Fender Precision Special, 1980-1982, Opinions?

[Count Bassie]

An old longing could be realized, but it's expensive. It's Fender's first active bass, originally came in CAR and Lake Placid Blue. White pickguard.
Is this bass that much better than the new run of MIM Fenders?
Anybody played one?...

 

[ghostdog93]

I just looked at some of the prices online, and I nearly swallowed my gum.

 

[MIJ Fender Guy]

The Dan Smith era is generally considered to be a really good quality era. A lot of of them are really heavy though. I have a a fondness for the Standard Precision bass from this era

 

[Count Bassie]

Yeah the process are hefty.
And yeah this one I'm looking at is 11.5 lbs.
But something about them when I first saw one. It was red, it was class. Now, still is. I'm just trying to decide if I want to stretch that much for one.

 

[ajkula66]

Anybody played one?...

I bought one when they came out. CAR/maple. Had the Walnut version as well later on...but regarding the CAR example:

Much better QC than on the S9 which I had previously owned. Active electronics didn't do much for me, but it sounded just fine in the passive mode.

I was very young back then and the weight of the instrument was the least of my concerns, but I've definitely owned heavier Fender basses than that one.

Personally, I'd take it over any MIM Fender I've ever tried but I don't think that they're quite in the same price range.

My $0.02 only...

 

[Count Bassie]

This one would involve my selling a Sterling Ray 34ca, which is a decision to make.

 

[TonH]

I have and play(ed) a Fender Precision Special.
As mentioned it is heavy and the neck is thick (back to front ) but the preamp bass/treble sounds good.
More information on my webpage about this bass: Fender Precision Special

The bassist Joe Rockman of the Jeff Healey Band used to play one in Olympic White:



Joe Rockman on 'ROAD HOUSE: The Lost Soundtrack'... - The Official Jeff Healey Site

 

[godofthunder59]

I remember when these came out. For the era these were well built basses and the poor QC of the late 70s was disappearing in the rear view mirror. Notoriously heavy giving Peavey T40 a run for the money. If it is what you are after I say go for it. Myself I would buy a 69-74 Precision or a new Vintera III. Fender Mexico has made great strides latley, I wouldn't discount one.

 

[Longwheelbass]

Look at the Vintera III’s bro. A buddy just got the maple board late 60’s style P with sunburst over alder and it’s light as hell, barely over 8 lbs, oval tuners and a fast B width neck and it sounds killer.

 

[Count Bassie]

I've got an FSO built by a local guy named Dave Ross, called a Two Face. It's got P pup and J pups in a slightly modified arrangement, and it's very lightweight. The neck is big back to front and I prefer a thinner neck, but because of the weight I don't mind it.
My Ray 34ca is around 11 lbs, but I really like what that I've does/is
My things for the Special is a little bit of an old fascination, but with that weight *and* the fatter neck, that fantasy begins to fade a bit.
Thanks for the particulars, @godofthunder59.
And @Longwheelbass, oval tuners? Lol, that's fun.
Thanks everybody!

 

[taliesin]

I had one in the 80’s that I sold years ago when I was short of money - I missed it and was able to find one in good shape for a reasonable price.

I agree that it’s definitely on the heavy side but I find the neck very playable- and I’m normally a jazz neck style fan.

I like the preamp which many people don’t - the top end can be pretty harsh so you need to tame that a bit but when the bass control is boosted just a bit it adds some low end grunt to the sound which I like.

The finish was a bit fragile so most of them now tend to show some wear - I don’t mind it but some people might not like it.

I had a Ray34 that I sold a while ago and for me I prefer the P Special.

 

[Count Bassie]

I had one in the 80’s that I sold years ago when I was short of money - I missed it and was able to find one in good shape for a reasonable price.

I agree that it’s definitely on the heavy side but I find the neck very playable- and I’m normally a jazz neck style fan.

I like the preamp which many people don’t - the top end can be pretty harsh so you need to tame that a bit but when the bass control is boosted just a bit it adds some low end grunt to the sound which I like.

The finish was a bit fragile so most of them now tend to show some wear - I don’t mind it but some people might not like it.

I had a Ray34 that I sold a while ago and for me I prefer the P Special.

Interesting...

 

[taliesin]

Interesting...

Sorry I didn’t mean to muddy the waters.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

As with all Fenders from about 1970 forward, you have to play plug it in and play it. That’s the only way to tell if it’s a ‘good one’ or a dawg

 

[J Wilson]

A historical footnote. I have a real soft spot for the walnut ones as a real looker, but too heavy and thick in any form to live with. Even in their day, the electronics just weren't all that. I owned a blue one for a while.

If it works for you, great, but this is no super special piece as far as playing or collecting as far as I'm concerned. In its day, it was a statement piece as to what Fender was capable of, a real top-of-the-range boat, but the electronics just weren't ground-breaking and it was a thick, heavy beast.

But they looked great.

 

[Matt O]

I’ve played one long enough to know it was pretty heavy and sounded better to me in passive mode. Just a guess, but I think it might have been Fender’s attempt to attract slappers to the P bass. I don’t think it worked out.

 

[Count Bassie]

I have been talked out of it.

 

[taliesin]

I suspect it was intended more to compete with the Stingray - and wasn’t one of the Gibson masses at the time active? The Victory maybe?

 

[urkel3000]

You'll either love the string spacing or hate it

 

[ajkula66]

I suspect it was intended more to compete with the Stingray - and wasn’t one of the Gibson masses at the time active? The Victory maybe?

Gibson had two active basses at the time, RD Artist and Victory Artist.