Not all Precisions are created equal....

[king_biscuit]

All of the people who complain about anything are entitled to their opinion and certainly to the judgment arising from their own experiences.

Ok, but that does not mean they have the ability to accurately judge a bass. I worked at a music store for 10 years, and I know that most people are impressed with low action and bright new strings. You could take a Sadowsky and jack the action up with old strings, and 75 percent of the people playing it would pronounce it to be a dud. Most people simply don't know the difference.

 

[SLaPiNFuNK]

If there is any bass out there that I could be picky with it would be P-Basses... Some of them I play and love, but most of them I cant stand the feel of.

If you find one that plays well and is comfortable for you in any year, and you have any thoughts of wanting a P-Bass, if you could afford it, get it.

 

[Fendbassfan]

My 73 Fender P-bass ROCKS! Best P-bass I've ever played hands down. .

My '73 is awesome too. Mine is sunburst and Rosewood fretboard. PM me if you want to compare serial #'s

 

[bluesdogblues]

Right now my favourite Precision is my Sting Signature with LaBella Jamerson set and 78 P with d'marzio PU.
But I can tell that one of these will easily be my favourite once I have them:
62 P-Bass Rosewood; 70s Fretless Maple unlined P, or at least AV 62 P Bass

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

i'm angling for a Lakland Skyline 44-64 with Jazz-width maple neck.
She will be mine. Oh yes, she will be mine.

 

[belgabass]

I think you're right the bass gods must be angry at me and funny you mention it I do have Gipsy blood from my mother's side. I used to think I liked maple tops purely on looks but I'm starting to realize tone and feel have something to do with it. On a final note I'm gonna save some dough and buy my perfect bass instead of always looking for a good deal.

 

[Fendbassfan]

Right now my favourite Precision is my Sting Signature with LaBella Jamerson set and 78 P with d'marzio PU.
But I can tell that one of these will easily be my favourite once I have them:
62 P-Bass Rosewood; 70s Fretless Maple unlined P, or at least AV 62 P Bass

The '64 P Bass I bought in 1970 for $200 was the best Bass I ever played but my '73 is the 2nd best I'ver played. The neck is sooooo thin and it is 1 1/2" at the nut (the same as my 2004 Custom Shop '64 aRelic J Bass).

 

[Numskull]

If there is any bass out there that I could be picky with it would be P-Basses... Some of them I play and love, but most of them I cant stand the feel of.

If you find one that plays well and is comfortable for you in any year, and you have any thoughts of wanting a P-Bass, if you could afford it, get it.

I was wanting one but had never played one I liked. Read good things about the road worn p bass here, played one, loved it, bought it, and now intend to make it my primary bass. Wasn't my plan as I've been playing a 5 string the last few years. First Fender for me and I've been playing 21 years.

 

[Skullie]

My white Precision (check my sig pic) is my favorite. 2010 Fender Tony Franklin neck on a 2004 MIM body. The fit is awesome, like the neck and body were made on the same day. Badass II bridge, hipshot tuners, and a QP pup. Just an amazing bass. I can't say enough about the Tony Franklin neck. One of the nicest Fender Precision necks I've played.

 

[bluesdogblues]

The '64 P Bass I bought in 1970 for $200 was the best Bass I ever played but my '73 is the 2nd best I'ver played.

I envy you. Everybody can call me a fool, but I really always dream about have a (good) pre CBS 60s (or 50s) Fender Precision.
Too bad seems that I will never be able to afford it

 

[bluesdogblues]

I was wanting one but had never played one I liked. Read good things about the road worn p bass here, played one, loved it, bought it, and now intend to make it my primary bass. Wasn't my plan as I've been playing a 5 string the last few years. First Fender for me and I've been playing 21 years.

I constantly heard good things about this Roadworn series P here... Are they really that good?
Interested to try but too bad there's none here in where I live

 

[ThudThudThud]

I have to agree that there's some inconsistencies with Fender. You can pull ten basses from the wall (if the wall is sufficiently stocked) and find a Fender that has all the characteristics one is looking for, and could ever hope for - at a price. However, there are always seven or eight 'Meh!' basses there - for the same price. Those seven or eight may play "okay" and sound "okay," but in my experience you really have to dig to find the 'Buttah' basses. Soundwise too.

