NBD - Fender Vintera 50's Precision

[crucislancer]

Ok, this is a couple of weeks overdue, but I wanted to put this bass through a gig situation before posting.

This is a 2022 bass, apparently used but whoever owned it before must have barely played it. Not a scratch on it, the finish looks emaciate, as does the fretboard and all the hardware. Maybe 9 lbs, at most. Balances very well on a strap or lap. After some time spent on a set up plus a string change, it's very easy to play and sounds fantastic. It's fairly typical for me to swap out Fender pickups for an aftermarket one, but I don't think I'll do that with this bass. It's added to my bass rotation for gigs.

I love the neck, the profile fits my hand nicely and I dig the wider nut width. The only downside is the pickguard, the anodized aluminum feels weird when I brush it, but I'm getting used to it.

 

[smatanovic]

I sprayed clear nitro lacquer on my anodized pick guard and it got rid of the weird catchiness without altering the appearance.

 

[crucislancer]

I sprayed clear nitro lacquer on my anodized pick guard and it got rid of the weird catchiness without altering the appearance.

Nice. I'll give that a go at some point. Thanks for the tip!

 

[embellisher]

That's really nice! I've never seen that color with a gold pickguard before.

 

[elillywv]

Congrats on a fine looking and sounding bass!

I got one of these in Dec ‘23 after my wife saw me browsing it on the giant buy-anything-mail-order website and noted, “you don’t have a red one!”

@crucislancer you’re spot on about the balance, neck feel, and sound! While I didn’t expect it to become my #1, it made its way to the front of the line effortlessly!

 

[Yahboy]

Ok, this is a couple of weeks overdue, but I wanted to put this bass through a gig situation before posting.

This is a 2022 bass, apparently used but whoever owned it before must have barely played it. Not a scratch on it, the finish looks emaciate, as does the fretboard and all the hardware. Maybe 9 lbs, at most. Balances very well on a strap or lap. After some time spent on a set up plus a string change, it's very easy to play and sounds fantastic. It's fairly typical for me to swap out Fender pickups for an aftermarket one, but I don't think I'll do that with this bass. It's added to my bass rotation for gigs.

I love the neck, the profile fits my hand nicely and I dig the wider nut width. The only downside is the pickguard, the anodized aluminum feels weird when I brush it, but I'm getting used to it.

View attachment 7246932View attachment 7246933

Congrat to your new bass !

I own one and love the playing feel and stock Tim Shaw pickups just sound nice. I have no problem with brushed anodized pickguard, but i swap the stock tuning machine with Gotoh GB640. Not just reduce neck dive, meanwhile reduce entire bass guitar weight too ~ 3.7kg

My only complaint are no shielding paint on control and pickup cavity. Even though i did copper shield, the pickup still has low hum until i touch the string. Finally problem solve a wire connect from volume pot to shield cavity.

Hope help.

 

[crucislancer]

Congrat to your new bass !

I own one and love the playing feel and stock Tim Shaw pickups just sound nice. I have no problem with brushed anodized pickguard, but i swap the stock tuning machine with Gotoh GB640. Not just reduce neck dive, meanwhile reduce entire bass guitar weight too ~ 3.7kg

My only complaint are no shielding paint on control and pickup cavity. Even though i did copper shield, the pickup still has low hum until i touch the string. Finally problem solve a wire connect from volume pot to shield cavity.

Hope help.

Interesting! I haven't heard any hum from mine. Maybe that was corrected by the previous owner. I haven't taken the pickguard off yet, I'll probably do that soon.

 

[Yahboy]

Interesting! I haven't heard any hum from mine. Maybe that was corrected by the previous owner. I haven't taken the pickguard off yet, I'll probably do that soon.

If she has no single hum issue, just leave it. Just like what you said maybe she has shield inside by previous owner.

Mince come with blank cavity, maybe one of the part of vintage correct period ?

 

[FretRiff]

Mince come with blank cavity, maybe one of the part of vintage correct period ?

Or part of the Mexican Friday afternoon shift.

 

[Bar Band Bassman]

Ok, this is a couple of weeks overdue, but I wanted to put this bass through a gig situation before posting.

This is a 2022 bass, apparently used but whoever owned it before must have barely played it. Not a scratch on it, the finish looks emaciate, as does the fretboard and all the hardware. Maybe 9 lbs, at most. Balances very well on a strap or lap. After some time spent on a set up plus a string change, it's very easy to play and sounds fantastic. It's fairly typical for me to swap out Fender pickups for an aftermarket one, but I don't think I'll do that with this bass. It's added to my bass rotation for gigs.

