New Fender Vintera II Roadworn 60's Precision

[Geek99]

5 hours ago, Jonesy said:

Charcoal frost - phwoar!

 

Puts head in hands and repeats - '2 p basses is enough, 2 p basses is enough, 2 p basses is enough'

WTAF ? is he a spy who really didn’t do the homework before going out on an assignment?  🤷‍♂️

[Jono Bolton]

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Edited Wednesday at 17:06 by Jono Bolton

[Jono Bolton]

30 minutes ago, Lozz196 said:

Wow, £1399!
 

I’m sure they’re great but does seem high, pretty near Made in USA prices.

Don't worry, I'm sure the MiUSA prices will go up accordingly 

[Musicman20]

Just standard MIM pickups on a 1399 bass immediately puts me off. Too expensive. 

[Mrbigstuff]

7 hours ago, Jonesy said:

Charcoal frost - phwoar!

 

Puts head in hands and repeats - '2 p basses is enough, 2 p basses is enough, 2 p basses is enough'

Ah no I’ve only got one 😂

[Jono Bolton]

On 17/09/2025 at 07:18, HeadlessBassist said:

If it's a copy of a 60's bass it'll be a glossed neck, but the nitro finish neck gloss that everyone seems to hate will probably be mostly missing as it was on my RW Flea Jazz. I'm lucky to not get sweaty hands, so it's never bothered me.

I like gloss necks. I hate it when necks have a satin or sanded-back finish. The more poly, the better.

[Mrbigstuff]

21 hours ago, Lozz196 said:

Wow, £1399!
 

I’m sure they’re great but does seem high, pretty near Made in USA prices.

Also more than the market rate for JV Squiers! Would be interesting to see if they’re as good.

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

I expect they'll be the same quality as JMJ mustang bass but less roadworn. If so they'll be worth every penny.

[ezbass]

22 minutes ago, Jean-Luc Pickguard said:

I expect they'll be the same quality as JMJ mustang bass but less roadworn. If so they'll be worth every penny.

JMJs seem to range from £1340-£1440 new. Generally very, very well regarded, so it can't be surprising that a P version (up to a point) is in the same ballpark price wise (no custom SD pickup though).

[krispn]

Yeah the Flea jazz the JMJ are all in and around the asking price. 

[krispn]

Snap!

[Lozz196]

Have to admit I’d forgotten all about the JMJs (how I don’t know) but yes as in similar price range the expectation should be these will be of similar quality.

[Lozz196]

PSA - Peach Guitars have a charcoal version at 8lbs5oz. 

[spongebob]

Made in Ensenada rather than standard Mexico now? 
 

May have been a thing for a while, I haven’t owned a MIM Fender for about 15 years, so I’m a bit out of touch! 🤓

[Iheartreverb]

I played the charcoal P the other day and was honestly blown away. I was ready to be critical given the price, also not a P bass expert either. Both being said, it was light, resonant, felt great quality. The roadworn nature was subtle, tasteful and detailed. 
Really really impressed. 

[krispn]

Aww man don’t be saying things like that. This Charcoal is my absolute favourite p bass colour. I’m thinking of driving over to Glasgow to try one at guitar guitar. I’ve no business tempting myself but I’ve been very impressed with the road worn series having owned an original series jazz RW which I loved but got nicked, a JMJ (twice) and my main bass, a Flea jazz. 

I’m not usually picky but would love to find a really light one in charcoal 🤞🏼for Glasgow. 
 

[Jonesy]

5 minutes ago, krispn said:

Aww man don’t be saying things like that. This Charcoal is my absolute favourite p bass colour. I’m thinking of driving over to Glasgow to try one at guitar guitar. I’ve no business tempting myself but I’ve been very impressed with the road worn series having owned an original series jazz RW which I loved but got nicked, a JMJ (twice) and my main bass, a Flea jazz. 

I’m not usually picky but would love to find a really light one in charcoal 🤞🏼for Glasgow. 
 

 

Hahaha, that was my first though when I saw @Iheartreverb's reply.

 

Happy hunting in Glasgow. I'm looking forward to the NBD thread already!

[Iheartreverb]

Guy, I’ll make it worse. It was the one in GG Glasgow that I tired! 
 

…you’re welcome 

[krispn]

40 minutes ago, Iheartreverb said:

Guy, I’ll make it worse. It was the one in GG Glasgow that I tired! 
 

…you’re welcome 

You sir are a scamp! 

[Misdee]

These basses look pretty good for a Mexican-made Fender, if a tad pricey. The extra cost has gone on the cosmetics if there's nothing special about the pickup or hardware. Sounds like a decent enough P Bass.

 

 In terms of cosmetics these basses would be more period-correct with an off-white pickguard, but tortoiseshell = vintage so that's what we get. I would want to change it for a white one, so add that to the overall cost and it's getting even more expensive for a Mexican Fender 

 

Regarding of the neck and overall playability I think the biggest drawback isn't the finish so much as the 1.75 nut width. I know some people like that vintage spec, but I think the majority of players find something closer to the "B" neck at 1.625 much more comfortable. I know I certainly do. I think Fender would sell more of these basses at that spec.

 

The most special thing about these basses is that Fender has deigned them worthy of a colour scheme and lightly-aged look usually reserved for their Custom Shop basses. That's their biggest selling-pojnt.

Edited 10 hours ago by Misdee

[Jonesy]

21 minutes ago, Misdee said:

These basses look pretty good for a Mexican-made Fender, if a tad pricey. The extra cost has gone on the cosmetics if there's nothing special about the pickup or hardware. Sounds like a decent enough P Bass.

 

 In terms of cosmetics these basses would be more period-correct with an off-white pickguard, but tortoiseshell = vintage so that's what we get. I would want to change it for a white one, so add that to the overall cost and it's getting even more expensive for a Mexican Fender 

 

Regarding of the neck and overall playability I think the biggest drawback isn't the finish so much as the 1.75 nut width. I know some people like that vintage spec, but I think the majority of players find something closer to the "B" neck at 1.625 much more comfortable. I know I certainly do. I think Fender would sell more of these basses at that spec.

 

The most special thing about these basses is that Fender has deigned them worthy of a colour scheme and lightly-aged look usually reserved for their Custom Shop basses. That's their biggest selling-pojnt.

 

Good shout about the colour options. These are essentially gateways to the Hurley and Pino sig and they look fantastic.

 

I wonder what the neck depth (back to front) is like? I'm usually a fan of jazz width necks, but have to say the Vintera I 50s P bass I played had a lovely neck. That was 1.75 too, but fairly shallow front to back, and it felt really nice to play, I was surprised how much I liked it. 

[Paraietta]

I'm aware of the great reputation of previous roadworn series' but I do have to wonder about the pricing strategy?

 

Perhaps it is just my dated perception with regard to associating quality with country of manufacture, but for this price range you're easily within the territory of MIJ Fender/Fender-shaped-object, and getting pretty close to Maruszczyk or Sandberg.

 

Resale value notwithstanding, personally I would rather spend my £1400 on a more 'premium' instrument but is this an apples to oranges comparison?

[Jono Bolton]

17 hours ago, Iheartreverb said:

Guy, I’ll make it worse. It was the one in GG Glasgow that I tired! 
 

…you’re welcome 

I was going to have a shot of that one at lunchtime today but wasn't able to make it over. If it's still there on Tuesday when I'm next in the office I'll have a swatch.