Fender American Deluxe Precision Bass

2006 at a guess, at least that's when I got hold of it, maybe a 2005. I'm the first owner anyhow.
4 strings, 22 frets I think?
pickup selecter, tone and eq type control
P-bass pick-up AND humbucker jazz type pickup, I believe the latter is active.
Finished in butterscoth with black scratchplate
i got a lead, a case, a duster and a leather fender strap. the strap is really not to my taste, looks like someone stole it off of a middle aged harley davidson owner!

It can do anything you want, fantastic tone although to be honest I have a fender strat and although you can really hear the tone pots change the sound on that, sometimes on the bass it's really not that noticable. that said I have upgraded my amp to a ampeg very recently and that seems to have helped loads. maybe it's just me!
Wasn't too sure about the active bit as I had been told by other bass players that their basses eat through batteries, not so on mine, about due for a change now but, this will be the first change!!! well done!

action and pickups were fine as you would expect.

On the back of the neck there was a flaw, looked like a crack but getting a second opinion it looks like a (slight) scratch in the wood before it was varnished. There are more screws attatching the neck to the body than you get on the normal bass, this is good. one screw is slightly proud but this is me being especially picky.

Finish is beutiful but easy to chip. the irony being that cheap finishes are more durable. I guess it will look a bit gnarled in a few years, but good basses get used, remember this!!

when I got it a screw fell out of the locking part of a tuning peg, this annoyed me greatly. I told the shop and they said "my bass does that and it's ??2250!" so what. It should never happen. Also a pot fell off once, screwed it back on. it needs tightening up every once in a while, no biggie i guess.

Aside from needing to tighten things up every so often, this guitar is fine and I would depend on it. I was putting it in it's case the other day after a jam and caught the metal lining of the case on the edge of the guitar, a little piece of paint flew off! Like I said though, thaTS a high quality paint job, it's a shame it chips reltivley easily.
Everything else is great, honest.

Fender don't really support players in the UK, you can't even register your instrument here. Annoying because I'm a proud Fender owner. I wonder if owners of those nasty Gibson guitars have the same poblem?

It's a great solid guitar full of features. Mine was not shifting out of the shop because people wanted the cheaper standard, you know where you are with a standard. I bought mine as a punt, recognising that in all probability it was going to be a better guitar for all the design, and it is. I would also say the colour of this one is very rare and in my opinion the best combo of black scratch plate and butterscotch paint. Much better than the fiesta red of sea foam green paint jobs that are also avaliable. Buy one you will not regret it, it's a vast improved P bass. I love Fenders and this is a gem!

Its a USA made Fender Precision Bass Deluxe 5 string 34" scale, ash body , maple neck and fretboard , sunburst finish with a pearloid pickguard made in 2005. Active 18v pre-amp , bass treble and midrange and a pickup blend balance regulator. High detail fretboard, very easy to play, good tuners which always stay in tune.

1st of all the EQ is not noisy at all ... its whisper quiet.

It suits anything from Pop Rock to Hardcore and Metal , Jazz Funk easy, i personally think that this Bass really does sound like a real pop funk and metal tool , you can dial in that Europe sound from the song Final Countdown or that low end mo-town/funk disco style. The neck pickup sounds one hundred percent as the typical vintage 4 string precision bass , but with the addition of a very stable and tight B string. The bridge pickup can emulate the musicman stingray 5 almost 99% close when you use XL nickel wound strings. Its a very sharp, resonant and bright sounding instrument , which can also sound thick and with the treble and midrange on low , it can break the windows of my house via Marshall VBA400 and VBC810 cab trough the BossCS3 compressor set at flat.

Superb finish , as if she was retailed at $10000 , but in fact i got her for far far less and i am very happy with its strong build , the looks and her character.

Really outstanding , only by Fender! i wish they were making more of these Basses , they are the true Precision the way it should have been in the 1st place

Its a dangerous tool , very strong , very stable , as i said .. as if it was made to last for 1000 years "literally" this bass is to keep for ever and my plans are to actually never sell this Bass but to keep it in collection.

