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Precision buying advice

Fingerz

Fingerz

Jan 21, 2008
174
103
UK
#1
Hi there,

I'm thinking of adding a Precision to my collection. My fav bass is a Jazz MIJ which is about 25 years old. I use it often biased to the front pup as I love that hollow, deep tone, hence thinking of a P bass but I'm a bit of a novice with these..

When it comes to Precisions, is it good to look at the 80's MIJ ones too? I'd like to get something in the (GBP!) £500-£1000 range - upto the $1550 USD mark currently. As I know Fenders vary a lot, are there some which really are known to be great and sing in that P bass way? I'm expecting to play loads to find the one but any tips would be very helpful.

Cheers one and all !

Fgrz
 
#5
I'd suggest trying a series/parallel switch in your Jazz; you may find that you don't need to buy a whole new bass.

It won't nail the classic P tone exactly, but it'll bring out a really fat and meaty dimension of the J which is darn close.

I've done it to both of my Js, and I no longer need a P (though, I know I'll have one someday).

Check it out - it's easy (~$60 if a tech does it for you), reversible (if you don't like it) and it leaves the stock J tone intact, so nothing is lost.

I found out about it here on TB, I'm a very happy convert.

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#6
I think you're best off playing as many as you can and when one gets your attention grab it. I've played a great MIM P and some not so great USA P's. They're all over the map. I've also played a real good vintage modified. I've heard great stuff about the MIJ. For that $ you can find a CS P if you're patient and watch here enough. I have 2 and have played probably 15 others. Every one I've played has been good to great. Once a good P gets it's claws into you you'll always keep one. Good luck!
 
#8
I suggest finding a used US Lakland 44-64 (Bob Glaub) or buying a new Skyline version....you can get either for the price you are expecting.

you get:

Good old fasioned P sound and feel (or modern sound depending on the pickup choice)

GREAT quality in either version

GREAT customer service

I used to have a GREAT MIA Fender that was replaced by a Lakland Skyline BG - they were "supposed to" co-exist but I found the Fender spending more time in its case than being played....

good luck!

if you need more info, check out: www.lakland.com; www.laklandowners.com; or PM me (i have several Lakies)....

peace:

Doug
 
#10
Thanks for all the info.. As I suspected, no hard and fast rules - just play a bunch of P basses. I'd tend to avoid MIM/MIK anyway - but you never know, there might be some killer ones about! Interesting Lakland point too - I'll plug some in if I see any.

Much appreciated
 
#11
I have a '87 MIJ P-bass that i bought new and it's a great bass. Replaced the pickup about a year ago because of age i guess. A couple months ago i bought a new Fender Aerodyne because i was looking for new sound and feel. I love this new bass but still use my P for alot of songs that call for straight forward in your face P tone. I wouldn't get rid of my P for love nor money.
 
#12
Fingerz said:
My fav bass is a Jazz MIJ which is about 25 years old. I use it often biased to the front pup as I love that hollow, deep tone, hence thinking of a P bass but I'm a bit of a novice with these..
Click to expand...

+1 for Series pickup switch (assuming you're pu's are passive).

You might wanna think of installing a third pickup in the Jazz - a Precision pickup between the two Jazz bass pu's and near the neck pu - for ultimate flexibility. An uncommon mod, but find someone you know who has done it and try it out!!

I have a JV series Squier Jazz 82-84 and it's sensational. It has active pickups (so can't have the series mod) when I got it and it works flawlessly. I was advised against installing the 3rd pu in the JV as it has collector potential.

I bought a 90's MIJ Fender P-bass to scratch that P-Bass itch, and now I'm looking at getting a decent PJ bass/ body - so I can install the neck Jazz PU where the pickguard is without having to refinish it.
A black pickguard with black pickups will look less crowded.
 
#13
Not to be redundant, but go around and play as many basses as you can. Hit all the stores and check Craig's List. I was recently on the quest for a P-bass and, after playing at least 20 of them (new and old), decided that the new ones were solid and bought one from a fellow TBer for hundreds of dollars less than walking into Guitar Center and pulling out the credit card. The new basses were consistent enough (especially the necks) that I felt comfortable buying one without playing it first. (Something that I did not think possible when I began the quest).

Although hitting all the local GS stores is the quickest way to play a lot of basses, they tend to be poorly set up and hard to tell how they can really play. However, the MIA Fenders do tend to be at least reasonably set up at the factory. (I checked out a number of $1700+ MusicMan basses and they were so poorly set up they were nearly unplayable)

For what it's worth, I found the differences between the new MIA and M-everywhere else striking. I quickly gravitated to the MIA.

Good luck & Have fun.
 
#17
I'd try an FGN Neo Classic P bass.
Built in Japan, they are really well made and consistent .
The ones I tried also sounded the way I like a P to sound.
The best P I have tried in a very long time.
They are also not too expensive.

I was told that it is FGN(Fujigen) who make or made japanese fenders.
 
#18
esa372 said:
I'd suggest trying a series/parallel switch in your Jazz; you may find that you don't need to buy a whole new bass.

It won't nail the classic P tone exactly, but it'll bring out a really fat and meaty dimension of the J which is darn close.

I've done it to both of my Js, and I no longer need a P (though, I know I'll have one someday).

Check it out - it's easy (~$60 if a tech does it for you), reversible (if you don't like it) and it leaves the stock J tone intact, so nothing is lost.

I found out about it here on TB, I'm a very happy convert.

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Click to expand...

I had it installed...then I bought a Precision bass with flats. It's not the same, it's worth having both basses! I love my arsenal now!
 
#19
Fingerz said:
Hi there,

I'm thinking of adding a Precision to my collection. My fav bass is a Jazz MIJ which is about 25 years old. I use it often biased to the front pup as I love that hollow, deep tone, hence thinking of a P bass but I'm a bit of a novice with these..

When it comes to Precisions, is it good to look at the 80's MIJ ones too? I'd like to get something in the (GBP!) £500-£1000 range - upto the $1550 USD mark currently. As I know Fenders vary a lot, are there some which really are known to be great and sing in that P bass way? I'm expecting to play loads to find the one but any tips would be very helpful.

Cheers one and all !

Fgrz
Click to expand...

I lucked out about a month ago and got a 1989 E-serial P-bass with a one piece maple neck in almost new condition. It actually looks just like the Steve Harris signature model Fender is selling right now. The Original owner had a BadAssII bridge on it when I got it, but the person who installed it did a crappy job. So I put the original bridge back on, then I retooled the BAII and put it on my Jaguar, but that's another story...
Anyway I like it, a lot. I always wanted a P with a maple neck for the longest time.
If I were you I would try to get a P with a maple neck, that is the way they were made originally.
 

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