Someone said above that Fender are consistent, but trees are not. Given sixty years of experience they should be able to audit their stock to find the consistencies, so I don't accept that as a valid argument. A luthier of any note may find the right wood that is ultimately correct for the job at hand. In mass production there should be no difference. Otherwise, these Fender basses have no merit as consistently fabulous, and should not merit the prices charged. Sure there is some consistency with the hardware, electronics, and set up, but that doesn't always give you amazing instruments. Some of the lesser marques have inferior hardware and set up, yet consistently produce good instruments. Why can't Fender do the same. Sure, there are 'dogs' in the lesser brands, but these are not $1500.

I'm no Fender hater, but I pretty sure not every MIA Fender is a first round pick. I've played a lot of Fenders over the years. I've played MIA, CIJ, MIM, and Squier. I've played vintage instruments, and I've played new. They are not all created equal. Why did my buddy's MIA Vintage 57 need a new neck? That's a valuable instrument, yet it's neck warped like crazy. Why do some experienced and professional bassists have a Squier in their arsenal? Because they found a good bass. Why can't you find an early (pre-lawsuit..) Tokai? Because they are good instruments and nobody is letting go.

People will rave about their '74 or whatever, but I'll bet the '75 was a dog. I'm not tagging all basses from certain years as bad, but simply illustrating that there are good and bad Fenders. Don't tar them all with the same brush. A lot are great, but there's just as many (if not more) that are less spectacular.

 

[Numskull]

I constantly heard good things about this Roadworn series P here... Are they really that good?
Interested to try but too bad there's none here in where I live

Everything I read here was true. I played a bunch of P's, new, used, MIA, etc. IMO roadworn was best. I think the concept is corny, but it plays and sounds great and that's all that matters to me. I don't care where or when it was made. Or who made it for that matter. I was interested in playing some laklands because I have a skyline 55-02 I love (2 actually), but I didn't bother.

 

[Stilettoprefer]

Unbelievably my girlfriends affinity squier P is the most comfortable P-bass I've ever played. Great fret work. The tone has much to be improved upon, but if I could find a neck just like that one and put it on a solid wood body with a nice sunburst and nitro finish, I would be in P-bass heaven.

But alas, my Schecter kicks any P-basses butt I've played. My opinion of course. The only thing I would change about my beloved bass is the finish, but I don't wanna do anything drastic to it for a couple more years.

 

[nocontrols]

I love Precisions, always have. I used to have a 76 burst with a maple neck, it was my favorite. I sold it 5 years ago, i was disgusted with music and thought I would quit forever. It only lasted a couple of years until I got the itch again.
I now play a 62 reissue made in japan, good bass. My back up is a squier VM maple body, good value. I still miss that 76. Today I tried a 2011 made in US P, sunburst with maple neck. Now that's what I'm talking about, freakin' perfect. I just wish I had the $1299. Oh well I guess I'll a have to settle for now.

"Settle"? I get the feeling your MIJ is just fine and your Squier VM is no slouch, either. Don't GAS so hard you forget what you've got.

Ok, but that does not mean they have the ability to accurately judge a bass. I worked at a music store for 10 years, and I know that most people are impressed with low action and bright new strings. You could take a Sadowsky and jack the action up with old strings, and 75 percent of the people playing it would pronounce it to be a dud. Most people simply don't know the difference.

I have to say, I agree. I often see people decide that "this bass sucks" or "the quality/craftsmanship is terrible" when all an instrument needs is a decent setup. They'll write a bass off entirely because the intonation is just a hair off (like a half note off at the 12th fret) or they found a dead spot. Give a tech a few minutes and he'll have it back again.

I understand some people may perceive minor differences from instrument to instrument but, by and large, it's extremely rare you find a P that just won't work. They're all usable. Part of what made Leo's work so extraordinary is that he perfected modular parts building and standardization to such an extent that consistency, to whatever extent consistency can be achieved in woodworking, is nearly universal. Like I said, some discrepancies may occur from bass to bass as that's just how it goes with something as fickle as wood but Fenders are as close as you could possibly hope to get to a sure bet. I have preferences, too, but I've yet to find one that I can't use to get the job done.

