But it was handcrafted by Fender* himself and Jaco touched it during a traffic stop on 2/30/1980! Just think, if it were on ebay it would be $10,000 or more!
*Cameron Lance Fender
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Want the ultimate Fender P under $2k
- Thread starter JaredBT
- Start date
But it was handcrafted by Fender* himself and Jaco touched it during a traffic stop on 2/30/1980! Just think, if it were on ebay it would be $10,000 or more!
*Cameron Lance Fender
Jesus could have played it and it wouldn't be worth 3 grand. I've played lakland basses and don't get it - they're really nice, but no better than Fender's higher end stuff. Maybe the problem is that most stores don't set up the Fenders they have; I can make a Squier play like buttah, but I know how to set up a bass. I'd easily have no problem buying a Fender American P-5. I've played them, they sound a lot like that 77 P everyone is dry-humping over, and it doesn't break the bank. In fact, less than grand for a great used one. No-brainer to me.
Right, I really don't even know where to begin... I owned an E series P that I got from a pawn shop for 150 bucks with the OHSC. I sold it. Trying to think of when I made a dumber decision... cry cry weep... would really must like to find one again for a killer deal.
The ultimate p-bass. hmm... lemme think...
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Maybe, but I think magic was in the man, not the bass. If the man was around and you put a new Squier in his hands, it would still come out Jamerson.
And the chances are, he probably didn't have a large selection to choose from. Music stores usually didn't have more than one or two of any particular mode.
Certainly not like going into a Guitar Center or Sam Ash type mega store.
G&Ls USA models are largely custom ordered so you're paying a slight premium over a Fender Standard, but you get to pick some options. A new LB-100 would cost about 1200-1500 depending on where you get it from (about 2000 MSRP but we often get basses for a lot less than MSRP), and the options it has. It can be higher if you get one with an ebony board and quarter-sawn neck for example. But, what's nice is every one comes with some features you might only get on a Fender Deluxe (minus the preamps) like lightweight tuners and a bone nut.
The Fender Standard MIAs don't come with the bone nut, and I think the tuners are heavier. The bridge on G&Ls you may consider an upgrade or not, it's a high mass bridge but it's got a lip underneath that is set deeper in the body and saddles you can lock together for more sustain.
At any rate, here's an example of a awesome new one for <1500. It has a premium finish and quarter-sawn neck, both upgrades that cost some money : USA G L LB100 Bass | eBay
You might be thinking of the SB-2.
The SB-2 doesn't have a tone knob, just two volumes. But it's a PJ bass. The J pickup volume is how you dial in the treble, and you can roll down the neck pickup 10% to get a slight high-end cut without a really noticeable volume drop. The SB-1 is the other version with a single P pickup with volume and tone knobs. I've got one of each and they each kinda have their own character. The SB-2 is a good cut-through bass, the SB-1 sits in the mix better.
There is a SB-2T with a tone knob but I think only a few retailers can even get them. They're hard to find. Anyway, I digress.
SBs don't really sound exactly like a traditional P bass though because the pickups are the higher-output ceramic MFDs. They have some more sparkle and punch over a normal P pickup I'd say, and the output is surprising. I find I have to turn everything down quite a bit on my amps/recording gear when using a SB. SBs also have different profiles on the bodies than P-basses. The look like they have something closer to a Warmoth Dinky P body.
If you want a more traditional P from G&L the LB-100 is the way to go and they do have standard controls. They're G&Ls answer to the Fender P-bass pretty much. If you prefer the classic P-bass you might not like the SBs.
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I think the Vintage Reissues are way closer to that 'standard p' than a new American Standard P. The new ones are pretty different than when Fender only made 1 P and 1 J bass, what with the satin necks, different truss rods and high mass bridges. Factoring in inflation, the new standards cost way less than they did back then too. The American Vintage series is much more in line with what you'd get and have to pay for it if you walked into a music store in the early 60s and bought a bass. These were professional instruments, and priced accordingly.
FWIW, in 1976 I bought a pristine used '65 Jazz in candy apple red, would be worth $10K+ now. I paid $240. had a hump in the neck, sounded like a classic Jazz, and the neck was a nightmare to adjust because of where the truss rod was, consequently it usually played poorly. I had a friend with a mid-70's P that had such a bad dead spot that he started doing surgery to the neck to try and improve it. I also had a '78 P that I bought new for $600-ish (I think), always played like crap.
Point being, basses are better now. I'd put those "wonderful classics'" quality on par with the mexiFenders. These days we know more about design, have better materials and apply better woodworking techniques.
Point being, basses are better now. I'd put those "wonderful classics'" quality on par with the mexiFenders. These days we know more about design, have better materials and apply better woodworking techniques.
