NBD! Fender AVRI 63 Precision Bass

[skaine]

After putting my American Pro to sale, i guess i finally found a gem. Because of the Seminole Red color, i named the bass as "The Chief".

I put Rotosound Flats on it. Previous owners didnt took much care about it, so it has lots of wears and tears, especially at the sides and at the back. Also the pickguard is not the original one, as well as the hard case, which i dont really mind.

My only complaint is it has the widest neck and widest string spacing that i ve ever seen on a 4 string bass, which makes it difficult to play for me because of my small hands.

This is a definetly a keeper, even its more difficult to play, its the best sounding P bass i have ever owned. Almost close to the custom shops. Hopefully i will be able to get a 70s era P bass next to The Chief in the future and finish my quest for the perfect bass.

 

[B-Mac]

After putting my American Pro to sale, i guess i finally found a gem. Because of the Seminole Red color, i named the bass as "The Chief".

I put Rotosound Flats on it. Previous owners didnt took much care about it, so it has lots of wears and tears, especially at the sides and at the back. Also the pickguard is not the original one, as well as the hard case, which i dont really mind.

My only complaint is it has the widest neck and widest string spacing that i ve ever seen on a 4 string bass, which makes it difficult to play for me because of my small hands.

This is a definetly a keeper, even its more difficult to play, its the best sounding P bass i have ever owned. Almost close to the custom shops. Hopefully i will be able to get a 70s era P bass next to The Chief in the future and finish my quest for the perfect bass.
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Nice!

However I have to warn you that you will never finish your quest for the perfect bass. Even though you may already have it, the G.A.S. Is gonna get you!!!

 

[skaine]

Nice!

However I have to warn you that you will never finish your quest for the perfect bass. Even though you may already have it, the G.A.S. Is gonna get you!!!

Thanks!

Sometimes its good to have limited options, even you GAS, sometimes there is nothing interesting to buy in my country Its like a lottery if a nice bass comes to the second hand market. Double the rarity if its a P bass.

I want to get a 70s P bass with maple fretboard in the future nothing more.

I am happy with AVRI 63 by the way. Sounds much better than any Standard, Deluxe, Professional that i came by before. I wish i got it before i bought the MIA Pro P bass, which is on sale now. Slow learner i am

 

[B-Mac]

Thanks!

Sometimes its good to have limited options, even you GAS, sometimes there is nothing interesting to buy in my country Its like a lottery if a nice bass comes to the second hand market. Double the rarity if its a P bass.

I want to get a 70s P bass with maple fretboard in the future nothing more.

I am happy with AVRI 63 by the way. Sounds much better than any Standard, Deluxe, Professional that i came by before. I wish i got it before i bought the MIA Pro P bass, which is on sale now. Slow learner i am

Buying used is the way to go!

 

[graphics1988]

Had the same one - same feeling as you....neck was just too much for my comfort zone. (And I have average/above average hand size)....traded it. Great bass tone however. Kinda miss it.

 

[4-fingers]

Congrats on a great bass....yes, bias reply here! I'm gigging mine tonight. I have 4 AVRIs, all a little different. Once had a MIM 50s Classic that had a neck that made this feel small. Enjoy!

 

[skaine]

Congrats on a great bass....yes, bias reply here! I'm gigging mine tonight. I have 4 AVRIs, all a little different. Once had a MIM 50s Classic that had a neck that made this feel small. Enjoy!

Thanks!

50s era basses have that baseball bat necks, but thats where that tone comes from i guess. There is a brand new 50s FSR roasted maple bass on sale in a shop here, its also a very nice bass. Nobody still havent bought it for many years, maybe because its around 2500 euros, also way too high for my budget.

 

[skaine]

Had the same one - same feeling as you....neck was just too much for my comfort zone. (And I have average/above average hand size)....traded it. Great bass tone however. Kinda miss it.

Thanks, right, its harder to play, its like playing a 5 string bass with 4 strings I prefered the tone over comfort this time, hoping i can get used to its neck in time. Its really close to the vintage ones and custom shops by all means. So i didnt wanted to miss this opportunity and its a very rare to find an AVRI or Vintage bass here as i mentioned.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

Congrats on an AMAZING bass!!!

One of the best Fender production model P-basses ever IMO. You say "almost" close to custom shop. I say VERY close to custom shop. Hopefully you will adapt to the neck. If you haven't played a neck like this before it's normal to feel a bit strange at first. I've got rather small hands too and I LOVE the AVRI63. Sadly mine got smashed during transport so I got an American Original 60s instead. Huge step down IMO, not even close to the quality of the AVRI.

