smileegee Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 Thinking of getting a Fender Precision Lyte Bass 1989 Sunburst MIJ Can anyone advise me on the pros and cons? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 I've had two and the actives ones don't sound remotely like a Precision. More like an 80's Ibanez. Very good for long gigs as they are "light" and comfortable and the jazz profile neck is fast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smileegee Posted January 4, 2010 Author Share Posted January 4, 2010 [quote name='OldGit' post='700455' date='Jan 4 2010, 01:56 PM']I've had two and the actives ones don't sound remotely like a Precision. More like an 80's Ibanez. Very good for long gigs as they are "light" and comfortable and the jazz profile neck is fast.[/quote] Thanks a lot, just one thing the active one is the sound good or so so? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 [quote name='smileegee' post='700465' date='Jan 4 2010, 02:05 PM']Thanks a lot, just one thing the active one is the sound good or so so?[/quote] It was Ok. I used one exclusively for about 8 years and it was fine in a rock band. I just didn't sound like a Precision. There's little mass in the body and so the actives have to compensate for all that normally brings. To me they sound a bit too "active" and boosted. Good sound is totally subjective though ..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YouMa Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 Fastest neck i have had wish i had looked after mine better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casapete Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 I've had a couple of Precision Lytes,a standard in Arctic White (or was it maybe Frost white?) and a deluxe in natural. The standard was actually the better of the two,but both were fine instruments and both active - did they make passive ones? Pros - nice and light, very fast slim jazz style neck, active controls good, price, overall modern 'jazz' sound. Cons - Slight neck dive, not really a Precision sounding bass, they eat batteries. I had a small mod done to the electrics which stopped this Duracell habit! (Just remember to remove the jack when not in use too.) If you can get one for a good price then go for it. Japanese Fenders are generally becoming more sought after these days. Cheers Pete. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudewheresmybass Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 i totally love mine - it records really well, plays wonderfully, and sounds great through my gear. every time i've played it out, i've had people try to buy it! must say alot really! I'd buy another one in a heartbeat should anything happen to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
basshead56 Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 Finally some lurve for the P-Lyte! I had two, still have one (greensparkle, gold hardware). Love them. The one I still have is the proper japanese one, from 1986 Incredibly lightweight, lovely neck (like a Gibson SG guitar neck at the nut!-very thin and super-fast) It doesn´t sound like a common-or-garden Precision, given the PJ pup config and active pre, but they do have a very versatille range. Records very well and has a lot of bite live too (I like to use the P pup on half and the J bout 3/4 up roll back the tone a little and play with a pick-like a little T-Bird ) You can get close to nearly any bass sound you want (though action, string choice and a million other things are factors in this) Never noticed any neck dive in mine. My only complaint about the P Lyte, and I´m [u]sure[/u] some others will have had the same problem at some point (I know 4 other guys in this boat): The really dodgy input jack on the bass. Horrible. incredibly cheap and always come loose! Replace the factory one and your on the pigs back! I tried an American-made Deluxe version of this bass (has a Humbucker in the bridge) and it didnt hold a candle to the MIJ ones! Buy a decent second hand japanese Lyte and you WILL NOT REGRET IT!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casapete Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 [quote name='basshead56' post='700825' date='Jan 4 2010, 07:20 PM']Finally some lurve for the P-Lyte! I had two, still have one (greensparkle, gold hardware). Love them. The one I still have is the proper japanese one, from 1986 Incredibly lightweight, lovely neck (like a Gibson SG guitar neck at the nut!-very thin and super-fast) It doesn´t sound like a common-or-garden Precision, given the PJ pup config and active pre, but they do have a very versatille range. Records very well and has a lot of bite live too (I like to use the P pup on half and the J bout 3/4 up roll back the tone a little and play with a pick-like a little T-Bird ) You can get close to nearly any bass sound you want (though action, string choice and a million other things are factors in this) Never noticed any neck dive in mine. My only complaint about the P Lyte, and I´m [u]sure[/u] some others will have had the same problem at some point (I know 4 other guys in this boat): The really dodgy input jack on the bass. Horrible. incredibly cheap and always come loose! Replace the factory one and your on the pigs back! I tried an American-made Deluxe version of this bass (has a Humbucker in the bridge) and it didnt hold a candle to the MIJ ones! Buy a decent second hand japanese Lyte and you WILL NOT REGRET IT!!! [/quote] +1 on the dodgy jack socket- forgot about that! My Deluxe was a Japanese model with rear humbucker and 5th control knob for panning between the pickups,but as you say the standard Japanese model was better IMO. Think they made a USA model using the same style/layout but it was it called a Lyte? Think it may have been a 'jazz' something or other? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 Was the USA one the 'zone' or something equally rubbish... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
