Fender American Deluxe Precision Bass

'02 American Deluxe P-bass, ash body w/ aged cherry sunburst (beautiful!), maple board, 18-volt active preamp. Bought it new.

I play mostly rock and soul music. I require that warm fat thump that makes you wanna shake, that's what the AmDlx Pbass is all about. But it can do a lot more than that, I have used it in very different situations, everything from old skool soul to smooth jazz tones to modern slap-funk timbres, this bass can handle it all, just tweak those knobs a bit.
When using the bridge pickup (or both) I think you get some kind of pbass pup converted to bridge position sound, rather than the jazz bass sound. So when mixing the pups it's like you're still hearing a pbass, just in a new way... sort of. :)

It was pretty good when I bought it, after some adjustments at home it played like a dream, still does. The neck is thick, as you'd expect from a precision... the graphite reinforcements work really well, the neck is ultra-stable, owned it for a year and a half, haven't had to adjust the trussrod since I got it... the only flaw was that the mid-pot was loose and scratchy, went back to the shop and got it fixed immediately.

Well, it's a p-bass, big, heavy and built like a tank, you couldn't break it even if you wanted to... I always use it without a backup. The only thing that could let you down is the batteries, but I've been using it almost daily for 1? year and it still runs on the batteries that came with it - it's definitly more likely that you break a string.

Have been playing for 9 yrs, tested a lot of intrument before this one. For me and the music I play, this is it! It gives you that kind of tone that is perfect for laying down badass grooves, you can achieve that good ol' p-bass tone, as well as grinding, almost stingrayish tones. If you twist the eq knobs you can also get more modern mid-scooped and polished sounds. Though if you seek ultra-clean hi-tech sound a'la barto soapbars, then this one may not be exactly what you want, buy yourself an mtd instead.

1998 American Deluxe Pbass, Teal over Ash body, rosewood bd, w/ abalobe fret markers, active electonics.

Tremendous range of tones available from this bass.
Volume pot is scratchy and will need to be replaced, but I purchased this bass used for a great price.

This is the 2nd AM Deluxe Pbass I have owned and the fit and finish on both have been excellent. Fender's Am Deluxe instruments are not as popular as AM Series (probably due to $), but the fit and finish on these instruments rival anything from G&L or Pedula IMHO

Its an American Pbass and other than potential issues w/ active electronics, this bass is built to last.
I do have a modified HiWay 1 Pbass, that I use as a backup for gigging.

Bass was purchased used from dealer (Superbass) through e-bay auction.
No comment for Fender, although I am having trouble finding a replacement pickguard.

This was an absolute killer deal on an great bass.
I have been playing many years and currently own much gear (Gibson Les Paul Historic, Les Paul Standard, ES335, Martin D28, Fender Am Tele and Pbass). I sold my first AM Deluxe Pbass to fund the Es335 purchase and later regretted it. When this one popped up, I put in a bid on Ebay and lucked out on a great deal. This purchase was a fantastic bargain.

same as all the others listed

it sounds really really good. can dial in many pleasing sounds, the only limitation i have is my cab.

great.

i bought it used with a crack near the headstock/neck joint. the place i bought it from used a drill and some epoxy and i have had it a year with no problem. and for the electronics, when you are done , unplug it and the battery should last a long time. i have changed it 2 times this year. i have the 9 volt system. i think the new ones are 18v so keep that in mind

have no idea

a great bass , i love the neck and the sounds. so worth what i paid but at a few hundred more i would still get another

Fender P-Bass American Deluxe bought new in 97.
White with pearloid pick guard

I play a mix of Metal and Funk. If the active electronics were of a higher quality, and they should be for the price, this bass would be my main squeeze. Scratchy pots and the works. I absolutely hate the way this bass sounds. I've played the Mexican P-Basses and Jazz Basses and they blow it away. Wish it came passive as Fender needs to do some homework on the active front.

No complaints here. Beautiful bass. Very well constructed never needs adjustment but that may be because it sits in tha stand most of the time due to the way it sounds.

Hard to answer....I never play it, but construction of the instrument(Not the electronics) and finish aren't a problem.

