Fender leak - American Vintage Series II is coming?

#762
Any concerns or worry they use a slab rosewood fretboard on these? I thought they were prone to warping? Unless I am thinking of a flat piece glued to a flat maple neck?

The QC issues time to time is expected. I've had a number of Fender's now and it varies all the time.
 
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#763
Rocknroller4 said:
Any concerns or worry they use a slab rosewood fretboard on these? I thought they were prone to warping? Unless I am thinking of a flat piece glued to a flat maple neck?

The QC issues time to time is expected. I've had a number of Fender's now and it varies all the time.
Click to expand...

So far so good. My AVII 60s Precision has a very stable neck, stays in tune just as good as my graphite reinforced necks.
 
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#765
Rocknroller4 said:
Any concerns or worry they use a slab rosewood fretboard on these? I thought they were prone to warping? Unless I am thinking of a flat piece glued to a flat maple neck?

The QC issues time to time is expected. I've had a number of Fender's now and it varies all the time.
Click to expand...

Are you referring to the 60’s P-Bass?
‘54 P is ONE PIECE maple neck and ‘66 Jazz is Round Laminated (Veneer) not Slab
 
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#767
I purchased an American Vintage II 60 Precision about a month ago, and I've been thoroughly impressed. The store had a few Custom Shops from the late '50s, but I didn't like the soft V neck, so I went with the AVII 60.

A couple of days ago, the store called to tell me they received a '63 Custom Shop. I went in to try it and was disappointed — there's no way the '63 Custom Shop was worth three times the AVII 60. The usual Fender dead spot (D on the G string) was even way, way worse on the CS than on the AVII 60!
 
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#768
Just Wrong said:
I purchased an American Vintage II 60 Precision about a month ago, and I've been thoroughly impressed. The store had a few Custom Shops from the late '50s, but I didn't like the soft V neck, so I went with the AVII 60.

A couple of days ago, the store called to tell me they received a '63 Custom Shop. I went in to try it and was disappointed — there's no way the '63 Custom Shop was worth three times the AVII 60. The usual Fender dead spot (D on the G string) was even way, way worse on the CS than on the AVII 60!
Click to expand...

Funny, because after months of wait, I finally got to try an AVII P 60 the other day, and my impressions were quite similar!

It was a sunburst, lightweight and absolutely impeccable finished specimen. Just like any former AV or AO I've tried, honestly.
Felt very "alive" and responsive. And I'd probably have walked away with it if it wasn't for 2 things, both of them totally subjective:
1. Neck profile. Unlike you, I don't like the "oval C" at all (not the specific neck of this bass, but this profile, in general). I much prefer thicker profiles: wide and flat I dislike. Although this on the AVII 60 didn't feel really wide, just too flat (for my taste. Again: the neck was awesomely finished).

2. Pickup. The bass sounded quite warm, even with the fresh stock roundwounds. However, tone rolled off felt weak: like it lacked presence.
Not muffled ("choked"), but like distant (and not wooly nor a bit honky either, which is something I really look for).
Again, this is totally on me. And also quite hard to put down in words.

On the other hand, this AVII 60 had all the classic dead spots... spot on :roflmao:. In my experience with Fender neck designs (MusicMans, G&L, copies..., Fretted and fretless), it's more of a lottery: I've seen all the dead spots from Squiers to Custom Shops, and then some basses up or down the line with less (but always some). Of all the basses I've owned, my beater MIM is the one with less dead spots. And is also my cheapest. Go figure.

That store had also a Custom Shop 64 P with Journeyman relic. Neck profile was pretty similar, but overall the whole bass felt like a toy (and a cheap one, although it costed like 2,5x more). So yep, really disappointed (or happy for the AV line).
I must say, thou, that the pickups on that CS were on another level. They blew me away. It was probably one of the best sounding basses and yet one of the less comfortable and inspiring I've ever played.

Hope this can help someone somehow :thumbsup:
 
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#769
Hillbilly Sam said:
Funny, because after months of wait, I finally got to try an AVII P 60 the other day, and my impressions were quite similar!

It was a sunburst, lightweight and absolutely impeccable finished specimen. Just like any former AV or AO I've tried, honestly.
Felt very "alive" and responsive. And I'd probably have walked away with it if it wasn't for 2 things, both of them totally subjective:
1. Neck profile. Unlike you, I don't like the "oval C" at all (not the specific neck of this bass, but this profile, in general). I much prefer thicker profiles: wide and flat I dislike. Although this on the AVII 60 didn't feel really wide, just too flat (for my taste. Again: the neck was awesomely finished).

2. Pickup. The bass sounded quite warm, even with the fresh stock roundwounds. However, tone rolled off felt weak: like it lacked presence.
Not muffled ("choked"), but like distant (and not wooly nor a bit honky either, which is something I really look for).
Again, this is totally on me. And also quite hard to put down in words.

