Precision bass questions

[Joe Nerve]

Only bass I don't have in my arsenal which I feel I might one day need, is a Precision. Thought I'd think this through, out loud, here, as there is no better place .

I'm just about to pull the trigger on an American Special, but starting to have my doubts. Especially after learning that some people snagged these for less than $600 a few years back. Best price I'm going to get is 15% off the $999, unless someone hooks me up here with a link I don't know about.

Anyhow, I'm leaning towards the AS because I got used to the neck profile on my Jazz, and prefer it to the P. I'm sure I'd get used to the P, but I switch basses a lot, and well... yeah, I like feel of the J. What I'm concerned about however on the AS is the greasebucket tone. Will that kill the possibility of getting vintage P bass sounds out of this? I'd like very much to be able to get the sounds of the 70s from this bass.

I'm also considering a plain ol standard. My questions on that are:

Do they have the same pickup as in the American basses?
What are the differences between the mexican and american? Is it just where the materials are made and where the bass is assembled? If so, I don't care a whole lot about the MIA part. My jazz is an antigua MIM and I like it a lot more than 4 highway ones I owned which were MIA.

That's pretty much it for now. Thoughts and experience please.

 

[davedblyoo]

MIMs and MIAs have different pickups. The hardware on MIAs is much nicer than that of MIMs. MIAs have carbon fiber stiffening rods in the neck.

 

[StayLow]

Meh... use the neck pickup on your Gibson EB and save your money.

 

[Moving Pictures]

The Special has a slimmer neck, front to back, than the American Standards and any of the MIMs I have played. I believe they have the same pickup as the 2008-2012 Am Std but someone may have better information. I know they do not have the CS60 pickup that the current Am Std has but that is a personal preference item. The Specials do have the reinforced neck and IMO are a great value. They can easily be modded if you want to change bridge, pups or tuners to suit. They are a great middle ground between the MIM Standard and the Am Std.

 

[Joe Nerve]

MIMs and MIAs have different pickups. The hardware on MIAs is much nicer than that of MIMs. MIAs have carbon fiber stiffening rods in the neck.

Hardware doesn't matter to me. If it does the job, I'm happy. Could you tell me exactly what pickup is in the MIM, and what's in the MIA? Iffin I decided I wanted to swap it out?

Also, is the current MIA the same as what used to go into P basses in the 70s? If not, what would be the best replacement if I wanted to go for this kinda 70s sound:

 

[davedblyoo]

If you want that sound, you should look into the Geezer Butler EMG pickup set. And no, current MIAs don't use the same pickups that were 70's Fenders.

 

[Tbone76]

The American Special uses the same hardware as the MIM standard basses, and the bridge is not string-thru-body. The tone pot is Fenders Greasebucket version, which rolls highs off without adding lows. Some people love it, some don't notice it, and some people hate it. The American Specials also have graphite support rods in the neck, rolled fretboard edges, and the Slim-C profile, which is thinner front-to-back. The nut width is the same, however, as a modern P bass (1.625").

Pickups are the same as the pre-2012 American Standards. I personally love the feel of the Slim-C profile, but others don't. FWIW, if you check GC, the Nitro Satin Honeyburst is an American Special without the Greasebucket tone control (although randomly, some do have it), and a nitro finished body. It's also less than the American Special. I had one and shouldn't have traded it. Hope this helps.

 

[Tbone76]

Also, you can spend the $100 you saved and put in the EMG Geezer Butler P pup as was suggested above. I have one in my current American Standard P, and it's awesome compared to the stock pup that was in there. There's a whole thread dedicated to it in the pickup forum. Easy install, and you only have to add the pickup foams.

 

[Joe Nerve]

Thanks tbone. For nuthin . Musiciansfriend doesn't have them, and I want that 15% off, without the tax id have to pay at guitar center or sAm ash.

 

[adivin]

There is always the G&L LB100 with #8 J neck...

 

[Joe Nerve]

Need a fender p just to have a fender p. Got lots of other basses I love. This is a vibe purchase only. But one I'd like to like and want to use.

 

[ROOTSnFIFTHS]

Nate Mendel sig Precision? Unique slim neck (close to the Jazz and less than the standard width). Cool sound too but like T-bone said, the Geezers seem to be what you want OR Duncan SPB1. Heard that pup recently and it really has that classic Precision sound.

EDIT- I liked the Nate M neck so much, I bought one and matched it with a fiesta red Road Worn P body for a project bass. That thing is light and the neck is pretty 'fast' to boot.
Pure P goodness. Good luck Joe.

 

[chris_b]

I like Precisions with wide fretboards. Mine is a non Fender 5 string but if you want the Fender name on your P bass I'd recommend the American Standard with a set of flatwound strings.

I would also be searching in the classifieds.

 

[Dave W]

Go used, you'll save a ton of money. You can find an American Standard for $700 pretty easily.

 

[Joe Nerve]

Think I'm going with Tbone's suggestion. I have a 20% off coupon at guitar center that expired a couple of weeks ago. If they honor it, I may be about to pull the trigger. Seems like the best deal on a P with the slimmer neck. Not crazy about the nitro finish, but I'll be gettin it for $100 less than the American Special. Gotta take some deep breaths.... ya think I'd be used to this by now....

 

[Joe Nerve]

They wouldn't take the coupon!!!! Wow. That was kinda surprising. I know, I can call back... but I feel insulted, dammit! Was a little on the fence anyhow. For $100 more I can get a black hard finished one at musiciansfriend. They're checking to see if they can get me one. I have a $50 gift certificate with them anyhow, and I don't have to pay tax. Comes out to just about the same with 15% off at MF. And if I get another guitarcenter coupon, I know they'll honor that.

Just a little patience...

Thanks everyone for the input here. I'll keep my eyes open for something used in the meantime, but on certain purchases I like to go new. Especially with Fender, as they retain their value pretty well, and I know they're very hit or miss. I can't help but to think that if someone is selling one, it's a miss. I like having the return policy and warranty that comes with buying new.

 

[BazzTard]

MIMs and MIAs have different pickups. The hardware on MIAs is much nicer than that of MIMs. MIAs have carbon fiber stiffening rods in the neck.

and MIAs have rolled fretboards. Much nicer fretwork too. The pickups are MUCH better, CS60s.
I have an MIM and an MIA 2013 P bass, and the difference is noticeable, put it this way, I NEVER EVER touch the MIM since I got the MIA a month later.
Now whether that difference is worth an extra $1200 is the real question. I say it is if you can afford it. If not, the MIM is much better value,and sounds pretty close to the MIA,if you swap the pups you'd be there soundwise.

 

[John E]

I love the MIM P's except for the pickups and bridge. And those are easily changeable.

 

[leegreenman]

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I love mine

 

[trothwell]

They wouldn't take the coupon!!!!

Who wouldn't? Was it online? You might try calling and asking for the coupon; stores often disallow coupons on Fender products (along with, it seems, just about every other brand of pretty much everything they sell), but are sometimes more agreeable on the phone.