Been playing 22 years. My father (Bill Mack) is a bassist also. Used to play with Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps, remember " Be Bop A Lula"?
I have a Mexican Fender 5 string with Bartolini Pickups.(Had to shim the neck a 16th, I used walnut purchased from a hobby shop, and put smaller diameter bridge saddles. Couldn't get the action low enough to make this bass playable before I did this. Seems to be a problem on all Mexican Fenders.
Installed a Strat jack plate on the bass(looks pretty cool!) as the 4 spaces on the control plate were all used up.(2 volume 2 tone/ passive) This is my number one 5 string my other is an Ibanez SRX505TK.
I have a Mexican P-Bass and Jazz Bass, both with Bartolini's. Killer sounding basses. Necks have been shimmed in these also. Both also have string thru bridges now. I'd put them up against any of the pricey U.S. Fenders
Ampeg SVT IV Pro with BBE Sonic Maximizer is my main and an SWR Bass 350 with a Boss Half Rack Parametric is my Rehearsal and backup. I run these thru an SWR Goliath II 4 X 10.
If this bass was lost or stolen, I'd hate it, but I would not replace it unless Fender offered a passive model. I just found a bridge pickup similar in shape ( Rio Grande Powerbucker) and I'm in the process of looking into seeing if I can replace the current pickups without routing. If not I intend to sell it as it doesn't do me much good sitting in the stand because of the way it sounds.
My American made P Bass Deluxe is a big disappointment. For the money and with just a bit of tweaking the Mexican made basses are a better value. If I or you were to spend what it takes to buy one of these I'd try to find a used Roscoe or Sadowsky on E-Bay

American made in 1999.
22 Jumbo frets.
3-Color Sunburst with Alder Body
Controls: vol/pickup mixer/treble-bass stackpot/mid.
Pickups: Pbass at neck, and humbucker at bridge (active electronics).
Deluxe Chrome Plated Steel Bridge Plate (Strings-Thru-Body or Top Load), with Nickel Plated Brass Saddles
Came with deluxe hard case, leather strap, patch cord, and maintenance kit.
Graphite Reinforced Maple Neck,
5-Bolt Neck Plate,
Contoured Heel for Easier Access to Upper Frets,
Abalone Dot Position Inlays,
Rolled Fingerboard Edges,
Highly Detailed Nut and Fret Work

I play mostly jazz, rock and blues. I don't alter my tone tons from style to style. I want warm. I want responsive. I want PHAT. This bass gives it to me! I play through a GK400RB hooked up to a David Eden CXC112 cab. The tone is absolutely stunning. The most I ever adjust it is when the bass frequencies seem to be a bit boomy (turn down the bass), or I just feel like using a different mix between the p bass pickups and the humbucker. I seldom use the humbucker just by itself. However, I know the variety is endless, with quality sounds being available in whatever form the player wants.

Action is good. I think that I could get it set up a smidgen lower, but haven't gotten around to doing this.

Intonation is good, not perfect, I find the E string starts getting a little flat after the twelfth fret...

There are small chips off the finish on the ends of some of the frets on either side of the neck, but these are hardly a concern, and don't seem to be turning into hairline cracks or anything.

The main flaw I found with the bass was that the knobs were scratchy when I first got it, especially the stack pot. Once the store I bought the bass from fixed this problem (after Fender took bloody forever to ship some parts--more on that later), the problem is completely fixed. A couple of the knobs were loose, too, and I had to put up with some horrible scratching/popping/crackling during a couple of shows. However, no problems after I tightened these up myself.

All-in-all this factory made instrument is extremely well built and durable. The finish is beeeaaauutiful.

The problems I had with it are just superficial and should not deter someone from giving the deluxe whirl. Besides, I've never owned a bass that I didn't change and alter and adjust over time until it was "mine". Buy one, iron out the wrinkles, enjoy.

This bass can take a beating, and will, let me promise you that. The hardware from the frets to the bridge to keys seems well built and of high quality. This bass stays in tune for weeks at a time without me ever touching the tuning keys.

I think the truss rod probably will need an adjustment once a year, bout time for one now.

I will and have used this bass at a gig without a backup. Although, I keep my Fretless Rickenbacker around for kicks.

Company is completey ignorant of the existence of Canadians. Their warranty cards and website leave no way for a canadian to register.

Also, it took upwards of six months for fender to send a new stack pot to the store I purchased the bass at.

Bad form.

It's time for Fender to stop coasting on the name in true pompous and corporate fashion, and start supporting ALL of their clientele. Might be necessary to stop annexing smaller companies like SWR and focusing on customer service.

My rating for this bass would be perfect if not for this criteria.