On the other hand, this AVII 60 had all the classic dead spots... spot on :roflmao:. In my experience with Fender neck designs (MusicMans, G&L, copies..., Fretted and fretless), it's more of a lottery: I've seen all the dead spots from Squiers to Custom Shops, and then some basses up or down the line with less (but always some). Of all the basses I've owned, my beater MIM is the one with less dead spots. And is also my cheapest. Go figure.

That store had also a Custom Shop 64 P with Journeyman relic. Neck profile was pretty similar, but overall the whole bass felt like a toy (and a cheap one, although it costed like 2,5x more). So yep, really disappointed (or happy for the AV line).
I must say, thou, that the pickups on that CS were on another level. They blew me away. It was probably one of the best sounding basses and yet one of the less comfortable and inspiring I've ever played.

Hope this can help someone somehow :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Agree about the AVII P 60 tone. It’s less hot than the Am Original P. Gathered this from Empire Music’s demos and Fender. I got a good deal on one tho and will check it out in the next week and let you know. Have yet to play one.
 
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#770
Well it arrived last week. Only had it for a day. I just didn't care for the neck profile. Too slim front to back and the oval shape was a tad uncomfortable. The Am Pro II series neck is much better IMO. The finish on the body was also a bit weird and pixelated? It looked like a cheaper Squire paint job. So for that price just didn't justify keeping it. Sounded great tho.
 
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#772
Hillbilly Sam said:
Funny, because after months of wait, I finally got to try an AVII P 60 the other day, and my impressions were quite similar!

It was a sunburst, lightweight and absolutely impeccable finished specimen. Just like any former AV or AO I've tried, honestly.
Felt very "alive" and responsive. And I'd probably have walked away with it if it wasn't for 2 things, both of them totally subjective:
1. Neck profile. Unlike you, I don't like the "oval C" at all (not the specific neck of this bass, but this profile, in general). I much prefer thicker profiles: wide and flat I dislike. Although this on the AVII 60 didn't feel really wide, just too flat (for my taste. Again: the neck was awesomely finished).

2. Pickup. The bass sounded quite warm, even with the fresh stock roundwounds. However, tone rolled off felt weak: like it lacked presence.
Not muffled ("choked"), but like distant (and not wooly nor a bit honky either, which is something I really look for).
Again, this is totally on me. And also quite hard to put down in words.

On the other hand, this AVII 60 had all the classic dead spots... spot on :roflmao:. In my experience with Fender neck designs (MusicMans, G&L, copies..., Fretted and fretless), it's more of a lottery: I've seen all the dead spots from Squiers to Custom Shops, and then some basses up or down the line with less (but always some). Of all the basses I've owned, my beater MIM is the one with less dead spots. And is also my cheapest. Go figure.

That store had also a Custom Shop 64 P with Journeyman relic. Neck profile was pretty similar, but overall the whole bass felt like a toy (and a cheap one, although it costed like 2,5x more). So yep, really disappointed (or happy for the AV line).
I must say, thou, that the pickups on that CS were on another level. They blew me away. It was probably one of the best sounding basses and yet one of the less comfortable and inspiring I've ever played.

Hope this can help someone somehow :thumbsup:
Click to expand...


I have some preCBS to Vintage basses
and U know what?
all the real vintage fender pick up is not hot like AM Pro or AMPro ll.
AVRI gets my job done w/o MD and Da Artists noticing
.
I won’t take the real vintage basses on tour any more.

60’s AVRI ll is better for using EFX because the pickups are not too hot.
If I use hot pickup basses through FX:
Like Comp,Octaver,overdrive,etc.
It clips and distorts and the FX won’t sound as good,due to the low headroom.
And kind a hard to get a clean FX signal(Chorus,Phaser,Flange,Reverb,Delay)
I prefer AVRI basses Over AM Standard or AM
Professional for the real fender tone.
The real vintage fenders doesn’t have real hot pickups to begin with,
and that is the reason why old fenders sound great in any situations and the sole reason why it records really well.

I can always dial more volume from a good amp any way so I don’t need hot pick ups,what I need is Alnico 5 with tone for days!

That’s My 2cents…..

here’s my Sunburst axes^_^

IMG_0194.jpeg
 
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#773
Jinobass1 said:
I have some preCBS to Vintage basses
and U know what?
all the real vintage fender pick up is not hot like AM Pro or AMPro ll.
AVRI gets my job done w/o MD and Da Artists noticing
.
I won’t take the real vintage basses on tour any more.

60’s AVRI ll is better for using EFX because the pickups are not too hot.
If I use hot pickup basses through FX:
Like Comp,Octaver,overdrive,etc.
It clips and distorts and the FX won’t sound as good,due to the low headroom.
And kind a hard to get a clean FX signal(Chorus,Phaser,Flange,Reverb,Delay)
I prefer AVRI basses Over AM Standard or AM
Professional for the real fender tone.
The real vintage fenders doesn’t have real hot pickups to begin with,
and that is the reason why old fenders sound great in any situations and the sole reason why it records really well.

