BrunoBass Posted February 7, 2020 Share Posted February 7, 2020 (edited) There’s a 2005 MIM Fender Precision for sale locally, good price and fairly tidy. As I’m currently in the market for a mid level P I’m quite tempted. I have reservations though, as I seem to recall that the general consensus regarding mid 2000s Mexican Precisions is that they’re not very good. Anyone care to chip in with thoughts and experience? Cheers 🙂 Edited February 9, 2020 by BrunoBass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted February 7, 2020 Share Posted February 7, 2020 They’re a bit more hit & miss pre 2008, as it’s local try it out, let the hands & ears decide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoubleOhStephan Posted February 7, 2020 Share Posted February 7, 2020 No direct experience of '05, but I have just bought a 2010 P and during my research came across a number of comments saying how fender upped their game (build quality) from 08/09. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machines Posted February 8, 2020 Share Posted February 8, 2020 I've got a 2005 and had it's a keeper. Judge it individually. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckman67 Posted February 8, 2020 Share Posted February 8, 2020 Bought a '08 MIM P neck that I had put on my MIJ PB57 body, it was a nice neck felt really good. My mate who bought it from me refuses to sell it back & he owns some nice basses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrunoBass Posted February 8, 2020 Author Share Posted February 8, 2020 Thanks for all the replies. I’ve offered a lower price than what they were asking for, which they’ve accepted. Going to have a look and potentially buy tomorrow. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted February 8, 2020 Share Posted February 8, 2020 2 minutes ago, BrunoBass said: Thanks for all the replies. I’ve offered a lower price than what they were asking for, which they’ve accepted. Going to have a look and potentially buy tomorrow. That’s cool, imo there’s good and not so good in all years, it’s what feels good for you, I’ve got an 08 and it’s great, hope it works out for you ☝️ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lownote Posted February 8, 2020 Share Posted February 8, 2020 I had one from a little later than that. Best P style bass I've ever had by a long chalk, whatever people say about clones being just as good. They're not. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrunoBass Posted February 9, 2020 Author Share Posted February 9, 2020 So this has turned into a NBD, thread title changed accordingly... I’ve been after a Precision bass for the new Britpop covers band I’ve joined and this 2005 Mexican model came up locally at a good price. I managed to get the girl selling it down to a very good price so I was happy. Turns out she’d bought it new in 2005 when she was a teenager, but after a while she’d lost interest and had put it in its gig bag where it remained for fifteen years... As you’d imagine it was very clean, but showing signs of inactivity. First thing to do was remove the old strings which were utterly dead and give it a good clean. Lake Placid Blue isn’t my favourite colour on a guitar but this actually looks pretty nice. My first thought was to change the white scratchplate for a black one, but over the years this one has aged to a nice faded white which looks kind of vintage, so it’ll stay for now. I sanded down the glossy neck so it’s a bit smoother, and the rosewood fretboard was very dry so I treated it with some lemon oil fretboard conditioner. I changed the strap buttons to Schaller strap locks which I do to all my basses. The neck was bowed considerably so a bit of truss rod adjustment was necessary to get it playable. The bridge was in bad shape, particularly the grub screws which were stripped. I had a spare bridge so I changed it, and will change it again to a hi-mass bridge later. It was fortuitous that I removed the bridge as the earthing wire had slipped back into it’s hole so I was able to pull it out and get it back in contact with the bridge. I did a quick set up on the new Ernie Ball Super Slinky strings that I fitted and gave it a final rub down. It sounds great, exactly how a P Bass should. I may well change the pickup later but for now it’s fine. Nice slim neck, very playable and 4.1kg in weight so it should be good for a long gig. I’m pretty pleased with it, especially for the price. Result! 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 (edited) Nice , the nut looks slim or is it just the picture 👍 Edited February 9, 2020 by Reggaebass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoubleOhStephan Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 Sounds like you've got a great deal, congratulations! Not sure it's LPB though, looks more like either Imperial Blue or Metallic Blue? The only reason I mention it is, funnily enough the bass I bought I mentioned researching above is LPB, and it's quite a bit different to yours. Here's a link to the Fender colour chart in case you're interested. 👍🏻 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 You’ve got it up to a great finish, congrats, when you get a good one you get a good one. