has been around since the begining of time, every parts company makes direct Fender replacement parts.

 

MIA = Made in America
MIM = Made in Mexico

just little acronyms we like to use in TalkBass.

 

Oh yeah, and both Fenders are passive and both Musicmans are active.

The differences between the Standard P Bass and American are as follows: Standard P Bass has plastic strat knobs, American has chrome knobs. Standard is made of poplar, American is made of one piece, solid, non-veneered Alder (or ash if you get natural or white blonde finish) American series has superior electronics and is generally higher quality all around. Also, the American series is made in the USA, while the standard is made in Mexico. As I said above, both Fender basses have passive electronics with one volume knob and one tone knob.

 

Actually, the only active thing on the MMs is the preamp. The pickups are passive. The 2001 MIM P-Basses have chrome knobs, too.

Sorry if I sounded like a jerk.

 

Noone mentioned that the American Series bass has graphite neck reinforcement which the Mexican bass does not as well as a bridge that strings through the body.