The build is very very good!

i have not spoken to anyone yet so no comment here:)

I would give this Bass 11 out of 10.
It looks good , it feels great , the best Bass i ever played , its better than my previous warwick thumb neck trough 5 string and it beats in my opinion basses that are up to 5 times more expensive.

Now its time to dial in some Metal ... this thing does it with ease ... and on the touch of the EQ you get FUNK 100%.

The best Bass guitar ever build on earth , is the Precision Bass , specifically PRECISION BASS DELUXE 5 STRING!

I LOVE IT!

I have the MIA P Bass deluxe in montego black with maple fretboard... its got the split p pup, and one huge humbucker at the bridge, thru body string setup, etc... you can read all of the details below in the other reviews!

Punchy punchy punchy! I love p basses. Always have, always will... I rock this thing thru my rig, a BBE Bmax preamp, Crown CE1000 power amp and SWR Goliath 3 Cab. This bass sounds AMAZING. You can dial in that classic P bass tone by moving the pickup blend all the way to one end, or add serious low end punch with the bridge humbucker... Its a very clean, sparkly sounding bass, almost glassy pure tone. Wonderfully punchy and clear, defined... did I say punchy? Hahahaha, this thing has more punch than a senior prom. The Eq can be a bit harsh though so I usually keep it flat. The treble control adds a bit of noise on the top end, the mid is pretty smooth, what I like most is the pickup blend, I get most of my tones just from moving between the split p and humbucker... you can get almost any sound out of this guy, I say almost cause Ive yet to come up with a nice dirty growly sound... its almost too pure and defined! hahah, I guess thats not a problem though... I give it a 10 out of 10, even though the eq can be a bit extreme I keep it flat and it is wonderful

First off let me say that my lovely wife purchased this for me as a gift (Im a lucky man!) and when she brought it home I was floored! The Montego black is subtle yet stunning... it has tiny tiny flecks of gold in it that catch the light... when you first look at it you think that its black but something inside says "wait, thats not black black now is it?" The gold pickguard sets off the finish and the maple of the fretboard and neck... its pure poetry. Just beautiful. Id put it up on the wall in the living room and just stare at it... the bass was set up perfectly, wonderfully right from the get go... the pickups were set up with a pretty extreme tilt to them very low on the e string side, sloping up to the a and d and then extremely sloped down toward the g... I guess thats how they set them up but it seemed odd, didnt effect the sound though... ok now the gripes, and unfortunately they are pretty major... when I first plugged the bass in, it was dead... at first this didnt phase me as I didnt know how long it had been sitting with batteries in it, so I replaced those... A few days later I go to play it and the batteries are dead... again. Ive experimented a bit and found that the batteries go dead after about two days, not plugged in just sitting on my bass rack... no good. I still havent had the chance to take it in to get looked at, but I expect there is a bad input jack in there. Not so good. I took a look at the pickguard and around the neck pocket there is some serious imperfection in the cutting there... looks like the router or saw went a little out of control leaving a strange out of shape cut and what looks like some friction burn... for the price this is unacceptable, its not immediately noticable, but it doesnt take long to see that the pickguard is a little off on that spot... also one of the tone knobs feels very flimsy and loose... the others are good, and you can feel the center indent on them as you turn, this other one though, not so much... again for the price tag that is something that you would not expect to see, also some of the other knobs are pushed so close to the pickguard they rub on the pickguard quite a bit when you turn them... I had to raise them cause it just didnt feel right. I was sad to see the inside of the body was not shielded, and the battery compartment is pretty bare, the 9 volt connectors are the paper kind! ??? Even my pedals have the plastic piece that the battery plugs into, again for this price I expected more... maybe some copper shielding, a bit better battery compartment and definately something more substantial to plug the batteries into. Pros are a very nice solid bridge and excellent lightweight tuners... the neck is AWESOME. Absolutely love the neck... smooth and solid and plays great... it has a great satin finish that I really love... everything else about this bass is excellent, I just wish they hadnt disapointed me in the electronics area... it gets a 7 out of 10 because for the money I expect more, especially from Fender!