I've been playing for nine years. I teach, I gig, I jam, I'm in school for jazz. I own a GK400RB (see review under guitar amps), a David Eden cxc112 cab, a 1973 Fretless Rickenbacker and Godin Multiac Steel six-string guitar.

If this bass was stolen, I think that I'd try a Stingray just to compare playability and sound. However, I love this bass. It's a classic with modern options that don't smack of cheap or useless accessories. I'd buy another one...probably.
I love the sound and feel of the neck, as well as the sturdy construction. This bass will outlive me.
I've tried tons of basses, and I like this one.
I wish I could turn the active pickups off so I could get a truly authentic p-bass tone. Oh, well. It comes pretty darn close anyway.

US made 2003 in fact wated 3 months for factory to build it. 3 tone sunburst finish (flawless). Maple neck and board, abalone dot inlays. One split p-bass pick up in the neck and one double j style humbucker in the bridge position. 18 volt active electronics (very versitle). String thru body or bridge. Deluxe style tuners (much better and easier to handel than the standard tuners. 34" scale 4 string. Comes with strap, strap locks, truss rod wrench and , chord.

With everything set flat this sounds like a grand piano. With just a small turn of the know it can sound like a classic P, Jazz, MM, or anything you can think of. Loud bass (in a good way) the pick ups are very hot. No noise at all. Haven't tried it in the studio yet ( I will in July I'll update then) but live it cuts like a hot knife throuh warm butter.

Out of the box the intonation was right on (first I've ever had that this was the case)and the action was medium low (the way I like it). The pick ups are perfect hieght. Finish is perfect. Only complaint would be some excess fret glue on the higher frets ( wich has already started to fall off) so no big deal. Would have ben 10 other wise.

This bass seems to be built well. I would never use any bass without a back up never ask me that question again (I've learned the hard way). I'll rate this section later when I've had some time to test it on the road (ha ha I said the road).

one word SLOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW.

This would be a 10 if not for the service and the glue. I think I'm a good judge sine I've been playing some 14 years now and have owned 20 + basses(currently own 11)(yes I'm a gear head leave me alone). If it were lost or stolen I'd have to kill some one because I couldn't wait another 5 (insert bad word here) months for them to build me anothe production level instrament.(I hope fender reads some of these articles because they make a great product but always seem to lose customers with thier costomer service. This is my fifth fender I still own 4 of them so I guess It doesn't matter.People will still buy Fender. There realy is nothing like the feel of a fender, even if the company leaves a bad taste in your mouth.

1999, USA model. Fretted, 4-string, solid top. Volume knob, pickup blend knob, lo/hi boost knob, mid boost knob. Fender Active P-Bass pickups. Alder body, maple neck, rosewood fretboard. Teal blue/green finish, string-thru bridge. Deluxe "lightweight" plastic Fender tuners. Lots of great stuff on one bass, love it.

Rock music -- works excellent! Such a versatile instrument. Way more so than the American Jazz Deluxe that I also own. I run it through either an SVT 350 or GK 400 RB head, with a pair of 15" cabs. You can literally make this bass sound like any Fender bass created -- the options and ideas are endless. Blending tones are never a problem, the split Precision pickups and humbucking Jazz bridge pickups are lovely! Works like a charm on both stage and studio.

The action out of the box wasn't the best; required a setup professionally. The pickup adjustments were OK. No flaws whatsoever.

This bass is quite durable, though I would say my American Jazz Deluxe seems to be built more solidly. The finish has held up well, though one of the knobs/pots seems to have wiggled loose over time; perhaps a sign of things to come? Gotta be careful with active electronics anyways.

Been playing a decade; also own a Fender American Jazz Deluxe and a Fender Precision (Japan, medium scale), with Gallien Krueger 400 RB and Ampeg SVT 350 heads through a pair of Fender 15" cabs. I would highly recommend this bass to anyone looking for a solid, versatile Fender. I use it way more than my Jazz Deluxe, and for good reason. Very good instrument, particularly for the blowout price I paid for it (about half of the "normal" price -- Fender was discontinuing the color and had to get rid of all their stock at ridiculous prices).

Not sure what year this mine is but i bought it in 2002 through Musicians Friend. 22 frets, volume, pickup fader, treble/bass/midrange boost or cut. One p-bass type pickup and one massive humbucker at the bridge. Active electronics. Transparent finish w/ ash body and maple neck. The bridge is one of those thru body or through the bridge types. The neck is a lot different from my last bass; this one has more of a "C" shape as it sits in your hand. It took a bit to get used to but i like it! This came with a load of stuff too including a case, leather strap, strap locks, and a cable. Neat!

