Fender American Standard Precision Bass

My p-bass is a 1974 fender p-bass made in the USA. Its got 21 frets and it use to have a volume and a tone knob. I took the tone knob off because I always run it rully open so I figure there was no need for it. Plus the origanl black pick guard is chipped where the jack is so it was either take the tone off or buy a new pick guard. I am a broke college student so I chose to remove the tone knob. The paint job is a sunburst but it is worn down to the wood in some areas. And on the bottom a small chunk is missing. I won't give it a super high rating for featurees because it's basic. That doesn't mean that I don't like what it does, because I love this bass.

I have never heard a better bass. I traded an 83 fender jazz bass and a G&L L2000 for this. I have also had a samick jazz bass, an OLP MM4 and an American 91 fender jazz bass. None of the basses I have owned have come close to sounding as good as this bass. I probably did get ripped off but I don't care this bass sounds amazing. I am currently using it with an Ampeg SVT III pro and a Goliath II 4 10. I also use to have an Ampeg 8 10 but I don't have a way to transport it so I sold it. I also have a digitech BNX 3 board. It has a really amazing bright and warm sound I have found that the D'addario strings are the best for this bass. I have always found that different strigs seem to suit different instruments. I can't complain about the sound and it is good for both live and studio.

The action is great, I like my string low and I can do that with this bass. For being just under 30 years of age and considering the wear on the body the neck is in great shape. It seems like a pretty thin neck for a p-bass and it is fast with a few minor dings but that is expected.

It's a fender what can I say. It's built like a tank and has and can take any amount of beating. I sold the rest of my basses so I would say I think this bass is reliable I couldn't ever see there being any problems with it.

Don't know this is way beyond warrentee

All in all i love this bass. I have never been so attached to a bass. I have been playing for 10 years and this bass jsut seems to play itself. If this bass was lost or stolen I would be very upset. I don't really see anyway to replace it because over its 30 life span it has had its own unique experiences which has had ahuge impact on the sound of this bass.

I don't know if mine is actually a "Standard" P-bass, so I just put it here - It says "Made in USA" and has N7 at the begining of the serial #, indicating 1997.

It has a solid "Chrome Red" body, but I don't know what kind of wood it is (it's probably Alder, but this bass is much heavier than my old Alder Yamaha). It has one split single coil pickup and a string-thru body bridge.

The neck is all Maple (with the slab-type Maple fretboard), has double graphite rod reinforcement, 22 frets and very nice, beefy open tuners.

I came with a molded hardshell case.

It suits my style perfectly - I suck. I bought it to put some low end on my guitar oriented solo projects, and don't know much about bass (so don't ask me about variety). I do know that it has warm/bright sound and, since it only has one pickup, there are less decisions and more music making. I'm using it through a Korg multi-effects box (PX3) and sending it right to my computer.

There is a gap in between the neck and the body (on both sides). I don't know how Fender basses where built before, but I also own a 2001 USA Strat in which the neck pocket is so tight, it's practically a set-neck (no gap whatsoever). It must just be cosmetic, because the bass still resonates like crazy.

I know there is a ton of tension on them, but the tuners make a bit of a grinding sound when I turn them.

Does this section pertain to Fender USA P-basses?

Excellent website - all the product info you would ever need. I've never delt with the company in person, but I can't imagine a huge company like Fender would be very attentive.

I've been playing bass for about 3 months. I have a couple of 6 strings I've been playing for a couple of years.

If it were lost I'd get the same, but maybe not in metallic red.

The simplicity is a great feature (for me). I also love Maple fretboard (it's not all dark and depressing like Rosewood) and the string-thru bridge, because it increases resonance and adds to the quality look/feel of the guitar. The tuners are super heavy-duty and look great. The imitation bone nut is sweet (hate plastic).

I much care for the cable jack facing straight forward.

1990, maple neck, two knobs, a switch, a button, a jack, two pickups. Classic pbj. I give it a five here not because of the simplicity but because the switch and the button are pretty noisy when touched.