I love the neck, the profile fits my hand nicely and I dig the wider nut width. The only downside is the pickguard, the anodized aluminum feels weird when I brush it, but I'm getting used to it.

View attachment 7246932View attachment 7246933

I love both of mine. That's the best color, IMO. Duck Dunn special! I was kinda weirded out by the feel of the pickguard as well then I realized I was actually filing my fingernails on it!

BBB

 

[crucislancer]

I love both of mine. That's the best color, IMO. Duck Dunn special! I was kinda weirded out by the feel of the pickguard as well then I realized I was actually filing my fingernails on it!

BBB

Yeah, definitely has Duck Dunn vibes. I'm tempted to throw a set of flats on. Maybe.

The only time I notice the pickguard is when my thumb nail is too long LOL

 

[el murdoque]

I've ordered a custom pickguard for my Vintera because while I loved the looks, I hated the feel.
These are 10 hole, so not exactly standard, but you'll find custom makers for pickguards in your area if you look around.
I got mine off ebay.

 

[Wood and Wire]

Any idea what strings these originally shipped with from the factory?

I absolutely loved the first one of these I played (probably should have bought it), I just wanted something more modern in terms of hardware, and truss rod adjustment, and I already own a red bass.

Really loved the neck, and the pickup had the sound I was looking for; but the longer I've spent with the Precision I ended up choosing, the more I'm thinking that whilst the pickup was certainly a factor, perhaps the factory strings were the biggest contributer (that's assuming the Vintera shipped with different strings than the Am Pro II).

I never managed to find one of the butter cream Vintera's but the (Lace Placid?) blue one was pretty nice - the red and gold really is iconic though.

Nice find,

 

[crucislancer]

Any idea what strings these originally shipped with from the factory?

I absolutely loved the first one of these I played (probably should have bought it), I just wanted something more modern in terms of hardware, and truss rod adjustment, and I already own a red bass.

Really loved the neck, and the pickup had the sound I was looking for; but the longer I've spent with the Precision I ended up choosing, the more I'm thinking that whilst the pickup was certainly a factor, perhaps the factory strings were the biggest contributer (that's assuming the Vintera shipped with different strings than the Am Pro II).

I never managed to find one of the butter cream Vintera's but the (Lace Placid?) blue one was pretty nice - the red and gold really is iconic though.

Nice find,

I believe all Fender basses have Fender 7250 roundwounds installed at the factory.

 

[Wood and Wire]

I believe all Fender basses have Fender 7250 roundwounds installed at the factory.

Well I know the JMJ signature model comes with flats, and it's made in the same Mexico factory as the Vintera, so I assumed they might be putting vintage appropriate strings on the instruments.

Maybe all U.S. basses come with 7250, but again, I thought the American Original / American Vintage came with something more era appropriate... but I don't actually know.

 

[crucislancer]

Well I know the JMJ signature model comes with flats, and it's made in the same Mexico factory as the Vintera, so I assumed they might be putting vintage appropriate strings on the instruments.

Maybe all U.S. basses come with 7250, but again, I thought the American Original / American Vintage came with something more era appropriate... but I don't actually know.

The Fender website lists what strings a bass ships with for their current lineup. Look at the specs for each model.

 

[JRA]

that's a good looking ax, @crucislancer, it looks like a heap of fun! sounds like it's workin' for you in all respects, and that's the ticket! congratulations on your new instrument!

 

[Bar Band Bassman]

Yeah, definitely has Duck Dunn vibes. I'm tempted to throw a set of flats on. Maybe.

The only time I notice the pickguard is when my thumb nail is too long LOL

Well, that pickguard will make quick work of that too long thumbnail!

BBB

 

[Wood and Wire]

The Fender website lists what strings a bass ships with for their current lineup. Look at the specs for each model.

Yeah, the trouble is the Vintera has been replaced by the Vintera II, so that page no longer exists (actually I haven't looked on the way back machine / intent archive, so a cached version may be available).

 

[crucislancer]

Well, Fender seems to use 7250s on most of their basses, with some artist model exceptions like the JMJ Mustang, the Franklin P, and the Harris P, though I believe the Harris P comes with a pack of his signature Roto 77s, but is strung with 7250s from the factory. Even the AVRI II basses have 7250s, and those would be the ones that you would think have period correct strings.

You could call Fender, they can tell you for sure.