Fender P-Bass: Japan, US, CS or Limelight

[Owen]

1 hour ago, Reggaebass said:

 I’d still like the Sean custom if one came along at a reasonable price, especially if it made me play like him 😁

I have some bad news for you. In 1987 I inadvertently bought a 66J because it looked like Jaco's. You can guess the rest......

[peteb]

3 hours ago, Lozz196 said:

Ah get what you mean, well I’d say all were of similar - pardon the pun - standard.
 

My ultimate faves are the 12 - 15, playability wise I just gel with the necks the best which are chunkers, but no standout points on build, with playability being down to the individual. Given you’ve a 2015 Jazz I’d say look at this series for Precisions too as I find the Jazz necks on this series quite chunky.

 

Again if pushed I’d say 08 - 12 my least fave on playability as necks quite flat/shallow, which isn’t my thing.

 

Funnily enough, you are selling me a bit on 08-12 period basses - I quite like the idea of a P bass with a relatively flat / shallow neck! I do like the 98 jazz bass that I have (that I originally thought was a 09), so I wouldn't mind trying a same period P bass. I know that the 12-15 series are just well made, good basses -  I remember playing a 2012 one once and it was great, a really well put together P bass, top notch. 

 

The thing is, I grew up on mid to late 70s Fenders and most of the best ones that I have played come from that period. Unfortunately, the worse ones I've ever come across come from that period as well! I know that this is an age thing as I am too young to get too misty eyed about vintage 60s ones (not that I could afford them), but a lot of the newer models just don't feel quite the same to me! I suppose that I would ideally like to find something with a bit of that feel about it, but with a more modern level of consistency / finish. I wouldn't rule out another 70s / early 80s P bass, but I would have to really try it out to be sure about it. The last time I got one for what seemed like a decent price, I ended up a bit disappointed and losing a fair amount of money on it. 

 

[peteb]

On 22/08/2025 at 08:08, Reggaebass said:

Hi pete, I’d keep an eye out for an AVRI 62 or 63 P, they are exceptional basses, I’ve got a 62 and I believe the difference is the 63 has a fuller neck profile where mine is slimmer from front to back which I find comfortable, they also hold their value and are pretty sought after, I can’t comment on Japanese I’ve never had one 

 

Has anyone got an idea what the going rate for a decent condition AVRI 63 P bass (2014) from a private seller should be? 

 

[vincbt]

32 minutes ago, peteb said:

 

Has anyone got an idea what the going rate for a decent condition AVRI 63 P bass (2014) from a private seller should be? 

 

 

These don't really come up often for sale. Last one I saw was from a dealer who was looking at close to £2,000. I would have thought for a private sale it would clear somewhere in the £1,600-1,800 allowing for some inflation.

 

It really depends however on how much you want it, it's definitely a bass that you want to snap up when you come across it if it feels right. I have been keeping an eye out myself for a faded sonic blue one and they just don't seem to get sold! 

Edited 23 hours ago by vincbt
typo corrected

[Reggaebass]

1 hour ago, peteb said:

 

Has anyone got an idea what the going rate for a decent condition AVRI 63 P bass (2014) from a private seller should be? 

 

I’d agree with vincbt Pete, £1600-£1800 is right in the ballpark 

[peteb]

Just now, Reggaebass said:

I’d agree with vincbt Pete, £1600-£1800 is right in the ballpark 

 

I've just talked to my mate / guitar player / BL, who trades guitars quite a lot. He's close but not quite as generous as you lot - he reckons £1,500 to £1,600, which is pretty much what the guy is looking for! 

 

Having a think about it... 

 

[Bass Direct]

Loads of great options out there from Fender and a whole host of other manufacturers, just get them in your hands and see which fits best

[Eldon Tyrell]

Coincidentally, a cool looking AV 63 P has come on Reverb just a few hours ago. £2k.

The seller is the current bass player in Ocean Colour Scene - Ray Meade.

Man, I would love to buy it, but don't have 2k 😞 

 

https://reverb.com/uk/item/92046590-fender-american-vintage-63-precision-bass-2013-2017-faded-sonic-blue 

 

[Beedster]

2 hours ago, vincbt said:

and they just don't seem to get sold

 

The AVRI '63s do have a very good reputation and by comparison with the other 20,000 varieties of Fender Precision, you're right, they are rare birds

[Beedster]

4 minutes ago, Eldon Tyrell said:

Coincidentally, a cool looking AV 63 P has come on Reverb just a few hours ago. £2k.

The seller is the current bass player in Ocean Colour Scene - Ray Meade.

Man, I would love to buy it, but don't have 2k 😞 

 

https://reverb.com/uk/item/92046590-fender-american-vintage-63-precision-bass-2013-2017-faded-sonic-blue 

 

 

That's a very nice bass and the seller's inviting offers so given the rarity I'd go in with a cheeky £1800 if I was in the race for one of these 👍

[Reggaebass]

Just had a quick look and the 10 sticker would concern me that it didn’t leave a mark when removed , depending on how long it’s been there, not the original case either , but it does look nice 

[Eldon Tyrell]

2 minutes ago, Reggaebass said:

Just had a quick look and the 10 sticker would concern me that it didn’t leave a mark when removed , depending on how long it’s been there, not the original case either , but it does look nice 

Cools sound too

 

 

 

 

[Eldon Tyrell]

Just now, Eldon Tyrell said:

Cool sound too

 

 

 

 

 

[wateroftyne]

53 minutes ago, Eldon Tyrell said:

Cools sound too

 

 

 

 

I wonder if you can see the side dots on this one? It's a big flaw on recent Fender RI's, IMO.

