Need advice for Fender American Pro Precision Bass, help.

[skaine]

Hi there,

In this economic status of mine and my country i dont have a chance to go wrong. So i wanted to ask you this in a seperate topic. They sell a $1500 bass for $2000 and 1 USD = 6 TRY, so its hard to shell out that much money for me at once. Not trying to start a debate by the way.

Long story short, only alternative of a new bass is Fender American Pro P bass. Because there arent any different choices, there is no second had bass around to buy also.

So i had to ask if the bass really worths the money?

I tried the only model left they have today.

The weight is ok, maybe slightly heavier than i expected.

The neck is slightly beefy for my hands but it seems solid.

Frets, i got used to play basses with medium jumbo and vintage sizes for a long time, so i couldnt get used to narrow tall frets immediately.

About the sound i have some concerns. The output was quite lower than the Fender Player series P bass, couldnt feel the punch of a P bass. It might be amp (Hartke 75 W), the V-Mod pickups and/or poor setup of course, they also told me that the strings on the bass are around 2 months old.

So the question goes especially for Fender American Pro Precision Bass owners, what are the things you like and dont like with the bass? How can i address issues that i told above (if they are really issues, or iis it me overthinking). I will play the Blues mostly by the way.

The bass i am going to buy will be my only bass and should be a keeper.

I am also starting a Poll, just incase i really have to change the pickups. I dont have any choice other than Seymour Duncan and Fender pickups.

Thanks for reading and for the advices in advance.

 

[Minimalist]

I don't own that bass but played it recently and A/B it to some other P-Basses. I loved the sound. As I said in your other tread your way of plugging the strings is more important than anything else.

 

[Brocephus]

1. Leave the pickups as they are, they are perfectly well
   5 vote(s)
   71.4%
   

 

[CallMeAl]

A few thoughts,

That’s a great bass, and should do the job as is. Heck, my main player parts bass has a Squier affinity pickup- sounds great and gets me compliments all the time.

what are you thinking for an amp? If I had a $2000 USD budget, I’d spend 500 on the bass and the rest towards the amp. Or maybe 50/50, but my point is the amp is important. I suspect the 75w Hartke has something to do with this. IMO when you spend more money on a bass, you are paying for feel. With amps, you pay for sound.

are you dead set on Fender? Can you get you’re hands on an Ibanez, Yamaha, Cort, Squier...? Anything with a P style pickup will get the job done. It sounds a little like you’re settling (I get your options are limited) but there may be other basses you like better- and for less $$!

If you get the bass, I’d stick it out with the stock for a while and see what it can do. If you must change, I vote SD- SPB-1. Great pickup, classic P bass tone

Good luck!

 

[skaine]

A few thoughts,

That’s a great bass, and should do the job as is. Heck, my main player parts bass has a Squier affinity pickup- sounds great and gets me compliments all the time.

what are you thinking for an amp? If I had a $2000 USD budget, I’d spend 500 on the bass and the rest towards the amp. Or maybe 50/50, but my point is the amp is important. I suspect the 75w Hartke has something to do with this. IMO when you spend more money on a bass, you are paying for feel. With amps, you pay for sound.

are you dead set on Fender? Can you get you’re hands on an Ibanez, Yamaha, Cort, Squier...? Anything with a P style pickup will get the job done. It sounds a little like you’re settling (I get your options are limited) but there may be other basses you like better- and for less $$!

If you get the bass, I’d stick it out with the stock for a while and see what it can do. If you must change, I vote SD- SPB-1. Great pickup, classic P bass tone

Good luck!

Thank you! You are right in every aspect, however i am living in Turkey and we have different dynamics and a struggling economy here. Believe me you cant even buy a Squier Affinity less than around $350 easily. Most people cant earn that money in a month. Goverment offical salary is around 750$, so even a Squier is hard to get. Since i am willing to shell out that much money for a lifetime keeper instrument, thats why i am making a mountain out of a mole hill

Because of the bad economy, sales are low, so the shops are keeping their inventories as small as possible.
So its harder to find a "gem" within ranks of the hit or miss brands such as the Squier and Cort.

