Fender American Series Precision Bass

Got my all black Amercan P bass with maple kneck and fingerboard about a year ago. As far as features go it's a bit limited but it does it does the job well with the features it does have, if you know what I mean. It's a passive solid split pick-up workhorse (probably more of a war horse), with a tone and volume pot. I like the simplicity of it all really but can't give it a full 10. I'll have to give it a lowly 6 (but that's 10 out of 10 for a solid 6 =??))PS it came with a hard case.

I play alternative and punky stuff mainly and it does exactly what I want it to sound wise. I play it through a Marshall MB4210 and MBC115 cab which shows the bass sound off quite well. The bass's tonal range is not vast but the sounds it does produce are good, nice warm, slightly growly thump. Plenty of bottom end but with a decent high-end twang with the tone on full treble and playing near the bridge (which is what I do 90% of the time). I generally play with a pick but it does sound awesome slapped to but it's harder work with it being passive. Overall a great sounding bass. Oh... one minor negative I can live with, it's quite neck heavy.

I bought it new. It was reasonably set up and I've only carried out minor tweaks with string height and pick-up adjustment. The action was good while maintaining little fret buzz. P basses don't have a slim neck but it feels really nice, solid but is still pretty fast. The rest of the bass is pretty solid, appears durable and is well finished off. Although I initially went through a few sets of strings quite quickly. I suspect a burr on the through-neck ferrules, it's ok now though.

It's a solid lump of wood. It appears dependable. I've never had to adjust the truss rod. I haven't even considered taking my backup bass to a gig.

No idea, never used it.

I started playing about 25 years ago, but initially for just a few years and only just come back into it about 5 years ago. This time around I chose a simple, great sounding, proper bass and that's exactly what it is. Granted it has limited tonal range, it's heavy, neck heavy but it's still a really great instrument with an awesome sound.

I have a 2006 (I think) American P-bass, with a natural swamp ash body..very resonant..Rosewood fretboard..Just a very solid, lovely sounding bass. Strictly passive pickups..I'm really not a bells and whistles kind of guy..

I like the bass very much..Very warm sounding..It suits my style very well..We play pretty much classic rock..So, it is a perfect fit..I actually don't have an amp right now, but I had the opportunity to play it through an Ampeg Stack awhile back..WOW..It was freakin huge..I could see using it in the studio as well..very versatile..

I bought it used, so I don't know about the factory set up. The action is nice and low..all I really did was re-intonate it, and crank her up!!

It's a Fender..Need I say more? You could use it to anchor your boat, dry it out, and gig with it the next night!!

I never have had to return a Fender product, So I can't say.

I am actually a guitarist who has discovered I can make money as a bass player..So I am a novice Bass player..I love to play it though. I like the P-bass better than say a Rickebacker..because the tone is deeper..I would probably buy another one if this one was lost or stolen..

2007 USA Made Fender Precision bass with S1 switch, Candy Cola red finish. Came with Fender Molded hard case, polish cloth, Fender strap and a few other things came in the case too. I usually don't like red guitars or basses, but this candy cola is a nice dark metallic shade of red. Came with a standard 3 ply white pickguard which I may eventually swap out for a white pearl.It's a P bass so it doesn't have a ton of features, but it does have more tonal variety than the new 2008 American Standard P bass which has no s1 switch.

Sounds thick and fat. I have a Stingray which doesn't sound nearly as warm as this fender bass, not that the stingray has bad tone it's just differnt and more active sounding. I bought this P bass specifically to set up with flatwounds. I currently have Fender flats on it and the tone is pretty amazing. Sounds awesome for Iron Maiden Steve Harris bass lines, old James Jamerson Motown stuff, or 60's era rock tunes. I currently play this P bass through a Gallien Krueger 700rb head 4x10+1x15 cab setup. For low volume practice I play it through a little Orange crush 35b bass combo amp. Through the Orange it sounds perfect for playing Cream and Black Sabbath tunes. The candy cola finish kinda clashes with the orange tolex, but the tone is great. Push the s1 switch and the American series P bass deviates slightly from traditional P bass tone territory to become a slap bass tone machine. Some say the S1 is crap but I think it's a nice feature, and it makes the bass more versatile.

I purchased this bass as a dent and scratch so I can't complain too much, since I got a nice discount due to 1 small scuff on the back of the bass. Setup out of the box was nice medium action with no fret buzz. Rolled edges on the fretboard are what really give the USA Fenders more of a quality feel, and make them more comfortable to play too. I have a 2006 American series strat which also has the rolled fretboard edges. Not to say that the MIM stuff isn't nice, but the USA Fenders just feel better to me, and you can tell that there's more attention to detail on the USA models. With the Mexican Fenders getting so expensive ($400 and up for a new 1) it really is to your advatage to find a USA made Fender either as a dent and scratch or on the used market. I've seen USA P basses sell for $600 which is just a bit more than some of Fender's specialized 50's 60's ect Mexican models.

Solid bass. Built like a tank. I'm not sure how the S1 switch will hold up over time, but I take care of my instruments. I'm not too worried.

Never dealt with Fender, but they are a huge corporation, so I don't have a ton of faith in their product support. There are a lot of Fender authorized service centers locally, so at least help isn't too far away if I ever require it. Not sure what Fender's warranty is, but it's probably pretty good. I know a lot of their stuff has a 5 year or lifetime warranty , so I should look into registering my instrument and/or sending in my warranty card after I finish typing this review. The bass was so pretty and has been so much fun to play that I totally forgot about filling out the warranty card which is probably in that plastic bag with all of the paperwork that came with the bass.

I've been playing guitar and bass for 15 years. I was going to purchase a 2008 Fender American Standard P bass until I found this 2007 dent and scratch for an awesome price. I really like the S1 system and the Candy Cola color. The tone is pure P bass. Lots of low end, with an extremely comfortable(not too chunky) neck. If lost or stolen I'd buy another P bass with the S1 for sure. I wish that Fender would include a tweed or tolex cases with their USA made instruments. The Fender molded hard case is pretty nice, but tweed or tolex is much more vintage and classic/classy. I see they have a new SKB plastic case included with the 2008 American Standards, but to me it looks even uglier than the molded case that comes with the 2007's. I used to play only Jazz basses, but they just never felt quite right in my hands. It took me a while, but I've found that Precision basses and Stingrays have the tone and feel that I want from a bass. You will not be disapponted with the American Series P bass!. You may even find an awesome deal on 1 since they're making room for the 2008's.

2006, USA made P-Bass, with a Orange Sunset Transparrent(looks more like fiesta Red tranparrent) Primium ASHwood body(this is a primium version of the American Series), Graphite-reinforced neck with modern C shape and satin polyurethane finish, Rosewood fingerboard with rolled edges, 20 medium jumbo frets, Open-back cast machine heads,
1 American Precision Bass split single-coil pickup, Volume and tone controls, S-1 switching (parallel/series), American string-thru-body bridge, Chrome hardware and a 3-ply parchment pickguard.

