Sold my American Standard Precision before the new bass arrived...

...and hope I didnt make a mistake!

Don't get me wrong, the American Standard I had was (is) a great bass. Classic looks with the 3TSB and tort with rosewood, was PLEK'd and played like a dream and sounded great with the PV'63 pickup that I put in it. So why the heck did I sell it? And what bass did I sell it for? Why didnt I just keep both?!

Well, I'm pretty much a two-bass guy right now (other bass is a surprisingly sweet '08 MIM Classic 70's Jazz). I recently parted with a Classic 50's that I shouldn't have sold, and that bass has been haunting me since I sold it, and as a result the other day got a great deal on a brand new Classic 50's Lacquer that is scheduled to arrive tomorrow. I've had two Classic 50's non-lacquer P's since 2013 and both were stellar. I just decided to hold on to the American Standard because of the psychology of owning a USA made Fender, but after selling the Classic 50's I found wishing I wold have sold the American Standard instead.

Again, nothing wrong with the American Standard at all, but I've come to the conclusion that there's just something different/special about the Precisions I've played with the wider 1.75" nut width. Yes, there are plenty of other factors that contribute to the basses overall character and tone, but the wider nut does seem to impart something that I have found consistent with all other Precisions I've played with that wide nut. I'm also not a believer that a high mass bridge "improves" the sound of a bass. And add to that even though the 2008 American Standard I just sold was flawless in craftsmanship, fit and finish, most of the higher end/Classic Series MIM's are just as good and right up there in quality.

I had this discovery as well with my Telecasters, owning a 52AVRI Tele and a MIM Classic 50's Tele, and ended up keeping the Classic 50's Tele because the Classic 50's actually sounded better to my ears.

The only catch is I haven't put my hands on this particular classic 50's yet as its supposed to arrive tomorrow. Kind of jumped the gun on that one by listing the American Standard over the weekend, not expecting to see it so fast and for what I was asking for it, but got several emails almost immediately and one person was very interested and gave me my asking price so I couldn't refuse!

So finger's crossed this Classic 50's lacquer will be a keeper!

 

Yeah, I should have sold the American Standard instead of the Classic 50's initially, but live and learn, right? At least I sold the American Standard for a few bucks more than I paid for the new Classic 50's Lacquer, and now I know I just prefer the neck profile and wider nut on the Classic 50's P's along with the vintage appointments compared to a more modern-appointed Fender, and have the desire or need to shell out for an AVRI, so the Classic Series fits the bill. Now it's just about finding a nice example of one, which doesn't seem too difficult a thing to do. If the one's that's supposed to arrive tomorrow is a dud, I'll just send it back and order another one.

 

No, I already have a REALLY nice '08 Classic 70's MIM Jazz. I sold the American Standard P and replaced it with a Classic 50's Lacquer P.

I could have kept the American Standard AND the Classic 50's Lacquer AND the Classic 70's Jazz, but these days I'm just fine with two basses, and in all honesty miss the Classic 50's neck specs and prefer them over the American Standard neck. I have GHS Boomers on the Jazz, and will put a set of La Bella 760FL's on the Classic 50's Lacquer.