After so many years of flipping basses, trying to find the perfect bass for me, I finally decided to have one custom built to my specifications.
I sold my Ric 4001v63, as well as my Fender AVRI Sonic Blue '63 to fund the build (and also pay off a few bills, and buy a new camera lens for my wife)...
The Ric was awesome, but (crazy as this may sound) it just looked silly on me... the body was so tiny! ...and, I was hardly using it.
The Fender was an AMAZING bass... it was hard to part with (and, by the way, OP... recently sold for $1500. You should look for these).
As wonderful as they were, they'd become case queens (and I knew that, of the three basses I own, I could get the most money out of selling these two). Since I no longer play professionally, I've decided that one or two basses in the stable is all I now need. I may even reduce to one instrument; if my custom build is as wonderful as I think it will be.
So... I currently have a CIJ-62 P-Bass that I acquired some years ago; and have since corrected all the "period-correct" things the factory got wrong. I put in Lollars (which sound really, really good), replaced the tuners, bridge, thumb rest, ashtrays, and pick guard. Yeah... the body is likely basswood (I don't know for sure)... it's 9 lbs on the nose. And, DAMN... it is SO WELL BUILT! I mean, they did a fantastic job on this bass... the neck/fretwork is especially amazing.
All of that said, I plan to keep that one. It has a rosewood board... and the new custom build will have maple. I'd like to have one of each.
That said, I might be willing to part with the CIJ... we'll see.
Oh, and as for the custom build... I'm having it done by Mr. G. Ishmael of "Slab66;" out of the U.K. For me, this instrument is combining all of my favorite aspects of early P-Basses; from the inception of the instrument, up through the late 1960s. I should be getting some photos of the final product, soon (before it's sent); and I'll post them here.
Whole thing... signed, sealed, and delivered; for $2K.
I sold my Ric 4001v63, as well as my Fender AVRI Sonic Blue '63 to fund the build (and also pay off a few bills, and buy a new camera lens for my wife)...
The Ric was awesome, but (crazy as this may sound) it just looked silly on me... the body was so tiny! ...and, I was hardly using it.
The Fender was an AMAZING bass... it was hard to part with (and, by the way, OP... recently sold for $1500. You should look for these).
As wonderful as they were, they'd become case queens (and I knew that, of the three basses I own, I could get the most money out of selling these two). Since I no longer play professionally, I've decided that one or two basses in the stable is all I now need. I may even reduce to one instrument; if my custom build is as wonderful as I think it will be.
So... I currently have a CIJ-62 P-Bass that I acquired some years ago; and have since corrected all the "period-correct" things the factory got wrong. I put in Lollars (which sound really, really good), replaced the tuners, bridge, thumb rest, ashtrays, and pick guard. Yeah... the body is likely basswood (I don't know for sure)... it's 9 lbs on the nose. And, DAMN... it is SO WELL BUILT! I mean, they did a fantastic job on this bass... the neck/fretwork is especially amazing.
All of that said, I plan to keep that one. It has a rosewood board... and the new custom build will have maple. I'd like to have one of each.
That said, I might be willing to part with the CIJ... we'll see.
Oh, and as for the custom build... I'm having it done by Mr. G. Ishmael of "Slab66;" out of the U.K. For me, this instrument is combining all of my favorite aspects of early P-Basses; from the inception of the instrument, up through the late 1960s. I should be getting some photos of the final product, soon (before it's sent); and I'll post them here.
Whole thing... signed, sealed, and delivered; for $2K.
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You speak the truth. The Am. Standards are modern basses with a P pickup. 9.5" radius, string through, high mass bridge, light tuners, graphite rods in the neck, etc. Nothing wrong with any of that, and they are fine players and the necks are stable, but to me, a Standard P should be much more low tech, like the AVRI, or LB100 with the appropriate neck of your choice from G&L.
Oh. My. God.
I am SOOOOOOOOO sorry for you, man. That bass is a BEAUT, and that's no lie!
Selling that (after having acquired it for such a ridiculous price) has GOT to be a hard one to live with.
Just curious... what did you sell it for? How much? ...and, what did you acquire when you flipped it?
Agreed. I bought a "New American Standard" when the Precision was redesigned (was that 2008? Losing track of time, dagnabbit!), and that guitar, as solid as it was, turned out to be a collection of all my less-preferred appointments: mini (non-reverse) tuners, graphite neck, hi-mass bridge.
Straight across the board, I prefer the alternatives on the AVRI line. Even the MIM 50's Precisions get you closer to vintage, and now there's a nitro option there, too.
With a $2,000 bankroll, I'd personally go 'used' & aim to amass a stable of four 50's-style Precisions. Armed with four P basses, you'll be equipped to play the "rounds/flats/chromes/tapes" game... Which Dolly do you love best today? Hella fun!