It sounds like paul jackson, james jamerson. People call the sound "warm or "brown" but its much more complex than that. In the neck its full and flabby, but it still purrs in the bass and sings in the highs. In the bridge its slightly more biting and focused, but not as much as a jazz bass would be - I think this has to do with the neck size and body materials.

Looks real nice - something about fender headstocks that make you feel like a badass. I got it used, it needed a setup and the nut will need replacing eventually. The action on mine is pretty high, but I like it that way. The electronic switches were noisy, but I'm going to go in there and do something about it. The frets are still intact but the fretboard is showing some signs of chipping around the edges. I find the guitar is slightly unbalanced and pulls down, probably due to the oversized tuners, which look too cool to change out.

Its 12 years old, and all it needed was a truss rod tweak. Looks and feels like a tank, cuz all it is is a two-by-four with strings. The electronics are shaky though, prolly just one wire thats slightly loose.

never dealt with fender - you can find info about setting them up at the website though.

I play funk, jazz, fusion, gospel, R&B, hip hop on this beast. It is not just for rock. The main thing to think about before you buy it is whether you can deal with its beefed up neck and the substantial weight. Also you gotta consider this is an instrument for grooving, not showing off. The reason I like the huge nexk and higher action is prolly because it forces me to back off my technique and focus on laying it down.

all right. I finally have time to sit down and write about my "wife". She has been with me since college in 1984, and the bass is, by serial number, a 1983. It originally had a cherry burst finish and white pickguard, but I added Seymour Duncan actives in 1988. About four years ago, I had the incomparable luthier/tech John Carruthers in Venice, CA (who is, by the way, as much a gentleman to a hack like me, as I am sure he is to his other clients like Lee Ritenour) put on a MOTS pick guard and paint the bass a dark metallic blue from some paint I cajoled from a BMW repair shop (I read that Clapton did this with one of his Strats, so ever the unoriginal faddist. . .). It has a maple neck and fingerboard. I give it a 10 because it is loaded with the all features every P bass should have (knob heads - pay attention here): volume and tone. End of story.

the maple fretboard adds a touch of brightness, but I usually play with the tone on 3 (1 being panned to bass; 10 to treble) so we are talking some deep low tone. I play through a Mo Bass and Goliath III but can't wait to add a Son of Bertha 1x15 to the arsenal. The active pickups are really quiet, but not too boomy. They add a bit of mid-low and are active, so they come out a bit hotter than the stocks, as I recall. I have dead round wounds on it now that are definitely too light, but am thinking to changing to flats or halfs, so I can further capture the depth. This bass is so resonant unplugged (my own test as to how its fundamental will sound amped) that I often practice this way. It is warm, full and heavy with unbelievable unplugged sustain. All I can ask for.

well, let's see - since she is my wife. . .going back to the days of Genesis, The Jam, The Clash, and Bowie-lite when I bought this thing. . .I seem to recall Fender setting this up with the action higher than I have it now, and with a bit of buzz on one of the strings. Probably got knocked around by the Spicolis at GC in Hollywood before they sold it to me. However, I have since had it set up the way I like it, and it is just perfect. The details and workmanship were and are top notch. It actually came with a 30 watt Sidekick amp (that Fender was throwing in for free "while supplies lasted") and damn if I haven't used that thing on a session or two to warm up my sound. Amazing.

18 years and counting. All together now, "Longer than most marriages". It is just such a classic in every way, even with the tweaks I have added that may seem sacreligious to the purists. Warm, heavy, punchy, funky, I mean, what can I say that hasn't been said already. I feel that this bass is really starting to come into its own now - maybe it's how it sounds through better, higher end equipment. But it still sounds just beautiful through that cheap little sidekick amp, so it has to be the bass. It will outlive me, and I just hope that whoever I leave it to, hopefully my kids will have an interest, that they will come to know joy like the great joy I have had in discovering James Jamerson and Rocco Prestia bass lines on it. There simply is nothing like it.

never ever had to - Fender built a winner this time

She has been with me all over the world. Got me through lonely times, poor times, the Bar exam (thankfully only once). So much history and a truly special instrument. Enough gushing. You get the point. Whether it's a P Bass or whatever you buy, I hope you find that one axe that you value above all others. This is it for me, and probably always will be.

