Fender Precision Bass Lyte

NOT SURE OF THE YEAR BOUGHT IT USED FENDER P BASS LYTE W/AGUILAR OBP-3 AND SEYMOUR DUNCAM BASSLINES, 22 FRETS,CHARCOAL GREY METALLIC,V/V/B/M/T MID SCOOP SWITCH, 18 VOLT,P/J,

I don't know what the stock pups sound like as I bought this bass hotrodded and let me tell you it will bark and bite.I have several high end basses and this will keep up with them no problem! Can get sounds that will enhance any musical style.Nice and light as these have a smaller body than a standard precision bass. Neck feels good in your hands and is very fast. Heavy duty hardware make for days of sustain!

The neck is a stright and solid piece almost jazz bass like ( I have a jazz bass w/EMG's and a badass,diecast tuners,a brass nut) and has the skunk stripe down the back. Finish is beautiful in metallic grey. Gold hardware makes the bass shine and the hardware is very heavy duty. No rattles or weird vibrations at all!

This bass was bought used so I don't know what it went through before me but I got this for under 3 hundo and I will never sell it as I use it live and it is so thunderous I usually have to turn down the bass control on it!Classic sound abounds on this supreme playing machine and from jazz to funk to rock to metal, it can cover any tones or sounds you could possibly want from a live gigging machine!I use this along with an Ampeg SVT-4 Pro and an 8-10 SVT speaker cab. I really love the way the round wound strings sound on this bass and the strings last a long time with the active pre as you are always able to coaks more sound out of them!

No issues as I have not had problems at all with this funky little monkey!

I have been playing for 28 years and still try to learn more every day! I have a 5 string Elrick gold,a warwick rockbass 5,a Hamer cruise 5,a BC Rich Warlock 5 , a Pendragon 5, a Fender jazz bass V deluxe with all new hardware and neck( American J bass clone )an SX jazz bass V,a mexican jazz bass 4 w/EMG's, badass,brass nut, schaller tuners,A squire P bass special w/ a bart pre and pups+ D-tuner,a Peavey Axcelerator 4,a DeArmond P/J active bass, and a Hagstrom Coronado from '63 believe. I play through an Ampeg SVT-4 Pro and an 8-10" Svt cab 1200 watts at 4 ohm bridged.

1991 or so P-Bass Lyte. A little unusual (it would seem) as it is passive. V-V-T controls, nice gold bridge and tuners, very well constructed, everything still works as it should. Nicely finished in two-tone sunburst. Quick neck, but not any thinner than a typical jazz bass, IMO. As nice a MIJ bass as any of my others.

Sounds good, but I would agree the stock P/U's are a little thin. I upgraded to Bart's, which sound much better. It still can't get that down and nasty sound of a real good P-Bass, tho. However, it does sound like a very good jazz bass, which this is in all reality, a nice jazz bass (with a split coil at the neck).

Outstanding, typical Japanese quality. I am a true believer of (most) all things from Fender Japan. The action is a little high, which will have to be adjusted, so a point off for me having to re-cut the nut.

Everything works as it should, and still looks great doing it. Nice bass.

N/A

I wanted one of these, as I am shedding most all of my heavy basses to help my old aching back. This one is definitely light. Doesn't get the real low down tone of a good P-bass, but it is as good as any jazz bass I have played, maybe better--especially with the Bart's. I would highly recommend a P/U upgrade. As long as this is thought of as more of a jazz bass, I doubt you will be disappointed. If you want the P-bass whump, this won't get it. If you want a lite and quick playing bass that sounds like a good jazz should, this is for you.

This bass has all the features one could ever want in this price range. Its a real bargain if you can find one.

I can't say enough about the versitility of the sound from this thing. Over the years I've played everything from classical to hip hop to death metal to Stanley Jordan-like (not as good as him but I try) one man shows and this thing always comes through for me. My live set-up is pretty basic, just a Harke 3500 amp and 4 10in cabnet, as I try to use technique to attain my sound rather than effects. I have to admit that I like a tight sound with a good amount of treble which is not what alot of people are looking for. The slap and pop sounds you can achieve with this bass are great. However if you want to get a fat bottom its possible, it just not its main attribute. I've played a lot of other basses over the years and I'm not going to pretend that this bass stacks up favorably to high end basses like Warwicks or Wariors, but for $700 new with a hard case its an outstanding buy.

I'm pretty picky when it comes to purchasing insturments new so I looked around quite a bit before I bought this bass. I always buy from dealers so I can play and "test" the insturment by shaking it, checking for buzzes in the neck, pulling on knobs, etc.. before I buy. This bass was solid when I bought it and remains so today. Fit and finish were excelent, especially for a jappanees guitar. The only mod I made was to lower the strings after I bought it, and that was a pretty easy procedure since it didn't effect the intonation at all when I did it.