PS: Features is NOT ONLY counting the amount of pickups or controls the guitar/bass has.

This is The Basics Of The Basics, the most simple Bass-guitar in the world, but it feels sooooo.... Good to hold in your hands and play.

This Bass wil fit ANY & ALL types of music, both Vintage Jazz, Blues, Rock, Country, Folk, Bluegrass, and more moder stiles like Moder Rock or even Punk(just ask Mike Dirnt from Green Day).

I use it for the Gospel I play at our church, wich is a mixing between Bluegrass, Folk & Country Rock.

I play it though both a small Fender Rumble 25, and a Fender Bassmann 60' and a Large Hartke 150W(Don't remember wich model exatly, since it belongs to a frined of mine).

The Guiar was taken very good care of, since it was made in America
(they don't just let anything out of their factory), but, if you want the best sound & feel out of this Bass, you should probably have the pickup and bridge fine tuned.

This Bass wil outlive YOU. When your body has turned to dust, this Bass will be played by your Grandchildren.

Never had to deal with them.

I've had a cheap Stagg Jazz Bass, a Washburn RB2502(5-string) and i've played different Fender Basses, from a Mexico standard Jazz & P-Bass, up to an American Vintage 62' P-Bass, and I still chose this one, because of the sound and looks.

If it were stolen, i'd get the same one again(no question about it), but i woulde buy it from a real professional guitar-repairman/fine tuner salesman.

2006, American made. Twenty frets with a "gold" like sheen. I would not say they are jumbo frets, more of rolling hill than a pronounced hump. They feel like they suit the size of the neck and my fingers. Not hard at all to get used to, rather navigateable. It is a four string bass with a gold anodized cover. The bass comes with volume control followed down stream by a tone control and the jack input direct below the tone control. The pick ups are passive split coil P bass with raised "A" poles, Fender stock for 1957. The body is one piece of ash with "blue" veins showing through the white finish. The neck is one piece of maple with a very nice laquer finish. The bridge sits on top and strings are run through it's bottom. Tuners are of the reverse style with strap hook on the back of the headstock.., also on the top of the horn and bottom of the bass. The neck is comfortable and wide.., thick but not fat. It came with a tweed case, strap, bridge and pick up covers a cleaning kit and various cards, stickers and hang tags. It is a stock, American made, 1957 Fender P bass. It took a long time to find it.

I like the way this bass sounds unpluged. I run it through a pretty basic Fender bassman 10 combo and am able to get some, I repeat, some of the flavor that can be had. The sound I get from what I can do with finger placement behind and on the frets as well as the touch of the strings up and down the body is for me why I attempt to play the bass. I take lessons and if I could come any where near to playing like Carl Radle.., well you've heard it before. The pick ups are pretty quiet and could be loud. I don't play on stage.

I changed the strings and play Dean Markley LT 45-100 (2672). The finish was and is flawless with no over spray. I did adjust the sting height so that buzzing is not a factor and the next is and has been straight. I had to tighten one screw in the bridge and put Dunlop strap locks on the bass. I use a wide and thick soft strap as the bass is not light. I adjusted the pitch of the pick ups to get a uniform level of sound for each string. I will give it four in this catagory only because of the lose screw in the bridge.

I believe this bass will just get better with time and playing. The more I play it the beter it sounds and it stays in tune. I bought the bass on Memorial weekend 2006. It is Thanksgiving week 2006 and I adjusted the neck once. It is my only bass and I am a beginner and have yet to gig.

I have not contacted the company and it has a limited lifetime warranty.

I have been playing for five years and own only the Fender bassman 10 combo. I researched the bass for years and could never afford a new, American made Fender. It is what it is. Like a relationship, it feels good most times but sometimes not so good. With time and
understanding, we will be fine all the time. I don't have the time or advocation to make it a vocation. I have spent a lot of time with inexpensive basses.., SGR's, Mexican and Japanse Fenders, Epiphone Jack Casady and EBO's from Korea, I got to experiment with a lot. I really like this bass. I believe I will be able to do anything with it and the right sound system as time goes on.

2005 American Fender Precision bass with S-1 Switch. Rosewood fingerboard, black finish Alder body. String thru body option. Came with nice plastic hardsell case and accessories. Not a ton of features but all you need to get the standard in electric bass sounds.

I've owned a ton of basses and many vintage Fender Precisions (61, 66, 71, 76, 92) and this plays and sounds better than all of them. No deadspots,even sound across and up and down the neck, great sustain with strings thru body. There is the option of the S-1 switch, in regular setting you have the standard fat P-bass sound, depressed you have what I would call more of a early 50's P /Tele bass single coil sound. Thought I wouldn't use it but it's useful if you have to do a little slap or want some twang. Original pickup is great full and beefy.

The finish on my USA P is excellent, way better than the finish on my 2003 US Standard Jazz. The bass plays great with the satin finish neck and rolled edges. Neck is a little fatter than a jazz but not chunky. I really like the stock nickleplated steel roundwounds ...full, warm and loud , great medium tension...love the taper E. This is an immediate player right out of the box...you can backup pretty much any band with a great playing and sounding P. I play thru an Eden/Mesa boogie rig...P bass matches instantly.

This bass will be around long after me!

Fender on line support is there such a thing???

If your looking for that solid P bass tone don't waste your time and money on "vintage", clones/copies, Squire,Mexican etc. Just try out a few of the US P's and you'll find yourself a bass that you can get alot of mileage out of. I own a few nice jazz basses but the P can always deliver a great fat bassline.

This is a brand new Fender American Series Precision Bass with S1 switch. I purchased it new in January 2006, so I guess it was made in 2005.
Not much to say, this is one of the simplest basses on the market : 1 pickup, 1 volume, 1 tone control. Passive electronics. The S1 switch allows to choose between parallel and series mode.
The bridge offers two stringing modes : through bridge or through body.
This bass comes with the usual accessories Fender offers with any American model : molded case, strap, cord, truss rod tool, rag, humidifier.
Well, hard to rate the features. They are few but they are anything you need from a P Bass.

I use this bass with an Ashdown MAG300R head and an Ashdown MAG210T cab.
This bass should be called "plug and play" : so simple that it always shines.
On series mode (which is the "normal" P tone) the tone is deep and thick. On parallel mode then you reach a modern tone that is great for slap. That's not exactly what you may expect from a P, but in live situation it appears to be great having 2 very different tones by only pushing a knob. Though, I always use this bass on series (P) mode.
This bass has the typical P roar that can be heard in thousands hits. You can't go wrong if you want a tone that always cuts through and always gives serious background to your music.

