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Fender Steve Harris Precision Bass

OK, take a $550 MIM bass; add a $60 p-up, a $100 bridge, $35 strings, $50 pickguard, $300 (minimum(?) custom paint) gives you $1095. SH sig at $1299 without all the hassle of buying, organizing assembling the parts (and not considering shipping) as a fan.....probably worth it!


IMO If you're spending $60 for SPB-1 you're spending way too much. LPB is not a custom color or refin. THe new mim's come in LPB and that color is pretty close to the real thing.
 
I hear what you're saying, but while it is over-priced for the average bassist, it has been put together for the fan. Sure it's all marketing but to any SH fan buying it, it is not overpriced!

It doesn't matter that you can build something similar from a MIM, etc. It the fact that this is a SH endorsed bass!

the fact they expect fans to buy it and pay more for it means that they are charging more for the SH bass than they would for another bass of the same quality/cost to make. From a purely value-oriented perspective, the extra money that you're paying for a steve harris endorsement (which doesn't necessarily mean anything) could be spent on something more worthwhile (setup, repairs, other gear) while playing an equally good if not better bass for the same cost.
 
Hell I'm sure to Harris fans it's over priced.

I'm a huge Mike Dirnt fan. Do I think that $799 is a bit pricey for his fender signature? Hell yeah! The used price is what the new price should be. Have I tried his bass? Yeah. Did I keep these feelings after playing and loving the bass? Yeah. Would I spend the $800 to get the bass? Yes I would.

We've been throwin around terms loosly in this thread. Being over priced and being worth it are two different things.

If a bass is over priced it's over priced, but it may be more worth it to someone else than it is to me... but it is over priced.
 
I'm just disappointed that for that much money, it doesn't come with a case. :scowl: I mean, really? One thousand three hundred dollars and it comes with a gig bag? ARE you kiddin' me? AFAIC, ANY instrument that costs more than a grand should come with a nice, hardshell case. To many, it might not matter but to me it does. How much does the case really cost the manufacturer to make/buy? A lot less than the $100 or so GC or MF charges you, that's for sure.

Is the Steve Harris sig P bass Amercian made or is it MIM? (sorry if I missed the answer already) If it's MIM, than it's a total ripoff, IMO. If it's USA made, than it's really not a bad deal. MHO, of course. :)
 
Price in some ways does not come in to this, marketing does: here's a 'no hassle' SH P Bass. For all those that can put one together for less dosh, good on'ya, still doesn't take away from the fact that this is the official (for what that's worth) SH P Bass (well actually it's the second one, but let's not split hairs!)
 
IIRC it's MIJ or atleast the last one was.

The Dirnt is MIM and honestly it (quality wise) kills most american basses I've played. I doubt it could get much better. A lot of that is just cutting down on price, think of it this way... if they are using the same wood, paint, hardware, strings, ect, ect. Aint it goin to be the same? Just made by people who happen not to be in America. If it were made in america (the dirnt I'm still talkin bout) would be well over $1000, and not much else would be different.
 
Price in some ways does not come in to this, marketing does: here's a 'no hassle' SH P Bass. For all those that can put one together for less dosh, good on'ya, still doesn't take away from the fact that this is the official (for what that's worth) SH P Bass (well actually it's the second one, but let's not split hairs!)


The first one was a dibockle... let's forget about that thing. Though it looks cool.
 
I owned the latest version for a few months last year and I have to say it is a fantastic P bass. (that is it in the profile pic) I am a fan of SH but I bought it because I wanted a new P but was just bored with the look of all the others. At $1399, it IS over priced. (Actually, I got it for $950) In the end, I couldn't look at that bright blue anymore!

I have owned American P's and I have to say that I personally liked the MIJ Steve Harris P much more. There was something in the tone of that bass and it wasn't just the Duncan pups. FWIW I didn't dig the signature strings though. Thought about having it re-finished but was afraid the tone would change.

I wouldn't go MIM and mod one to look like it. If you want it, get it. Than again, every here is just opinion!
 
I am huge Harris fan and I think at 1299 the bass is overpriced. That said...typically they sell for around 850 to 900 bucks on Ebay. I guess for the diehard fan with the cash, the price might not be an issue if you really want one. I wanted the 2001 model but didn't want to fork out over 1000 bucks for a used one. I waited long enough and managed to score one in mint condition for 750. It is what it is...a Japanese Fender P with an SPB3 and a badass bridge...but to me it's pretty cool looking and plays great.
 
A couple of months ago I was at a Sam Ash store, and played about 20 different basses, many of them Fenders. They were all average, less then thrilling, until I picked up this P with flats and a maple neck.

Immediate recognition, this was very cool, felt perfect, played perfectly, and when I finally plugged it in, huge P bass sound. (MIJ BTW)

It was the only bass I found that day that I would have walk out of the store with, but didn't have the scratch. I am now on a vigilant search for a nice used one.

And I wouldn't know Steve Harris or an Iron Maiden song if it came up and slapped me upside the head.......... FWIW.

JBY
 
I wanted the 2001 model but didn't want to fork out over 1000 bucks for a used one. I waited long enough and managed to score one in mint condition for 750. It is what it is...a Japanese Fender P with an SPB3 and a badass bridge...but to me it's pretty cool looking and plays great.

me too. 2001 model.
$750 on ebay. (minor finish cracking on bottom)
but it came with a heavy duty fender road case.

I love the hell out of it.
 
Gotcha - Gordon Sumner aka Sting!

If you havn't played one...

They arn't very good, quite honestly. It's basically the 51 ri with contours which after playing the 2 side by side, you don't notice the contours much except the arm contour. It has the tacky little thing on the 12th fret and plays/sounds ok.

If you want something unique, plays better, sounds better and feels better I personally like the Dirnt Fender in the tobacco burst. Only differences is the neck size, it has a second gen pickup, and rosewood. I think it looks best in the tobacco burst cause I like retro basses and it looks like a 50's fender.
 
'me too. 2001 model. $750 on ebay. (minor finish cracking on bottom) but it came with a heavy duty fender road case.
I love the hell out of it.'


Actually I had a small finish crack on mine...they are common on those basses...but I too am loving it. I have recorded with it and the sound guy always smiles when he hears it in the mix.