I have owned mine for 10 years now using it almost exclusively as my giging insturment and I can honestly say that the thing has never given me any problems whatsoever. I have been reasonably rough on it (banging the headstock, pounding on the body like a drunken idiot at shows, etc...) and the fit and finish are still in imaculate condition--no scratches or dents anywhere. Mine has a grey metal-flake finish and it seems almost indestructable. I own a lot of insturments (all of which are much much more expensive than this bass) and none of them have faired as well. Even the gold hardware hasn't tarnished and I have never cleaned it. I have a Less Paul and its gold looks like crap after two months if not cared for. Additionally, none of the electronics have given me any problems. The pots are still quiet, the jack stayes tight. I know these sound like little things but I can't believe how many "high end" insturments don't even have these attributes.

I'm rating it as an eight because like I said before it really doesn't compare in sound to a lot of much more expensive basses. Really though it like compairing apples to oranges because of the price differential. If your looking for a bass in the seven or eight hundred dollar range this bass is deffinetly a solid 10. Especially since it can probablly be had much cheaper than that used if you can find one.
If this bass were lost or stolen I can't say that I would buy another one simply because I've become a bit of a snob over the years and spend my money on stuff that one-ups what I have or fills a void in my collection as far as a unique sound is concerned. However, if you are a beginer or want a solid bass to gig with (I still use mine in this capacity) I highly recomend it.

I bought mine in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, so shipping, duty and local greed were all ad-ons

Purchased in 1999, probably made a year or two before

Made in Japan, Jazz and Precision combo active pick ups, 22 fret, 5 controls (p/u pot, bass boost, treble boost, EQ boost, vol), Gotoh tuners, etc. The standard model I guess. Rosewood neck, natural wood finish, gold plated hardware - it's a classy yet sexy looking bass. That wood inlay strip down the middle of the neck is like the seam downa pair of ladies stockings (hubba!).

I play in a grunge/metal/rock/punk band in Saigon and the P-Lyte can cover every sound and tone requirement I have. You can range it from soft and dep to absolute twangy depending on your needs. I combine it with a Boss Bass Overdrive on several songs, and this bass has a big growl. Because we rent the sound systems for each gig, the bass system varies all the time, but it's been pretty easy to compensate for this with the wide variety of settings on the bass.

It could use a bit more "heavy bottom", but then it would weigh 500% more than it does, and it wouldn't be the same great bass. (Heavier guage strings could help here - if they were only available in Vietnam). The bass boost also makes the bass sound "bassier" than it's small, light body looks.

This has the fastest and sexiest neck I've ever played (40 years' worth). It has a thinner, Jazz bass neck for faster action and combined with it's incrededibly low weight, this bass can be played effortlessly for hours. And it has a hand rubbed (vs. varnish) finished which adds to its speed and playability. IT FEELS SO GOOD TO PLAY.

I bought mine new so and the factory set up was eminently playable. After about 6 months of really learning about my bass, I then started some minor tweaking with the bridge and truss rod to find my own sweet spot. This is all very easy to do with the factory hardware.

I get a bit animated on stage so it has its fair share of bruises, nicks, etc., but that's true of any natural wood solid body.

The Gotoh tuners are spectacular. They hold in tune for ages, and provide a smooth, constant, and even turning spectrum (in other words, what you feel with your fingers on the tuner is exactly what you see on your electronic tuner).

This bass has held up well over the past 6 years and I never had a breakdown. Just keep some spre 9 volt batteries just in case.

Never needed it and probably couldn';t get it anyway in Vietnam. Fortunately with the durability of this bass, servicing doesn't seem to be an issue

I've been playing for 40 years (mostly Fenders), and the P-Lyte's light weight is a pure joy. Together with it's fast neck and action, wide range of sounds, and reliabilty, this is by far the best bass I've owned. If it were stolen, I'd kill because I think I have the only one in the country.

My only wish were if Fended had somehow been able to make it a bit heavier sounding without adding to it's physical weight.

My P-Lyte is a Japanese made 4-string model I bought new around 1990. Gold hardware with active electronics. Nice charcoal grey color.

When I bought this bass, I was focused on playing funk and learning how to play jazz. The active electronics allowed for some nice punch and the tone variations you could get from the combination of J and P pickups was cool. With little effort, I was usually able to get the tone and sounds I needed.

When I first got it, it played nicely, but a friend had his uncle check the set up. He did some very minor adjustments to lower the action just a touch. So little, I didn't really notice the difference. The finish 'was' nice and held up pretty good for years, except for a few dings and some small chips on the edges (15 years, oh what the heck). The gold hardware is worn through on the top corner of the bridge, but my hands sweat a lot, so that was expected. Still looks good.

A few years after I bought this bass, I focused on guitar and began taking lessons. I started using the bass for laying down back up tracks, one take wonders on the four track, and just to have one around in case anyone wanted to jam. Just about every time I pulled her outta the case she was in tune and has played beautifully without exception. The only thing I've done is change batteries in the pre-amp and strings.

Never needed them.

I've been playing Bass and Guitar on and off for about 25 years. Never professionally, but in many a backyard party and garage jam session. With this bass, I've never had a reason to even look for anything else over the past 15 years. I've had several offers to sell it, but my son will probably get it in the will.

Mines an early 90's made in Japan. 22 frets, 4 strings. Still has the fender active pickups. Tobacco sunburst color, looks and plays great, very versatile sound as I play a bit of everything. All hardware gold plated.