2001, Black w/black pickguard, maple neck, and all the other standard precision features.

I'm with the crowd on this one, great for low-end rumble. Played through a Mesa Bass 400 and Mesa 4x10 it sounds just awesome. I love Roger Waters sound and sure enough, this is exactly it.

Beautiful finish and excellent hardware.

Like the other person said, if there was a nuclear holocaust there would still be Fenders and cockroaches, however I think Keith Richards would still be around too.

It's a piece of art. It looks awesome and sounds awesome, what more could you want?

2001 American Standard P-Bass, black with rosewood fretboard. Same as all the other ones since 1950-whatever. Does have the strings through the body mind you, unlike most of its predecessors-this was a big selling point for me, as it distinguishes it from its lesser mexican made bretheren.

I was looking for that classic, P-bass sound, and I got it... I'd fallen in love with Music Man Stingray basses in my youth, and had persisted playing rock with one for 10 years until I finally broke down recognizing that it wasn't ideally suited for what I was doing. The P-bass is perfect for hard rock. Really, you don't need any more. It fills out the bottom, and with new strings through my vintage Ampeg V-4B, it gets that awesome, almost piano-like attack.

Action was set too high as standard, but with supplied truss rod tool, was easily rectified. Finish was really nice until I ruined it by wiping it with a brillo pad-yeah, I know, I'm a freakin' moron. Oh well, you learn. The rosewood fretboard is beautiful, and the neck is SOOO fast after my Music Man, which has a massive neck. I can't say enough about the neck. It really feels nice. It's nice and thin without being flimsy, thanks to the graphite reinforcement.

Yesterday at a drunken open-air show, my guitarist fell on me and the P-bass which bent the cord in the jack.. if this had happened with any other bass I've ever owned, the jack connection and pickguard would have snapped. I couldn't believe that the 3/4 inch jack had bent, but the bass was fine. I believe that if there were a nuclear holocaust, the only things that would survive would be cockroaches and Fender P-basses.

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I love it to death... I wish I hadn't so bone-headedly ruined the finish, but these things happen. I really can't play it enough. I bought it about 7 months ago now, and I still trot it around the house with me, just noodling on it at every opportunity. It makes me want to upgrade the rest of my gear to really do it justice... I lie awake at night dreaming of SVT heads. I held out for the longest time against breaking down and finally buying a P, believing them to be just too common and generic, but you know, when something is as common and popular as a P-bass, you have to know that there's something to it. I haven't ever regretted buying this bass for a second, and I will probably own it forever. This is value for money.

I have just treated myself to ANOTHER p-bass..2002 model usa made p-bass..4 string..single volume and tone controls..maple neck and white blonde almost translucent finish..the neck has the most beautiful silky finish i have ever felt..your hand just glides over the fretboard..it came in quality fender hardcase with tools and a strap ! this is a basic bass but i prefer basic quality any day to cheap nasty add-on's to mask a poor instrument.Just cant give it a 10 though as it is just enough....but a 9/10 for sure for being so good at what is was made for.

well you either love this sound or you dont....i hate puffed up, hissy electronics to spoil the resonance of the wood....this bass is stunning and its the fat unmistakeable tone of a p-bass..you have heard it on a million tunes and i love it....cuts through no problem..deep and powerful...not fantastic tonal variation but it was not designed for that...a good honest sound...it was good enough for James Jamerson !! and it does not hiss!!!!! you can get a bit of variety by picking or fingering at different points....up near the bridge for more hi's or down by the neck for a room shaker !

it came set up a touch high for me..but 2 mins later..was perfect...intonation was perfect..pickups too....the p-bass had no flaws ..the finish is lovely..and i never preferred the skinny jazz bass neck..this neck is awesome and very silky..feels great. all in all beatifully made and set up..not a blemish.