The bass came flawless. The action was setup as low as possible, no buzz, no dead spots. I didn't have to make any adjustment.

After 3 months of intensive use, this bass is still flawless and nothing changed. No neck adjustment needed, bridge and tuners are stable and reliable.
I would certainly use it on a gig without any backup. Though, for tonal purposes, I play live with 2 basses (the other one being a J).

Didn't have to deal with them.

I've been playing bass for 30 years. I also own an American Series Jazz Bass (also with S1 switch) and a Fender BG31 electric-acoustic bass. Through the years I used to own many basses, such as Rickenbackers, Music Man, Ibanez, Warwick, etc., including 4ers and 5ers.
I love the simplicity of this bass, as well as its light weight. There's nothing I hate on it. Playing it is just daily happiness. Simple as that.

U.S. made 2004 model. 20 frets. Alder body. graphite reinforced maple neck, maple fingerboard, S1 switch, Chrome Red with b/w/b 3 ply pickguard (It looks so good !).

You want a real deep and warm P-bass sound ? you?re very close with stock pickups. In fact, the sound is good but with a little lack of articulation, especially on open strings. I replaced the PU?s with some Seymour Duncan Basslines - Hot for P-Bass (SPB2) - and the sound was there ? Oh yessssss ! ready to Funk ! The vote rises to 9 when Seymourized. (I reviewed the SPB2?s in the pickup section)The tone control is very responsive and well voiced , I can dial my tone from deep Motown sound to quite cutting edge style (hey it?s a PB ok ?).
Let?s talk about the S1 switch ? usefull on a Jazz Bass but absolutely useless on a P-bass, it?s a split coil, not a dual pickup set. I just don?t use it.

As all the string instruments that spent some times in factory storages and crossed the world for shipping, the set up was no good. Quite unplayable to me. The neck was slightly bowed and the action was much too high. What I do all the time is making my basses set up by a professional (not a guitar store dude ! I said professional ). Once set up, the bass was a dream to play, the neck is a true high-speed desert highway, very easy to play. The fretwork is very detailed and the overall craftsmanship is good.

Seems you could play baseball with it, Fender basses are rock solid. No flamed tops to scratch, cool high gloss finishes ? It shines like a muscle car in the light ? I love that.

Never dealt with Fender, my basses are checked / fixed by pros.

I?m a French Funk-Fusion bass player and i've been playing bass for 9 years now. Since then, I worked hard with my basses and amps, to achieve the biggest sound possible, not the loudest, not the crunchiest ? the biggest. I mean low end, growl and articulation to cut through the mix, be heard and handle a big bass sound with my overdriven bandmates. I?m very regardant to tone quality (that?s the reason why a changed the pickups ? the difference is very subtle but that?s what makes the difference). Fender P-Bass is legendary and sounds as good as it looks. Once correctly set up it?s a real pleasure to play. Remember ?You want a real deep and warm P-bass sound ?? ? ok take an US made Fender P-Bass ?. Just enjoy.

This beauty was supposingly crafted in late 2005. It is an American Series Precision Bass with S-1 switch. Made in America. I've been using it for one month now, daily and as a professionnal bass player.

I chose the black body w/black pickguard finish, and the fingerboard is made of beautiful maple. That contrast of dark vs light makes the bass look quite sexy.

The features are very few just like every passive 4 string Precision Bass, except the S-1 swicth I'm going to talk just under. Also, for a few nears now, all American Series (except the Highway 1 I think) come with a graphite reinforced neck with provides more stability.
The bass comes in a solid molded case and includes a strap, a cord and a setup wrench.

Despite of the extreme simplicity of this bass concept, I give a 10 because this simplicity is a major factory of why this bass is one of the most reputable (if not THE most reputable) bass standards in the world.

How does this P sound ? Well, on the standard mode, nothing makes you doubt it may be anything else. The P tone is fully there, with his rich low-mids and mids, providing that unique growl that so many manufacturers tried to mimic but very few succedeed to at a decent point.

I use absolutely no effects with this bass, unless you consider an UHF unit and a digital tuner as being effects. My main amp is an Ashdown MAG300R with the matching MAG210T cab. This amazing and cheap amp helps almost "caricaturate" the P tone. Incredible.

Now, let's pull the pot down to start the S-1 swicth, and suddently you are catapulted into a very different world. The mids and low-mids fall down, but the awesome lows and crystal highs show up. You seem to switch instantaneously from vintage world to modern love. This sound is inspired from Jazz Basses obviously, but there is something different. I'd say more of an active Jazz. But don't forget : this bass is 100% passive.

It sends millions more balls to the amp than any other bass I own in my arsenal (including, among others, an MM StingRay 5).

The electronics seems perfect since I heard no hiss or hum at all on this bass.

Now I'm not sure this bass is able to produce a very wide variety of sounds by itself. But unless your music is inspired from a planet that won't be discovered between 2248, this bass will fit your needs whatever your music style is. Mine is rock & blues, but I also play mainstream music in a cover band and no one complains I play my gigs with this "basic" passive 4er. Give a 10 again.

Surprisingly, the bass came out of the box with a flawless finish and a PER-FECT setup (at least for my way of playing). Strings don't buzz on the strings, but oppositely there is no room to park a Cadillac between the board and the strings ;)

The bass is very light and perfectly balance. The finish is simply sexy.

The bridge allows stringing through itself or stringing through the body. That's a nice feature but I did not A/B these yet.

Looks like it will survive even if Mad Max rolls on it with a tank.

Will not rate it, but my previous experience with Fender France shows they are not responsive at all for customer support.

I've been playing for 30 years now. I asked nothing between ordering this bass, except I asked the retailer to doublechock Fender QC had done their job properly before shipping it to me. They obviously did.

If it were stolen or lost, I would commit harrassment on Interpol phone lines until they find it. And sur I would be very sad. I never felt bored playing bass, but when I observe how I play on this one, I DO play (with the notion of "fun" this word includes), while previously I feel like I was just making music.

Yes, I would get another one immediately.

2005 USA made Fender Precison Bass. 4 string fretted. Volume/Tone controls. One PUP. Passive electronics bass, I don't like active basses period. Tone comes from the wood not processed electronics. Ash body maple neck with rosewood fretboard. Vintage 3 tone Sunburst. String through body for great sustain. Tuners are solid. Finish seems too thick to me, but beautiful. Neck is fat top to bottom but thin front to back. Graphite rods made this possible. Simple bass to use. I prefer it this way, not a lot of knobs to get out of position. Just adjust everything from the amp side. S-1 is ok, I'll probrobly never use it. In fact I'm going to remove the push buttom knob and install a regular Fender P Bass knob.