I can always dial more volume from a good amp any way so I don’t need hot pick ups,what I need is Alnico 5 with tone for days!

That’s My 2cents…..

here’s my Sunburst axes^_^

View attachment 5153369
Click to expand...
Totally agree with that! I'm into vintage sounding Fenders as well. My "criticism" to the AV II 60s PB pickup wasn't due to its lack of hotness at all! In fact, I very much dislike hot pickups.
I was only commenting my experience based on my personal taste: I didn't fell in love with it. That's the bottomline.
I think it's better than the former Pure Vintage 63 PB pickup that came with the AOs (that one was much hotter voiced, and still called "vintage" by Fender...).
And this is the thing: I don't think the Fender pure vintage pickups are vintage sounding... I think they're a modern take on a vintage sound PB. Like CS handwounds, etc. And some I like them better than others. And all of them I find closer to "vintage" than the Am Pros, etc. Ofc I agree with you on that!
Also, they pair better with effects: that's my experience too, definitely!

And, at the end of the day, I don't really care about "vintage". I just care for the sound I like.
My 0.02$ too;)
And thanks for posting your nice bursts:drool:

*Edit to add: we should specify which period of "vintage Fenders" are we talking about, because 70s are considered vintage, and one of their main differences vs the 60s or pre CBSs is that they went to hotter pickups. But I guess we're taking that for granted.
 
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#774
Hillbilly Sam said:
Totally agree with that! I'm into vintage sounding Fenders as well. My "criticism" to the AV II 60s PB pickup wasn't due to its lack of hotness at all! In fact, I very much dislike hot pickups.
I was only commenting my experience based on my personal taste: I didn't fell in love with it. That's the bottomline.
I think it's better than the former Pure Vintage 63 PB pickup that came with the AOs (that one was much hotter voiced, and still called "vintage" by Fender...).
And this is the thing: I don't think the Fender pure vintage pickups are vintage sounding... I think they're a modern take on a vintage sound PB. Like CS handwounds, etc. And some I like them better than others. And all of them I find closer to "vintage" than the Am Pros, etc. Ofc I agree with you on that!
Also, they pair better with effects: that's my experience too, definitely!

And, at the end of the day, I don't really care about "vintage". I just care for the sound I like.
My 0.02$ too;)
And thanks for posting your nice bursts:drool:

*Edit to add: we should specify which period of "vintage Fenders" are we talking about, because 70s are considered vintage, and one of their main differences vs the 60s or pre CBSs is that they went to hotter pickups. But I guess we're taking that for granted.
Click to expand...
Ok noted friend^_^
 
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#776
tvbop said:
And yet again we still dont have an early 70's P bass with the fat baseball bat neck, nice burst and tort..standard nut width.
Click to expand...
Yes I agree!
I hope fender’s next line of AVRI lll Pbass will have:
70’s(70-76) and
mid/late 60’s
(65〜69)P’s As well
 
#777
Timmah said:
Okay, not to resurrect a thread or anything, but I recently came across the AV II series and my gas light has unfortunately come on. I’m looking at the 66 Jazz particularly- can anyone tell me about the neck profile and weight? I’m a lefty, so there’s not much in the way of “try before you buy” here
Click to expand...


Grabbed the 66' jazz bass several months ago now and have to say its a fantastic bass! Neck profile isn't what I expected of a "U shape" profile. Played a 70's "U shape" and was nothing like this. Definitely feels more like a slim C shaped profile similar to the AM Pro II. Currently have it strung with TI flats and had D 'Addario nickels on it and both sounded fantastic.
 
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#779
BassplyrMH said:
Grabbed the 66' jazz bass several months ago now and have to say its a fantastic bass! Neck profile isn't what I expected of a "U shape" profile. Played a 70's "U shape" and was nothing like this. Definitely feels more like a slim C shaped profile similar to the AM Pro II. Currently have it strung with TI flats and had D 'Addario nickels on it and both sounded fantastic.
Click to expand...
Congratulations! Yes the neck profile u mentioned is spot on!
 
#780
Sorry to resurrect this post but as it is kind of the official thread about these basses there I go.

My seafoam green jazz is coming and I want to replace the pickguard with a mint white one, anyone who successfully did it? I'm not sure about which one would fit.

I've seen this one

005-4081-000 WD USA Pickguard for Fender Jazz Bass '62 RI 3-ply Mint Pickguard Thumbrest Hole | Reverb

Any idea if that would fit? Or what I should be looking for? I have to order it from USA to Europe so with the shipping costs would be around 90€, that's some money and I don't want to lose it.

Thank you
 
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