Multiple Fender Precisions in your collection?

[Bass1447]

I own...

2013 American Standard Precision 5 string. Candy apple red.
2021 American Pro II. TTSB. 5 string.
2021 American Pro II. Dark knight. 5 string. The neck for this model is typically a maple neck and that was how the bass was originally produced. I found an ebony neck which was originally on another 2021 Precision 5 string that was listed on Stratosphere. I now own the only (that I've seen) Dark Knight 5 string with an ebony fret board.
The neck that originally came with the Dark Knight was used for a custom build. Beautiful sky blue 5 string Precision that was built buy a local shop. And is pure perfection. It now lives as a Symore Duncan infused PJ. And is the finest PJ on the planet I might add.

 

[dmt]

One black MIM Standard Precision bass that I’ve always loved the sound and thin neck of, but which I find only okay-ish looks-wise and which is a little on the heavy side (just over 9 lbs., with 9 lbs. being my sworn-to max weight for a guitar or bass after I had back issues some years ago). It sounded right and the neck was right and the bass was within my bass budget at the time, so I bought it despite not loving (but not hating) the looks (the weight became an issue only later). Afterwards, I always had some regrets that I didn’t just spent the extra and buy the beautiful (and beautiful sounding) sunburst American Standard P that was hanging right next to it in the same shop though. The MIA just seemed too dear at the time, especially as I was a guitarist, not really much of a bass player yet…

One sunburst MIA American Standard Precision bass that I bought years later to try to retroactively fix that earlier mistake. I bought it used so didn’t get to really try it much first (bought it without plugging it in), but it looked pretty much just like what I wanted and the weight is just under 9 lbs. — perfect. Neck feels good too, though perhaps fuller than my ideal (but it’s good). But when I got it to our practice room, it didn’t really sound quite right to me. And the setup wasn’t where I wanted it for easiest playing. And so began years of on and off setup adjustments and pickup swaps and string changes and such to try to get this to be the bass I’d always wanted. Meanwhile, when I’d play the MIM, and well it’s a little heavy and I don’t love the way it looks, but it just instantly sounds and feels right.

Got to get around to selling the MIA

 

[Larryfales]

So, I'm looking for people who own multiple Fender Precision basses in their collection, because I would love to know why they need more than 1

Could be related to strings (one with rounds, one with flats for instance), or type of wood, pickups, backup, new vs old, anything..
P.S. clones of precisions (like Sire P5) are also welcome to join in the discussion

I might need a 2nd precision myself as well, but it feels a bit unnecessary, so I need opinions of pro's (that's you)

I have two 2nd generation Peavey Furys. One all stock set up with flats, the second is strung up with rounds and has been upgraded with active EMGs.

 

[pbass2]

I might need a 2nd precision myself as well, but it feels a bit unnecessary, so I need opinions of pro's (that's you)

Easy. One with rounds, and one with flats. That is the main reason for session work.
But I'm not a total stickler - does not have to say "Fender" on it, just has to have that pickup design in that position. I've never had anybody run screaming from the control room when I'm using my killer-sounding Lakland Glaub for example. My Sadowsky PJ sounds like a P on the P pickup. That said, I do usually bring one that says "Fender" on it, just 'cause......

 

[logdrum]

2011 American Standard - Sunburst,. Rosewood - All stock - I think this came with Cs62 pickups
1984 Fullerton reissue Precision Olympic White - Maple - Currently has Delano but I have what is supposedly original pickups. The bridge is also updated to Hipshot. I had to update the electronics

I am keeping these for my kids to sell. They do sound and play different and the 2011 is a better sounding bass even with the Delanos. It is definitely better playing and a tad lighter

I also have an 84 MIJ PJ which plays better than the other 2 when I switch it to just P. Maybe Geezer pickups but it is still better before that. Jazz neck and basswood P-body means it is lighter too.

 

[BigDrew]

1955 Custom Shop Roasted Maple with flats:

American Pro II Rosewood with round wounds:

 

[Stewie]

I have three. 98 MIM sunburst with the rosewood neck I bought in 1976. MIC ClassicVibe with an EBay maple neck and a normal bridge. Newer Indonesian Classic Vibe with frets because someday I’m going to be able to play with frets

 

[PBassAcidJazz]

Every bass I play - I just want it to sounds like a vintage P. So I own several that are very similar. Too much variation would be undesirable. I don’t think you have to justify the ownership of several by radically different variations on the theme. The P bass is in its own category.