I play Praise and Worship music a few times a week and suits my style and need with no problems. I use an SWR Workingman 15 amp and sometimes DI to the soundboard in larger church's. Not noisy at all. Tones of growl and low end thud. Fills any building. Nothing I dislike about it. It a tone monster. Pickups have a high output which tranfers to "Fat Rich Tone". Hey my friends, it's Fender P Bass and no bass does it better than a Fender P Bass. Nuff said, now go get one. 40 years years from now these will be the ones to own.

Action had to be readjusted because I change strings and put on a heavier guage. D'addario Chromes 105-50's. PUP height was fine, also changed the pickguard from White to a Tortoise one. Looks really good now. The white one made it look to country and western, no offence, I'm from West Virginia and live in Michigan and love country music. No flaws. I love the rolled edged neck makes the bass feel broken in already.

There are 50 year old P Basses still in use out there and I'm sure I will get the same reliability from this one. I always gig without a backup but bring extra strings.

Never used Fender customer support in my 43 years of playing guitar and use of Fender products.

These new Fender Basses are the best that Fender has served up in years. Buy Vintage if you like and I've owned quite few of em, but these new Fender basses is where it's at. Tone, sustain, fit and finish. PUP's are hot with plenty of thump and growl. I hope I'm still around 20 years from now just to hear what this bass will sound like, If I can still hear. My grandson will be a happy young man when he inherits this bass................................................................................ E-mail me if you have any further questions.

MIA American Series Precision Bass, made in 2003, I believe
Alder body w/ black gloss finish
Maple fretboard
String through body bridge
Standard P-Bass control, 1 volume, 1 tone (note: This model came equipped with the S1 series/parallel switching system, activated by pushing down a switch built into one of the pots).
Came w/ hard molded case, strap, wrenches.

Sounds like a P-Bass should. Classic woody tone. Sound can be made quite a bit brighter (and lower output) by putting the pickup in parallel mode. Extrememly quiet, owing to the classic split coil humbucking design. Tone cap value is perfect. You can get anything from a bright snappy tone to a super-dark boomy sound.

I have used this bass both in the studio and in live performance and it excels at both.

Since buying this axe about a year ago I have replaced the stock pickups with Duncan Antiquities (which I also reviewed in the pickup section of this site). They definitely sound a little warmer, but the difference is subtle. Stock pickups were hotter.

I tried a few different strings on this bass, both roundwound and flatwound. With the exception of the stock strings (which have a slightly larger gauge E than the others I tried), the E string output tended to be a little low. This can be compensated for by raising the pickup on the E string side, but I felt I had to raise it more than one would think necessary.

I ultimately settling on Rotosound Jazz Bass monel flats. They sound bright and yucky out of the box, but I "aged" mine by coating each string with Vaseline and then thoroughly wiping it off. After doing this, the sound improvement was dramatic! All the sudden, this thing oozed classic vintage Precision tone!! I don't even have to put foam under the bridge to get the decreased sustain associated with vintage bass sound - the strings do it themselves. The flats sound especially great on the maple fretboard - it brings out a nice bite. (As a sidenote, I tried my "aging" process on some other flatwound strings and it didn't have nearly the effect that it did on the Rotosounds).

There is a dead spot on the G string (4th or 5th fret, I think). But that comes with the territory for 34" bolt-ons. My MIA Fender Jazz has the same issue.

Action, fit and finish were overall quite good. There seems to be a slight visible "line" in the finish on the back side of the body, but other than that, perfect. The fretwork is nice, although the fingerboard edges are not quite as smooth as my MIA Fender Jazz. There are a few fret edges that could have used just a smidgen of further filing.

Factory setup was so-so (this is typical). Had to tighten the truss rod/raise the action, per usual.

Control cavity shielded with conductive paint. Well done wiring & soldering. Quality pots.

One gripe: I feel like the truss rod nut is not sufficiently lubricated. A little too much resistance is felt when adjusting it. (if it wasn't for this, I'd give the instrument an 8 in this category).

This bass will definitely withstand years of live playing. It's built like a tank.

Due to the relative simplicity of the controls, this is a highly reliable instrument and a backup is only necessary if you're paranoid.

The only times I've had to adjust the truss rod is when changing strings (different tensions).

Haven't ever had to deal with Fender.

Been playing for 12 years, seriously for the last 4. I own quite a few other basses and this is definitely one of my favorites, especially for recording. This thing rules in the studio!

I bought it for one reason: to get that classic P-Bass sound. And it definitely delivers.

2003 model. 20 frets. Alder body. Maple neck, graphite reinforced. Maple fingerboard. Butterscotch blonde finish with black pickguard. Fender P pickup, S-1 switch. Fender tuners and bridge with standard or string through option. Comes with molded case, strap, cloth, cable, truss rod and allen wrench, etc.

I've always loved the fat, round tone of classic Motown, Stax/Volt, Atlantic R&B, and this certainly nails that. But it's at home in a country, pop, rock, metal or just about any setting. For a passive bass, the tone control is very dynamic, and depending on your technique, you can get a nice variety of sounds. A very resonant bass with good sustain and clarity. Sounds great with a pick or fingerstyle. The S-1 switch may or may not be your thing. I don't use it a lot, but I like it, as it adds even more versatility -- can actually get a decent slap and pop -- but it does cut the sound output considerably.

Well, it was well set up at the store and has been very stable in the year and a half I've owned it. Beautiful finish. Nice fretwork. Solid harware. Electronics work fine -- no hum or extraneous noise.

Very roadworthy. Everything about it is heavy duty. It'll probably be going strong long after I am. I'd definitely play a gig without a backup. Neck is very stable, has not needed an adjustment yet.

Limited lifetime warranty. I've not needed any warranty work done.

I've been playing bass for 17 years now. Own an '89 Fender Jazz Bass Special fretless and a Carvin PB-200 combo amp. Also play guitar (Takamine SF-261) and piano. I bought this bass after playing it in the store. Very comfortable neck and well balanced body. And the sound -- I could feel the low end notes vibrating my rib cage. Wow! Just could not put her down. Always a joy to play. I've got good comments from the audience whenever I've played her out. First time I played back a live performance on tape, it sounded just like it should. I would definitely buy another if it were lost or stolen.

2004 Chrome Red with the 3-ply black/white/black pickguard.
1 Split-coil pickup
Volume, Tone, S1 switch (Hardly ever use it, but I dont understand why people hate it, just don't use it!)
Came with hardshell case, that annoying Fender 'Aztec' style strap that everyone has, and a Fender cable. (Along with the S1 switch manual, a cloth, truss rod adjuster etc etc)

Ive got no problem with features, but sometimes less is more you know?

Ever heard bass on record? Then you've heard a P-bass!

The tone control is possibly the most versatile passive control Ive ever heard, ranging from a trebley, biting snap to a deep roar. I tend to keep it rolled about 1/4 on on most amps, but with more vintage sounding amps (Like my Ashdown stack) you can turn it up for some bite without it being over the top, just don't be afraid to roll it off for hi-fi amps.

