NBD: Fender American Vintage II 1960 Precision Bass

jp_nyc

jp_nyc

Kick Henry Jackassowski
Here’s my midlife crisis bass. I was thinking about buying a 1960s or 1970s p-bass to get the Geezer Butler experience. A helpful person on reddit pointed out that Fender currently produces a 1960s style p-bass that is significantly less expensive than a vintage model. So I went shopping. I found an open box special on Reverb and asked the dealer if it had a warranty. Nope! But they offered my one sealed in box for $450 off MSRP. CHA-CHING!

This bass is incredible. Fit and finish are on par with a high-end Asian intrument. The nitro finish is great, I can see tiny little dots where the colors were masterfully faded together with a mist. The clearcoat looks like it radiates light. Sonically it sounds like a p-bass, but it is fucking loud and punchy. It’s a shame that I don’t slap and pop because the dynamics are great. And the sustain is nuts, better than any other bass I’ve played. I can do a long slide into a hammer on without the volume dropping off. I need to buy a better amp to justify owning this bass.

I don’t see myself playing most of my guitars again. And I doubt I’ll play the Schecter bass I bought last year, the neck on that one is just too skinny. I’ve been planning to sell some stuff off for a long time. I’m going to sell it all and buy one of these in black to tune down to C#. And buy a better amp, maybe a Mark or an Ashdown.
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I’m tempted to get an Ampeg stack, but the only place I could put it is where my elderly dog likes to sleep.
But I think I’m going to get the Ashdown mini rig to put in up on the third floor which I am converting into a studio.
 
Annnnnd I can’t get the action anywhere near low enough without buzzing. But since I like it and I got it discounted I’ll take it to someone for a setup.
 
Dammit I need to get this in for a setup. But I have to wait for new strings to arrive because nobody around here sells flat wounds. I ordered a set from Sweetwater last week but I think UPS lost them because they were supposed to arrive two days ago. I’ll just have to keep playing my other four basses.
 
Beautiful! I love that color combo. So classic. What flats did you order?

Two things I have ordered from Sweetwater in the last month or so never showed up. I wonder what the deal is with them lately.
 
Just D’Addario flats. They sound okay but the volume isn’t nearly as loud as it was with rounds. I probably just need to raise the pickup, I’ll get around to it.
 
smurfco said:
Beautiful! I love that color combo. So classic. What flats did you order?

Two things I have ordered from Sweetwater in the last month or so never showed up. I wonder what the deal is with them lately.
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I just rejected a call from Ohio because I don't want to talk to anyone in Ohio. Upon reflection, I'll bet it was my Sweetwater rep wondering how I'm liking the lighting rig I bought in 2018.
 
smurfco said:
Beautiful! I love that color combo. So classic. What flats did you order?

Two things I have ordered from Sweetwater in the last month or so never showed up. I wonder what the deal is with them lately.
Click to expand...
Were they 80% off?
 
Well, the neck bowed for the second time. The truss rod did nothing. I took it to the local lutherie, which is also the local Fender service center. It took a few days but they convinced Fender to replace the neck. But this isn’t a neck they produce enough of to have extras. So I have to wait for them to make it. So it might show up in two weeks or it might be four months. The next time I want a bass with a nitro finish I’m just going to have Guitar Mill make the neck with quartersawn wood.
 
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