[skej21]

1 hour ago, wateroftyne said:

I wonder if you can see the side dots on this one? It's a big flaw on recent Fender RI's, IMO.

The Am Original series basses are definitely marmite - Personally, I’m firmly in the fan club. The neck profile/radius in particular (and the clay dots) sold it for me. I have a 60s P and J from the Am Original series now and they’ll be the last ones out of the door. Got both for less than £1300 each second hand too, so not as steep as the AVRI. People who are considering buying should definitely try them out though. I have a 2003 AVRI Precision and it’s a wildly different feel to the Am Original!

[Beedster]

2 hours ago, skej21 said:

The Am Original series basses are definitely marmite - Personally, I’m firmly in the fan club. The neck profile/radius in particular (and the clay dots) sold it for me. I have a 60s P and J from the Am Original series now and they’ll be the last ones out of the door. Got both for less than £1300 each second hand too, so not as steep as the AVRI. People who are considering buying should definitely try them out though. I have a 2003 AVRI Precision and it’s a wildly different feel to the Am Original!

intrigued, how do the AVRIs and the Am Originals differ?

[LukeFRC]

7 hours ago, peteb said:

 

I've just talked to my mate / guitar player / BL, who trades guitars quite a lot. He's close but not quite as generous as you lot - he reckons £1,500 to £1,600, which is pretty much what the guy is looking for! 

 

Having a think about it... 

 

thing is they are all inconsistent enough I think I'ld be tempted to play them. If I were looking I remember liking the old AVRI stuff... but not so much whenever it was the '62ri turned into a '63ri - but that's one opinion based on a limited sample size of half a dozen basses. Japanese are good as I think they are more consistent. One of the best Fender P basses I tried was Mexican ... but others have been dogs. 

If I were in the market and had the budget I'ld be driving to try this and see if it justified it, just cos it looks cool. 

 

[Duroc17]

9 minutes ago, LukeFRC said:

thing is they are all inconsistent enough I think I'ld be tempted to play them. If I were looking I remember liking the old AVRI stuff... but not so much whenever it was the '62ri turned into a '63ri - but that's one opinion based on a limited sample size of half a dozen basses. Japanese are good as I think they are more consistent. One of the best Fender P basses I tried was Mexican ... but others have been dogs. 

If I were in the market and had the budget I'ld be driving to try this and see if it justified it, just cos it looks cool. 

Looks like it’s getting sold - it sure is cool tho 😎

[skej21]

11 hours ago, Beedster said:

intrigued, how do the AVRIs and the Am Originals differ?

Main differences between my 60s Am Original P and my 2003 62 AVRI P are probably in the neck to be honest.
 

Obviously pickups etc are slightly different, but the thing that impacts the playability most when comparing them is the difference in neck specs.

 

Am Original;

1963 C neck profile with a 9.5” radius, round-laminated rosewood fingerboard and clay dot inlays/side markers with vintage tall frets and a 1.73” nut width (bone nut). Neck depth feels bigger/more rounded.

 

AVRI;

C neck profile with a 7.25” radius, white dot inlays/side markers with vintage frets, a 1.75” nut width and a synthetic bone nut. Neck depth feels very thin/shallow.

 

I would say too, that most of the AVRIs I’ve played over time have all been quite light (probably around 8.6-8.9lbs) but the Am Originals have been heavier.

 

Edited 3 hours ago by skej21

[Beedster]

1 hour ago, skej21 said:

Main differences between my 60s Am Original P and my 2003 62 AVRI P are probably in the neck to be honest.
 

Obviously pickups etc are slightly different, but the thing that impacts the playability most when comparing them is the difference in neck specs.

 

Am Original;

1963 C neck profile with a 9.5” radius, round-laminated rosewood fingerboard and clay dot inlays/side markers with vintage tall frets and a 1.73” nut width (bone nut). Neck depth feels bigger/more rounded.

 

AVRI;

C neck profile with a 7.25” radius, white dot inlays/side markers with vintage frets, a 1.75” nut width and a synthetic bone nut. Neck depth feels very thin/shallow.

 

I would say too, that most of the AVRIs I’ve played over time have all been quite light (probably around 8.6-8.9lbs) but the Am Originals have been heavier.

 

 

Thanks @skej21, funny how what on paper look like marginal differences make a difference, but they do. I had two Warmoth necks, one of which I feel really home on, the other I didn't, and the difference was probably in the 2mm difference in depth, not dissimilar to the above (I'd almost certainly prefer the AVRI of the two). Guess it's why - especially if you're intent on spending a lot of cash - you need to play first. I wonder how many of us have let a basses go because they didn't work but without ever really knowing why (2mm neck depth difference for example), only to repeat the mistake?  

[skej21]

50 minutes ago, Beedster said:

 

Thanks @skej21, funny how what on paper look like marginal differences make a difference, but they do. I had two Warmoth necks, one of which I feel really home on, the other I didn't, and the difference was probably in the 2mm difference in depth, not dissimilar to the above (I'd almost certainly prefer the AVRI of the two). Guess it's why - especially if you're intent on spending a lot of cash - you need to play first. I wonder how many of us have let a basses go because they didn't work but without ever really knowing why (2mm neck depth difference for example), only to repeat the mistake?  

I was lucky enough to play a lot of basses through my work in music retail over a long time, so I’m not fussy about adapting to different specs (I guess in the same a mechanic would jump in numerous cars per day and not think too much about biting points, break sensitivity etc) and I’m pretty good at being able to see those specs on paper and understand how it aligns to my preferences (so I don’t mind a punt online personally!).
 

Like you say though, it can be a huge swing in terms of what feels right from player to player and if you’re more sensitive to those changes impacting your playing, it’s definitely worth try-before-buy.