Nothing wrong with buying a "used " bass . I would look on TB for a MIA standard , it will hold its value better than the MIM. You can always change stuff on either 1 ( pick guard , neck , pups etc etc) but the MIA will hold its value .
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Ok last post...Which bass should I pick?
- Thread starter bordinco90
- Start date
Nope... no confusion here. I understand that an American Special is a step down from a American Standard. I know the the American Specials don't have the same bridge and tuners as a American Standard. Does the American Special have an American Standard body or neck?
Forget it.
Only buy one of these:
Anything less is a certain fail. A real 1964 Precision: There is no substitute, no matter what debunked BS I foolishly posted previously.
Only buy one of these:
Anything less is a certain fail. A real 1964 Precision: There is no substitute, no matter what debunked BS I foolishly posted previously.
The bridge works but it isn't as good as the standard and no string through.
My biggest beef is with the same crappy tuners as the MIM. Yes, they do hold tune but have to much slop for me. I hate tuners that you have to go back and forth a half dozen times before you get it right. They are heavier too.
The fretboard isn't rolled as nicely as the standard ether.
Every one I've played felt like a MIM to me.
Let's not forget the hard case, $800 and you get cheap gig bag?
I have never liked the Greecebucket tone circuit or the MIM alnico pick up. Played side by side the standard sounds much better to me.
Yeah he's wrong, to my knowledge the biggest differences are the special has the grease bucket circuit and the neck on the special is rolled like the higher end American basses, could be more differences but those are the 2 that I'm aware of.
Buy a used American Standard. If you decide to sell it in a year or two or a couple you won't lose a cent. In fact, if you hold out for the right deal, you could actually make money. It's a bass, not a used car. Maybe you'll need to put on a new set of strings and a setup, but then you can rock it with no worries.
The American Special line seems to be discontinued anyway so unless somebody has it in stock.........
The bass that sounds best to YOUR ears. Period. Taking a poll to have others decide for you is ridiculous.
I have a Fender American Standard P, a Mendel P, a 1974 P, and 1975 Tele, a '51 reissue P, a Highway 1 P, and a Jazz Special (which is also a P). The American Standard is my LEAST favorite of the bunch. Its hardware is fine and it sounds fine, but it is very heavy and is just lifeless in my hands when compared to the others. The Mendel P (MIM), followed by the Highway 1 (which is a predecessor to the American Special) are the best of the bunch.
So get the one YOU LIKE, who cares about selling it and it being american made to sell, your buying it to keep it, right?
this is what the 50s p bass looks like. I like tho look of this bass better
I've bought quite a bit of used stuff off GC online. And I've taken some of it back. They have a 30 day return policy, so imo it's really not a very high risk buying used from them. You'll eat the shipping if you return it, but that's about as much as you'd stand to lose. Granted, it's always been pedals in my case, so the shipping isn't nearly what it would be for an instrument, but I still think it's worth considering.
I would also check the classifieds here if I were looking for an instrument too. I know it's always best if you can play it first, but I can't always find what I realy want that way.
As for the two you're considering, I like the look of the 50s one better as well, but would go for the am special out of those two because of the differences in the neck.
Fwiw, I've had a highway one or 1 (whichever was the older version of those, can't remember) jazz bass for 4 or 5 years now. I've been pretty happy with it. I mention it only because those were a lower grade MIA than the standard, and probably bear more similarities to the MIMs. No, it's not as nice as an MIA standard, but it plays nice and sounds good, and I picked it up off CL for $350.
If I were in your position though, looking to spend the amount you're talking about, personally, I would be looking for a used MIA standard or an older MIJ.