This bass seems pretty solid. I dont think it will give me any problems... my immediate concern is scratching it cause it is a really nice bass and I dont want to mess it up hahaha, the hardware is solid and will last forever, the finish is wonderful and im sure it will stand up to years of me... the strap buttons are great, it has straplocks right out of the box so thats a big plus in my book... I feel I could depend on this bass... if I decided it was my main bass I would probably gig with it without a backup no problem... Im just scared to take it out of the house! haha... I give it a 10, it just feels good and solid in your hands.

Havent dealt with customer support yet but I really need too. Lots of little things wrong with this bass...

Ive been playing for 15 yrs... I have about 6 other basses... this is the finest bass I own... its only competition at the house is my trusty Carvin 6 string... This bass seems like a delicate flower though, hahaha, Im really worried to use it and abuse it cause its such a work of art in my eyes. If it was lost or stolen I would hunt down the guy that took it and get it back... if I couldnt find him Id def get another. Its a wonderful instrument, it sounds like a bass should sound and it cuts through a mix like a very elegant but very sharp knife... I love the look and the sound, but I upset that there are so many little things here and there that arent up to snuff, really if Im paying over a grand for a bass, it shouldnt have those kinds of problems... very disapointed about that. Compared to my other basses the sound is superior... the playability blows each of them out of the water no question, but like I said, Fender needs to keep a better eye on quality control. Im giving it an 8, it could be a 10 maybe I just got unlucky?

I own a 2005 model in Montego Black purchased new on ebay. It features a maple neck and a gold coloured pickguard.All the other features are well documented elsewhere, but the most useful feature is the active electonics with equaliser. The tonal range is terrific.

It arrived with a Fender hardshell case and assorted "case candy" and I use it weekly for gigs along with another Fender, a Marcus Miller Jazz which also has active electronics. So you can see, I am a huge fan of active circuitry and the versatility they offer.

Our band plays Blues to Rock covers to a variety of audiences. I use a Fender Bassman 200 combo amp which is yet to be overcome by our drummer. It has never been tested beyond "8" in full flight.

The Precision has a thick traditional bass sound with plenty of richness no doubt assited by the amp.The pickups are less noisy than those on my Marcus Miller Jazz which is why it is my favourite guitar for most of the sets during our shows. I also prefer the wider neck as I have longer fingers than average. The Precision was perfectly setup upon arrival and continues to be a very easy to play guitar.

I currently use Fender 110-45 strings, however I am going to change them over to Rotosounds. The guitar will benefit as my other basses have from that brand of string.

The guitar was beautifully set up when it arrived and continues to have a low action. The neck is straight and the finish on the guitar is magnificent. The Montego Black paint on the body looks like it is inches thick! I'm not sure about the plain gold pickguard that this model comes with. It looks cheap.I think a pearloid one would have looked classier, but, that is my only gripe so it loses a couple of marks here.

I have owned the guitar for about 6 months now and it gets gigged every week. It has performed perfectly to date. I keep my Jazz handy in case the onboard preamp batteries give out. This is the only risk with the active electronics. They need 2 x 9 volt batteries to power up the pickups/equaliser, so I would recommend you change the batteries as I do every 4-5 months if you use your guitar regularly. And why wouldn't you ?????

I have had no issues with the guitar

I love this guitar so much that I would buy another one tomorrow if I had to.... but I don't have to of course. I was always a Jazz fan until I played this Precision, now I am a convert. What sound and style! It is a fantastic guitar and I would highhly recommend one to you!!

1999 American. Bought new.
22 fret.
Select Alder body, maple graphite neck, rosewood fingerboard.
Hardcase included.
Humbucker by the bridge?!?!?!? (I am REMOVING a point just because of that humbucker!)
Combo bridge design.