I play through a fender bxr300combo(15" speaker). Also use boss pedals, DS-1 distortion and a super phaser. This bass is so light you could play all night not a problem. Very versatile sound.

I've never touched the action, although some think it is too high but I like it as I play some slap. I've made small changes to pickup height but that is all. This is a really well finished bass and I have no plans to replace it.

Great for live gigs. Really well built and reliable. Gold plating is starting to wear off the neck plate, I've had it since new and it has been played heaps so it has done a good job to stay on this long. No backup required for gigging just spare batteries, strings and some tools for adjustment.

Never had a problem with it so no warranty issues.

I,ve played for 12 years and also own a Japanese fender tele. I have never found another bass which I would be happy with, so if it were stolen or lost I would have to find another the same. I looked at some others don't remember what they were. Chose the fender for its sound and also its weight, it is so light, lighter than the tele even.

i think this is an '88 or '89 made in Korea. 22 frets. 4 knobs (volume/high/low/pickup). Active pickups. Neck and body are much smaller than normal p-bass. Sunburst finish. i'm not sure about the tuners, but they make a tiny click when the string is in tune (they are not locking though).

I usually play this bass through a Kustom bass III, and kustom 15 speaker. Has some nice low sounds, but i play w/ a pick so i get a real nice punch too. This bass can sound like anything though. it goes from Jaco, to a victo wooten sound. i also can play gospel or punk w/ it.

I actually bought this bass at a pawn shop for $200 and whoever had it before me took really nice care of it. there was not a single scratch, and the action is perfect. I tend to like Korean and japanese electronics on fender basses a lot, and it is awesome.

I am a live perforemer (www.permanentdarling.com) and i gig w/ this all the time. it has endured soooo much of my poor caring. It has silver hardware, so unlike the gold, nothing will wear off easily. Finish on it is great. I have actually changed the strap buttons, to dunlop locking because i tend to get a lil wild on stage. I have a squier backup p-bass, only for the reason that if the string would break, i'd be screwed. The only thing that did come off is the top of the knobs has an f on it, and if clips off.

I wanted to get the f clips on the knobs, but they are very hard to get. they stopped maknig this bass in the early 90s and there is only one bass now that uses those knobs, so its about $15 to replace.
I bought this used so there is no warranty.

Pearl Red, Made in Japan... if I remeber correctly, I bought it new in 1988. 22 frets, gold hardware, rosewood board, headstock colour to match body. It's got 2 active pickups (P & J), both covered with a little gold Fender logo. Volume, treble, bass & blend controls. Always prefer a pick up switch, but that's the guitarist in me, I guess.

The necks lovely - I'd say it feels thinner, more like a Jazz bass than a Precision.

I was a foolish young thing when I bought this and hadn't appreciated the beauty of the Jazz bass design. I wanted a Fender but wanted a modern design, a flashy colour and no scratch plate...

I play 60s style stuff (Beatles, Dylan, Stones, etc.) When I used to gig this, I had an H&H VS100 amp and a 2X12 cab. You can get a great range of sounds using the controls - very flexible and very clear. I like making it growl...

I've used it extensively for home recording and in the studio a couple of times (I switched to lead guitar in the mid-90s). I love the sound of it, although I listened to our first studio recording a few weeks ago and was amazed how much brighter it sounded. On reflection, I concluded I hadn't changed the strings since then and that was 11 years ago. I promptly bought a new set and it's come alive again!

If I remember correctly, the action was a little high from the factory but at time I was right into fiddling with these things at the time so would have changed it anyway! haven't had to touch it since. The finish was pretty much flawless (it's Fender japan!), although has picked up a few scars on the way. The gold plated hardware is now quite heavily pitted, but I've had it 16 years... and it hasn't really worn away like you see on other gold hardware.

The light weight is brilliant - you can play this all day without killing yourself. Access to the dusty end is very good - the lower cutaway is shorter than most Fenders and are recessed.

I've played at least a hundred gigs on this guitar with no problems. Oh, tell a lie. It stopped working once at a sound check- no sound at all. I was totally panicing, then someone suggested changing the battery. Ah yes, the draw backs of active circuitary. Always remember a spare battery (or do as I did and nick one out of one of the guitarists pedals when he's at the bar...)

Never had a problem...

What can I say? I've had it for 16 years. In that time I've owned about a dozen guitars (OK, I've still got 8 of those...) and I've only ever had this bass. The neck is fantastic, it's light, it's easy to play, it never gives me any problems...

Not sure what I'd do if I lost it... would consider getting a Jazz instead a I've grown to love the design over the years, but I'd need to make sure I got a light one!

Mine is the same as the others BUT, i've got other electronics. I've got P/J emg electronics.

Now it's good. I play this guitar for 7 years now, and I got fed up with the sound. Especially after I've purchased an Music Man and a Jazzbass American DeLuxe.
I missed definition in sound, but with the other electronics it holds up surprisingly well next to the Music Man and Jazzbass. I still use it a lot on stage.

Everything was perfect, except for the output, i changed it to a goldplated one.

After 7 years it still feels (and looks) like a new one. I've never had to re-adjust the neck or something like that. One weaker point, the strap buttons, but every guitar has that problem... I never use it on a gig without a backup though, never that smart eej.

