Fender '54 P-Bass Reissue

This is a follow up on my previous review.

The only problem I had was with the 1/4 plug. The contact was not perfect while moving arround.

I replaced with a good quality Switchcraft plug instead. It's equivalent or superior to what we find on US made Fender instruments.

Fender '54 P-Bass Reissue blue flowers made in Japan.

I've always wanted a '54 because it sounds just like a 51, but the countoured body is much more confortable and looks more sexy.

Standard P'54 with chrome vintage like (not real vintage) 2 saddles bridge (string through body), tuning system and controls. Light ash body and vintage tint mapple neck with mandoline frets. Transparent pickguard.

The neck is a thick C shape, and the width is between a jazz and a p bass. Works very well. This is for everybody.

The tuning system works backward from more recent Fender instrument, so it's a bit confusing first.

Looks awesome. I like the Hippy look of that bass. Some of my bandmates found it cheezy (to be polite), but I don't care. (I don't select my car, my guitar or any of my goods to establish a male supremacy.) I think this instrument looks original and that reflects me well.

This instrument is extremely light. The light ash body, light mapple neck and only one single coil pickup makes it extremely light.

I've never held or played an original one, so I don't know if they were made of such light material or if they sounded like this one.

But I like it.

Of course it came with usual Fender strings, but after installing decent ones, I mean Ernie Balls Flat Wound steel strings Group III (45-65-80-100), I discovered something close to the original tone. I say so, because I hear this tone once in a while on '60 and '70 CD's.

Tube, Tube, Tube...get some tubes and you will be in heaven.
I use it with SVT tube rig and it sounds awesome.

Nice natural woody sound with lots of mid overtone. If you like rich old fashion mids, this is the thing. Now even if it's not authentic, this is still a vintage instrument, with a vintage pickup.

The sound is brutal but it's not high end like a US Jazz bass. High's and low's are limited and the light weight body contributes to limit the low end, but the mids benefits from that kind of construction. With the flat wound strings, there is a lot of flapping mid harmonics.

The Original 2 saddles bridge sounds very good with the flat wound strings.

Played with fingers gives thick mids and nice punch. Played with a pick sounds very clear and a bit like a '70 Jazz bass without the crisp.

I like to play "The Flock" tunes with it and some old rocabilly. I also like to use it to accompany accoustic guitars because it blends very well with. I find new use for it every day.

When it came in the neck was not aligned properly. Correcting the situation was pretty simple. I aligned it properly and tightened the screws and it never budged since.

The neck is perfect and I LOVE those mandoline frets. With the appropriate ernie balls flat wound strings, and the action set properly (relatively low) it's perfect for me. And it will help preserving those frets.

I always set my instruments myself, because I don't have the patience to explain tech guys how I like it. I rely on them for repairs and advise, not for setup.

The neck looks like orange aged mapple and the body has some bright sparckles into it. I revomed the pick guard and it looks much better that way.

Nut is as cheap as it could be. But it doesn't seems too fragile.

Another reviewer suggests to install modern 4 saddles bridge on it. So I spent $40 to get a classic Fender 4 saddle bridge and tried.

Warning: The 4 saddle bridge fits well on the instrument, but the action will be set to high and you loose that vintage sound and look.

I put back the original bridge. Save yourself some time, and leave the original one there.

Seems a bit fragile. I sometime play very hard, but but I'm always careful when I handle my instruments.

Even if it's made in Japan, it's still a Fender. I have many Fender instruments and a US made Bass Amp. I called them once for my amp and they seemed pretty concern with my satisfaction. Of course my locak tech did all of the work.

I love that bass and I don't feel the need of buying a $2000 vintage '51 or '54 vintage bass. It plays and sounds very nice. I use it and like it for what it does.

I also have a US Jazz and a US Precision and I got this one last.

But I really love to experiment with this instrument, because it has a unique old fashion sound that I love.

For the price I paid it's very nice and fits well in my collection.
Not for moderd players though.

2003 Blue Flower Maple neck ect see above

Sounds amazing I was after a Jameson tone and found it right here

Slight buzz on d string but was easily fixed i had no trouble ajusting this bass

I have total faith

Looks great sounds amazing

Its a bass wood body, with a maple neck. Full scale
Tow controls, Perfect all you need. Tone/Volumn.
One vintage coil pickup, great sound from it.
Precision style and a string through body.
Mine had a blue flower paint job, but I did'nt like it so I
removed the paint and sanded it back to the wood grain and a few coats of wood oil later she looks great and sound even better.

Great sound, warm lows and bright highs just great.
Don't have to spend too much tiem with the controls to find what I
want.