I love the sound of this. It has that bright p-bass sound that my other bass lacked and yet it can still get a nice smooth warm sound with more of the humbucker mixed in. Or if you want you can boost the humbucker with the controls and get a monster thumpin sound out of it like sublime-ish type stuff. This bass is extremely versatile; the humbucker really adds a nice low end punch. The only drawback is that it seems that the humbucker has a bit of a volume drop that is a little annoying. With tweaking it isn't too bad though.

This bass was set up great from the factory! The only thing is the humbucker has a volume drop but that is the only downside to this bass. I also noticed that there is a minute amount of glue around one of the frets if you want to get technical. The wood looks great on mine.

Everything here seems very good except for the strap posts which seem to be a little weak. I assume that the screws are short or something because the one closest to the neck gets a little loose. The posts are pretty small too so i'm glad it came with strap locks. Overall though this is a really solid bass despite the fact that it's lighter than you might expect.

I've been playing for 5 years and have played everything from jazz to rock. I've owned a sammick jazz bass and a high end, mid range alvarez. This p-bass is by far my favorite bass. It can sound warm like the alvarez or it can sound punchy and bright. I would buy this agian if something happened to it; this bass will cover a lot of sounds and suites my playing just fine. I play a lot of funk from obscure funk to chili peppers. This bass is great for that especially with the humbucker. For Rage type stuff i throw in more of the P pickup. Sounds great across the board! My only complaint is that the volumes of the pickups aren't matched as well as they could be.

I have a 00 P deluxe, all the specs & feature are on the Fender site or other reviews so, I wont rehash the obvious........

Overall, lots o tone, a darn good bass, it does not sound like a passive P, it cant. But its close. My problem is the "active" circuitry, which has been problematic since day one. The only help I got was, "cables bad? (nope), must be a bad battery (nope). Oh it gets worse......................

Set up from the factory was absolutely horrible, I own 9 basses & have owned over 50 in my career. After much tweaking, fret filing (several were way too high), I finally made it acceptable. there was not a screw on this thing that was tight...

The bass itself is pretty sturdy, but Fender still insists on using cheesy little screws to hold the strap lock receivers on, this has resulted in a trip the hardware store with every fender I ve owned..
If you stand in one place on stage, you'll be ok. I however, do not, so if jump around alot, take my advise & replace the screws. When I explained to Fender that this happened, (2nd time out with this !!), if fell off hit the floor, & the Fender guy laughed at me.. NOT COOL !

The "active circuitry" (HA!), began dropping out & getting fuzzy, typically after 30-40 min of playing. I know of at least 3 other players with this bass, same thing ! My dealer (A Fender authoed service center), would only make suggestions like, batteries, cables, the amp, blah blah, like after 20 years of pro gigging , I'm an idiot !!!! They "cant play it 'til it does it, fender wont pay us"..Jeeeeez. Fender made it worse, they would not help me, were rude to me, I went months with no reply on emails...I was told at one point early on by a Fender Employee, this circuit has always been problematic !!! DUH ! Several fender dealer have attested to that as well. I asked fender to remove the circuit for me & I'll play it passive....They said, NO! You do it. Now, we're talking a bass where the p/ups are already passive, so 2 pots & a capacitor, (about 7 bucks!!!!) and a half hour would have at least made the bass playable, with a slight feel of reliability. Now, we're not talkin' a $99.00 bass here. List is $1599.00, I paid a $1050.00 w/ HSC. Not a "cheapy" by any stretch. Not only did I have a damaged bass after the second gig, from poor set-up & build quality, now the active electronics are bad, they KNOW IT, and won't help me at all. I have spent thousands & thousands with Fender, when asked if that mattered, they said "Not in this case"....Was asking for a change to passive alot to ask after what I had been through (from day ONE) I might add ?
Even the several dealers I spoke with agreed this was a smart fix, since all know this circuit is problematic. But they would not even help with a fix that would save them $$$$, and make me happy. The dealer would not take it back, it has a gouge in the bottom from hitting the floor, and I cant give it away to anyone I know, cuz this bass now has bad JUJU.....................Fender has really let down a long time customer, a customer who has alot of friends & influence, that would be ME !!!!! Fender?????? Buy something else, do yourself a favor..........

