Torn between two P-bass' NEED HELP

[Jag_Bassist]

Hi yall !

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][size=5]as the title suggests, im a bit torn between a couple of fender p bass's.[/size][/font]

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][size=5]im spending around 800 ish on one, and ive found [/size][/font]

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][size=5]the Fender 70's precision (japanese)[/size][/font]

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][size=5]( [url="http://www.dv247.com/guitars/fender-70s-precision-bass-guitar-olympic-white--88570"]http://www.dv247.com...ic-white--88570[/url] )[/size][/font]

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][size=5]and [/size][/font]


[b] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][size=5]Fender American Special Precision Bass [/size][/font][/b]


[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][size=5][url="http://www.dv247.com/guitars/fender-american-special-precision-bass-guitar-olympic-white--82145"]http://www.dv247.com...ic-white--82145[/url][/size][/font]


[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][size=5]Any opinions?[/size][/font][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][size=5]I love the look of the 70's p bass and love the lighter coloured neck, but it being a jap bass (like my jaguar) i can imagine it needing more work (bridge and grounding ) [/size][/font]

Edited May 1, 2012 by Jag_Bassist

[gjones]

I liked the white one.

[LukeFRC]

depends what fretboard you want.
To be honest it's the first time I've heard much negative about fender japan. Personally I would go japanese

[CBbass]

Well I have an american special on order because it is the closest spec Precision made to what I'm after. CAR + maple is dreamy .

[Jones_Stuff]

Love the aesthetics of the MIJ, I'd go with that.

[SidVicious1978]

i love japanese fender better than the special

[StevieD_FenderP2009]

I've played both and I preferred the jap Fender 70's model. Much more punch, really clear sounding and the neck was beautiful to play. No problems with the grounding or bridge on it either (which for me to say that about a Fender BBOT is rare)

The american special one felt like it had been built in a bit of a hurry if you know what I mean? The pickups weren't great, the finish wasn't great and the neck didn't feel too nice. I really did prefer the jap 70's model. Go for that, it's a much wiser investment

[mckendrick]

[quote name='Jag_Bassist' timestamp='1335914741' post='1638137']
Hi yall !

[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][size=5]as the title suggests, im a bit torn between a couple of fender p bass's.[/size][/font]

[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][size=5]im spending around 800 ish on one, and ive found [/size][/font]

[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][size=5]the Fender 70's precision (japanese)[/size][/font]

[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][size=5]( [url="http://www.dv247.com/guitars/fender-70s-precision-bass-guitar-olympic-white--88570"]http://www.dv247.com...ic-white--88570[/url] )[/size][/font]

[/quote]
I believe that's Mexican, Jag_Bassist. Part # begins with 013 - which is Mexican.

The current Jap ones come like this: [url="http://www.fenderjapan.co.jp/pb70-usash.html"]http://www.fenderjap...pb70-usash.html[/url]

The American one, I feel, will be much better value for the money.

Cheers.

Edited May 2, 2012 by mckendrick

[CBbass]

Alright, I'll highlight the non aesthetic differences.

American special

Slimmer neck ("slim taper"?) - subjective but, I like this. Don't get this confused with a Jazz nut width, they are different things. This is the "C" shape width on the back which is slimmer. It has the same nut width as the 70's bass.
Graphite rods - IMO better, won't need much adjustment, less prone to warping and dead frets.
Greasebucket circuit - not sure how I feel about this, I'd most likely change the electronics on both basses anyway
Medium Jumbo frets - I'd probably prefer the smaller "vintage" frets of the 70's but frets don't make much of a difference in my playing to care.
Satin neck finish - far better in my hands, feels nice and quick to play. Gloss looks nice though but I don't like playing on it.
USA made

70's

Thumb rest - good for finger players, 90% of the time I use a pick so it doesn't affect me much.
Tuners - I like these ones more, feel nicer and have a true classic look.
Vintage truss rod - Will need standard adjustments, I'm not sure if they are different to your regular fender ones which are prone to dead spots and the usual. Has the vintage stripe accross the back and block below logo.
Japan made.

The 70's is cool, It's what an actual "pawn shop" precision may look like. It looks very unique and I like it. The white would look awesome with black hardware. I feel Japans quality control is on par with the USA so don't let it affect your decision.

The Special is more traditional with some modern touches. I wanted a 70's style bass but with modern features. I prefer the look and features on this bass and the CAR gets me nostalgic over a guitar I once had but had to sell for financial reasons.I actually prefer this bass over any of the USA line and love it's features. I can't wait for mine to arrive!

The most important thing to me when buying a bass is the neck, if there's somthing I don't like about a neck on a bass then I just sell the bass.

