NBD: 2013 Fender AVRI 63 Precision Bass (with clips)

Tonegasm · Jul 15, 2013

Scored this from MF last week and it came in today. Love the Sonic Blue color a lot. Finish work was very well dones and I couldn't find a single flaw with the bass. Although I did notice that the bridge cover did leave an imprint in the finish (I don't mind). I got very lucky with a light one that weighs 8 lbs. 15.4 oz. The neck is really nice and much meatier front to back than my 1982 AVRI '57 P Bass. The thickness is very similar to my 1971 P Bass, although the '71 has a narrower "B" width neck (1.625").

I tore the rounds off as soon as I got home and threw one some .050-.105 D'Addario Chromes (my fav). The sound is really, really great. The only way I can describe it is very well rounded and refined. My '82 is very midrangey and barks, my '71 is very smooth, and the new '13 sounds like a great combo of them both. The pickup is really outstanding.

Below are some quick clips I recorded of each bass to compare the sounds. The bassline is Respect by Aretha Franklin. All basses strung with D'Addario Chromes.

Hope you enjoy.

1982 CAR AVRI '57 Fender Precision Bass
1971 Fender Precision Bass
2013 Sonic Blue AVRI '63 Fender Precision Bass

Pics:

Top to bottom: 1982 '57 AVRI, 1971, 2013 '62 AVRI

Tom Howland · Jul 15, 2013

Nice clips.
They all sound like a P-Bass, but different.
The 71 is woody, and smooth, the 82 that maple bark & growl.
The new 2013 63 sounds a little like both the others combined.
It think in years to come, the 63 will just get better.
These bass kill.
I also have a 63, but still gas for a 58.

Reynoldbot · Jul 15, 2013

That's a fine instrument right there, congratulations!

LM Bass · Jul 15, 2013

They all sound great to me.

D.M.N. · Jul 15, 2013

Yep, sounds like a Precision Bass.

vin*tone · Jul 15, 2013

Great clips Thanks for posting.

The 2013 sounded the brightest to me. Maybe it's new strings?

king_biscuit · Jul 15, 2013

They all sound good, but the old 82 Fullerton sounds the best.

R&B · Jul 15, 2013

Love it! My favorite tone is the '71, my favorite look is the '63 AVS! Thanks for the treat.

The Bass Clef · Jul 16, 2013

Very nice P bass collection Lublin! I think I like the sound of the new '63 the best, but they al sound great! The '71 seems a little fatter than the other 2.

faulknersj · Jul 16, 2013

She is gorgeous! Love that color!!

qwench · Jul 16, 2013

Really nice to hear for sure...I did prefer the 71 overall...but it seemed like if the flats on the new unit (beauty by the way on that AVRI 63) were a bit older and "deader" it might have been closer to the 71's tone (maybe a lil' less low midrange girth)...are the chromes on the 71 a fair bit older (ie. new set on the new bass?)...regardless, awesome work and thanks a bunch for posting...nicely done!

TC.65 · Jul 16, 2013

They do all have that pbass sound but I think I like the 2013 the best with the 71 right behind. It may be due to the fact that I like the tone of a rosewood fingerboard better. I just picked up my first "Fender" pbass a couple weeks ago and I totally love it!!!

R&B · Jul 16, 2013

Dude! Took a closer look. Is the nut on the '71 an "A" or "B" width? Really nice menage a trois.

bh2 · Jul 16, 2013

I have uber gas for the sonic 63... £1700 here in blighty!

Rob S · Jul 16, 2013

Thanks for this great post. I am so jealous of your '82 and the deal it seems you got! Good for you. Well done. The blue '63 kills!

vates · Jul 16, 2013

Thanks for sharing! I prefer '71. But AV'63 sounds really good too. And the looks is just gorgeous. I think it will age well both in terms of sound and looks

bh2 · Jul 16, 2013

Yes... gassing even more for a sonic CV P now!

faulknersj · Jul 16, 2013

Nice clips...but for me...i cant tell which bass i prefer...or if i even like a bass until i hear it set in a mix with a full band. I have had basses that sound incredible on their own, but disappear in the mix...and basses that sound just ok on their own, but sound killer in the mix. It would be fun to hear clips set against a band!!

Congrats on the great basses!

Tonegasm · Jul 16, 2013

Thanks, everyone!

The '71 is obviously the oldest and had the oldest, dullest Chromes on it. That definitely contributes to its warm and woody sound. If I were to pick a Motown bass, that would be it.

The '82 is a beast of its own in a more pronounced way. The flats are newer, so it's much brighter, but the maple neck also adds a lot to the snap and growl. Excited to hear these flats die down and mellow out.

The '13 is a real treat. Like I said, its got everything going for it. The only thing I'm not used to is it being a new Fender. All of my Fenders are older and pretty hammered on, so holding a brand new shiny bass feels a bit odd. Guess ill just have to play the snot out of it and expedite the aging process.

PS - I've read about Fender including flats with these basses. I didn't have flats with mine.

sigmafloyd · Jul 16, 2013

They all look/sound great. If I were to choose based on sound I'd pick the '82.

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NBD: 2013 Fender AVRI 63 Precision Bass (with clips)

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NBD: 2013 Fender AVRI 63 Precision Bass (with clips)

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