I have had my P-Lyte for about 2 years now.
-it is the 50th anniversary eddition
-it has 22 frets
-4 controls (volume, pickup selector, 2Xtone controls)
-Active P/J Pickups
-Thin Rosewood neck
-Pearl white finish

this bass has a beutiful sound! i play through an Ashdown MAG250 head and Ashdown Cab. this combination is amazing. i get a really nice warm bassy sound whcih is perfect for the type of music i play. i am playing rock n roll music with a slight hint of pop, funk and soul. i like the warm clean sounding basses and this bass delivers to the best quality.

i have played around with the contols, and this bass can produce a million different sounds. you can make it sound like anyones bass. if i hear a bassline with lots of treble for the slap bass, i can change the settings and play some funky slap bass. its so versitlie!

i cant think of anything that i dislike about this bass. its perfect for me!

I bought my bass second hand, but the person i bought it from was a heavy metal bassist and dint have much action going on so i had to higher that straight away. the only flaws in the finish are a few small marks in the laqcuer, where the previous owner used a plectrum too hard on it. i personally dont like using plectrums because i dont like the sound it produces. so my fingers dont make any more marks on the bass.

this bass is great on stage. through my amp i can feel the bass driving through my body whilst im on the stage. its brilliant. the only thing i worry about is if the battery is going to last the whole length of the gig. you just have to make sure you have a new battery in before every gig. this can be a pain at times, but its worth it.

the body is well protected and doesnt wear easily at all!

This is a very dependable bass. id put my life on the line for it and i never use a backup bass although i do have one!

N/A

I have been playing for about 3-4 years now and started off with a Dean edge-4 which i have customised and made into a fretless. i have tried a lot of basses out in shops, but the p-lyte is only my second bass. i didnt ask many question when i bought the bass because i wasnt to sure what i was talking bout back then, but i got lucky because theres nothing i wish i had asked. if it was stolen or lost, i would have to try and find it, but i have serched ont he net for these basses and they seem pretty rare, so i would probably have to get a Fender '75 jazz bass. i think the warm jazz sound would suit me better than a precision, plus i prefer the thinner necks on the jazz basses.

i love everything about this bass and hate nothing!

the erfect bass for me would be, the body and finish of the fender 75 jazz bass, with all the controls and sound of the p-lyte. infact i might consider doing that when i get a 75 jazz!

Active electronics. See other reviews for specifics.

I love this bass. The active electronics work really well to give a wide variety of workable sounds, from really punchy to low end wobble.

I bought it second hand for the bargain price of 60 quid! And from a guitar shop that should have known better.

I bought it second hand for the bargain price of 60 quid! And from a guitar shop that should have known better. Frankly, this bass looks like it's seen some action, beaten up, dropped and gigged to hell. It's still as solid as ever, despite it's light body.

The electronics did fail me once in the studio, but a quick resouldering done there and then resolved the issue in < 5 mins.

I have used this for gigging without a backup (although with strings and batteries + soldeing iron waiting in the wings), and never been let down.

Mine's a 22 fret 1991 pearlescent white with gold hardware. I'd intended buying a Jazz, but once I'd felt the difference in weight when I put the Lyte on I changed my mind - these things are much easier to gig with. The neck, too, is much closer to the Jazz than the Precision. In fact this bass has nothing to do with the P, so I don't know how they came up with the name.

I've played everything from punk to funk on this & always found a suitable sound. A jazzer friend of mine also loves it. I've played it through Trace Elliott & Laney 4x10s & now an Ampeg combo. It has a full, fat bottom end, good for rock, but also a good slap sound. This bass is a superb all rounder.

The factory set up wasn't bad. Only minor adjustments were necessary. But the best thing is that it's only needed setting up once since.

This bass has had mainly live use for 13 years. The bodywork has the dings you would expect from that, but nothing more than any other bass would have. The gold finish is also wearing, but again that's to be expected, and there is some oxidization on the bridge. I replaced the strap buttons with locking ones early on. Initially, I used a backup, but after a couple of years I stopped taking one, as the Lyte was so reliable. The only problem was remembering to take batteries for the active pickups. My only gripe was that when the battery ran out, the bass was unuseable. I solved this by getting a guitar tech friend to fit a passive/active switch, so at least I could get through a gig if the battery went flat.

Never had to deal with Fender

I have never even considered changing this bass, unlike all the guitars i've ever had. It looks good, plays good & sounds good...and it doesn't break your back!

Made sometime in the 90's in Japan. main volume knob and one for each pickup (P and J configuration) along with a tone knob. 22 frets, 4 strings. natural red flame top (rare apparently)and relatively thin neck. stays in tune and has great sustain. great for smaller players because its a little shorter than most fenders.

great with any musical style--this baby's a great starter all the way up to intermediate levels. i'm using some pretty low grade materials right now--SWR LA15 but it sounds great and crystal clear. has a great punch for normal and slap styles.

i had to do some minor adjustments to fit my style since i bought it used. keep in mind that since the neck on these things is higher up your action will be VERY high. if you like to slap, get ready to break a few high strings. finish is beautiful but fragile. if you're planning on being rough, don't get one with the flame finish.

hardware is great but once again, keep in mind that flame-top finishes are fragile. i bought mine with a small nick in the front but it hasn't grown or become worse because i keep it out of dramatic temperature differences. everything is solid and works well as long as you're careful.

bought used, no support.

