New P bass day

[jezzaboy]

So I spotted this on Guitar Guitar second hand page. Looked nice and I have always missed a black and maple one I bought in new 2009 and foolishly sold. It arrived today and it`s a Z8 serial so 2008 - 2012. The thing is it`s like a brand new bass, not a mark on it anywhere, it still has the original film on the pickguard that looks kinda yucky to be honest, the case is mint and it has all the goodies inside which is very unusual.

 

There is a tag in there from a different UK instrument shop price marked down from £1343 to £1103. I paid £1099 which is around the going rate but like I say it`s mint. I wonder what happened with it? Did it sit in the back of some store forgotten or did someone buy it and stick it under the bed? At the end of the day it`s just another P bass but I`m well happy with it. Anyway pics or it doesn`t exist!

 

[Lozz196]

Nice, the best recorded tone I’ve ever had - imo of course - was one of this range. That looks a cracking bass, I’m sure you’re gonna enjoy it.

[HeadlessBassist]

Nice example you have there and rare to have all the case candy intact after around 15 years. The price of £1343 would have been the official retail price at the time. Maybe it was discounted by around £250 originally? Hard to imagine now that the equivalent current day American Professional II basses now have an RRP of around £1919! 

[Reggaebass]

Looks really great jezza, nice find, congrats 

[DGBass]

Nice one G. A great find and looks just like my N8 P-Bass. A classic colour combination for a Precision, hope you enjoy playing it and hopefully it's a keeper. Question: does it have the lightweight open gear tuners that were more 2012-ish,  or the big chunky cast tuners on the early year 2000's Fender USA basses? 

[Misdee]

I've got an identical Am St P that I bought new in 2009 and I would never part with it. One of my favourites basses ever.

 

Mine doesn't have the Custom Shop pickup that came fitted from 2012 onwards, but the standard pickup it came with sounds good to me so I've never bothered changing it.

 

I think the post- 2012 basses had a bit chunkier neck profile too, but I could be wrong about that. I know that my 2009 model has a perfectly-proportioned neck for my tastes. It's  just like a classic and very playable late '60's/early 70's classic Fender "B" neck with the nut width halfway between a vintage P and a Jazz, and a fairly slim front-to-back profile.

 

Anyway, I've got Thomastiks flats on mine and it does the classic P thing to perfection.

 

Enjoy your lovely new bass. I hope it's a keeper and that you get as much enjoyment out of it as I've had from mine over the years.

[Lozz196]

Spot on re the neck profile @Misdee, the 08-12a were flatter in feel, in comparison to the much chunkier post 2012s.

[jezzaboy]

I managed to get cracking and get the P bass playing the way I like. As I suspected the plastic film that was still on the scratch plate had welded itself to the tort plate. On closer inspection the plate was warped whilst it was screwed onto the bass, I don`t know what was going on there, was it because the original film was still on the plate after 15 odd years? Anyway I ordered a black 3 ply one from Northwest Guitars for £22 with next day delivery and it fitted perfectly with all the screw holes lining up.

 

Next a new set of EB`s Slinkys, I oiled the fretboard and it was good to go. Intonation was perfect so maybe it was set up when it was bought? The bass plays and sounds great and the neck profile is perfect for me. Overall I`m very happy with this purchase 

 

@DGBass I have taken a pic of the tuners for you.

[DGBass]

Looking good😎

[PaulThePlug]

I doubt it was down to the film... the different plastics of the ply shrinking or gassing at different rates - some early celluloid plates resemble thise 'Shrinky Dinkies' of the 80's