Sound is good for that traditional electric upright sound. Put some good flatwounds on it and go to town. I read another review and the guy said he was trying to play funk and metal on his! I understand how he feels because that is not going to happen on this bass. You need to get a jazz type bass for that. This bass also has a humbucker by the bridge. I don't use it very often. It is weak and worthless. Besides, this is a P bass.

Action is good, no problems.
Overall very nice.

I've dropped it right on it's head and no problems. I'm surprised it was so tough.

I have been playing this bass for 6 years. Good bass with an extra humbucker to make it look even better or something.
Instead of Fender spending money on a worthless humbucker, they should spend some time making a better neck for their American P. which would result in a better P.

2005,22fret,USA,volume,balance,bass,mid,treb active EQ , Precision and humbucker near the bridge ,maple neck , rosewood fingerboard, alder body ,aged cherry sunburst .

Extremely versatile bass .I play through SWR studio 229 head or Carvin R1000 head , and cutom made bottoms .It seems quiet on all the gigs Ive used it on so far ,Ive had it for two weeks , and have done 8 gigs in that time .I have been playing a Stingray5 since 88 . I wanted a 4 string to start working on my slapping technique .This bass allows me to get a pseudo Stingray sound a great Jazz bridge sound a Precision sound and much more because of the active EQ . A real good slap sound on the Precision pickup with minor EQ adjustments .It is much more versatile than my Stingray and my Warwick .

Finish is flawless , I had to adjust the neck ,but we are coming into summer and thats to be expected.I love the aged cherry sunburst finish .

We will see , I expect this to be no problem

Havent had to ,hope I wnt have to.

I have been playing for 30 years .This bass is great!!!!!! Tonewise it is way more versatile than my Stingray . I like the tone more than the Warwick .Some of the newer basses tones can be a little thin , but this bass sounds ballsy in either or both of the pickup settings . If you need some versatility in a bass check this one out for sure !Every gig I have used it on so far someone has commented on how good the bass sounds .

Mine is a 1999 model I purchased in June 2004. It has a gorgeous natural finish lightweight ash body, maple fretboard, tortoiseshell pickguard, lightweight tuners, 9v on-board preamp, and four bolt neck plate. (I believe the 18v preamp and five bolt neck plate were introduced in 2004. Both are worthy upgrades.) The vendor didn't have its original case on hand, so they included a beautiful, brand new tweed case at no extra charge. Otherwise, the features are well documented below. It's difficult to quarrel with such a comprehensively equipped bass, but it should play in passive mode as well. To me, that's an inexcuseable oversight, hence the 9.

As many have observed, the buzzword here is flexibility. With a Precision pickup in the usual place, double J humbucker at the bridge, and three band EQ, a huge variety of tones is at your fingertips. With the bass boosted, and the Precision pickup emphasized or soloed, deep, fat tones emgerge. With the bridge pickup emphasized, brighter tones are available, similar to a Jazz bass with the neck pickup rolled off, but without the 60 cycle hum. Regardless of pickup blend and EQ setting, it has remarkable clarity, similar to my maple fretboard 2003 American Series Jazz.

At first, I felt like the previous reviewer who complained that, depite the tonal variety, he couldn't nail the sounds he wanted. I was initially irritated that the Precision pickup didn't sound more vintage, as I generally prefer the texture of passive Fenders to the sheen of modern, active basses. Also, while I loved the clarity, I didn't think it had enough punch, particularly for a professional grade active instrument. (The output is no higher than my passive Jazz.) It sounded great, but somewhat generic compared to my other basses. It earned my respect as a versatile tool, but didn't generate much passion.

But with experimentation, I've found more stirring, powerful tones, so I'm getting more excited about the possibilities. It's important to recognize the difference between what sounds good playing solo, and what sounds good in a mix. For example, when I play solo, I don't like the tones produced by adjusting the midrange, so I've stayed away from it. But yesterday at band rehearsal (rock band with two guitars), when I wasn't cutting through enough, I boosted the mids about a third, blended toward the Precision pickup, and bingo -- gritty, near-vintage Precision tones with loads of punch. It cut through with ease, and sounded awesome. That would be a fantastic setting for gigs, either fingerstyle or with a pick.