it does withstand live playing..and it has never let me down...built like a tank..solid and reassuring...always feels and sounds great..the finish is FENDER!!! built to last..can take the knocks..i can depend on it 100%..i always take a 2nd bass gigging in case of string breakage...and guess what..i take another p-bass

never had to..probably never will

i played guitar for 12 years...in a few different bands..then my mate lent me his rickenbacker bass when he went on holiday..it sat there for 3 days and i never touched it..but i did eventually and i have been playing bass now for 9 years !!! dont play guitar much any more..in this time i have played many basses..some real quality axes like a lovely warwick thumb ( superb) and a jd supernatural...plenty of fenders...i try out as many as i can..but nothing beats the american fenders...jazzes are ok..but too skinny for me...p-basses are it ! I play in a band where we perform many musical styles and 99% of the time..this is the best...the odd song requires a little more tonal change..but overall for reggae..some jazz...punk..rock..blues the usa p-bass is my choice....they look superb..are well built..sound thick and fat..the latest fender maple necks have a rolled edge for a broken in feel..and its SOOO silky...you will not be disappointed....just go and buy one !!...its a no-nonsense long lasting quality you dont get everyday.

2000 American Standard P Bass (purchased 2002), Black with white pickguard, rosewood fretboard. I would have gotten the 50th anniversary P bass, or the steve harris p bass, or a different color one, but being that I found out a little too late about he latest clearance price drop, this was the only one left.

I have many flavors and many basses, but I didnt have a decent P bass, other than my late 80's/early 90's korean squire II p bass which had been cut up, hacked at, drilled into, sanded off, frets ripped out etc... that was my first bass. Well this P bass is a different world in its own, a real one. When I first started taking bass seriously, it was all about the Jazz bass, then went to warwick's, now I have a P bass for the most basic rock tone too. Its not a good bass yo have as your only bass, unless you play strictly rock, from the old school, or are extremely dynamic in your playing, in which case, you can coax many sounds out of it

I had to tighten the truss rod and raise the action a little, and lwer the pickup. It had a few scratches from being in a mars showroom, and the nut doesent seem to bee all the way down in its slot, but it plays and sounds fine

Thit bass will probably get beat up over the years, ive had it a few days and have allready bumped it a few times, but thats what fenders are for, it will probably last forever, and the graphite reinforced neck will probably not need many adjustments, I have had an american jazz for 3 years and its been a tank, so this P should be too. For the band im in now, I usually play a jazz bass with flatwounds, but I just put some 1/2 rounds on this P bass, and will probably switch back and forth, playing the P bass on the more punky and heavier rock songs

lifetime warranty, but fender is hard to get ahold of

been playing bass for the last 5 years, but started playing guitar about 12 years ago, and got my first bass about 10 years ago (the now ripped up squier II, but I had taken the frets out of it shortly after I first got it). Currently I also own an Am Std Jazz (98), Geddy Lee Jazz, Tacoma Thundercheif acoustic bass, 98 Warwick FNA 5 string, 2000 Warwick FNA 5 string, and 2000 Warwick FNA 4 string, SWR bass 350 (redface), SWR GOliath III 4x10 and Son Of Bertha 15, SWR workingmans 10 combo amp. In Bass350 rack I use a korg tuner and AKG platinum UHF wireless.

If this P bass was stolen, it would be fairly easy to replace because fenders are fairly consistent, 1995 and newer would work fine

The American Standard Precision Bass was not designed to be an All-in-One guitar. It was designed to be a solid, quality, fat sounding bass. My parents bought me the (Alder) American Standard for Christmas, and the guitar came with a Hardshell Fender case & key, truss rod adjustment tool, polishing rag, specifications book, manual, and Fender's classic lifetime guarantee. I am in a progressive punk band, and this guitar and my Fender Bassman 100 easily keep up and blend in with my partners' Ibanez RGs. I would give this bass a 10 if i could in this category, but since it's a simple workhorse, I have to give it an eight.