I've been playing rock and jazz for four years and this was my second bass (of three). i like the precision lyte because it's comfortable with a thin neck and it's great for complicated, fast lines. if you're a little shorter than average (i'm 5'7") these are awesome because they're made a little smaller than most fenders. for the price, this bass is a beast.

1989-1990,I think they were only made as a Japanease-22 fret,4 string and were discontinued a few years back.All original hardware but I plan on replacing the pre-amp with a better quality one.
Mine is a metallic looking cherry red and has a few very minor scratches/dings all under a cm in size.
The finish has a very nice silky feel to it but compared to older fenders it is a bit plasticy.
Light,fast,vast sound range and a very unique feel make me love this bass.

Its big range of sound suits me well as I like playing anything but mainly jazz and funkish rock.
It does have a slight scratchy sound to it (maybe its my subconsciousness after seeing that rats nest/back cavity),
overall a good sound to me.

Action has been adjusted once in 5 years, truss rod never and pickups were seup just right when I bought it(private seller with plenty experiance).
That back/battery cavity is ridiculous and makes me want to vomit.
If the electronics were better(quality and workmanship) then this guitar would be heaven but if that were so I probably would'nt own it because that would kick up the price and anyways the electronics are replaceable...
The gold finish is starting to tarnish a bit on the saddle and a tiny amount on the machine heads.
Overall excellent for a 15 year old bass.

The Basswood body is a bit sketchy and does not stick up to abuse, finish looks like it will last another 15 years.
The only problem(is it?) would be a battery dieing on you but if you are that forgetful and are playing in a high risk situation I suggest you get a tattoo about active basses and 9v batteries.

I would REALLY hate to lose it.. and would search for another because of its uniqueness, I've heard there is a Squier that is similiar but i doubt the materials and sound are as good all in all Im very, very glad to have this bass it is my first and after 5 years of playing I still don't want another.I think of it as my reason for still playing as the range of sounds and the look never leaves me bored.

I don't know which year it was made.
It has been made in Japan.
22 frets
Still has got a great look, I think that he is about ten or 15 years old.

The sound is great, It is also very variable.
You can find your own sound in it.

It's got the bling bling looks, I love this Bass guitar.
It's really my favorite.
I've also have a Dean Razor, a Dean Q6 (six strings) an Acoustic Bass and also a starter bassguitar.
But the one I love most is the Fender Precision Lyte...

It has got great size, it's in fact pretty small and the neck is thin, you can play very fast on this guitar. Especially with the right strings..

Tha hardware is ok by me, never had any problems with it.
Only thing is that the battery runs out, but that's what you'll get with a active bass....

Never had any problems with my guitar, so I don't know anything to tell about that...

Other gear:
Ibanez 45 watts amplifier, also a Behringer (15 W) and a Peavey (15 W) that is broken..
Other guitars:
- Dean Edge Q6
- Dean Razor
- Motion Acoustic Bass
- Vantage Starter Bass

The Fender Precision Lyte is my absolute favorite.
The Weight +
The looks +
The sound +
The size +

I bought this bass s/h back in the 80's when I needed another bass while my Ricky 4001 was having some work done.
It's finised in sunburst with maple neck and gold hardware. Standard active electronics, made in Japan.

I've used this bass for playing most styles and find it fulfills my needs.It's been played through many different combos and always sounds good.There is a fine selection of sounds from this guitar which mean you don't really need to swap guitars too much on stage. I don't use any fx when on stage but do sometimes when recording.It has a sound of it's own so don't expect a light P-Bass, but having said that it is versitile.

When I bought it, it had a couple of nicks on it mainly the headstock but nothing much. The bass had bset up well before I got it so I didn't need to do much to it.It's a very fast playing bass with a narrow neck which helps.

This bass has been gigged a lot over the years and apart from the battery letting me down once, and that doesn't count has never let me down.I never needed a back up.
The gold hardware is starting to wear at the tail but that's to be expected on a near 20 year old guitar. All the electics still work well and I have not had to reset the neck up to now.

Never had to contact them.

I've 30 years of experience and have owned this example about 18 of them.It is easy to play, has a great range of sounds, is reliable, and lyte! Yes I'd have to get another one if I lost this, hope I don't though.

MIJ 1994 Ser # T007xxx
22 Frets
Fotoflame sunburst.
P & J Lace
Gold hardware
Finish excellent
neck pocket the tightest of any bass I've had
Beautiful neck
normal P-lyte

Not as ballsy as my Jazz Deluxe and of course my Precision, but then nothing is. However a very wide range of sounds are easily obtainable.
In that, it is far more versatile than my '72 P.

Action was terrible, but I did buy it unseen through online auction Trademe in New Zealand. The gold is worn a bit on the bridge, but that's to be expected on a 9 year old bass.