 

[Fender_Bender]

See my avatar. One split coil, one single coil. Combined with one rosewood and one maple neck jazz bass and I have all the Fender sounds covered.

 

[Abzan_Titan]

 

[Chicken Wing]

MIJ 1986 Precision
And not a P bass, but a 2023 G&L CLF L-1000

 

[ad9000]

Two.. a ‘62 and a 2018 Road Worn. I generally have one strung with flats set up for the old school P vibe, occasionally with a Nordy Mute on it also. The other has roundwounds on for a more “modern” sound, I guess you’d say. I switch them up once in a while but I seem to like the ‘62 better with rounds - the opposite of what you’d expect, maybe even sacrilege to some P-bass users.

 

[Jason Hollar]

At this point I only have half a P bass. It has a J neck. It wears flats and is my go to sub for my upright on gigs where it’s not practical to bring the big bass.

However, I have been playing some other P basses lately and digging the tone. I think I’d like to acquire one with a big chunky neck, 7.25” radius, with nickel rounds that never get changed.

Or possibly a fretless.

 

[bassicmike]

I have 2.

One is a straight up P, altho with a J neck.

The other is a P/J fretless.

 

[2F/2F]

I have been buying instruments for close to 40 years now, and I rarely sell them. I own about 200 instruments of many types, from keyboards to drums to PA equipment to guitars to wind instruments – but the majority are bass guitars.

"Need" has absolutely nothing to do with it. I plug any one of my basses in to an amp, fart around with the controls for a while, and it sounds pretty much like the next one. All I "need" is a Squier Bronco, a Rumble 40, two 10 foot cables, and a pedal tuner.

I want more; it's that simple. It's a hobby, and a way to invest my money, that I greatly prefer to the stock market (and I'm a smart buyer, so it does just about as well in terms of re-sale).

The bottom line is that I just plain like having these instruments, and I'm not actually losing anything by having them.

 

[Gecko 5]

I own 3.
Why 3? I'm a P bass guy at heart.
The Fiesta Red was just purchased back from a shop I sold it to last year.
I figured I needed a P with flats

 

[BrentD]

I bought a Standard MIM new in 2007. It's mostly done everything I want it to do. It still looks almost new. Rosewood board.

I did buy an American Standard (2012 after the redesign) with by chance a maple board. I much prefer the pickup in this one, but because the neck and weight are so good I baby it and dont play it as much.

The MIM sits put on the stand and the MIA gets recording duty. At some point I'm going to just play the MIA more.

 

[J_Bass]

That '75 has a soul !

 

[wysiwyg248]

Is that 2013 CS with two stacked 51 pickups and side mounted jack?
I always wanted to try that one but I never had the chance. Not many were made. It looks very interesting.

You are correct about the stacked 51 pickups on the 2013 CS. I purchased it on impulse at a GC store I was visiting to kill time before a gig. Always love a black bass with maple neck, this one sounds great for rock and modern country.

 

[doughybuns87]

I have 4 and they are my only basses!

1. 2008 Squier Classic Vibe (CIC) - Sonic Blue with slab rosewood and tiny frets. All stock except for some '71 Fender tuners. Set up Fodera-low with TI flats. It's my baby. Practically plays itself and almost sounds fretless.
2. 2003 Fender Highway 1 - Daphne Blue nitro with rosewood. Fralin pickup and vintage-accurate wiring/cap, Hipshot USA tuners, threaded saddles, spitfire pickguard. I keep this one in either A Standard or B standard with DR DDT strings. Money! Used exclusively on my last album.
3. 1975 Fender - 70s Jazz neck, added J, loads of mojo. Kept in standard tuning with 40-95 rounds. Extremely versatile and aggressive.
4. 2023 Dunable custom shop - PJ, 35" scale, kept in D standard or drop C - used exclusively with my main band. Maple neck is thin in width but really chunky. Plays awesome and has tons of grunt.