I got it second hand and it was 6 months old and the setup was perfect and even after taking all the equipment off and then putting it back on it still had perfect action.

From sanding it down and removing the parts this is a well made bass.
A lot beter then a mex I am sorry to say. The Japan basses have a great build to them

N/A

I have had a few basses and have written a few reviews here and they were over all OK to good.BUT this one is the best and by far.
It plays great and it loos great, I am very proud of it.
I Love My 54.

Bought this Japan '93-model second hand just recently. The features of this bass has been described of so many others so I won't repeat them.

Got all of the vintage P-sound that i love so much. This one cries out for flatwounds and she will get it.

Don't know how the set-up was originally, but when I got it it was perfect. Someone has done a very good job. Can't be easy to set up that 2-saddle bridge correctly. The finish is perfect and she is in mint condition. Looks like she left the store this morning.

It seems to have all what it needs to be a bass that could last me a lifetime. Have heard some nasty rumors that claim the basswood the body is made of is kind of soft, but there is not a trace of anything on this 12-year old. And I'm not ready to whack her against a wall to check it out.

No opinion, never needed them.

Well, I've been on this wagon for the last 25 years and getting a new bonw thrills me as much today as it did when I got my first one. I am a P-addict and this last one fits just nicely in to my others.

2003 Crafted in Japan. Basswood body, maple neck, 1 volume, 1 tone, 1 single-coil 50's reissue pickup & a 50's two saddle bridge. Blue Flower Finish.

I play 60/70 rock and this does the jop right, I don't use any effects.Nice and simple one volume,one tone and thats all I want and al you need, she class.

I got this second hand, two months old so it still had the factory
setup which was perfect and have I mentiond the tone from this baby, class.

I had a mex jazz and i read a lot about how good the japan fenders were and well it's all true. I though that the jazz was a good build but it's nothing like this, very solid and strong.

Don't Know

I have been playing basses for years now, 20 in fact and this is the
best so far, I love the look and the feel of the neck. It's the same
as Stings 54, bar the colouring. I think this is a class act and looks it. Sweeeett

2003 Crafted in Japan. Basswood body, maple neck, 1 volume, 1 tone, 1 single-coil 50's reissue pickup & a 50's two saddle bridge. Pink Paisley Finish.

If it come with a gig bag like the Mexican or Highway One's did I would have been happier.

Sounds great!! I have played a 1954 p bass & it sounds pretty good for a jap bass.

I've put flatwounds on it to get that great 50's, 60's sounds.

Very trebly, but the if you fiddle around with the tone knob, you can get a good mix.

I've also played a sting p bass, which I was also considering, & I found this had a nicer sound!!

Weird huh?

My bass didnt have any finish problems, but the factory setup wasn't that great. Had a pro fix it up for me, never had a problem since.
I've giged with the bass & i haven't had much of a problem with the internation.

This bass is good for studio or small gigs.

I found that if it falls, the wood is that soft, your gone!!

But it is stronger then the Mexican basses

If you find one new, then you'll have a year warranty.

Support from fender isnt that great, but they do get there job done but I suggest you go to someone who knows what there talking about & let them help you out.

www.bassplayer.com.au

I've had this bass now for bout 8 months now.

I've found it great for what I play (rock, pop).

If you like a bass thats old, but looks cool, this is the one to get!

2003 PINK PAISLEY ,54 PRECISION REISSUE.WIDE"C" I BELIEVE MAPLE NECK ,AND FRETBOARD TELE STYLE VINTAGE HEAD STOCK,BASSWOOD BODY,THRU BODY STRINGS.IONE VINTAGE STYLE SINGLE COIL "STRING WOUND PICKUP"[MORE LATER}.MADE IN JAPAN ON NECK NEAR HEEL.NO TRUSS ROD ONE TONE AND VOLUME KNOB..2SEATER BRIDGE,PASSSIVE ELECTRONICS,,REVERSE OPEN TUNERS.NO CASE!,NO GIG BAG!.WILD PAISLEY COLOR COATED WITH URATHANE..GIVEN AN 8 BECAUSE SOMETHING THIS BEAUTIUL SHOULD COME WITH AT LEAST A GIGBAG!C,MON FENDER!!!