I took the bass to bits, cleaned and checked from end-to-end. Put it all back together again and threw some Thomasik-Infield Jazz Flats on it, pulled the neck into order and adjusted the bridge for playing height and intonation. This was the easiest Fender I've ever set up (I currently own 5 others). The action is a dream. I have a very light touch and use the lowest possible action, so this thing is fast!

I replaced the std strap buttons with gold Shallers as I do all my guitars. The finish has 3 small dints in it and the odd scratch in the body relief area from belts (the strap which came with it was set to full length, so I presume the previous owner played loe - I play mid). I gave it the Meguiers scratch removal treatment, then the full clean, polish & wax job and it looks great.
I never take a spare bass when I play and have never been let down, so yes, I do take it without a backup.

Had a Fender amp repaired under warranty this year. No problems at all. IMO, FMIC are a great company to deal with - they've always been completely helpful to me.

I've been playing in bands since 1961 and have owned pretty much everything. I prefer Fenders. If lost, I'd look for another. I loooove the weight, or lack therof. I love the playability. I love the versatility. IMO - well done Fender Japan.

Been playing for 40 years and have had a ton of gear, but this is one of the best basses i've owned. It's a 1991 japanese model with 22 frets and 4 strings. the first thing i changed was i went to my flat strings. Finish is a pearl white with gold hardware. I bought this at a used guitar store a couple of years ago in wisconsin, giged with it for for a year a had to pawn it.(not a good day) it sat in the pawn shop until a few days ago when i bought it back, a good day. its a pleasure to play, light and great sound.and no more back aches!

I play blues and can get the sound i want with out any effects.

I never had to mess with anything except for changing the strings. finish is great except for a few nicks i put in it, Hardware is still in like new condition. like i said it's finished in pearl white and changes color in different light, great looking.

I played this bass everyday, either at a gig or rehearsing the only problem was that i had to carry 9 volt batteries with me which it seemed to eat like crazy. i have to take it in to have the jack replaced, i stepped on the cord one night a pulled it, now i get a good crack if not careful.

never had to go in. will be taking in shortly for minor things to a independent shop

over the years I've had mostly fender guitars, but have also owned a yamaha,and a peavey, now i have a 1966 fender, 1986 ibanez and my fender lyte which is my favorite. i had to pawn it last year, got 150 dollars for it with a new case, bought it back just a few days ago for 175 dollars with the case. so 300 original purchase price plus the 25.. i feel i stole it back...

I love this thing. Mine was made in the late 90's. It has 22 frets on a thin rosewood jazz-style neck, active precision & jazz pickups. The body is shaped like a precision bass, and made of ash (I think), which makes it very light. The finish is beautiful, its Metallic Black (black with metal flake that sparkles in the light) and gold hardware. It has four knobs for volume, pan, bass boost and treble boost.

This bass is well suited to stage work. I play blues, rock & funk music. I play through a 400rb and a G-K 4x10 cabinet, and I've always been pleased with this setup. The instrument is sensitive and dynamic, it sounds great across the fretboard. I can get that phat dark sound (think Alice In Chains), a very bluesy sound (think Eric Clapton), and a light popping funk sound (think Red Hot Chili Peppers).

Of the three basses that I've owned (Mexican P-bass, Japanese Yamaha bass), this is my favorite. Action is great, its so easy to play. And the fit & finish have withstood three years of gigging. No loose gear, no noise in the electronics, no oxidized hardware, just easy playing. I still get compliments on its appearance.

This bass is rock solid. Its been my only gigging bass for three years now, and the only things I've had to maintain are the strings, battery & tighten the input jack once in a while. After three years, the finish has only minor scratches, and the pickup covers are worn from finger wear. I did put locking strap buttons on it, which has been a great upgrade. No more falling bass while you're jumping around stage.

Never dealt with them.

I love this bass. I've been playing for five years. If it were stolen, I'd definitely replace it. It sounds great, is easy to play. The best thing about it is its light weight. You don't feel like you need a back brace if you're on stage for 2 hours.

I believe this model was made in 1991. Has 24 frets. Flamed Maple top with bass wood body, sunburst finish. Has active electronics. Came with stock lace sensor p-bass and jazz pickups. Controls are volume, pickup mixer, bass, and treble. Over all good amount of features and much tone.

I think this bass could cover just about any kind of music style. The stock pickups were pretty good, but I just didn't feel like they had a full enough sound. The original jazz pickup was single coil and had a slight hum. The p-bass pickup was very good, but just lacked some fullness, I scrapped both of them for Dimarzios, now I'm very happy with this bass. Ever since I've replaced the pickups this bass really sings. The dimarzio p is excellent, it's got this deep full sound and really picks up any light finger tapping you do. The dimarzio jazz has a more treble sound to it, better suited for playing more punk sounding songs I think. Overall I'm very happy, I'm only using a fender BXR 200 and I'm quite impressed with the sound now.

I'm not sure how the bass was out of the factory. I had my regular guitar guy, Chuck, from Soundlogic in Madison set everything up for me and adjust the pickups. As usual he did an excellent job. The gold hardware on this as usual was starting to wear, very typical though for a very used guitar. The finish seems to have held up well, the only things wrong with it were dents from the previous user.