Other than American made instruments, second hand (used) custom shops around 3200 euro here, used AVRI models around 1700 euro, of course if you manage to find one I havent dare to ask the price of brand new ones, which are even more limited in number.

Also if Shop A is the distributer of Lakland lets say, its most likely you wont find a Lakland in other shops. Its almost the same with every brand, which makes the alternatives even narrower, even if you have the money. If you want a special model, the shop says we can get it if you demand it but waiting time is between 3 months and a year, and its pure lottery the bass that order might not satisfy you as you buy it without testing first. Like a blind date

Speaking of amp, i have a good one. GK MB 112 II combo, its 200W, not very heavy, adequate for my needs at the moment.

Today another option emerged, shop owner took out a 2013 American Fender Standard which wasnt in a very good condition, i asked them to setup the bass with the new strings, so i have to choose between Standard and Pro now.

I will leave the pickups stock for a while as you guys adviced me to do

 

[Oobly]

I'd leave them stock for now..

If you really have the bug to upgrade (or the stock p'up just isn't getting you there), I'd go with a CS '62 since that's my favourite P pickup for more traditional tones, I don't find it scooped at all, really. Has great presence in the low mids, IME.

Keep clear of the "contour" on that GK if you don't like scooped tone, though.

 

[CallMeAl]

Thank you! You are right in every aspect, however i am living in Turkey and we have different dynamics and a struggling economy here. Believe me you cant even buy a Squier Affinity less than around $350 easily. Most people cant earn that money in a month. Goverment offical salary is around 750$, so even a Squier is hard to get. Since i am willing to shell out that much money for a lifetime keeper instrument, thats why i am making a mountain out of a mole hill

Because of the bad economy, sales are low, so the shops are keeping their inventories as small as possible.
So its harder to find a "gem" within ranks of the hit or miss brands such as the Squier and Cort.

Other than American made instruments, second hand (used) custom shops around 3200 euro here, used AVRI models around 1700 euro, of course if you manage to find one I havent dare to ask the price of brand new ones, which are even more limited in number.

Also if Shop A is the distributer of Lakland lets say, its most likely you wont find a Lakland in other shops. Its almost the same with every brand, which makes the alternatives even narrower, even if you have the money. If you want a special model, the shop says we can get it if you demand it but waiting time is between 3 months and a year, and its pure lottery the bass that order might not satisfy you as you buy it without testing first. Like a blind date

Speaking of amp, i have a good one. GK MB 112 II combo, its 200W, not very heavy, adequate for my needs at the moment.

Today another option emerged, shop owner took out a 2013 American Fender Standard which wasnt in a very good condition, i asked them to setup the bass with the new strings, so i have to choose between Standard and Pro now.

I will leave the pickups stock for a while as you guys adviced me to do

Thanks for sharing. I think a lot of advice gets tossed out on TB, without regard for personal or regional economics. I wasn’t trying to be insensitive to that, just offering ideas

I think you will be happy with an MIA Fender. Great you can try them in person, and you can adjust to that beefy neck in time.

those GK MB amps are killer! I’m considering adding one of those MB combos to my arsenal, the 112 is top of the list.

good luck, hope you snag one soon!

 

[skaine]

Thanks for sharing. I think a lot of advice gets tossed out on TB, without regard for personal or regional economics. I wasn’t trying to be insensitive to that, just offering ideas

I think you will be happy with an MIA Fender. Great you can try them in person, and you can adjust to that beefy neck in time.

those GK MB amps are killer! I’m considering adding one of those MB combos to my arsenal, the 112 is top of the list.

good luck, hope you snag one soon!

I am more comfortable with Jazz bass neck actually, but i like Precision bass tones better, the punch, the thump, low mids. I had to choose between the comfort and the tones i like.

About GK, even i like Ampegs better, still i havent thought of changing mine with another amp, intending to use it until its broke, bought it for a really good price, a few years ago.

Keep clear of the "contour" on that GK if you don't like scooped tone, though.