basshead56 Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 The Zone was as a re-badged Lyte early on. There was a short run of Precision Lyte Deluxes made in the US (mid 90´s)- Plain wood finish, humbucker in the bridge, no matching headstock, chrome hardware- before the model was discontinued. After this Fender introduced the Zone. Later the Zone was available as part of both American Deluxe and Deluxe (mex) series. Nowhere near the Lyte in quality or sound! Saw a Cherry American Deluxe Zone in the local guitar shop (2nd hand) a few months back. Played lovely but the sound was very thin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tait Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 i dunno anything about them, but i've always thought they look amazing in white! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassmouseman Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Used to have one Black with gold sparkle and gold hardware. Was a fantastic bass, but sold it when I switched to 5 string. Played it for about 5 years as my main bass with no problems at all. Would still love a 5 string one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu_g Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 i had a sunburst one bought it new years back but could never get on with it, i love precisions but the lyte was a different kinda p bass, active and light and i was used to a 70s p bass so traded it in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris2112 Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 They are very good and very cool...it may take you a few minutes to realise you're playing something known as a "precision" because it sounds and feels so good! In all seriousness, they are great basses, especially the Deluxe ones with the humbucker at the bridge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0353203 Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 I recently sold mine on eBay - a pro is that they hold their value - I had a great deal of enquiries and it finally went to a guy in Italy who was also very happy with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alfie Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 I have a 1989 MIJ Precision Lyte in sunburst, a very close relation to the one you are considering, it is an excellent instrument. If it weren't for what it says on the headstock, you wouldn't really think of it as a precision. Fender get a bit of stick from some custom bass junkies because they only have 2 designs, but the P Lyte is definitely in a class of its own. The slim neck is a joy to play and because it is so light, Fender put in some extra frets to maintain a 34" scale, so I think you get 24 frets- great for playing around and experimenting with. The jack is crap and it does indeed eat batteries as if they were monster munch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigAlonBass Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 [quote name='casapete' post='700534' date='Jan 4 2010, 03:19 PM']they eat batteries. I had a small mod done to the electrics which stopped this Duracell habit! (Just remember to remove the jack when not in use too.) Cheers Pete.[/quote] What mod? Tell me now! I love mine, but I can't afford another Mortgage to keep replacing the batteries! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casapete Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 [quote name='BigAlonBass' post='714624' date='Jan 16 2010, 10:03 AM']What mod? Tell me now! I love mine, but I can't afford another Mortgage to keep replacing the batteries! [/quote] Sorry, cant remember exactly what the mod entailed (as maybe 10 years ago!),but seem to remember it was fairly easy job. The tech said it was a small component that needed replacing,and blamed Fender for being cheapskates with their specs because it would only be only marginally more cost to use the better part(s). If I can track down the invoice it may say what the mod was on there-will PM you if I find it! Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigAlonBass Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 [quote name='casapete' post='714795' date='Jan 16 2010, 01:20 PM']Sorry, cant remember exactly what the mod entailed (as maybe 10 years ago!),but seem to remember it was fairly easy job. The tech said it was a small component that needed replacing,and blamed Fender for being cheapskates with their specs because it would only be only marginally more cost to use the better part(s). If I can track down the invoice it may say what the mod was on there-will PM you if I find it! Cheers.[/quote] Nice one-Here's hoping! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Academy Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 I can't believe Fender have never reissued this bass, as IMO it's one of the best sounding ever. And really easy on the bad back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 [quote name='Pete Academy' post='715196' date='Jan 16 2010, 09:02 PM']I can't believe Fender have never reissued this bass, as IMO it's one of the best sounding ever. And really easy on the bad back.[/quote] The Zone was pretty close but that's gone now too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casapete Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 [quote name='BigAlonBass' post='715194' date='Jan 16 2010, 08:57 PM']Nice one-Here's hoping! [/quote] Had a word with the tech who did the job. As he remembers it was a chip on the circuit board that was the wrong type. He replaced it and substituted the right one and voila!- battery consumption significantly reduced. He stressed that this only was necessary on the first batch of Precision Lytes, as Fender corrected this oversight on later models. He seems to think now it would be around £40 to do the job, but I'm sure it was more like £20 when I had it done-as i say it was late 90's though! Sorry cant be any more specific,but hope this helps. Cheers Pete. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alfie Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 Has anybody used the micro-tilt adjustment thingymejig on the neck? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassistclem Posted March 24, 2010 Share Posted March 24, 2010 Yes that just about sums up my opinion of the bass. Sounds great but not really like a fender... Fast neck... Very light... Anyone got one going spare??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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