NBD: Fender Vintera Precision Bass

michaeln · Dec 2, 2019 at 8:00 PM

My seafoam green Vintera Precision arrived today. As I thought, the "Deluxe" gig bag is a throwaway. The bass is set up perfectly. Good thing, because it looks like either the pickguard or the neck needs to come off if you want to adjust the truss rod (old school bridge end of the neck with a phillips head, no cutout in the pickguard to allow access). Since it doesn't need adjustment right now, no big deal.

I like that the pickguard is a pale gold rather than the bright yellow gold shown in many of the stock photos of this instrument. The pickguard looks dark in the photo, but that is an artifact of the lighting. In regular light it is pale gold, actually significantly lighter than the maple fingerboard. I like the slightly aged look of the maple. Fretwork is good.

I love the sound, at least so far. The fat neck is quite comfortable to play, and since I am not a string bender, the 7 1/2" radius feels comfortable to me.

Looking forward to putting some TI Jazz Flats on it, and those should be arriving tomorrow.

PWRL · Dec 2, 2019 at 8:11 PM

Congratulations, it looks great! I never get tired of P basses, myself.

finfrocka · Dec 2, 2019 at 9:25 PM

Looks awesome. This exact bass is getting delivered to me tomorrow. I hope mine is as good as yours!

Vinny_G · Dec 2, 2019 at 9:32 PM

It looks like the queen of a 1950s beauty pageant. Congratulations.

michaeln · Dec 3, 2019 at 7:53 AM

Ooops I said 7 1/2" radius, but it is actually 7 1/4". Not as if I could tell the diff.

michaeln · Dec 3, 2019 at 7:54 AM

finfrocka said: ↑

Looks awesome. This exact bass is getting delivered to me tomorrow. I hope mine is as good as yours!
Click to expand...

Let us know after you play it. I have a feeling they will be pretty consistent from bass to bass.

jd56hawk · Dec 3, 2019 at 7:58 AM

michaeln said: ↑

My seafoam green Vintera Precision arrived today. As I thought, the "Deluxe" gig bag is a throwaway. The bass is set up perfectly. Good thing, because it looks like either the pickguard or the neck needs to come off if you want to adjust the truss rod (old school bridge end of the neck with a phillips head, no cutout in the pickguard to allow access). Since it doesn't need adjustment right now, no big deal.

I like that the pickguard is a pale gold rather than the bright yellow gold shown in many of the stock photos of this instrument. The pickguard looks dark in the photo, but that is an artifact of the lighting. In regular light it is pale gold, actually significantly lighter than the maple fingerboard. I like the slightly aged look of the maple. Fretwork is good.

I love the sound, at least so far. The fat neck is quite comfortable to play, and since I am not a string bender, the 7 1/2" radius feels comfortable to me.

Looking forward to putting some TI Jazz Flats on it, and those should be arriving tomorrow.
View attachment 3617169
Click to expand...

You definitely picked the right color!

Bassdirty · Dec 3, 2019 at 8:08 AM

michaeln said: ↑

My seafoam green Vintera Precision arrived today. As I thought, the "Deluxe" gig bag is a throwaway. The bass is set up perfectly. Good thing, because it looks like either the pickguard or the neck needs to come off if you want to adjust the truss rod (old school bridge end of the neck with a phillips head, no cutout in the pickguard to allow access). Since it doesn't need adjustment right now, no big deal.

I like that the pickguard is a pale gold rather than the bright yellow gold shown in many of the stock photos of this instrument. The pickguard looks dark in the photo, but that is an artifact of the lighting. In regular light it is pale gold, actually significantly lighter than the maple fingerboard. I like the slightly aged look of the maple. Fretwork is good.

I love the sound, at least so far. The fat neck is quite comfortable to play, and since I am not a string bender, the 7 1/2" radius feels comfortable to me.

Looking forward to putting some TI Jazz Flats on it, and those should be arriving tomorrow.
View attachment 3617169
Click to expand...

BEAUTIFUL!!
My favorite P-bass color

T$

Altitude · Dec 3, 2019 at 8:09 AM

michaeln said: ↑

Good thing, because it looks like either the pickguard or the neck needs to come off if you want to adjust the truss rod (old school bridge end of the neck with a phillips head, no cutout in the pickguard to allow access).
Click to expand...

No idea why Fender still makes basses this way. It would be like Ford releasing a vintage spec Mustang with manual windows and no power steering.

"Vintage-inspired" is cool, but past a certain point better ideas have come along and it's foolish to omit those ideas from new designs.