I play a lot in front of my computer, and like this the parallel setting gives a bit of noise (single-coil) also, sometime this picks up noise from lights etc. Like I say, I very rarely use this, and the series 'humbucker' (classic P) tone has never, not once, at all, picked up any noise or hiss.

My one slight gripe is that (to my ears) it sounds better picked closer to the bridge and so I am toying with the idea of buying one of those finger rests for just behind the pickup.

The bass was ordered by Sound Control in Newcastle and they set it up when it got into the shop. Actually came with some VERY slight buckle rash on the back already. Other than that, the bass is perfect. I tend to baby my gear, but I do love the look of beat up Fenders and so I wont be heartbroken when it finally gets dinged or knocked badly.

8 because of the buckle rash, but I believe it came from another Sound Control (Leeds???) and so its likely their fault, and not Fender's.

Fenders have survived from the fifties, and still play great, I have no doubt this can last just as long. Besides, what can go wrong? Its a few magnets, some wires and a potentiometer or two!

Finish is a really deep, glossy red, and looks sturdy enough, but the slight buckle rash makes me think otherwise. Personally I have not dented it, so it makes me wonder exactly how someone got that on the back, chainsaw maybe.

Never dealt with them, in fact, neither has my guitarist Dad.

Except, he won a Telecaster in the Fender Players Club, and got it right away.

I got this July 8th last year, and now its July 30th, this year. I finally feel qualified to be able to review it after over a year.

Fantastic, really, this is the bass I want to play until Ive worn it down to the shape of my hands. I did my work experience at the shop I purchased this from, and was determined to fall in love with a Musicman Stingray, but I spent all of my time (when not working) on a USA P, beautiful.

USA two piece body, Alder, natural finish poly. MOTO brownish pick guard. Total weight 8.4 pounds.
20 frets. Maple cap fingerboard.
Graphic re-enforced neck.
"B" neck, similar to my '72 p.
Vol & tone, tone with central detent.
String thru body. Some say it adds sustain. I can't tell, and if so, does more sustain improve bass sound?

A tried and true model, well executed.

This bass gets the classic P sound, without any dead spots or wolf tones. The most even Fender I've played.
Solid bottom, crunching lower mids, not too much highs. This is the perfect sound with flatwounds or halfwounds.

Widely useful sound. Jazz, MOP, Blues, Pop, sixites rock, C & W, Folk, rock, rock-a-billy. The sounds are appropriate.

What it does it does well and its quiet. For a single p/U passive bass. Can't do everything--no one can.

Ugly piece of Alder, with sealed scratches. Surface smooth. Set-up, used is playable but I'd enjoy it more if the action was lower.
Intonation is adequately adjustable.
No neck warp. Dirt in cavity pockes hasn't made trouble yet.

Nothing really goofed up.

I think as players of solid instruments, these should last 3-400years. any less is likely from mis enginneering or mistreatment.
Fenders are rock solid

Never dealt. Have heard a lot about lack of support from fender.
Buy locally. At least the owners near you have hopes of more purchas. I've not every trusted FMC, though I like some of thier equipmnet

Playing on and off, 34 years. This one does exactly what a Pbass sounds like with no dead spots. Good finish on ugly wood.
Seems well built

I'd get another if anything happens, its been a great instrument.

Mine is a 2001 in sunburst, with rosewood neck. It is the basic model without the S-1 switch. I'm glad for this, as I wanted a Precision just like the old days, with no bells or whistles. It has two control knobs---volume and tone, and that is it! Tuners are extremely high quality.
No rating here---it has the features a Precision is supposed to have. I bought it for the features it doesn't have!

The sound is absolutely beautiful. It is the typical P bass sound, the sound of Rock and Roll for the last 50 years. With rounds, it is very aggressive with the tone all the way up, sort of like a Rickenbacker sound. With tone down, it is totally old-school, Jamerson-type sound. The sustain is like any American made Fender--fantastic, and the notes really ring out nicely. The split coil pickup has a ton of output, and the bass is the most quiet of any bass I own. There is NO hum or buzz, whatsoever--quiet as a church mouse!

Fantastic finish, all around. I bought this on closeout---it was almost two years old, and was a new old-stock item. There were no marks anywhere on the body of the bass. The paint is pristine. There is a slight dimple on the back of the neck around the 12th fret area. The way my thumb rests, it is always above the ding when my hand is passing by, so it doesn't pose a problem at all. The ding is about 2mm x 3mm, and can probably be filled with super glue---I just haven't done it yet. Saved a ton of money on the close-out, so the ding is small potatos.
Action is excellent. I still have the stock Fender taper-wounds on it, and pretty soon I may go with some TI flats, and keep the rounds on the Jazz and Ric.
Gets a 10 here, as the ding happened at the store---no fault of Fender.

No problems so far; it is an American Series Fender. Extremely reliable---will last decades.

I have never dealt with them. No opinion.

The Fender Precision has proven itself for 54 years. It is a great bass which oozes tradition. The componants are extremely high quality, the neck is very comfortable, the pickups are powerful and ultra quiet. I'm thrilled that I bought it!

Made in USA in 2004

Ash body (Alder is far more common)
Maple Fretboard
Humbucking passive pickups (US)
S-1 switching system
Volume Control
Tone Control
graphite rod reinforced neck

Fairly basic set up, but I.M.H.O all is needed for a great bass

Fender Precision basses are legends, has probobaly one of the best low end sound of all time, will rattle pictures off the wall efortlessly. When the mids and treble is up had a nice growl, can be very punchy when played with a pick. Lows are not muddy. Pickups are not noisy at all. Works great on stage or studio. My P-bass has an ash body and a maple fingerboard, this in my experience makes the bass a bit brighter than a regular Alder body bass. Works fine for most all styles and methods of music, I play old school metal and hard rock (Black Sabbath Deep Purple style)

My P-bass is kind of a rare one because it has an ash body, most are alder. This is beacuse I ordered it in "Sunset Orange Transperent" finish (BEAUTIFULL!!!) and that is what wood they use for this finish. Flawless, my guitar dealer set it up for me plays like a dream

Fender Precision basses last forever, I own another from 1962 and it looks like it has been through and atomic balst, but plays and sounds like it was new. Modern finishes are more durable than those from the 60s and 70s, so finish wear is no much of an issue, these basses are meant to be used and if its your thing, abused and keep playing.

Never had to deal with them, but I have heard horror stories. Better to get work done locally. This is better since Fender dealers are everywhere and they arent the most difficult basses to work on.