I could write pages on my gear, I wont bore you..... I really just want whoever reads TO BE WARNED !!!
If it were stolen at least I could claim it my insurance. Then I'd buy the theif a 6-pack. Day one, in the store, new, I thought I was in heaven, little did I know this bass could be used as a key to open the gates of hell. What do I wish it had ? A warranty, thats useful, not a theory in print.
Sometimes a company gets so big, it forgets, Fender has forgotten where it came from & those who got it there, corny as it sounds, I'm deeply hurt, but thats because music is my life, a passion that defies words. Even the Fender logo to me is the sign of utter betrayal. I have a friend going thru a similar situation on another piece of gear......

I got it on Jan 15 2002, so I'm not sure whether it is a late 2001 model, or a early 2002. I got it a Guitar Center in Arvada, CO. It's a 22 fret 4 string, made in the US. Volume, pickup selector, bass, treble, and mid controls. Its has a p-bass pickup on the neck and a humbucking by the bridge. Active electronics. Body is alder and the neck is maple with a rosewood fingerboard. Black finish with a red/black tortoise shell pickguard. Strings can be fed through the body or right on the bridge, which makes it convenient in emergency restringing. The only thing I got with it was the warranty info and a truss rod alan wrench, no hard case (I have one that will work anyways). For the price I expected a case, but I'll live.

I love the sound. I played a Carvin LB70 and also a B4 prior to this purchase. I went in to GC with a friend, and just happened to pick up this bass. 3 days later I purchased it. I couldn't get that growl out of my head, nor the other sounds I could make. The pickup configuration makes it easy to find any sound I've heard and am looking for. I play out of an older Carvin PB500 head. I set everything flat and let the bass do the work. I can't get over the possibilities. Anything from a p-bass type growl to a Korn-type even sound. Lots of variety. If I was in a jazz band I'd give it a little more bridge pickup and leave the EQ controls alone. I haven't recorded with it yet, but I'm looking forward to it. I don't like where the Bass EQ is dialed in, but I haven't needed it when playing live anyways. Recording might be a different situation...we'll see. It's pretty quiet, too. I have a noise gate on the amp, but I set it lower with this bass than I do my Carvins. I play mostly punk, but consider myself pretty well rounded. I wish I had this thing in jazz band back in high school. Or that hippy band I played with a couple of years ago. Or that "alternative" band in my early college days. Or that funk thing I did with an ex drummer... The list goes on...

It was setup perfectly. I tried to improve on it, but I can't. A lowering of string height could be done if played lightly, but the height was great for any average person. Even the intonation was set perfectly, no adjustments needed to the bridge at all. I play with my fingers a little harder than I probably should, but a slight cut on the treble nob evens things out nicely. The neck is a little "bigger" than I'm used to, and I'm contemplating putting on a jazz style neck, only because of my short stubby fingers. Definatley a solid feel though. The pickguard is a little too pretty for me (I'm a bit of a minimalist), but I'm getting used to it. I won't replace it anytime soon. My wife likes the eye candy anyways (anything to justify this unexpected purchase :) ).

Straplock holders came with it, which I prefer. But my first practice with it I didn't utilize them. Strap hung on nicely. It needs a few marks on it for character. I can't play a Fender without having a few dents in it, it just doesn't seem right without them. Even if I throw this thing into our drumset at our next show, it could hold up. Hell, it'll probably even stay in tune. I'd risk not having a backup, but that's just me (I didn't even think about having a backup until I was filling this out, and I've been gigging for 9 years. Maybe that's why I've stuck with Carvin and Fender for so long).

One word:

Solid.

Lifetime warranty. Unless the wiring goes bad, I don't see why I'd utilize it. And a samll alan wrench to adjust the bridge height would be nice, but I think GC messed up ther, not Fender. It wouldn't bother me at all, but I keep losing those things.

Would we deal with Fender anyways? More than likely it would be the shop it was purchased from that warranties it. I sure as well wouldn't bring it to Guitar Center though. Local shop would have to do any work I can't myself (which is only the electronics).

I've been playing for almost 10 years. I've owned a p.o.s. no name, a Mexican p-bass, and the two Carvins. For the price it should come with a case. And the strap-side straplocks. A black bass needs black knobs as well. I compared it to my Carvins, some Mexican p and j basses, some American p and j basses, the Zone series, an Ernie Ball Music Man, a few Warwicks, and an old Epiphone junker. This bass gives me the most variety and control in the sounds I want, and also the sounds I may not use.

I can live without the hard case, but every bass should have one included imo.