I have the tone knob up all the way, and the Bass EQ on +15. Bassman users, try this! It is a warm, outlining, smooth sound! This is what I believe the bass was designed for; an instrument that outlines the main guitar with a warm tone and keeps the beat, I dont think it should sound like the bass of Mark Hoppus from blink-182,(as much as I like them) because the sound is like tuning a regular guitar down an octave. Even though that is what a bass is, it shouldn't sound like that. The P-bass can overwhelmingly satisfy my needs for tone. The hum-cancelling pickups are great, and sound a lot better than those active ones! A 10 for Fender here, folks!

I think the guitar had miniscule dent, on the upper side by the nut on the fret board. Need a microscope to see it, literally! Didn't affect my playing at all. I got the Metallic Blue/Green finish, and I love it! Looks great with the black pickups. I had to re-adjust the pickups so they were just sticking up from the guitar, because that lets the sound have room to vibrate a bit more, and not producing that clanky sound! 10 for the set up!

YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!

The bass will withstand getting stepped on by a 250 pound man! The hardware WILL last! The finish can be easily touched up with paint if scratched or chipped, but since I'm CAREFUL, it hasn't happened to me yet! The strap buttons are very durable and versatile; I went out and bought the straplocks right away, so it wouldn't fall off while I jump or anything, wouldn't want to ruin that! Yes, I can depend on it, that's what Fenders were built to do! Give you a durable, lasting, rugged guitar, but sacraficing the features. I wish i could give the P-bass a 15 in this category!

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I have been playing for nearly a year, and I have to say I am very good. I asked for this great guitar for Christmas, and sure enough I got it! I play this masterpiece through a Fender Bassman and a Rapco Int'l cable. I wish I asked before I bought this bass "Why is it so cheap?" because this is worth a lot more to me. If it were stolen, I would get another one. It wouldn't be the same, because this was from my parents on christmas, and that would have great meaning to me. Anyway, I would get another American Standard because it produces what I need, and puts it in a tank to output it. I dont hate anything. It could be a bit lighter though! It compares to other basses in this way: Nothing is in its league, except other Fenders!
I chose this bass because of its look, feel when I tested it, inviting price tag(for both me and parents), because my Ibanez broke down, and most of all, BECAUSE IT SAYS FENDER! Fender=Godliness. Look no further than Fender for your musical needs. If I could wish for anything to put on it, it would be a D-tuner, but the bridge is too far back to support one :(. THATS THE ONLY AFTERTHOUGHT! IT ISN"T HARD IN THE FIRST PLACE TO TUNE DOWN A WHOLE STEP! But anyway, it really isnt a flaw. It just would be a luxury to have the D-tuner. Otherwise, buy Fender. I love this Bass, and so will you.

Like any other post. Mine is black, rosewood fretboard yadda yadda yadda. It came with a case, straplocks, a strap and a bunch of other junk! Great features! The neck is great, as are the pickups which are completely noiseless!!!!!!!! All features are wonderful overall

Oh man this is where Fender shines! My first bass wasa Squier P-Bass Special. It was great, but I wanted something more. The day before I tried out for a band, my parents bought me this bass for my birthday. The sound on this thing was awesome! It was full and slappy with great sustain! It suits all my styles perfectly! I play Blink 182, to Iron maiden, to BB King to Slipknot and this thing rips!

AWWWWWWWWWW!!!! This thing kept up with me and took everything I could dish out! The finish is rich and shiny, as is the hardware! It was set up wonderfully for me, and was only a display model.

It's a Fender! What else can I say! It withstood live playing!

Ehhhhhhh lifetime warranty, I'm not a fender fan on customer service

This thing is great! I love my bass! I barely let the bass player in my band touch it! I am a guitarist in a little group, but nothing serious. I reall love bass! I love to play everything and this helps alot having a great bass! If any stole this its on my house insurance and I could get another one! hahaha! YES! Buy it, you won't regret it!