Fenders are sometimes overpriced for what they are in my opinion, but in the case of Precision basses they are worth every penny. The new US P-basses are realy only slightly different from the model made in the late '50s and are probobaly one the best all-around basses on the planet. I own another from 1962, Rickenbacker 4003 and Spector Euro bass. While the Rick is my favorite the P-basses are in VERY colse second. Will never let me down

Built 2004 in the USA. American series P-bass with a 2 piece alder body glued together exactly in the middle, nice wood selection you hardly can see the seam, flawless 3-tone sunburst. The neck is maple, also very nice looking wood with no deadspots, cool.I replaced the white pickguards with a 3 ply black fender pickguard an now it looks like a funky 70' P. The laquering is smooth and silklike, easy to play for my not too big hands. Fender strings mounted are ok, but not my favourites.
Classic split coil pickup with s1-switch (parallel/series).
Strings can be mounted either thru body (my choice) or conventional.
The bass came with a hardshell case, not as nice as the with the older fenders but ok.

Well, I play an open minded style of music with roots in Dub, Funk, Soul and experimental ethno jazz and I like a deep fat warm sound with good punch. Thats where this american series P-bass really works nice.
The s1-switch gives some variety with more hights and clarity if needed.
Of course no J-bass replica but a nice addition.
I like to play this bass on stage with Gallien-Krueger amps and various speaker setups, sounds, plays and feels good.
In a computer recording environment this P is really qiet, fine.
The s1- switch delivers an audible click whn engaged, but for me that is not a problem.

Flawless bass with a string/pickup setup that was not too carefully for my taste. I did a 20 minute adjustment and everything is ok now.

This is a P-bass, so don't worry.
Maybe the paint work will stain sometime and scratches will appear, but that is what we call vintage, right?

I ordered this bass via my local dealer in Germany and it took 2 month untill it was finally there.

I play electric bass since 1981 and i have had a lot of gear in my time.
I found out that simplicity and a good growling deep bass sound is all I need to perform my music.
This one american series P-bass I own right now is great and i hope it stays with me for a long time.

Mine was manufactured in 2004. Chrome red with black pickguard. Basic P-bass configuartion, 4-string passive pickups with S-1 switching that allows you to go from a P-bass sound to more of a Jazz basss sound by pushing in the top of the volume button. Mine has a maple neck. Again, basic but clasic set-up, less to get in the way but does not mean less sound. Has graphite reinforcing rods in neck.

Great sound, hey, its a Fender precision. Great lows, not muddy, when the S-1 switch is on, you can almost tweak a Jazz-bass sound from it, not exact though, but it helps with the mids and treble, more snap.
I play old-school hard rock (Sabbath, Deep Purple style) and this bass suits my needs 100% Would work for almost any setting though.

Set-up was good, very well finnished, no flaws, price does reflect quaility in this case.

Again, its a Fender P-bass, solid as hell, with my luck, it will outlast me

In my experience, Fender (the company) sucks to deal with. On the upside, since almost every music store has Fender products in some form or the other, its often simpler to have most work done localy. Sending it out in my opinion should be done only if its warranty work that the store cant handle themselves, ect. I had some minor quality problems a few years ago on another Fender P-bass I had, I sent it to them, took months and they questioned me like I sabotaged the bass myself just for kicks or something.

Playing for 5 years, once was a drummer, gave it up simply due to the fact bass was less of a pain to transport!
Also own a Fender Geddy Lee jazz (my fave) Fender makes great products. There is a reason most pros (an those who can aford it) have at least one Fender in thier aresenal

1999 usa
20 fret
4 string
solid top
single volume, single tone
split coil precision humbucker
american standard series pickups
passive electronics
alder body, maple neck, rosewood fretboard
black polturethane finish
precision body
string through bridge
open geared deluxe style tuners, staggered height for tension
maple precision neck with graphite reinforcements, rosewood fretboard
no accesories

fits music style well (christian contemporary, hip hop, rap instrumentals)
through ampeg ba 112, hartke 1220 alumjinum cone combo, fender bxr 60
sterile quiet, humbucker pickups.
rich full warm sound
quite versatile, if manipulated correctly, seep mellow to growling aggressive
works great in studio and stage
like the warmth and fullness

obtained used in terrible condition (action, could you call it action?)
pickup height not suited for the condition it was it
condition was main problem, everything could be adjsuted, very adjustable bass, after 3 hour set-up and new strings, it is in flawless condition, aside form wear and tear from usage...based on current condtion, i will grade.

will withstand live playing
hardware will last
finish strong,. blemishes show on black though
solid strap buttons, prefer to get sraplocks however
very trustworty, grpahite reinforcements mean less warpage, does nto need to be adjusted often
never gig wihtout a back up

never dealt
self repairs pretty easy
waranty doesnt cover, not store bought

playing 3 years, own ampeg ba 112, shure mics, monster cables, korg tuners, hardware set-up kits (self composed)
did not buy
would get again, in different color or with maple neck or jaz bass version
love sound and quality, i hate mucus, favorite feature string through bride and staggered tuners
yes, mexican version, prefer sounda nd quality of american
prefer maple neck and ash body
dream set: fender american jazz bass (2 tone ash body, maple fretboard) mesa/boogie walkabout (300 watts) aguilar 112 cabinet.

serial # on neck says it's a 2003. 20 frets. USA (WoooHoooo!) 4 string, ALDER body. Vol. & Tone knobs. P-Pickup (passive), of course. S-1 switching system is awesome. Jass to P and back at the push of a button. Very innovative. String thru bridge or body, really cool. open back tuners, smooth. nery nice fretwork. Comes with molded case. bare bones features, but the quality is way better than the foriegn models.

I Play blues, funk, rock, even a little black metal. Tone seems to work nicely for each application. I play thru Eden heads and Dr. Bass cabs. The sound is definitely p-bass. Warmth, low mids and growl abound. The tonal range is rather limited, which is why I chose this bass. I have several other instruments that are far more complex tonally, but the fundamental tone from a p-bass comes froms the wood. I don't have to try all kinds of funky e.q.'ing to get a good live sound that works with a band. I haven't recorded with it yet, but anticipate success in that endeavor.

I have heard that fender can be pretty sketchy in this area. I was pleasently surprised with a flawless instrument. Set up was beautiful, first bass I was ever able to play all day, right out of the box, without feeling inclined to make adjustments. Pickup height, all that stuff was perfect. very good job.

This bass is very nice. I have played live for many years on lesser instuments, I'm sure the fender can withstand live playing too (to answer a very stupid question from harmony central. What the hell is that supposed to mean?). This instrument has the nicest quality hardware I have ever seen on a fender offering, although I must admit I have never owned an american fender. Control knobs are not sloppy at all. Input jack is nice and tight. My "Sting" bass (damn joke) doesn't even compare. I will never buy a foreign fender again. Finish is very nice, deep and glossy. Neck has dual graphite reinforced stiffening rods. If that doesn't work for you, quit playing bass.

never dealt with them. Limited lifetime warranty.

been at it a looong time. I have acute G.A.S., so I own entirely too much stuff. I am thoroughly satisfied with this bass. If stolen, I would definitely replace. I chose this particular model because in the past, I have been ambivalent about fender necks. Now that they are reinforced with two stiffening rods, I feel they are among the finest available.