In fact, this bass generally sounds excellent with a pick. On some settings, it truly comes alive with a pick, which enhances the already outstanding clarity.

I think Fender's upgrade to an 18v preamp was a good idea, because this one could use more headroom. After a couple of months, I realized that it sounded slightly compressed, and perhaps it is. The new preamp should address that.

I still have reservations, but I'm beginning to find some great tones that successfully blend mondern active with vintage Fender. I guess that was the point, but I still think it's short of perfection, hence the 9.

The fit, finish, neck, hardware, and overall construction are absolutely impeccable. It was five years old when I bought it, but it looked brand new, and I think it's one of the best looking instruments I've ever seen. The natural finish with ash is beautiful, and the neck is flawless. Others have observed that the American Deluxe Series is a big jump in this area from the already excellent American Series, and so far I agree. (I have two recent Am. Ser. instruments for comparison, the Jazz bass and a new Stratocaster.)

The tone controls generate some static when adjusted, but I'm not sure how unusual that is for a five year old bass, and it's not severe. At the next setup, I'll have the pots cleaned.

When I bought it, the neck wasn't properly adjusted, but after a professional set up it plays incredibly well. I have smallish hands, and I had become accustomed to my Jazz, so I was mildly concerned about moving to the larger neck. This neck has such fantastic contours and finishing that it hasn't been a problem at all; in fact, I reach for it more often than any other bass because of how wonderful it feels. For pure speed playing, the Jazz is probably better, but this equals or surpasses the Jazz otherwise. I've grown to enjoy the meatier neck, which sometimes provides better control.

I haven't had it long enough to evaluate this, and I have no idea how much it was played before. But it looks pristine after five years, and seems totally solid, so I'm not worried.

I have no experience with Fender on this bass, but I had a great experience when my Jazz developed a neck twist in early 2004. If you're curious, check my updated review under American Series Jazz Bass S-1 switch.

I've played actively for about seven of the past 22 years, and my most serious playing has been in the past two years with two bands, during which I've played several gigs in Philadelphia and New York. My main band plays original indie-type rock ranging from R.E.M. and British Invasion styles to experimental instrumentals. I also play a couple of times a year in a punk/metal band. My other basses are: Fender American Series Jazz (2003); Fender Foto-Flame Precision (MIJ, 1994); and DiPinto Belvedere Standard semi-hollow (2003) (an incredible instrument). My stage rig is a GK 700 RB head and SWR Goliath III 4 x 10" cabinet. For rehearsals, I'm currently playing through a Carvin PB100-10 combo with an Avatar 2 x 10" as an extension cab (strange but good rig). I also have a Stratocaster, an Ibanez Studio (twin humbucker solid-body, 1981), and a Washburn acoustic guitar.

My interest in this model began when I acquired GAS for a P/J bass, and realized Fender didn't currently make one in the U.S. other than the Reggie Hamilton signature. I had this model in mind for some months before I saw this example at the Philadelphia guitar show in June 2004. It was gorgeous, played well, sounded good, and the price was right, so I thought it might satisfy the P/J itch. It would also add a modern active bass to the arsenal, which I thought could be useful, and I had read positive reviews. I figured I could sell it for a minimal loss if it didn't work out, so I gave it a shot.

Thus far, it's worked out. Even though I haven't found the sound as consistently inspiring as my Jazz or DiPinto, I'm starting to get some great sounds, and I expect better ones with more experience. And in all other areas it's superb. It's beautifully made, and the ergonomics are first rate. The neck is incredible, and it's so light that I can wear it for hours with no fatigue.

With this blend of virtues, it's become my default bass for home recording, practice, and band rehearsals. When my band enters the studio, I expect to play it on some tracks. I'm still partial to my DiPinto for maximum impact at gigs, but as an all-around bass this is a very close second to my Jazz.

