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New bass day: Fender Precision Boxer

Sep 29, 2019
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I just bought this beast, the reissue of the iconic 1980s Fender Jazz Bass Special made in Japan. An exceptional bass, beautifully built and with a devastating sound! Seriously, it's already become my new main bass, I love it! The pickups roar and when full tbx is activated it feels like Precision on steroids! The overall quality of the instrument is excellent as expected from a made in Japan bass ... what can I say I am totally satisfied with this purchase! Who besides me bought this beauty?
 

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I bought one recently, color Sherwood green. It was made in 2021', I bought it second hand but in mint condition, looks like a new one. I'll post some pics later. And it has THE GROWL, cuts through the mix and I don't feel any need for eq post-recording. But there's something strange about it. The TBX tone pot seems to work, I can feel the notch at position 5, but when I set it to engage TBX (positions 6-10) I don't notice too much difference in the tone, as far as I can hear. If I record some slapping using TBX, then I notice a slightly brighter high end, but almost unnoticeable. When playing fingerstyle it is unnoticeable. Anyone has an idea on what could be happening? Was the TBX control meant to be so subtle? Or does this mean there's something wrong with the bass? I can upload some clips (with TBX on/off) so you can compare too.
 
I bought one recently, color Sherwood green. It was made in 2021', I bought it second hand but in mint condition, looks like a new one. I'll post some pics later. And it has THE GROWL, cuts through the mix and I don't feel any need for eq post-recording. But there's something strange about it. The TBX tone pot seems to work, I can feel the notch at position 5, but when I set it to engage TBX (positions 6-10) I don't notice too much difference in the tone, as far as I can hear. If I record some slapping using TBX, then I notice a slightly brighter high end, but almost unnoticeable. When playing fingerstyle it is unnoticeable. Anyone has an idea on what could be happening? Was the TBX control meant to be so subtle? Or does this mean there's something wrong with the bass? I can upload some clips (with TBX on/off) so you can compare too.
You should hear a difference with the TBX engaged. It is quite noticeable on my bass. I keep it down to 6 or 7 most of the time. However full on can be fun.
 
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You should hear a difference with the TBX engaged. It is quite noticeable on my bass. I keep it down to 6 or 7 most of the time. However full on can be fun.
Then I don't know exactly what is going on...I bought it recently, never changed strings (previous owner put a set of Elixir strings on it). I'll post TBX ON/OFF clips for comparison...Thanks for the reply.
 
In this video I played bass in all pick up configurations and especially tbx on / off


My experience matches what @dave84 posted.

This actually matches what I get from mine. So it actually is kind of subtle when playing fingerstyle (playing style also has an influence, it seems), but it makes a lot more difference when using a pick, due to more treble content. I will test mine with a pick and compare. And there's a chance that my Elixir strings aren't opening all the treble frequencies as well (first time I use this brand, might get back to Rotosound or try DR or Clear Tone next time :) ). Thanks, guys!
 
This actually matches what I get from mine. So it actually is kind of subtle when playing fingerstyle (playing style also has an influence, it seems), but it makes a lot more difference when using a pick, due to more treble content. I will test mine with a pick and compare. And there's a chance that my Elixir strings aren't opening all the treble frequencies as well (first time I use this brand, might get back to Rotosound or try DR or Clear Tone next time :) ). Thanks, guys!
I have mine strung with Dunlop Super Bright Nickels or occasionally DR Hi Beams. Both seem to open the bass up.
 
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This actually matches what I get from mine. So it actually is kind of subtle when playing fingerstyle (playing style also has an influence, it seems), but it makes a lot more difference when using a pick, due to more treble content. I will test mine with a pick and compare. And there's a chance that my Elixir strings aren't opening all the treble frequencies as well (first time I use this brand, might get back to Rotosound or try DR or Clear Tone next time :) ). Thanks, guys!

I played the sound test with Fender stock strings which certainly weren't brilliant. Now the bass is equipped with steel addario strings. After a year of intense use of this bass I can say that it is an instrument designed almost exclusively for rock and metal but surprisingly perfect for funky too. In these three musical genres it is deadly. You need to know how to equalize the sound of this bass because it is very pushed towards the medium-high frequencies, so if you want body you have to cut the highs in the equalization (which naturally has them) and increase the lows to get a very good sound. big. Finally, the TBX is felt better when you use the pick above all (with both pick ups and the tbx at maximum you have the sound at 100% "duff") and the slap, in fingerstyle and less incisive instead even if personally it does not. I could do more without and would love to be able to use it in any of my basses!
 
Hello! Now I want to share a song I played using my oldest Fender Boxer (not the one I mentioned before in this thread). My new Boxer color is sherwood green.

The old one, which you will see in this video, I forgot the color name.

However, my old Boxer unfortunately has its electronics changed - there's no TBX in the tone pot, no detent point (and it's only one pot, not the stacked TBX pots) - and I'm pretty sure the potentiometers and even capacitors/resistors aren't the same values as the factory original because when comparing with my new Boxer, this one sounds muffled and it sounds like something is a bit off. You who also own Boxers will probably hear differences right away. I can still recognize a bit of the Boxer growl once in a while, the pickups probably are original, but in the end due to changed electronics it ends up muffled and then you know it's not the original sound. As I'm trying to sell this bass, I have been experimenting with recording its sound to see if a potential buyer likes its changed sound anyway. And I intend to post songs of different genres to prove the Boxer (even non-original) can hold its own in different genres and it's not exclusive to Rock'n'Roll and Heavy Metal.

Now, let me know what you think. Does its sound still resemble the one of a Boxer PJ?



I will post videos of my new (and 100% original) boxer too in the future. Cheers!
 
I know that this is an older thread, but wondering, in general, what weights people's Boxer's (the bass, not underwear) are running at. Been trying to find an 80s MIJ Jazz Bass Special, but it's proving to be pretty daunting, so I may go new with a Boxer. The red is killer (though the green is quite sharp too). Thanks for any info!