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrunoBass Posted February 9, 2020 Author Share Posted February 9, 2020 2 hours ago, Reggaebass said: Nice , the nut looks slim or is it just the picture 👍 The nut does need looking at, I’ve set it up the best I can (truss road, intonation etc) but I don’t have the skill or experience to sort the nut. It’ll do for now but ideally it needs some pro attention. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrunoBass Posted February 9, 2020 Author Share Posted February 9, 2020 1 hour ago, Lozz196 said: You’ve got it up to a great finish, congrats, when you get a good one you get a good one. Yep even with the ancient strings it was loud and resonant unamplified, usually a sign that it’s going to a good ‘un. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrunoBass Posted February 9, 2020 Author Share Posted February 9, 2020 1 hour ago, DoubleOhStephan said: Sounds like you've got a great deal, congratulations! Not sure it's LPB though, looks more like either Imperial Blue or Metallic Blue? The only reason I mention it is, funnily enough the bass I bought I mentioned researching above is LPB, and it's quite a bit different to yours. Here's a link to the Fender colour chart in case you're interested. 👍🏻 Thanks, that’s useful. Looking at the chart I think my bass is most likely Metallic Blue; that’s the closest it looks, screen colour calibration notwithstanding. It has a subtle sparkle to it. Is LPB flatter? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 8 minutes ago, BrunoBass said: The nut does need looking at, I’ve set it up the best I can (truss road, intonation etc) but I don’t have the skill or experience to sort the nut. It’ll do for now but ideally it needs some pro attention. Sorry It wasn’t a criticism Bruno , I meant the neck looks nice and slim at the nut for a precision, my P is 41mm , 🙂 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrunoBass Posted February 9, 2020 Author Share Posted February 9, 2020 Just now, Reggaebass said: Sorry It wasn’t a criticism Bruno , I meant the neck looks nice and slim at the nut for a precision, my P is 41mm , 🙂 No problem, I took it as an observation not a criticism 🙂 I think it’s 41mm, it’s certainly not ‘50s width, nice shallow C profile too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 Just now, BrunoBass said: No problem, I took it as an observation not a criticism 🙂 I think it’s 41mm, it’s certainly not ‘50s width, nice shallow C profile too. Sounds perfect ☝️ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoubleOhStephan Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 13 minutes ago, BrunoBass said: Thanks, that’s useful. Looking at the chart I think my bass is most likely Metallic Blue; that’s the closest it looks, screen colour calibration notwithstanding. It has a subtle sparkle to it. Is LPB flatter? Cool, happy to help 👊🏻 LPB is metallic and has a faint green in it, only really noticeable under the scratchplate & bridge where it hasn't faded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoubleOhStephan Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 Here you go, it's a real pita to photograph but you can just make out the green behind the pickguard. Tbh, I much prefer it faded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrunoBass Posted February 9, 2020 Author Share Posted February 9, 2020 13 minutes ago, DoubleOhStephan said: Cool, happy to help 👊🏻 LPB is metallic and has a faint green in it, only really noticeable under the scratchplate & bridge where it hasn't faded. The colour under the bridge when I removed it was the same as the main colour, no fading at all, probably due to being in a gig back for years. No greening so probably not LPB then - well spotted! 👍🏻 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoubleOhStephan Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 15 minutes ago, BrunoBass said: The colour under the bridge when I removed it was the same as the main colour, no fading at all, probably due to being in a gig back for years. No greening so probably not LPB then - well spotted! 👍🏻 Tidy! Interesting that the nut needs work, I wonder if that's one of the things that gives these era MiMs the hit and miss reputation? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrunoBass Posted February 10, 2020 Author Share Posted February 10, 2020 I took the new bass to band practise tonight. It sounds great, exactly what I wanted it to be. It just sits so well in the mix; punchy with a pick, fat and warm with fingers - amp set flat, tone on the bass on full. Easy peasy. I love it, my band mates love it, and I can’t wait to gig it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 That colour was called Electron Blue. Only did it for a year or so. Nice colour. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrunoBass Posted February 11, 2020 Author Share Posted February 11, 2020 9 hours ago, AndyTravis said: That colour was called Electron Blue. Only did it for a year or so. Nice colour. Thanks for the info Andy. I can’t find much online about this era of bass production so stuff like this is good to know. Removing the bridge and changing the strap buttons I was surprised how much finish is on the body, it must be 2 - 2.5mm thick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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