2003 American Series 4-string P-Bass with S-1 pickup switch (for series/parallel operation), American Standard P Bass passive pickups, volume and tone. String-through body. Graphite-reinforced "C" shape maple neck with rosewood fingerboard and adjustmant at the base, bolted on with four bolts. 3-color sunburst with white (shielded) pickguard (I've ordered a more colorful custom pickguard from Terrapin Guitars in Eugene, Oregon because the white looked too stark with this bass). Output jack is located on the front of the bass, which I don't care for, but it's not a big deal. Came with a molded case and generic user's guide.

Has that basic passive P Bass sound, which suits my classic rock roots just fine. It's probably not as versatile as some basses, but it nails the one sound it was designed to make, and a lot of variety can be achieved by differing playing style, fingers/pick, amp settings, etc. I use it with an Ampeg SVT-3 Pro amp and Ampeg Classic 4x10 cab (with extended low end), which is a wonderful combination for rock. Very deep and full, but not muddy. (The cabinet's horn is adjustable, too, for rock or funk, and the highs can really cut through.) The S-1 switch, located in the top of the bass' volume knob, is easy to engage when needed, and adds another useful tonal option. Reduces the output quite a bit, and produces a very bright, smooth tone quality, probably suited to certain types of jazz and maybe some funk passages. It would require a volume pedal or something if I wanted to switch frequently between pickup configurations, but I mainly use the standard sound so I'm not concerned about it. The electronics seem pretty quiet. I haven't recorded with it yet, but I just know it'll be great.

I raised the action and pickups a bit from the factory setup and I think the tone's a lot better that way. I like to play pretty hard sometimes, so this also helps to prevent string buzz, and the greater string tension allows better control. A small area of finish on the top of the guitar has some tiny paint specks; I don't care about those much, but it is a little sloppy. Otherwise, the finish, setup, rounded body (a little sleeker and lighter than the classic P bass), and hardware are all really nice.

I've only had this for a week.

No experience.

I'm a guitar player and have been fiddling around with bass for about four years, recording original rock songs in a computer DAW. I have two other basses: an American Hot-Rodded P-bass (which I've also reviewed on this site), and a Pedulla Rapture PJ. My favorite of the three so far is the Hot Rodded P Bass, which I've put flat wound strings on for the 60s sound. The Hot-Rodded has a PJ pickup config. for a tad more variety, and it can growl a bit more than the regular P Bass, and gets a very cool "hollow/woody" sound that I can't really describe, but like a lot. I keep round wounds on the American Series P Bass for a more universal rock sound. I'm not a great player, but I'm very critical about sound quality. I like this bass much better than the American Deluxe I tried with active pickups (hopefully you can bypass the electronics!?), and I sold a Music Man Sterling because it wasn't recording as nicely as the Fenders do. Other basses I've tried are the Zon (graphite neck) and Pedulla Thunderbolt, both of which were cool but not as much to my liking as the good old P Bass. I've liked the way one of the more expensive Warwick basses sounded (not the Thumb bass), but I didn't like the way the neck felt. This P Bass plays really well; no problem getting around in fast passages. I wish I could be a little more negative here, but I really have nothing bad to say about this bass. In fact, it's perfect for me. Great price, too.

Bought this new in 2003, though it apparently sat in the warehouse for a while as the serial numma says it's 2000 model. which is rad for the following 2 reasons: brand new things make me uncomfortably afraid of breaking them, and it's in a white-blond finish, which was discontinued that year or the one after, i think. I dig the white big time. The body is ash and the neck is maple. It's got vol/vol/tone and one humbuckin pickup. It is very, very, very light, which I like because i can move around no problem, but it worries me because that makes me think that the wood may be a little bit soft. but we'll find out if it ever breaks in half. which, come on, would be pretty rad. It gets a 1 because 10 is clarified as meaning 'tons of features,' which this DON'T GOT.

I've long had an internal struggle between precision and jazz basses, but the p won out because it's so damn simple and effective. you can hear all of the notes no problem, and it's real fat sounding. it can sound very bright and sharp, or thumpy and warm. plus, with only 2 controls there's not much for me to mess with. the wood is definitely funny on this bass, it has a unique low mid range that is very pronounced, but it's exactly what i'm looking for.

Well, the knobs were loose and came off a lot, so i bought some all parts ones and those are fine. the jack is also sketchy, and if you push down on the cable when it's plugged in it cuts out, but nothing's perfect, and that's expected to happen, seeing as the people in the fender bass dept. are clearly on crack anyway. glad i got this before this lame s-1 switchy thing was invented.

as i said, there's the jack thing, and when that becomes a real issue i'll get it replaced, but aside from that it's a rock. very solid.

we'll find out when i call them.

I gave it some low scores, but i like the bass because i know that there aren't any silly doo-dads to worry about pooping out on me, and all the electronics are easily replaceable. it will have the sound i want no matter what i play it through. it also has a very useable sound, that will be good no matter what style of music my band plays. yaaaaaay. Should be about $300 less expensive, but hey, what are you gonna do?

Part of the popular American Series models, the American P-Bass had recently received an overhaul: this fine split-coil pickup-equipped bass guitar comes now shipped with an S-1 "Stealth" switch. This new feature allows the split-coil humbucker to be wired from series to parallel, producing a sharper, snappier, almost growling J-Bass tone!

The "Stealth" switch was basically a series/parallel pickup selector that creates a wider palette of sounds. The Precision Bass Plus of the '90s featured a similar one for splitting the Lace Sensor P-Bass pickup for getting a growler tone, almost similar to a J-Bass neck pickup. The S-1 works fine with Lace Sensors and other stock P or J-Bass pickups as well, although he was primarily designed to suit the American Series pickups.

No comment.

None!

Can't dealt with Fender yet for getting a particular customer support about these gorgeous instruments.

The American Series Precision and Jazz Basses combined the old with the new. From hand-rolled fingerboard edges and the detailed nut/fret work to the new custom-staggered pickups and the string-through-body bridge, these gorgeous basses now came factory-equipped with a genuine "Stealth" pickup switch for series/parallel pickup wiring, meaning there isn't necessary to switch instruments anymore. An additional configuration for the American P-Bass may be perhaps an extra Jazz pickup near the bridge with a third control knob for the bridge pickup's volume and a side-mount output jack socket (an optional top-mount jack can also be available as well): the new American Series P-Bass Special follows the steps of the now defunct Hot-Rodded American Series model, with its American Series P and J pickups and the popular S-1 switch which adds up about to 8 different pickup combinations and tonal shades, while an American Deluxe Bass bridge with milled stainless steel saddles allows two different string-mounting methods: string-through-body and top-load. They also include a good variety of six cool finishes to choose, from the attractive Butterscotch and the shiny Chrome Silver to the juicy Sunset Orange Transparent and the luscious Chrome Red. The American Series Basses also feature 3-ply parchment or b/w/b pickguards (depending the finish), while the Butterscotch models came factory-shipped with a 1-ply black anodized guard for getting that true 50's vibe.