I'd say this bass will last, like most fenders it's built like a tank. The only diffence is this isn't like a brick, it's a light bass and is much easier to play than your typical jazz bass or p bass. These are a lot like the zone basses that are out now. Everything about these basses seems very solid, this bass looks like it took some abuse and has held up quite well, so if it would have been babied all a long, I'm sure it would still look perfect.

Never dealt with them

I've been playing for 8 years now. I have a regular p bass that feels like a brick, this is tons better. I'm always impressed by the quality of Japanese fenders, they just are made so well. If this were stolen I'd definitely buy another one, the feel alone of the bass was more than worth the money. Now that I've replaced the pickups I'd say this stacks up well against much pricier basses.

Mid 90's MIJ Sunburst finish. PJ configuration with active electronics. Gold hardware with P body and J neck (rosewood board).
No accessories. Changed out the standard push-on type strat knobs to gold P knobs because the stock knobs were coming apart and becoming very loose.

Playing rock, nu-metal, jazz, and funk. The sound of the stock Fender pickups was surprisingly good. The active eq allows me to dial in just about any sound I need. I have noticed no problems with hum or any other noise. It has a warm sound and I am happy using this bass at any type of event. The active electronics are another story. The active electronics cavity has no shielding and the wires are just thrown together. The shielding job was absolutely terrible. When I got this bass it would eat a 9 volt battery in around 5 hours. I took it to my tech and we had to end up changing the preamp out and now it is equipped with a Bartolini Pre. Much better sound and the battery actually lasts.

I purchased this bass used and it was set-up properly with very low action when I got it. The finish is a typical MIJ sunburst with noticeable dents, swirl marks, and chips in the body/finish. This does not affect the sound or playability at all. The gold hardware has no rust visible but is tarnished in numerous places. The bass is good looking but the finish could have been done a bit better with regards to the sunburst finish...but for the price it's ok by me. The gold Gotoh style tuners keep it in tune very well.

This bass is a killer. It has quickly become one of my favorite basses. It feels very comfortable and is extremely light. I have been playing bass for about 15 years and have currently around 9-10 basses depending on which day you find me. I was very skeptical about purchasing this bass used through the mail without playing it first. As soon as I got it in I saw the very visible finish/body damage marks it had but once I started playing it I absolutely feel in love with the feel. It's nice to be able to play a 2 hour set and not have sore shoulders when you're done...this thing is super light!

My tech had difficulty getting a preamp schematic from Fender for this bass. The support was friendly but could not provide the info we needed so we had to scrap the original preamp (no biggie because it was a total piece of junk) and replaced it with a Bart preamp. Much better sound now.

Overall, as I mentioned before, I have been playing bass for around 14-15 years. I own a few basses and generally keep all of the basses I purchase. I compare this bass to others I have namely being 70's model MIA P-basses and such. This bass is a joy to play and sounds wonderful. It's very light and gives me the best of both worlds in the P body and a J neck. I like the J neck because it's slimmer and this particular bass has a fast neck. I can play just about any type of style with it. I would be devastated if I lost this bass. I would attempt to immediately replace it.

this is a 1996 precision bass lyte. it has active p and j pick up's (runs on a 9v battery). 4 knobs: volume, bass, treble, and tone. it has 22 frets and gold hardware. it has a flamed quilted finish with a matching headstock. i added gold schaller strap locks (woohoo) because i would hate to drop this baby. This thing ways damn near nothing.

i play punk/emo and occasionally ska and jazz and this bass suits the styles well. this bass has a deep bassy tone which i love. i play it through a 2002 Peavey TNT 115. all an all this bass sounds amazing no matter what style your playing.

the neck is fast and skinny which makes the action that much better. my tone and volume knobs are kind of loose and the finish on the back has cracks running through it but that is because of its every day use and my unruly stage anticts.

This bass kicks ass no matter what. i have never ahd to make any adjustments besides changing the battery and changing the strings to Ernie Ball super slinky's. i have played countless gigs with it and have never needed to bring a backup.

never had to deal with fender.

ive been playing for 3 years. i own a 1986 westone spectrum 4 string which weighs about 20 pounds (the fender puts it to shame in anyway possible). I also own a fender 15 watt practice amp, johnson 66 watt, and a 200 watt peavey tnt 115s. i love this bass because it is just amazing. this baby will crush all the competitors and then come back for more. simply amazing.

This 4-stringer has a Rosewood fingerboard with 21 frets. In the electronics department it sports a P/J-pickup combination wired to an active preamp that shapes your tone via bass and treble (boost/cut), master volume and pickup pan controls. The bass has an ivory-white finish and quasi-gold hardware. The finished shows a small, but traceable, smear in the paint.

For the past eight years, I have used this bass in Latin Jazz, Blues, Bossa Nova, Salsa and even Country gigs. I have played this bass through SWR, Fender, Peavey, Hartke and countless other rigs. But despite the amp-cabinet configuration, the bass has always exhibited a pleasant glassy top with scooped mids and punchy bottom. The active preamp lets me dial in tones for just about every situation.
However, the instrument is not perfect. I noticed some variation in output from string to string. The problem was solved with a compression unit.