Good news is you can take it to your luthier and he can add the cutout and a body route for you for about $50. Or take a rat tail file to it.

Chaser1 · Dec 3, 2019 at 8:49 AM

That is absolutely beautiful! This is my favourite current model fender. Enjoy!

Kukulkan61 · Dec 3, 2019 at 8:58 AM

You can throw away the gig bag to me since it’s useless too you...

pbassnut · Dec 3, 2019 at 9:43 AM

Altitude said: ↑

No idea why Fender still makes basses this way. It would be like Ford releasing a vintage spec Mustang with manual windows and no power steering.

"Vintage-inspired" is cool, but past a certain point better ideas have come along and it's foolish to omit those ideas from new designs.

Good news is you can take it to your luthier and he can add the cutout and a body route for you for about $50. Or take a rat tail file to it.
Click to expand...

Agreed. I'm a big fan of truss rod access slots as the whole remove and re-install the neck to tweak the neck relief regimen is for the birds, IMHO. I've been known to file my own truss rod access slots when the truss rod nut sat high enough in the neck pocket to only require minor routing to be able to get at it. I've also spent $50 to have a professional luthier do it for me in other situations ... money well spent, IMHO.

JRA · Dec 3, 2019 at 10:09 AM

looks great...and looks like it's ready for some serious playing! congratulations on your new instrument!

dakink · Dec 3, 2019 at 10:33 AM

Congrats! I love mine (in Vintage Blonde). I put a new set of LaBella flats on it and have done a few gigs with it. Great basses.

PaulCISSA · Dec 3, 2019 at 10:50 AM

michaeln said: ↑

Looking forward to putting some TI Jazz Flats on it, and those should be arriving tomorrow.
Click to expand...

JF344’s for the win!

Lowbrow · Dec 3, 2019 at 10:52 AM

pbassnut said: ↑

Agreed. I'm a big fan of truss rod access slots as the whole remove and re-install the neck to tweak the neck relief regimen is for the birds, IMHO. I've been known to file my own truss rod access slots when the truss rod nut sat high enough in the neck pocket to only require minor routing to be able to get at it. I've also spent $50 to have a professional luthier do it for me in other situations ... money well spent, IMHO.
Click to expand...

I routinely gouge the pickguard in my lazy trussrod adjusting way. Always have and I guess I always will.

Pilgrim · Dec 3, 2019 at 10:52 AM

Nice looking bass! Many of those older necks are very stable. The '72 neck on my '63 P-bass hasn't needed adjustment in 20 years.

Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati · Dec 3, 2019 at 10:59 AM

Altitude said: ↑

No idea why Fender still makes basses this way. It would be like Ford releasing a vintage spec Mustang with manual windows and no power steering.

"Vintage-inspired" is cool, but past a certain point better ideas have come along and it's foolish to omit those ideas from new designs.

Good news is you can take it to your luthier and he can add the cutout and a body route for you for about $50. Or take a rat tail file to it.
Click to expand...

That's true for the body wood but not easily done on the aluminium pickguard (unfortunately) ...

finfrocka · Dec 3, 2019 at 11:07 AM

I should be getting mine any minute. I noticed after ordering from GC that it immediately said expected to ship on dec 12 meaning they didn't have any in stock. I'm just hoping you didn't beat me to the punch and I'm getting sent a floor model.

Kipp Harrington · Dec 3, 2019 at 11:19 AM

michaeln said: ↑

My seafoam green Vintera Precision arrived today. As I thought, the "Deluxe" gig bag is a throwaway. The bass is set up perfectly. Good thing, because it looks like either the pickguard or the neck needs to come off if you want to adjust the truss rod (old school bridge end of the neck with a phillips head, no cutout in the pickguard to allow access). Since it doesn't need adjustment right now, no big deal.

I like that the pickguard is a pale gold rather than the bright yellow gold shown in many of the stock photos of this instrument. The pickguard looks dark in the photo, but that is an artifact of the lighting. In regular light it is pale gold, actually significantly lighter than the maple fingerboard. I like the slightly aged look of the maple. Fretwork is good.

I love the sound, at least so far. The fat neck is quite comfortable to play, and since I am not a string bender, the 7 1/2" radius feels comfortable to me.

Looking forward to putting some TI Jazz Flats on it, and those should be arriving tomorrow.
View attachment 3617169
Click to expand...

Awesome looking bass! Congratulations! As I was looking at your photo (closely), it appears you have trussrod access at the headstock and I do not see any type of indication that there would be access to the trussrod through the heel-end of the neck.

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NBD: Fender Vintera Precision Bass

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