 

[Leonid Nidis]

Congrats!I got one of those 57 style,very wide neck at the nut.
I also got small hands but once you teach yourself not to grab the neck with the thumb over the top it doesnt matter,in fact it improoved my left hand positioning and ability to play any neck.

 

[CallMeAl]

Beautiful! So you sold the Am Pro you just got? IIRC, the pro just wasn't sounding right, even after a pickup change? Either way, nice to hear you found a bass you love!

is it the 1 3/4" nut ? (Or whatever the mm equivalent is? ) there's been a couple of posts on TB lately about small hands, and little kids playing on full size basses. So it reminds me- one can learn to play anything! Maybe some lessons are in order, just to review your technique as you transition.

just curious: where do you like to pluck the strings? Most of my playing happens right over the pickup, so always crious where pickup-cover owners like to play

enjoy!

 

[PotsdamBass8]

Congrats, I love the look of those AVRIs. FYI, after changing the pickup in my American Pro, it's like a totally different bass. If you can solder, it might be worth trying a different pickup before you totally bail on the Pro if you like the way it plays.

 

[armybass]

I think these are Fenders best P Basses hands down!

 

[4-fingers]

Posted this pic before......but with all this AVRI love I thought it appropriate! I love them all, but the 63 is the best sounding of the lot. Covers were removed because I like to palm mute. Sounded great last night.

 

[Warpeg]

Congrats, OP! I love mine; it's been my #1 for my last several hundred gigs. Mine was used when I got it in 2013, but was in like-new condition. It's been played hard over the last six years and seems to sound and play better as it gets older.

On a side note: A TB member once corrected me on the specific model name. I referred to it as an American Vintage Reissue (AVRI), as the older 62' models were called. However, I was told that the 63' models started the model naming of American Vintage Series (AVS). I've not looked into it to see if that's true, but maybe...?

 

[skaine]

Beautiful! So you sold the Am Pro you just got? IIRC, the pro just wasn't sounding right, even after a pickup change? Either way, nice to hear you found a bass you love!

is it the 1 3/4" nut ? (Or whatever the mm equivalent is? ) there's been a couple of posts on TB lately about small hands, and little kids playing on full size basses. So it reminds me- one can learn to play anything! Maybe some lessons are in order, just to review your technique as you transition.

just curious: where do you like to pluck the strings? Most of my playing happens right over the pickup, so always crious where pickup-cover owners like to play

enjoy!

Yes i put the American Pro on sale. The shop didnt accept refund because there isnt a functional defect with the bass and i havent bought it online.

Nut width is 1.74" (44.19 mm) with the bass, so its a C neck, wider than most of the standard P basses. Thats why i dream of a 70s P bass with an A neck

I pluck the strings generally over the pickup, sometimes between the neck and the pickup depending on situation, i like the tone i get there. I removed the pickup and bridge covers.

 

[MoeTown1986]

Congrats, man!!! She's a beaut!

 

[skaine]

Congrats, OP! I love mine; it's been my #1 for my last several hundred gigs. Mine was used when I got it in 2013, but was in like-new condition. It's been played hard over the last six years and seems to sound and play better as it gets older.

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On a side note: A TB member once corrected me on the specific model name. I referred to it as an American Vintage Reissue (AVRI), as the older 62' models were called. However, I was told that the 63' models started the model naming of American Vintage Series (AVS). I've not looked into it to see if that's true, but maybe...?

Thanks! They are indeed very close to vintage ones, mine has wears and tears too, its slowly becoming relic by nature

 

[skaine]

Congrats, I love the look of those AVRIs. FYI, after changing the pickup in my American Pro, it's like a totally different bass. If you can solder, it might be worth trying a different pickup before you totally bail on the Pro if you like the way it plays.

Thanks! I tried it with a different pickup. American Pro also a nice bass, comfortable neck and light in weight, also looks very nice in appearance. Somehow i couldnt like it, i also tried different strings and setups, couldnt be able to form a connection with it as i did with this one.

 

[skaine]

Congrats on an AMAZING bass!!!

One of the best Fender production model P-basses ever IMO. You say "almost" close to custom shop. I say VERY close to custom shop. Hopefully you will adapt to the neck. If you haven't played a neck like this before it's normal to feel a bit strange at first. I've got rather small hands too and I LOVE the AVRI63. Sadly mine got smashed during transport so I got an American Original 60s instead. Huge step down IMO, not even close to the quality of the AVRI.

Sorry to hear that, i heard positive things about American Originals, they dont sell them here at the moment. I will do my best to adapt to the neck. On the other topic i got helpful tips from fellow TB ers, including finding a better teacher.