Mid-Late 90s Fenders ?

[Fetusyolk]

We all hear about the earlier/newer models that have been put out but how about the 90s? they're new but not new enough to be talked about i suppose.

How was the QC/overall quality of late 90s Precisions and Jazzes?

What are the flaws that kept you away form these basses, and the good qualities that made you come back?

MIM and MIA information greatly appreciated.

 

[wvbass]

I own a '97 Am Std Jazz V and a '98 Am Std Jazz. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder here. I love them both and find them to be well-made, great sounding basses. Somebody else might run screaming at the little bit of gap in the neck pocket, or some other detail, though. Me? I love 'em.

 

[jpark369]

i have a 98 usa pbass, natural wood, tourtise pickguard.
i love this bass, bought it a couple of years ago used. i was shopping for a pbass for quite a while. i tried brand new ones, used ones, all different kinds. then i stumbled on this baby and it felt so right. it has the warmest tone, feels perfect in my hands, barely ever goes out of tune. i love this bass, best p-bass tone ive ever played, and i tried waaay to many of them out!
i dont know if that helps but...

 

[JimB52]

I had a '97 P bass that was one of the best I've played. I have a '96 P bass limited edition that might be the best P I've played. I had a 2000 Jazz that was sublime, and a '96 Jazz that is pretty ordinary, but certainly doesn't suck.
All of them are MIA basses.

 

[RMay]

I scored a used 1998 MIA J eight years ago at a low, low price. Mine is a freakishly well-built, low-maintenance, singing USA Fender J. The stock pickups were fine, eventually replaced with '62 RI pickups and tone capacitor for a dark tone. I'm lovin it.

 

[Coelho]

Late 90 Fender basses are great. Te "N" series...

 

[Lammchop93]

I have a 1994 Fender Precision Special. It's also called a Cowpoke. It is the best bass I own. It is my main bass and it sounds beautiful. It's a mexican made, but it is rock solid and plays like a dream. Great bass!

 

[pickles]

1995-1998 was a golden era for American Fenders IMO. They did a big revamp sometime in 94 and they were really kickin for a while there.

I have less experience with 99-2007 basses but played a few that were nice. Played one that sounded amazing but had a really nasty dead spot.

As always with Fender, if you can try before you buy you're way ahead of the game, but I'd be comfortable buying a 95-98 without trying it.

 

[Richard89]

I had a mid 90s MIM jazz which was really good. I havent tried so many newer ones, so I can't really say if they where better basses in the 90s. But personally I like the necks on the older MIM jazzes better than the newer ones.

 

[gnome01]

I had a '98 Jazz for awhile, it was a good though unexceptional instrument. A/B'd with my '73 it matches it in terms of punch, evenness, and maybe slightly better sustain. 2 things it couldn't touch were the 73's tone and just overall feel, and not just because it's old - the neck on the '73 just feels smoother and more substantial, and the tone is much warmer and ballsy. Obviously these are all opinions (vague ones at that!!); the 98 is still a solid worthy instrument, but I think just like a 70's Fender you gotta try before you buy, they can vary quite a bit.

 

[Papersen]

1995-1998 was a golden era for American Fenders IMO. They did a big revamp sometime in 94 and they were really kickin for a while there.

I have less experience with 99-2007 basses but played a few that were nice. Played one that sounded amazing but had a really nasty dead spot.

As always with Fender, if you can try before you buy you're way ahead of the game, but I'd be comfortable buying a 95-98 without trying it.

Surpisingly it`s the same era when they made the 1st generation Deluxe models.

IIRC, Dlx models (both MIA and MIM) from 95 to 98 came with Suhr pickups and preamps and are often considered as the best Deluxe production years.

 

[Fetusyolk]

how were the MIMs in specific?

 

[Fetusyolk]

bump cuz im buried in pages

 

[Renaissance]

I have a '98 Jazz 5er that I "stole" from a pawn shop about a month ago ($159 with a Road Runner case!). The bridge volume knob was stripped but otherwise the bass was in almost showroom condition. I did have to shim the neck two business cards worth to get the action where I wanted. The neck and pocket were a really tight fit. Fit and finish are good, nice tone and good playability. I'm a happy camper.

Sorry, forgot to add it's a MIM.

 

[Haymaker]

Agreed, I have numerous 95-98 era American standards that I wouldn’t sell for a dime less than $5000 apiece. The necks were built like tanks, the electronics and wiring were top notch. They are heavier and sound better, the paint was thiiiiiiiick and they stunk like a guitar/car shop. Today’s fenders American standard and pro series are literal junk that I would not pay more than say $500-$700 for...horrible neck pockets, ultra thin rosewood neck caps, stupid gloss on the headstock....etc. plus new ones are super light overly dried out body wood. Most are super bright sounding and have a very poor tonal range. But hey, everything sucks these days that’s not $5000 or more...the only thing good about the new fenders is the bombproof cases. Mid 90s musicman stingrays are golden also.

 

[lomo]

The best Fender I have played.... one it took me years to find and the only Fender I have kept...it's a 98 USA J5 Dlxe with the Suhr pickups. It sounds and plays great. I removed the preamp....always play it in passive mode......8 lbs and balances perfectly. IMHE Fenders are always hit/miss, but the Suhr pickups are my faves. 99-2007 were not years I favour, but in 2008 qualuty jumped again. I haven't played a Fender newer than 2010 or so.

 

[P7Michelle4st]

Surpisingly it`s the same era when they made the 1st generation Deluxe models.

IIRC, Dlx models (both MIA and MIM) from 95 to 98 came with Suhr pickups and preamps and are often considered as the best Deluxe production years.

-I know I'm late, just cruising the web site-
Ditto, I got two with the suhr set up. (note, not all of them had the Suhrs) I see these going way up in price.

 

[blr2]

My #1 instrument, that I've had since 2016 is a '99 Am. Std LE P. Looks gorgeous, with the translucent blond over ash finish, plays like butter, and sounds amazing. Quite lightweight too.

 

[Whale]

Reviving a slightly aged thread…

I have a 1997 Custom Shop Jazz Bass with the factory Suhr pickups and preamp. I’ve owned a ton of Jazz Basses over the years and the only model that could match my Suhr era Deluxe is my ‘83 AVRI. Both are absolutely sensational.

The Deluxe model was designed with a slightly smaller body, carbon fiber inserts in the neck, the Suhr pickups/preamp, and the better tuners. Mine has a real figured top (not the fotoflame) and offers an amazing array of tones. My band plays over 100 gigs a year. That means I have about 30 or 40 venues where I need a bass that can handle/overcome/master the various changes in acoustics I encounter within each room. This is where both my Deluxe (and my AVRI shine). Inevitably, I will get someone asking about my bass every third or fourth show.

 

[klejst]

I guess it depends, of the 90's Fenders (mostly silver non-spaghetti logo) I have used or/and owned I never had any real complaints about them. My MIM 1998 Precision I once owned I swore it would rival and win over most other MIA Fender Precisions of the same era and possibly dare I say in more recent years?