GREAT SOUND ALTHOUGH A BIT BRIGHT.MY FIRST BASS.USED TO PLAY IN AN ALL ELECTONIC 3PIECE BAND PLAYED GUITARS,DRUMS AND DRUM MACHINES,AND TONS OF SYNTHS AND PROCESSORS SINCE 1973!BASS IS SO LIGHT WEIGHT,I CAN SIT AND PLAY IT UNAMPLIFIED.MUST BE THE WOOD AND THRU BODY STRINGS.YOU GET THAT FUNKY BOOTYLICIOUS SOUND,ALSO,STING LIKE ,JUST BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU ARE SLAPPIN, AND POPPIN THIS THING[MORE LATER.GREAT LIVE ,BUDDY OF MINE WHO OWNS 2O BASSES LOVES IT,GUITAR TECH IN SAMASH,LAS VEGAS LOVED IT.YOU CAN BACK OFF THE TREBLE BY THE VOLUME KNOB.I,M A SINGLE COIL LOVER,SO NO PROBLEM FOR ME..NO EFFECTS YET ,BUT BOUGHT A DIGITECH BP 200 PEDAL.CAN STAY AWAY FROM MESSING AROUND ,BUT IFEEL IN THIS CASE IT WILL GET VERY LIMITED USE.

HERE,S WHERE IT ALL GOES TO HELL.FIRST OF ALL IT CAME IN A CARDBOARD BOX FROM TAMPA I HAD ORDERED IT VIA INTERNET FROM SAM ASH.I LIVE IN VEGAS!SO HOW DOES A BASS TRAVELFROM JAPAN SKIP CALIFORNIA AND HAS TO COME FROM TAMPA?.ANYWAY,FIRST THING I NOTICED WAS VOLUME KNOB WAS LOOSE,THERE SEEMED TO BE,WHICH AT THE TIME I THOUGHT WAS NORMAL SOME SHINE,A GLOSSY SPOT ON THE PICKUP.AND A VERY,AND I MEAN A VERY TINY SLIGHT NICK IN THE URETHANE FINISH NEAR THE BOTTOM,BUT THAT PART WAS NIT PICKING.AT FIRST I THOUGHT THERE WAS SOME BUZZING ON E,BUT IT WAS JUST ME GETTING USED TO PLAYING BASS STRINGS.PICK UP ADJUSTED FINE .INTONATION FINE.

NOW HERE,S WHERE IT GOES FURTHER DOWN THE HOLE,I WAS TRYING MY OWN EPILEPTIC VERSION OF FLEA SLAP POPPING WHEN BAM! I NOTICED THE PICKUP WAS SUDDENY AWFULLY CLOSE TO THE STRINGS!IT HAD BECOME SEPARATED.LIKE SPLIT IN TWO,WITH BOTTOM HALF STILL IN BODY!,I WAS LIKE "WHAT THE FU!"THEN I LOOKED CLOSER, AND IT LOOKED LIKE THERE WAS A BLACK SHOESTRING WOUND AROUND THE PICKUP!APPARENTLY THIS WAS LEO,S IDEA OF HUM CANCELLING IN THE 50,S THIS IS A TRUE VINTAGE PICKUP ,SO FOLKS WATCH THAT SLAP AND POPPING! THE G STRING HAD GOT CAUGHT UNDER THE PICKUP AND PULLED IT APART!WILL IT WITHSTAND LIVE PLAYING.?YES BUT DON,T PLAY ANYWHERE OVER THAT PICKUP UNLESS YOU ARE KEEPING A THIRD EYE ON IT.HAVING SAID THAT.IT IS STILL A DUARABLE BASS.THEY PUT A HELL OF A URETHANE COAT ON IT.AND A SEE THRU PICK GUARD [INGENIOUS].THE FINISH HAS TO BE SEEN TO BE BELIEVED!!!THINK OF LOOKING THRU A KALIEDOSCOPE,AND YOU HAVE PINK PAISLEY SURROUNDED AND INTERSPERSED WITH SILVER METTALIC CRACKED FLAKE, AND THE OUTER EDGES SOFTLY GO OFF INTO A SLIGHTLY DARKER PINK SUNBURST!THE ACID QUEEN LIVES!THERE IS NO FINISH /COLOR SCHEME LIKE THIS ANYWHERE ON ANY BASS PERIOD.I,LL BET ANYONE.BUT GO SEE IT UP CLOSE! AND PICK IT UP ,IT FITS LIKE A GLOVE.SO LIGHTWEIGHT ,I FELT IT WOULD FLOAT AWAY FROM ME.YES I WOULD PLAY IT WITHOUT A BACKUP AS LONG AS KEPT MY EYES ON MY RIGHT HAND,BUT MAYBE THAT,S JUST ME,AND MY LACK OF TECHNIQUE.

