Latest G.A.S. Fender Deluxe Active P Bass Special

The tone of this bass is definitely more aggressive and hi-fi than a passive Precision and that's because of the active electronics.

I'm interested in this bass too because I get pulled into a lot of jam and party band scenarios where I have to use the amp that's provided and it seems like being able to dial in a usable tone from the bass itself would be a real plus. This one has a TON of cut/boost in all three frequency ranges.

I've had passive P/J basses and could never really make the J pup work for me. I love that burpy bridge tone it provides, but there's such a difference in output and tone from the P pup it just doesn't work in a live mix without a big EQ tweak at the amp. Based on the hour I spent playing with the controls at the store it sounds like the preamp in this bass would actually let me switch between pups and dial my tone with either one.

Does anybody know if a standard Precision pickguard from a MIM or MIA P bass will fit this thing? That gold vinyl pickguard has to go!

 

Get it. I got one aout a year ago and it has been superb. The tone is easily the most versatile I've come across, getting a great sound for whatever I've tried to play on it. It looks superb, although I'm goign to try and swap out the PG for a mirrored one and the build quality is superb.

My only issue is the fact that it can lose its tuning fairly quickly, and the frets are a little too high for my liking.

And standard PGs WILL NOT fit these. There are extra knobs, and the neck (being a Jazz neck) is different. Very few places carry them off the shelf, so custom is more or less the only option.

 

hey Ed,

I understand about the extra knobs but that's an easy fix...just drill two more holes.

What I was wondering about is the fit around the front pickup and the neck pocket, those are standard on all MIA and MIM Fenders.

This bass however, is supposed to have a slightly downsized body. I can't imagine Fender would have made a different size pickguard for it, but I haven't been able to verify.

I have several Precision pickguards laying around so I was hoping to slap a black one on my soon-to-be Blizzard Pearl/maple DAP.

That gold one is something I just can't live with...butt ugly!

 

I know what you mean, I'm looking to swap out for a new one. But the other thing you'll want to keep in mind, is that for the electronics the routing on the front is different to a standard P. That and the different neck pocket mean that you'll need to get a non-standard PG.

 

It really is a great bass. Played it many times at my local GC. I do find myself wishing there were other body colors available, but I love the neck (comfortable and fast) and the electronics (loud, powerful, musical, and rich).

For me it would have to be either Chrome Red or Blizzard Pearl with rosewood.

 

I'm very interested in buying an Active Deluxe P. I'd replace the stock pickguard with a parchment in a heartbeat.

 

Just got off the phone with Fender tech support, the guy I spoke with told me the pickguard dimensions on this bass are identical to MIA and MIM Precisions and as long as you drill additional holes for the extra knobs it should be an easy swap.

I hope he's right!

I'm real close to ordering one of these as my "jam bass".

 

I just ordered one, should get it in a week! :-D

 

There's a used one in a store near me. Black/rosewood for $450. I very much like the way it plays and it's in good shape.
Yay or nay?

 

Lightweight, budget-friendly, comfy neck — what's not to like?

 

I didn't do the same just because I always longed for a navy blue one which never came across while I twice found both black and blizzard pearl exemplars.

Go get it: if everything's ok on it, the price's absolutely right

Cheers,
Wallace

 

I really like mine, and consider it to be a keeper:



I've owned a handful of passive P/J basses, but none of them worked out as well as this active P/J... FWIW, it's no longer sporting the BAII bridge in this pic - I found that the original Fender threaded saddle bridge worked better in this case...


- georgestrings

 

I talked them down to $400 (after the guy told me they don't negotiate used prices). I'm going to pick it up this afternoon. This'll be my first active bass. Is there anything in particular to look for on these? Any particular quirks/issues normally associated with the deluxe p? Is the noiseless j pup really noiseless? (I've played it in the store but for some reason the last several times I was there the bass room was overrun with young slap-happy hooligans, so it's hard to judge).

 

Make sure the midrange knob works properly - it's supposed to have a center detent, and have cut/boost capability... I had to replace that pot on mine, and it's a Fender only part - not expensive, nor hard to replace, but getting it was a pain...

Other than that, I can't think of anything - they're great basses... I had a little neck work done to mine, and it plays as well as any of my MIA Fenders - sounds great, and is pretty versatile... I've probably done atleast 40 gigs with mine - covering everything from modern rock/metal, an Alice Cooper trib act, blues, and top 40 country - no problems at all...


- georgestrings

 

So there's four knobs, the third one is stacked. Is it
1)volume
2)pickup pan
3)bass and treble stacked cut and boost
4)mid cut and boost?

Should 2, 3 and 4 all have center detents? or just the mid knob?

 

Yes, and yes - 2,3,and 4 are all supposed to have center detents...


- georgestrings

 

What is your rig setup? Looks sweet

 

i have been looking at this bass. the new ones have two batteries. 18v. does any know what the average battery life is with the two batteries?

 

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender/...t-1500000021672.gc?pfm=item_page.rrt1|ClickCP

not sure if i believe the are usa coutry of origin for this price?
pp

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender/...t-1500000021672.gc?pfm=item_page.rrt1|ClickCP