Yes i almost never use contour and i like low mids. If i get the Pro i will keep it stock.

I have SPB-4 pickups as spare at home, they sound like 70s era pickups with slightly higher output (not as hot as quarter pounds), if i would like to play Funk instead of Blues they would be my go to pickups, they also sound similar to Fralins, but Fralins better in my taste.

 

[CallMeAl]

I am more comfortable with Jazz bass neck actually, but i like Precision bass tones better, the punch, the thump, low mids. I had to choose between the comfort and the tones i like.

About GK, even i like Ampegs better, still i havent thought of changing mine with another amp, intending to use it until its broke, bought it for a really good price, a few years ago

too funny! I also prefer Jazz necks. Ive been playing for years on skinny neck basses. I just got my P about a year ago, and I had a hard time adjusting to the neck (particularly the string spacing) With my gig schedule I didn’t want the lag time adjusting, so I slapped a J neck on and I absolutely love it. If I wasn’t gigging, I probably would have let myself adjust.

I also like ampeg amps. I’ve been using a fender rumble, but I’m interested in the clarity of GK. My tastes are evolving, and I find living room tone isnt always the best band tone. (Not that fender and ampeg aren’t great amps!)

GK are supposed to be very reliable, so good luck waiting for it to die!

 

[skaine]

too funny! I also prefer Jazz necks. Ive been playing for years on skinny neck basses. I just got my P about a year ago, and I had a hard time adjusting to the neck (particularly the string spacing) With my gig schedule I didn’t want the lag time adjusting, so I slapped a J neck on and I absolutely love it. If I wasn’t gigging, I probably would have let myself adjust.

I also like ampeg amps. I’ve been using a fender rumble, but I’m interested in the clarity of GK. My tastes are evolving, and I find living room tone isnt always the best band tone. (Not that fender and ampeg aren’t great amps!)

GK are supposed to be very reliable, so good luck waiting for it to die!

I thought about installing a Jazz neck too, best of both worlds. I might do that too if i can find a suitable jazz neck in the future.

Reminds me of, sometimes i hate the Bass guitar, even small milimeters can make a big differences My hands are almost normal size as for adult, but my palm is larger where as my fingers are very small (almost like a child's fingers, not exaggerating). That gives me the hell on wider necks especially after 12th fret where the neck goes even wider. Thats why i am having difficulties adopting to P bass neck, on the other hand i like the P bass tone better, go figure

Talking of string spacing, AVRI 63 P bass has a neck like an airfield, string spacing is even wider. On the plus side, best sounding P bass i have ever tried. As i mentioned before if my hand anatomy was more suitable for larger necks, i wouldnt look any further.

 

[CallMeAl]

I thought about installing a Jazz neck too, best of both worlds. I might do that too if i can find a suitable jazz neck in the future.

Reminds me of, sometimes i hate the Bass guitar, even small milimeters can make a big differences My hands are almost normal size as for adult, but my palm is larger where as my fingers are very small (almost like a child's fingers, not exaggerating). That gives me the hell on wider necks especially after 12th fret where the neck goes even wider. Thats why i am having difficulties adopting to P bass neck, on the other hand i like the P bass tone better, go figure

Talking of string spacing, AVRI 63 P bass has a neck like an airfield, string spacing is even wider. On the plus side, best sounding P bass i have ever tried. As i mentioned before if my hand anatomy was more suitable for larger necks, i wouldnt look any further.

It’s worth looking into, like I said, I love this bass. But I know your options are limited. Frankly, if I had to pick one bass dead stock, I’d pick jazz. The feel is more important than the sound to me.

 

[skaine]

Update: I got the bass, tried different figures for experiment, learned it wasn the pickups, its the wood.

Lesson learned: Its too late for me, go for an AVRI instead of American Pro if you have the opportunity. The bass itself is very good looking , good craftmanship, latest bridge, tuner design, clear tone, tall frets no problem. Somehow it has a very mellow and unfocused tone even it has the maple neck. Totally disappointed.