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Played an AmPro II Precision today
- Thread starter Bent77
- Start date
Oh man. I just bought one tonight. I really like the changes they have made with them. To me the change in pickup is great. A more even sound through all the strings. Old school/ new school blend. Anyway I'm kind of stoked on them. Sorry you didn't care for them. Different strokes.
I love the Fenders I own. I’ve passed on Fenders I didn’t love. They’re not all the same because they are made of wood.
JeezyMcNuggles
Inactive
- Feb 23, 2018
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D
How are the pickups in the Pro II P-basses compared to the pickups in the original Pro series? I haven't seen many reviews and nothing specific about the pickups. I did test one briefly but it was in a noise store on an unfamiliar amp so it told me absolutely nothing.
The V-Mod pickups in the original Pro series didn't get much praise. In fact, most people seem to hate them. I've got an AmPro P-bass and I'm not impressed. I LOVE the neck profile on that bass but the fit&finish, craftsmanship and QC was absolutely shocking (I've already described this in detail in older threads so I won't go there again...).
The V-Mod pickup... I actually like SOME aspects of the tone. It's quite mellow for a P-bass pickup which can be a good thing for MY taste with certain types of roundwounds and certain amps/cabs. It's not particularly good with flats though and it doesn't "sit" in the mix the way I expect from a classic P-bass. The mids seem a bit "soft".
The EXTREMELY low output will make the V-Mod sound a bit anemic compared to other P-bass pickups unless the volume is compensated. When comparing at the same volume it's not quite as bad as some people seem to think though. The slightly different voicing between the coils can be a dealbreaker though. This whole Alnico II/V thing seems like something they developed for guitar and just added to the bass pickups as an afterthough to keep this "feature" consistent across the Pro series. The difference is worst with brand new roundwounds. The highs/zing gets too unbalanced between the coils. Luckily I prefer mellow roundwounds (or flats but this bass doesn't like flats IMO) but the whole Alnico II/V thing is just a stupid idea that seems like it was developled by Fender's marketing department rather than someone who knew what they were doing.
If the American Pro was my only P-bass I would have ripped out that pickup a long time ago. I own several other P-basses though so I've kept for now. It's nice to have different options but it's not the great allrounder that I expect from a classic Precision Bass.
The V-Mod pickups in the original Pro series didn't get much praise. In fact, most people seem to hate them. I've got an AmPro P-bass and I'm not impressed. I LOVE the neck profile on that bass but the fit&finish, craftsmanship and QC was absolutely shocking (I've already described this in detail in older threads so I won't go there again...).
The V-Mod pickup... I actually like SOME aspects of the tone. It's quite mellow for a P-bass pickup which can be a good thing for MY taste with certain types of roundwounds and certain amps/cabs. It's not particularly good with flats though and it doesn't "sit" in the mix the way I expect from a classic P-bass. The mids seem a bit "soft".
The EXTREMELY low output will make the V-Mod sound a bit anemic compared to other P-bass pickups unless the volume is compensated. When comparing at the same volume it's not quite as bad as some people seem to think though. The slightly different voicing between the coils can be a dealbreaker though. This whole Alnico II/V thing seems like something they developed for guitar and just added to the bass pickups as an afterthough to keep this "feature" consistent across the Pro series. The difference is worst with brand new roundwounds. The highs/zing gets too unbalanced between the coils. Luckily I prefer mellow roundwounds (or flats but this bass doesn't like flats IMO) but the whole Alnico II/V thing is just a stupid idea that seems like it was developled by Fender's marketing department rather than someone who knew what they were doing.
If the American Pro was my only P-bass I would have ripped out that pickup a long time ago. I own several other P-basses though so I've kept for now. It's nice to have different options but it's not the great allrounder that I expect from a classic Precision Bass.
Wonderful OW in my opinionThis one here in Olympic white
Ironically that is the color of the last 2 American P basses I owned
https://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender...od-Fingerboard-Olympic-White-1500000327824.gc
Same impressions .. mellow sound but lack of punch and power, so, in the end I changed it with a so-called ultra-boutique unit, a Klein Epic ‘59 which surely added more character to the bass’ sound
Are you sure it wasn't the amp?
A while back I played my CS '59 Precision bass all night through a Fender Rumble 100 at a BBQ jam session and no matter how I EQ'd that amp, it sounded bad.
