Here's the '63 reissue in a drool-worthy finish. Buy it and you'll have $1 left in your wallet, woot!
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Want the ultimate Fender P under $2k
- Thread starter JaredBT
- Start date
Love these! My only issue is the non tinted neck. Yuck.
I actually hadn't noticed the non-tinted neck! I frankly share your preference for tinted.
Another reason to be satisfied with my '57 and '62 AVRIs, which cost less, anyway.
Thank you, Mr. Robert, for reducing my GAS pains!
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Yep! The "Fullerton era" reissues came out from 1982-85. This is a good summary of the story behind them: Fender Fullerton Reissues
I have owned a ton...a TON, I tell ya! of Fender Precision basses and the best one I've ever had is...*shocking*...my parts-built Squier. '51 CV neck and the slabbish Dirnt body with...*extra-shocker*... STOCK PICK-UPS. It plays like a dream, stays in tune and isn't overly heavy. Everyday, it freaks me out, because I've had the budget to buy whatever(ie: vintage, RI, Custom Shop, American Standard), I've had them ALL and this thing just rocks. Which leaves me with loads of cash for a super-killer rig...THE OTHER PART of the sound. Best of luck~
...Is the neck on '63 non tinted so as to be period correct, does anyone know? Both my '62 reissues are tinted.
I don't find it hard to believe any of this... Well, maybe except the part about the stock pickup. What is it, specifically?
Exactly so!Neck radius is also very important. Do you want modern 9 1/2" or vintage 7 1/4"? For modern, you can never go wrong with an American Standard with stock Custom Shop pickups for about $1,300. For vintage the '63 AVRI Precision is absolutely killer, and can be had for right at 2 Grand. You can always design your own at Fender's American Design Experience. Invalid Link Removed
Ok I just created, my own design. All I need now is $1500.
Yeah, G&L does it right. Paul Gagon (formerly of Fender) designs a lot of their stuff, and as Ed said "he's had the opportunity to rip apart every Fender pickup there was, so he knows how to build 'em".
I peg G&Ls close to custom shop Fenders. You order them custom, and that's how well they are put together. Hell you could look up the person that built your G&L bass if you wanted to, as they sign off on one of the sheets you get with your bass. Both my SBs are built by some guy named Patrick McKee.
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I think I would love a G&L, but at this point I prefer a nitro finish if I'm dropping more than $500 on an instrument. It does make a difference to me.
There are also people on here who work for their money and buy whatever they want. When their wants change, they get new gear...and get this...they do it for fun. You don't have to slam someone for spending their money how they wish. Your "trust fund babies" comment makes you sound bitter and sad.
Wilkins makes a fantastic P. Mine's a P/J but with a 3 way selector switch so I can isolate the P. Blended it is a P with some growly bite. Exceptional finish also.
Yep, I prefer a tint, too. It's thin coated nitro like the origs though so it should yellow on its own nicely.
Did anyone mention MIJ/CIJ yet? I must have missed it I someone had
IMO, Japanese Fenders are probably the best bang for buck out there.
Used prices are still very reasonable at the moment. Some prices are downright steals. $500 (average on fleabay) for a PB62 or a PB70 is a fantastic deal for a very well crafted instrument. My PB70 is on par or better than any of the many 70s P basses I've owned.
Also, as soon as the used 63 gets down to a grand, I'll be buying one. No, maybe two.
IMO, Japanese Fenders are probably the best bang for buck out there.
Used prices are still very reasonable at the moment. Some prices are downright steals. $500 (average on fleabay) for a PB62 or a PB70 is a fantastic deal for a very well crafted instrument. My PB70 is on par or better than any of the many 70s P basses I've owned.
Also, as soon as the used 63 gets down to a grand, I'll be buying one. No, maybe two.
Well, being truly objective, only those with the most discerning of eyes can tell the difference between a Squier CV 60's P an an Fender custom shop.
It's a Squier "Mike Dirnt" body that was loaded from a place that just sells parted out Fender/Squier stuff(new). I wasn't over-excited about the "sig" model but, it WAS what I was looking for, sort of. I wanted a plain slab body and they're just not part of the company stock-pile. At sub-$400 for the whole thing though, not a bad trade-off. It has the P-bass sound I always looked for and the '51 CV neck really finished it off...perfect, for me!
Give it time my friend. Give it time.
(Mmm... Sonic blue... Nitro laquer...Mmm)
This interests me because I am a total P-bass tone whore.
I've spent a good bit of time and money fleshing out the right P-bass tone (for me that's the funk guys from the 70's, and Mars Cowling.)
Having aid this, I feel that if one wants a Fender, then buy a Fender. The problem with that is that they really are all different. I heard a Mexi P that was killer, better than AmStd. But then there are AmStd that are killer, you just have to search for the right one. a PITA.
In the end, I like to monkey with things, so I build my own, mod my own, I'll take a router to anything.
Having said THAT, I have a Squier that I have made killer with the addition of a Nordstrand pickup.
I built two Warmoths that both play the best of anything I've ever owned, one has Barts and the other has Custom Shop pickups. Both sound like vintage P-basses, although slightly different. You'd have to kill me to get them.
I built a P on a budget using Mighty Mite parts that beats Fender hands down, but it does use a CS pickup. As I said, if you want it to sound like Fender, go to Fender.
The G&L's are nice. Too expensive for what they are. As I recall, does it not have a volume?
Have you considered Yamaha BB? Man I love their tone:
The issue with Yammies is that the base model has a 10" radius neck, but the higher end models have a freaking 24" radius. I like flat necks, but that's going too far. If I were buying new, I'd get a BB 425X 5-string. 10" radius, sounds awesome, well under your budget to get a new amp to go along with it, for the ultimate P tone. I just got one of the older BB415's and love it. $160. I did a setup on it and it's a great beater.
g'luck!
I've spent a good bit of time and money fleshing out the right P-bass tone (for me that's the funk guys from the 70's, and Mars Cowling.)
Having aid this, I feel that if one wants a Fender, then buy a Fender. The problem with that is that they really are all different. I heard a Mexi P that was killer, better than AmStd. But then there are AmStd that are killer, you just have to search for the right one. a PITA.
In the end, I like to monkey with things, so I build my own, mod my own, I'll take a router to anything.
Having said THAT, I have a Squier that I have made killer with the addition of a Nordstrand pickup.
I built two Warmoths that both play the best of anything I've ever owned, one has Barts and the other has Custom Shop pickups. Both sound like vintage P-basses, although slightly different. You'd have to kill me to get them.
I built a P on a budget using Mighty Mite parts that beats Fender hands down, but it does use a CS pickup. As I said, if you want it to sound like Fender, go to Fender.
The G&L's are nice. Too expensive for what they are. As I recall, does it not have a volume?
Have you considered Yamaha BB? Man I love their tone:
The issue with Yammies is that the base model has a 10" radius neck, but the higher end models have a freaking 24" radius. I like flat necks, but that's going too far. If I were buying new, I'd get a BB 425X 5-string. 10" radius, sounds awesome, well under your budget to get a new amp to go along with it, for the ultimate P tone. I just got one of the older BB415's and love it. $160. I did a setup on it and it's a great beater.
g'luck!