So, if it were stolen, I would consider the upgraded version with the five bolt neck plate and 18v preamp. But first I'd try the new Roscoe Beck IV, which also delivers a huge range of sounds -- all with more traditional passive electronics.

I wish it could operate in passive mode, and that I had the new 18v preamp for headroom and punch, but that's about all I would change.

By the way, I also considered a Lakland Skyline 44-02. I didn't find one to test until after I had bought the Am. Deluxe Precision, but I think I got the better deal. The Lakland sounds fantastic, with I think a similar range of tones (maybe a little warmer), but the Fender's neck feels vastly superior to me, so for me this was the better choice.

Well documented. Active electronics, one split coil Precision pickup neck side, one big humbucker on the bridge side. The active eq features a volume control, a blend pot, and treble, bass and mid conrols. Graphite reinforced neck. Top load or sting-thru bridge. Jumbo frets. Rosewood board. Mine's shoreline gold with a pearl pickguard. For what it is, and if you're into the active sound, this'll do.

I bought this in early '97 and it is a '96 model. I got a great deal on it new from a store that was ditching all of its stock that wasn't pianos. At the time I knew that it was a p-bass, that I was getting it considerably cheaper than I should have, and the fact that it was active didn't play too much in the decision. In retrospect, I was lucky to have gotten a bass with so much tonal variety built right in to accompany me through my formative years as a serious bass player. This bass covers the spectrum as well as anything I've heard, and throughout the past six, seven years I've made good use of that. Unfortunately, it doesn't do any one thing, other than provide a veritable rainbow of very different sounds, very well. That is to say I can't get this thing to sound like a regular old passive p-bass like I can get a regular old passive p-bass to sound like one. Its always just a step shy. Now that I've keyed in to the 'sound in my head' after experimenting with this thing for the last few years, I find that this bass will not get that sound. I've really worked with different set-ups, strings, cabs and amps, and like I said it certainly is not lacking in variety, but I've consistently fallen short when I want *that* sound. What one gains in diversity with this instrument one loses in convincing specialization. Its a trade off, and I was lucky to have had the opportunity to really work with this bass and experiment, but now I'm looking to get something that will nail a specific sound. It is quiet and does record well.

I can't even remember what the intial set-up job was like. Assume that it was poor, and then know that I've had absolutely no problems adjusting and readjusting this bass throughout the years. I've got some flats on there now that seem to tax the neck, but I've got no problems with getting the action as low or as high as I want. And of course the fender bridge is very easily adjusted for intonation and everything else. Very user friendly. A couple of the pots aren't completely tight, but I've never been too concerned. The finish at the ends of the fret wire does easily bubble and crack. I've seen lots of old basses that do this and am not entirely sure if this should or shouldn't happen. I've got to imagine that it shouldn't, but it doesn't affect anything too important. Nice finish aside from the dings and scratches I put in it myself. It all seems common of a modern american made fender product, could be better, not on par with the stuff over 30 years old, but is still a pretty good deal and will not fall apart after a few years.

Here are the main issues I have with this bass, and it seems that I'm not the only one having these problems. I'm not entirely sure what the root problem is, whether it is faulty electronics to begin with or just a poor job of assembling them, but the electronics have been a problem a number of times. From very obnoxious crackling, to no sound at all, this thing has been in for repairs. Once it happened on stage where the neck side p pickup stopped working completely. Luckily I was able to roll the blend pot all the way back and use the humbucker, but still. These things should not happen at all, let alone with regularity, to what is being sold as a grand plus bass. Maybe they've worked out these problems in recent years, I don't know, but whatever the case it has been a problem for me, and it is enough for me to not recommend this instrument. I did have the typical strap knob problem where they would come loose and strip out their holes. This is easily fixed by jamming a tooth pick or two in the hole and screwing the knob back on.

Have not dealt with Fender. I had my repairs done at Elderly Instruments in Lansing, MI. As always, Elderly is great.