The CS '59 is one of the best sounding Fender basses I've ever laid my hands on, but the Rumble made it sound very pedestrian indeed.
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Well I wasn’t trying to bash the amp, but I wouldn’t personally own one. My amp is an SVT
Smooth_bass88
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- Oct 31, 2006
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Regarding tone and amps, I’m in several bands and record each rehearsal session for learning and playing improvement. One group provides an older Rumble 100 (the one with a red light in the lower cabinet area that is stimulated by the notes played) and I take my Mesa D800+ and Subway 115 cabinet to another.
I happened to listen to songs from each session during one listening period and was truly shocked at the difference in tone, punch, clarity, (pick your own descriptive adjective) of bass tone between the two amps; I played my MIM Fender P with Lindy Fralin pickup on both sessions. Please understand my post is not to say my amp is better than _____. It’s just to point out the amp makes quite a difference.
I happened to listen to songs from each session during one listening period and was truly shocked at the difference in tone, punch, clarity, (pick your own descriptive adjective) of bass tone between the two amps; I played my MIM Fender P with Lindy Fralin pickup on both sessions. Please understand my post is not to say my amp is better than _____. It’s just to point out the amp makes quite a difference.
And by that, I mean there are lots of things that for me make or break a bass that should have been good, such as:
- neck set up wonkiness
- the profile of the neck and what my hand wants to feel
- bridge or nut setup wonkiness
- pickup adjustment
- string feel
- string tone
- fret wear (I assume that’s not an issue here)
- the pickup itself/themselves
- the EQ settings on the amp
- the room acoustics
- the amp itself, maybe it’s a POS, maybe it’s amazing
- my mood or energy level. Hangry-ness or needing a nap has destroyed a few bass purchases for me I’m sure, and sometimes I’m just simply not into trying out gear, or am momentarily oriented towards something else entirely different, whether a different bass style altogether or how one of my kids have been doing in school or life.
We don’t know much about any of these variables for you. But maybe it’s one or more of those.
At the end of the day, you don’t have to like this bass or even this model though, people like different things.
- Sep 4, 2010
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I played one extensively too,
What it is: a well-built, well-balanced high quality modern-voiced excellent all-purpose bass in a P-bass package.
What it is not: a vintage voiced, traditionally styled P-bass
I didn't get it either, because I am already covered in the all-purpose area but I was quite impressed.
What part of your experience was unimpressive? Sound, quality, fit finish, playability?
I'm going to be "designing" a Precision on the Fender Mod Shop, and I think I'll be going with the custom shop '62 P pickup.
Is there anyone here that would advocate for the V-Mod pickup from the Am Pro line instead? I assume if I want a classic P tone, the '62 CS pickup is the way to go.
Is there anyone here that would advocate for the V-Mod pickup from the Am Pro line instead? I assume if I want a classic P tone, the '62 CS pickup is the way to go.
I have a 2017 American Professional Precision bass. I didn't hate the V-Mod pickup, but I did end up installing a '62 CS pickup instead. Definite improvement.
Regarding the quality of these basses. Mine has a knot in the wood on the front of the body. The finish is antique olive. The knot is not noticeable unless you catch it at the right angle in the light. No complaints otherwise.
Regarding the quality of these basses. Mine has a knot in the wood on the front of the body. The finish is antique olive. The knot is not noticeable unless you catch it at the right angle in the light. No complaints otherwise.
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I bought about 10 or so american standard (pre pro) p basses before discovering they weren't for me. the last one i had being the best one. Then I discovered the road worn p bass, and then the american vintage basses from 2013-16, plus my moollon. There are a lot of options out there. Personally i think the pros are over priced now and not great/consistent basses.
I haven’t tried either V-Mod but the CS 62 is a classic and is well respected. That said, I’ve heard some folks sing the praises of the Yosemite pickup, so that might be worth checking out. If it’s anything like the pickup in the old Classic 50’s then I’d imagine it is grindy, punchy, and a bit less refined - but in a good way.
Thank you both. I feel confident in my decision.
I played a V-Mod Gen 1 Am Pro not too long ago, and it was a nice take on the P Bass pickup. Since Mod Shop doesn't delineate if it's the V-Mod Gen 1 or 2 (which I haven't played), I'll probably go with the CS '62 because it's such a tried-and-true system that I know I love already.
Nicest thing about pickups is how easy they are to swap out if my taste ever changes.