FENDER BLOWS THE BIG ONE>>>ZERO.!!!! THE TECH AT SAM ASH WAS TOTALLY PROFESSTIONAL AND CONCERNED. HE CALLED FENDER FOR OVER A MONTH EVEN TELLING THEM,THAT SAM ASH MOVES MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF GOODS FROM THEM ,NO RESPONSE .THE PHONE NUMBER I TRIED WAS ALWAYS BUSY.WHEN I SENT OFF A VERY NASTY LETTER ,STILL NO {NOW I SEE ALL OF A SUDDEN UNDER THEIR GEARHEAD SITE THERE IS CUSTOMER SUPPORT}RESPONSE,FINALLY THE TECH HAD ENOUGH ,AND PULLED OUT THE PICKUP FROM A BLUE FLOWER[IT,S TWIN].AND PUT IT IN.WARRANTY A YEAR.ALSO THIS IS A LONG GUAGE BASS SOTHE GAUGES ARE AS FOLLOWS,45,65,80 100.

JUST STARTED PLAYING BASS..I OWN A <78 CBS FENDER STRAT,HAMER SCARAB 1[ A BEAUTY IN RED...SIMMONS SDS1 DRUM SET CASIO VZ [88KEYS,NOT THE CHEAP CRAP THEY MAKE TODAY]A YAMAHA ACOUSTIC ,HAMMOND ELECTROVOICE ORGAN ,A MOOG SYNTH,ARP STRING ENSEMBLE ROLAND SH 101 STRAP ON SYNTH,.I HAVE A CRATE DOUBLE CHOUS 100 100 WATT HEAD,WITH 4X12 INCH SPEAKERS.FOR THE BASS I RUNIT THRU A CARVIN R6OO MATED TO A YAMAHA CABINET WITH 2 I5,AND TWO OPEN PORT.WHENI WANT TOBALST,I BIAMP THE CARVIN TO THE CRATE BOTTOM.ALSO BOUGHT A DIDGI TECHBP200..I DO NOT WANT TOREFLECT TO NEGATIVELY ON THE BASS ITSELF.AFTER ALL THIS I WOULD NOT GIVE IT UP.IT SMOKES!!!IF IT WAS STOLEN I WOULD LOOSE THE HOUNDS OF HELL ON THAT POOR SOUL.I HAVE BEEN PLAYING MUSIC SINCE I WAS T12,IAM 52 NOW.

2003 Model, basswood body, maple neck and fretboard. 1 volume, 1 tone. 1 single-coil vintage pickup (passive). Pink Paisley Finish. Made in Japan. 2-saddle bridge (vintage style). Everything about this bass's features are great, except for the 2-saddle bridge. The 2-saddle bridge is pretty close to unusable. It was a major undertaking to get it close to intonated (I could not get an exact intonation with this functionally limited bridge), and during the course of a 3-hour gig it did not keep its intonation. I'd give it a 10 if it had a proper bridge, but because the 2-saddle is stock I have to give it a 8.

The sound is awesome. Can get a trebly but punchy growl, or I can get a low, boomy, punchy bottom. If you love the Jamerson/Duck Dunn tone, you'll love this bass. But it is really versatile for almost any style you may need.

Action was great, finish is spectacular! Pickups needed a bit of an adjustment, but overall it was great. Except for the stock 2-saddle bridge (see above).

I have to rate this based on the original parts. The bridge really renders this bass unusable - it cannot hold an intonation over the course of a gig. Because of this I have to rate it a 3. If the bridge was a standard 4-saddle, it would easily be a 10 because the rest of the bass is rock-solid reliable.

I am having the bridge switched out to a Fender American Deluxe bridge so that I can get a proper intonation.

Never dealt with Fender. I'm swapping the bridge out myself.

This is a great sounding bass, has the great vintage vibe with the Pink Paisley finish. The only thing is the 2-saddle bridge. I would recommend this bass, but I also recommend swapping out the bridge so that you can properly intonate it. I give it a 9 because I love it, and I'm not letting the stock 2-saddle bridge sway me from using it.

Made in 2003, Japan. One vintage single-coil Precision pickup. 1 volume and 1 tone knob. Maple neck and fingerboard. Pink Paisley finish.

Sounds great, playing through an Ampeg B100-R, and the fabulous vintage P-Bass tones are there.

Set-up was pretty good right off the shelf. No visible flaws, everything was fit and sound.

Bass seems like a solid customer, the Pink Paisley finish is coated with polyurethane, so the finish is very good. The bridge is a vintage two-saddle, I've never had one of those, so we'll see how well the bridge lasts. So far no problems.

Never had to deal with them.

Has that great vintage P-Bass tone that we all know and love. The Pink Paisley finish looks spectacular. For the price (it was made in Japan, but the quality is just as good as an American-made Fender), it was really a bargain. I'll gig with this for awhile (I usually play a Rickenbacker 4003, which I really love and is my main axe) and see how it goes.