 

[Drewbacca]

Definitely my '08 MIM Precision, sunburst w/ rosewood fretboard, named "The Rock" for it's ability to survive accidents unscathed . I've played tons of others, MIA, MIM, CV Squiers, etc, and none of them feel as silky smooth and just plain "right" as my MIM. Over its life it's aqcuired a black PG, Dimarzio Model P's, and a Badass II, but it's been sweet to me since I first bought it (for $350 new ).

Don't have any good pics of it alone in it's recent state... here it is last Sunday.

 

[nocontrols]

I have to agree that there's some inconsistencies with Fender. You can pull ten basses from the wall (if the wall is sufficiently stocked) and find a Fender that has all the characteristics one is looking for, and could ever hope for - at a price. However, there are always seven or eight 'Meh!' basses there - for the same price. Those seven or eight may play "okay" and sound "okay," but in my experience you really have to dig to find the 'Buttah' basses. Soundwise too.

Someone said above that Fender are consistent, but trees are not. Given sixty years of experience they should be able to audit their stock to find the consistencies, so I don't accept that as a valid argument. A luthier of any note may find the right wood that is ultimately correct for the job at hand. In mass production there should be no difference. Otherwise, these Fender basses have no merit as consistently fabulous, and should not merit the prices charged. Sure there is some consistency with the hardware, electronics, and set up, but that doesn't always give you amazing instruments. Some of the lesser marques have inferior hardware and set up, yet consistently produce good instruments. Why can't Fender do the same. Sure, there are 'dogs' in the lesser brands, but these are not $1500.

I'm no Fender hater, but I pretty sure not every MIA Fender is a first round pick. I've played a lot of Fenders over the years. I've played MIA, CIJ, MIM, and Squier. I've played vintage instruments, and I've played new. They are not all created equal. Why did my buddy's MIA Vintage 57 need a new neck? That's a valuable instrument, yet it's neck warped like crazy. Why do some experienced and professional bassists have a Squier in their arsenal? Because they found a good bass. Why can't you find an early (pre-lawsuit..) Tokai? Because they are good instruments and nobody is letting go.

People will rave about their '74 or whatever, but I'll bet the '75 was a dog. I'm not tagging all basses from certain years as bad, but simply illustrating that there are good and bad Fenders. Don't tar them all with the same brush. A lot are great, but there's just as many (if not more) that are less spectacular.

Your definition of a "dog" is funny to me. Yes, $1500 is a chunk of change and you should be able to get a great bass for that price. Fenders are great basses and I don't think a different grain of wood is necessarily a flaw.

We as bass players have it pretty good, complaining about Fenders. If we were guitar players and had to suffer the CQ issues and blatant shoddy workmanship of Gibsons, you'd REALLY have something to whine about. Imagine paying $4,000 for a Les Paul that comes to you from the factory with sharp fret ends, bubbles in the finish or gobs of glue on the body.

 

[MelodiousThump]

Fender is plenty consistent. Trees aren't.

+1
I think P bass pups are consistent. '75 P-bass was my main
gigging bass for years. It's now in retirement before I wear
it completely out.
Replaced with American Standard V. Gotta have that P-bass sound that cuts through any mix.
It helps to know how to set up your bass, or know a good tech.

 

[PunkMommy]

I just stumbled across an 83 USA Presicion Elite, not mint but just enough characheter for my taste, a few little dings but it plays as nicely,just much different than the 06 custome that I have which is super smooth and plays like butter..The 83 is throatier, growlier, and it sound incredible runningh through my vintage amps...I haven't taken the leap yet though and made the purchase...
Anyone have any time in on an 83 Elite or similair?
Any know issues? So far I love the feel of it- completely different from my other P. Would love some input or experience..Thanks
K

 

[audiomitch]

Most of the people complaining have no idea what they are talking about.

I think you'll find most people here agree that finding a "good" Fender is a crap shoot. Price or country of origin doesn't seem to make a difference, I think it's just the sheer number of instruments they produce.