Its difficult for me to give this an overall rating, as my attitude toward it has changed quite a few times through the years. Right now I'm absolutely sick of this thing popping (cheap jack, I think) and I'm even more sick of it going dead, although that hasn't happened in about two years. This was my third bass and I'd been playing for only about four years when I got it, so I have really grown into this. Like I said I like that I can get many usable sounds out of it, and its great for playing alone and messing around, but I feel that it is time for me to move on. I'll always keep this bass, if not just for sentimental value, but also because it does have such a wide array of sounds available. And the pickups are very hot and modern sounding, giving a player who might be more into an older sound a strong option in a pinch.
Unfortunately in my experience it just doesn't cut any one of those sounds like what it is trying to approximate can. Also, any sounds that are particular to this bass just don't sound very good to my ears. People may say that its not a modelling guitar but a unique instrument in its own right, but the only reason I can see for having so much tonal variety is to be able to use it and thus have a wide sonic pallette available. To get 'that' sound and then 'that' sound, all with one bass. It gets close to accomplishing this, but falls short.

Purchased off eBay a little over a year ago, a 1995 (I think) black bass with a rosewood neck, before they started putting the fancy shiny fret markers and headstock logo and all that. It has looked and sounded fantastic, although it required a little tweaking after I got it (as any bass that's shipped air mail needs).

The controls are great and noise-free, with 3-band EQ, volume and pickup blend. The active electronics are punchy as hell, but it should be noted that the humbucker is a bit quieter than the p-style pickup in outright volume. The tuners are amazing, as this bass almost never goes out of tune (and I put it through a lot of shows). Basically, it's a P-bass with the all the features you'd wish it would have and the versatility to do almost anything.

I should note this: when I first got this bass, I HATED it. I have played various Warwick and Tobias models for over five years (Ibanez before that) and had gotten accostomed to the Warwick's massive thump and defined sounds. When I first plugged in the Fender, its round sound was a bit confusing to me. However, that's exactly what I bought it for, and I quickly came to love it.

It perfectly fills in all the gaps in a band's sound, and cuts through any mix. I got an instant reaction from musician friends who came to see our shows, and the response was unanimiously positive on the sound. Those high-end Roscoe and Warwick basses (and all their friends) get lost in the mix for anything but funk, and while they sound great in your living room or for a Vic Wooten-style solo, they don't offer enough support to a live show, IMO.

The tone is at once both timeless and very modern, and I was almost instantly able to create "my sound" (I'm a tone freak) with nothing but the bass and the amp. It also does very well with pedals, of which I have a large board.

This Fender does everything well, from live hip hop to jazz, garage/surf rock and extremely aggressive indie and post-punk.

I can't judge how it was when first purchased, but I can say that many years later (after much abuse), it still looks near perfect. All the dents in it were put there by me (sadly) and other than that, it shows no signs of againg. I've always been a sucker for black-and-white basses, but this is the nicest one I've seen in quite some time.

Holy crap. I have literally done every one of the following: hit it, drop it, swing it around, throw it, launch it in the air, stand on it, and take it every recording session, live show and practice I've been to since I picked it up. It withstands EVERYTHING. I would actually say it sounds better now, and somehow it shows almost no signs of damage for all the very, very dumb things I've done to it. G'head, try to break it.

Never had to deal with Fender.

I don't want to sound preachy, but bassists (myself previously included) often forget that the bass is there to support, fill in and give life to music, bringing it to that "next level" that everyone talks about. If you didn't get enough attention as a kid and want to play nine million notes a minute, then you might pass up this bass (while it could do music that too). For everybody else, this bass belongs somewhere in your arsenal (or as your only bass). I almost never bring backups anymore, because this bass can do almost any sound and fit almost any gig, and it NEVER craps out on me.

I love the sound, I love the look, I love the reliability, I love the price, and I'd buy another in a heartbeat if this one was ever stolen (I'll be buying a second shortly, this one with a maple neck). You can buy them cheap on eBay (and sell them at nearly the same price if you find you don't like it) and you can use them for everything. I went from being somewhat anti-Fender to being a huge fan, all based on this 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 b