When I bought this bass, it was a set-up nightmare. The action was too high, due in part to poor truss rod adjustment, and the pickups were pretty uneven. Rather than tinker with it (like the previous owner) I took it to a guitar tech and got a set-up job that fixed all the problems. The finish on the instrument - other then the paint smear - is pretty good for a bass in this price range. The frets are even with no sharp our rough edges and the fingerboard is free of cracks and any visible damage. The only problem I have with the instrument is the placement of the battery in the preamp. The thing is jammed into the electronics separated only by a small piece of foam. I dread changing the thing for fear breaking a wire loose.

Like I mentioned before, I've played this thing for eight years and I have never had any problems with it. For many years, it was the only instrument I took to my gigs.

This is something that I can't really comment on. Why? Simply because I've never had the need to call on Fender.

The biggest advantage this bass has, aside from its versatile sound, is the weight. I own a 6-string Ibanez and after a couple of sets with it, it's a relief to sling the lightweight P-Lyte over my shoulder. The bass also has a good slap tone.

this is the best damn bass ive ever owned playing 6 years

sound? sound? with the digital pick up and a yorkville stack we were ratteling vender consessions right off their tabls

action...feels like the bass plays itself

well it has got the hell beat out of it but its still kickin hard...in fact i think this bass actually like the abuse

?...never delt up with this aspect

overall this bass has made my music carrer a walk in the park

Japaneser. I got one of the first-year runs. 1 P and 1 J p/u's. "Metallic Black" glossy (Black with gold glittery-type thingies mixed into the finish-looks extra cool with the gold-plated hardware). Basswood body and 3-pc maple (?) bolt-on neck which is T H I N and well finished (satin). Active electronics with Bass Boost/Cut, Treble Boost/Cut, Vol and p/u panner--all black "rubberized" and numbered. I assume that the p/u's are Fender-brand, single coil humbucking. Nice molded body with rounded horns and sides. very a-typical of the Fender P-Bass look. Fender finally got out of the 50's with this one! Toners are (as mentioned above) gold-plated as is the bridge and keys are smaller than the standard P-Bass style (another move out of the past) and are about the same size as Sperzel Locking Tuner keys. This bass also had a headstock overlay that matched the body. Made for a nice looking axe! Graphite (?) nut. Rosewood fretboard. Gold-plated retention plate on the neck heel that held the neck to the body. Strap buttons are also gold-plated. this was a NICE looking axe (did I say that already)?

I play Punk, Metal, Prog, Jazz, Rock. This Bass did the trick. I use a Carvin PB 300 with a 15" cab attached and/or jack into a PA depending on where/what/who/when/whatever. I used a Korg A4 and NightBass SE with this unit. It had a very shapable sound, never noisy. I could slap, tap, bang, crunch, pluck, pick, ANYTHING with this unit. This baby was my main weapon for YEARS. NEVER needed a backup. My only complaint about the tone was it could get REALLY tinny if you panned all the way to the J pickup at the bridge, which I NEVER did live or studio. I don;t know anyone who would do that anyhow.

Setup was fantastic. Action was great. Like I said earlier, the neck is thin and thus FAST. The neck finish NEVER help me up. I did do some adjustment of the P p/u's, but that's just me. I like to tweak. Never had to touch the J. One flaw that I did find was that the neck-joint came loose at the screws around 6 months after I began playing it. I tightened the screws and one of them did not stop! So if you own one of these, BE CAREFUL with these screws. I decided to bond threaded seats into retapped holes and use new bolts to fix this (like I said, I like to tweak). It did come out of tune a few times, but I just adjusted (once again) the tension on the tuners and vwah-lah!

Gigged this thing like a wet bitch. Never did me wrong. DU-RA-BUL. The finish did wear from above my "pluck zone" and would not buff out, even tho I tried to. Who knows, maybe the buffing wore it down! Not enuf to matter.

As stated earlier, F A S T neck!

Strap buttons were reliable and held it to me as needed.

I never really had to adjust the truss.

Never had a backup. Never needed one.

Never needed it. Never had it repaired. I'm pretty handy, so if shit happened, I fixed it. See above.

Been playing Bass for (GOD!) over 20 years. This was my fav bass. I had to <sniff, sniff> sell it <whimper> cuz I got po' in the mid 90's <sob!>. THAT HURT! (I did keep my Carvin Fretless 4 though--one of the few things I was allowed to keep after my dee-vorce). I want to get another one, but would rather have a 5-banger. Fender has not done this yet, but it doesn't matter; I have a '94 Warwick Fortress 4-str and my Carvin Fretless and these are enuf for now. If they DO come out with a 5-er, I would buy one in a heart-beat. (BTW, I make just a bit more money now!)

I LOVED the weight. This bass was a nice respite from the standard bass weights that I had been subjected to. This, the thin neck, the looks and the tone were what really got me. Basswood is the shit for weight. This made the head tip the bass down a bit, but that just gave me a reason to hang on to the neck!

For the price, you can't beat it. It rivals several of its higher-end counterparts. It's the sound of a Fender P/J without the heft. This puppy was lighter than my guitarist's Strat!

E-mail me if you want more opinions.