Hope this helps.

[Ed_S]

I've got the white 70s P - it's one of my two current main gigging basses. Personally I was sold on it as soon as I clapped eyes on it, so it's quite fortunate that it's a great instrument given that I had no choice but to buy it

There's a 'however', however, which on mine was the bridge - it worked fine, but was a really poor-looking piece of work. I have nothing against the BBOT, but I at least expect the baseplate to be straight and thus flat to the body. So I stripped that off and stuck a Badass II on there, which made no difference to the sound, but I think makes for a good, stable bridge and an aesthetic improvement.

I tried a couple of American Specials when they came out, and I just thought they felt like good examples of 2009 MIMs - nice necks, but not worth the extra cash.

[gary mac]

That Jap one looks very handsome to me. I recently had a play on one of these and it was very good, certainly nowt wrong with bridge or electrics.

Have you actually played either model?
Our opinions, although valid, are just that. If I were trying to make the decision, I think top of the list of my priorities would have to be, to play them both.

Good luck and let us know

[Grand Wazoo]

Buy the Japanese... if you please

[jezzaboy]

The American Special? Built in the good old US by Mexicans. I would rather search about for a good MiM than buy one of these.

I`d buy the Jap one myself.

Or, 800 will get you a really nice US standard second hand on here with the fancy case.

Jez

Edited May 2, 2012 by jezzaboy

[jezzaboy]

I didn`t look at the pics, I assumed the op was taliking about the 70`s Jap one with the block maple neck. If this was the one he was refering to, I`d buy that one. I still wouldn`t pay the price for those US specials. It was only a couple of years ago you could buy a Highway 1, the bass I believe the special replaced, for around £550.



And 5 posts to pull us up? Are you bored

Jez

Edited May 2, 2012 by jezzaboy

[Ed_S]

Dunno about the product code, but if we're talking about the Classic series P in white/maple with black blocks, I know mine has 'Made in Japan' written all over it...

[charic]

The link is for a Japanese fender not a mexican

[lonestar]

This from the PB62 US on the Japanese site: "[b]BRIDGE：[/b] [u]SPILAL VINTAGE[/u]"
So that's what happened to Benny Hill

[mckendrick]

[quote name='jezzaboy' timestamp='1335970859' post='1638827']
And 5 posts to pull us up? Are you bored
[/quote]
S***less.





[quote name='lonestar' timestamp='1335976492' post='1638941']
This from the PB62 US on the Japanese site: "[b]BRIDGE：[/b] [u]SPILAL VINTAGE[/u]"
So that's what happened to Benny Hill
[/quote]
Don't you just love 'em...? The Japanese, I mean.

There's loads of stuff like that all over the CDJapan website. For instance, 'Shout: The Complete Decca Recordings' is by the artist known as Ruru. I kid you not....

[url="http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=MSIG-587"]http://www.cdjapan.c...ml?KEY=MSIG-587[/url]




Anyway, I digress.....

Edited May 2, 2012 by mckendrick

[discreet]

You gotta love a maple fingerboard.

[Jag_Bassist]

yeah i was instantly drawn to the japanese one ( from what websites ive seen the bass on it's said jap each time) as i prefer the looks of it, unfortunately i cannot try the bass's as i live in the middle of no where in england and a 300 mile drive would be required... and then theres the hunt for finding both bass' ... i think i will have to go with the jap and stick a badass 2 on there


so the hype around american fenders doesn't always make them better.

[Jag_Bassist]

[quote name='StevieD_FenderP2009' timestamp='1335922470' post='1638196']
I've played both and I preferred the jap Fender 70's model. Much more punch, really clear sounding and the neck was beautiful to play. No problems with the grounding or bridge on it either (which for me to say that about a Fender BBOT is rare)

The american special one felt like it had been built in a bit of a hurry if you know what I mean? The pickups weren't great, the finish wasn't great and the neck didn't feel too nice. I really did prefer the jap 70's model. Go for that, it's a much wiser investment
[/quote]


thanks mate thats really helped!

[vax2002]

A millennium period Corona USA string through body precision is the best I have ever played, they ring like a piano.
Could be picked up for the same price as one of these "replicas"

[ashevans09]

Visually, I love the maple necked one. Your choice though, also I remember some annoyances regarding the new Fender American PUs IIRC?

[Lozz196]

Hmmm, visually, as I`m not too keen on blocks on Precision necks, I`d go for the one without.

That said,the best advice I think is try and play them both, and buy whichever your hands like the best. Pickups can be swapped out, pots changed, but find a neck that fits your hands just right - grab that bass and don`t let go.

[discreet]

I'd have to go for the maple neck, but without the blocks... oh wait, that's not an option.