This is a 2000 alder sunburst American P-Bass with a maple neck and a rosewood fretboard. It's fretted with 4 strings and passive, with one split humbucking pickup, a tone control, and a volume control. It is cool lookin. I put a black pickguard on it instead of the parchmenty yellowish one, and now it is badass. It is the nightrider of basses. I ordered a moving red light and it should arrive in about 2 weeks. I give it the 10 because it as as many features as it should have. Not too many and not too few.

The reason I bought this bass was the sound. It has the bestestest sound ever. I've had a few basses in my day (and it is a short day, i am fickle), and have been playing with a Jazz bass. And it sounded cool, and had a much wider range of sounds than this one. The only one I ever really used, though, was the 2-pickup growl (the other configurations were really of no use to me), and I just found that the sound wasn't there for me. The bass was too low, and the mids were too high. The low mid growl was nice, but it didn't cut through. To cut through I needed to boost the mids. The PRECISION, on the other hand has low mids up the wazoo. And it is not hard to get them out of the wazoo. Every amp I played it through gave much more bass and middle than the Jazz bass did. It has great highs as well - not quite as sharp as the Jazz, but very defined and tight. In short, I feel like a P-Bass supports the music more like I'd like a bass to. Not a lot of variety in the sound, but that is to not why I bought it.

I bought the bass used, so the action is a little high, so I'm going to have it set up for me soon, and the finish was a bit chipped in some places. The pickups are fine, and the finish, aside from the flaws put into it by the previous owner, is purty.

I assume that this is invincible, since Fenders are supposed to be.

N/A

It's a great bass for rock, punk, ska, blues, jazz, country, swing, polka, etc, etc... I recommend it.

I am reviewing a 2001 American P Bass with a classic sunburst finish, I purchased 6 months ago. I was looking for and found a bass that is very versatile. I play anything from classic rock "finger picking" too Blink 182 "pick" style music. I have found that this bass can handle it all. It has two controls "volume and tone", you would be amazed that with such a basic set up you could still get a wide range of tones from this bass. It came with a nice hard case, cheesy strap, some tools, and very nice to use strap locks.

As said above it suits my style perfectly. If you could only own one bass, thats me for now, this would be the one because of the versatility. It produces a very punchy rich tone. It also great for slap style bass. I am not real proficient at it so I use it more for just messing around. But the results are great. Right now I use it with a GK 400 RB amp and a Carvin 2X10 cab. When I play larger venues I sometimes add a Carvin 15 cab to the rig with great results. I have been testing out other cabs recently and might upgrade to the GK RBH 210 cab, but for the money the Carvin has been real good. So I guess the only reason I would change is just that thing that most musicians have about always tinkering with new stuff.

I would give an average rating for set-up from the factory. But it wasn't much of an ordeal to dial it in. In fact the guitar center I bought it at had a free set-up from a local guitar repair shop when you purchased it there. I didn't take them up on it, but for that alone it could have been perfect from the get go. All the finish and so on was perfect. When I purchased it they opened it brand new from the box. So I am the only person to play it. I wouldn't buy one that was sitting on the rack, a lot of those get played pretty regular by customers trying them out.

As far as reliability, I would say Fender and especially the P bass' are the best. It seems and feels like it is a tank. It is pretty heavy I guess is a slight complaint but I guess that is what playing a P Bass is all about. The hardware to me is first class, I have seen some of the Fender active bass' that I thought had some cheesy knobs, but on the P Bass they have solid chrome steel knobs that seem very rugged. The only bass I have seen better would probably be the knobs on the Music Man bass'. The strap locks are nice and seem like they are reliable, you do need to crank them on pretty hard to the strap to make sure the nut doesn't get loose. I use this all the time without a backup, there really is not much to go wrong on it and nothing ever has. As far as finish it is only 6 months old but I haven't seen any thing to make me think I will have a problem with it.

Never had to deal with them, but the web-site is pretty cool.

If my bass was lost or stolen god forbid I would definitely buy another one. When I was shopping around I compared it to the Music Man sting ray. Though they are very nice I decided to go with the more basic P Bass, it was about $500 less and I didn't see the added value, besides the fact that the M.M. is has active pick ups. I also liked the action on the P Bass better. Especially the pick up area, I just like the feel when you rest your thump on the P Bass pickup. On the price of the P Bass, you will find a lot of the time Guitar Center will work with you on price. So be sure to ask if the listed price is their best deal. Most the time I have found they will work with you. Plus if you don't ask you never will know, the worst thing that can happen is they say no. My experience is they won't, especially with the economy they way it is.

This is a 2000 American Precision Bass, Made in the USA, maple neck, black finish, white pickguard. It has 1 volume knob, 1 tone knob, and 1 precision pickup. It is a very basic bass, and I was almost put off of it because of the lack of features.
Then I plugged it in and realized that more knobs don't necessarily mean more versitility of sound! The bass came with a nice hard case, strap, straplocks, cord, towel, and some tools.

I play reggae and rock - it can do 'em both. Very punchy and full with a pick and very smoothe with fingers. It's almost unbelievable how many different tones can be achieved by merely turning the knob and switching between fingers and picks. This is the only bass I have owned that can achieves range like this by doing so little. My Yamaha RBX has three "tone" control knobs and can't get the range of tone this bass can. It is just an all around above average sounding bass.

This bass is very well put together - an excellent neck, comfortable body, and quality finish. Very solid. Very easily adjusted too.

The factory setup wasn't great, but honestly folks, that may not be the factory's fault. If you've ever worked in the trucking industry, you'll know what I mean.

I have not used the bass live, but I can't see it being a problem. I use the simplist setup known to mankind - bass - amp - PA. With a bass devoted to simplicity and an amp devoted to simplicity, there is less to go wrong.
I have used it for home recording - above average results. Every student who picks up this bass (some with only a few days of experience find it to be more comfortable and rewarding sounding compared to my two other basses and the two basses at our school.

I have this complaint, however - the knobs feel like they could be a problem in the future - they don't feel secure.

Haven't had to deal with them yet.

I feel the same way about Fender basses as I do about Fender guitars - it is worth owning one, even if you are not a big Fender fan. They are fairly well built at a good price, and they have good tone.There is always a song or two that only a Fender can do justice to. This is my favourite bass (and I've owned and played many). It has substance, sound and simplicity going for it.