NBD: Fender American Ultra Precision

[Bill Murray]

Whats your thought on the neck profile? Ones of the reasons I have trouble with P basses are the necks are too "fat" for my stubby fingers but this is new models has that newer D profile. Is it any easier to play in your opinion?

hard to say... I personally love the neck on it. It plays a little faster than the Elite but very similar. I’m in the opposite boat though as I’m not into Jazz basses

 

[Bill Murray]

Mine just came in Friday. I even got to track with it this weekend! Sounds amazing, it’s everything I’ve been looking for. I have yet to find a picture that does the finish justice! It’s perfect and the way the light affects it is realllly cool

 

[LiquidMidnight]

Tried one of these a few weeks ago and was blown away. It was an exceptional instrument. But as is the case with Fender, we're still only stuck with one five-string Precision option and of course, it's not the Ultra. I tried the Jazz as well, which was an impressive instrument, but didn't really fill a tonal role that one of my LB75s isn't already filling.

I can understand returning the Precision if it's not really fitting with your idea of a traditional P. Even with the neck pickup soloed, I didn't really think it sounded like a traditional Precision. And the neck is definitely not traditional P.

 

[mstrlowdown]

I played one today at Sweetwater and thought it was a great bass. I'm seriously considering going back to a 4-string and seriously considering this bass.

 

[Bill Murray]

Liyer

I played one today at Sweetwater and thought it was a great bass. I'm seriously considering going back to a 4-string and seriously considering this bass.

literally did exactly this.

Sold my 5 string modulus, bought this and haven’t looked back

 

[bbeiermann]

I have the same style of P bass showing up on Saturday from Sweetwater. It’s awesome reading the rave reviews.

 

[Don Vitos]

Hi guys what’s your opinion about the new PJ pups? Are they better than Aguilar?

 

[mickebas]

The American Ultra P I have is gorgeous and sounds terrific. That said, I am going to return it. I am a very traditional country player, and I find that in the several weeks I have owned it my preference is to play it without Active preamp and with the pan pot rolled all the way to the P pickup.

Why have all that other stuff if I am not going to use it? I would prefer a straight up American P, personally.

Sounds a bit strange to me if you like the bass as much as you say you do why not just keep it and play it in passive mode using the P-pickup? That’s what I do 85% of the time on my PJs. Then when you least expect it you might need that J-pickup for something... especially if you trade it in for a regular P

 

[mickebas]

... and yes, how do you guys with the Ultra P like the new version of the noiseless pickups? P-pickup in passive mode is it a good, classic traditional P-bass sound?

 

[Nebadon2000]

... and yes, how do you guys with the Ultra P like the new version of the noiseless pickups? P-pickup in passive mode is it a good, classic traditional P-bass sound?

Yes

 

[TrevorG]

Yes

What he said.

 

[TrevorG]

... and yes, how do you guys with the Ultra P like the new version of the noiseless pickups? P-pickup in passive mode is it a good, classic traditional P-bass sound?

One of the best things about the Ultra is it doesn't do any 'un-Fendery' things. In neither passive nor active mode. It's the best Jazz sound I've ever had and the P sound is rich and deep. I have the rosewood finger board and think the maple FB may give you a brighter sound.

 

[bobyoung53]

My new P-Bass arrived today from Sweetwater. Everything is perfect including the setup. The worst part about getting a new Fender is getting the clear protective plastic off of the pickguard. Must have taken me 1/2 hour, had to remove all the knobs to get that crap off.

I think it is gorgeous. It is a nice hunk of ash (except for that dark wart by the bottom of the pickguard) and the rosewood fingerboard is dark and has a subtle figure. Fretwork is perfect. Tried it through two amps, a Fender Rumble 500 and an Ampeg B210V2 (also arrived today). I think this bass sounds better through the Ampeg, but too soon to tell because I only ran both amps flat to start with.

So far I have only played it mostly in passive mode, I will have to experiment with the active mode. I think I am really going to enjoy this bass.

Here's a pic Sweetwater sent me of my bass:

View attachment 3602542

Too bad you sold it, that is one of the most beautiful Fenders I've ever seen. I have a passive American Fender P/J (Vintage Hot Rod) and usually only use the J pickup to augment the split pickup, gives it a little more presence.