- Sep 12, 2004
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- Disclosures
- Mesa Boogie, Tech 21, Taylor
This thread is more of an essay than a question since I now own both, and I bet I am not the only one.
For years now I have wanted 2 Precisions so I could put flats on one, but I put it off for a while. Well the bug finally got to me. I sold every bass I had besides my Moollon J 5 and played a lot of Pbasses. I made a thread on it and really enjoyed the whole process. On a side note, I had been buying basses in the $600ish or less dollar range to use as a backup. I had an Ernie Ball SUB which was pretty nice, but could not beat out any of the others in the studio, I had a Bacchus craft Jazz that was incredibly made, and I used on records, but didn't have the warmer vintage J tone I like. I also had an Ibanez Road Star II that was modded and was rather awesome, but I realized I was more of a straight Pbass guy and just needed tone and volume.
A month or so ago, I got a deal on a new AVRI 63 in olympic white. Posted pics in the AVRI thread. I immediately took to that bass. The tone, the feel of the neck, the straightness of it, low action, the look. Everything about it is perfect to me. I have played it about 30 hours a week since and love how it sounds when I record with it.
I realized that I could not get a Pbass without those vintage frets and that awesome neck. But I didn't want another pricey bass. I wanted something under $1k that I could put flats on and use as a second bass. I also wanted a maple neck since I already had rosewood. This seemed like a lot to ask for at a low price, so I put the need on hold. That is until I saw the Classic 50's Precision. Exactly what I was looking for. Plus you can find these things basically brand new for $600 or so. I found one in Fiesta Red, and pulled the trigger. So how does it measure up?
Well off the bat, the look of the bass is very cool. It's a unique color combo with the gold pickguard. Does it match the AVRI in looks? IMO, no. The AVRIs are stunning instruments and even without having real clay dots, the combo of the paint job and neck is just awesome. But the 50's still looks really good. In fact, I prefer it to the American Standards, which are more plain. The 50's has some real character to it.
Besides having a poly finish, I have to say the 50's feels fantastic in the hand. It is the same size neck as the AVRI and it is very fast due to the different finish. The neck is as good as the AVRI, in fact mine has a really cool subtle grain pattern near the upper frets that I think makes it look great. This neck also has some vintage tint, but it is not overdone. I have played and owned enough Fenders in my day, and if you handed me this bass and said it was $600, I would never believe it. The only sign of any lesser quality is the synthetic nut, which is still well made and not something I'm really in a rush to swap out.
The tone. I A/B'd this with my AVRI and I currently do not see the need to swap the pickup. Compared to the AVRI it has a little less richness in the mids and a little less growl, but it's a very good pickup. It has a little more in the highs and a little less in the mids. Just a different character but nothing I see myself changing.
Setup - easy. The bass came with a very straight neck. I maxxed the rod out just to see how it went, and I found myself needing turn it back to where it was because the backbow was perfect. With TI flats installed, it has very low action and plays itself without any choked notes. Intonation was dead easy. It is a Pbass, and setting them up is an enjoyable and painless process. With the flats on, it really delivers in tone. I switched back and forth between the two basses and they both are fantastic in mixes. Very inspiring tones, and they are both complimentary.
The verdict for me is that anyone who wants a vintage playing P would love these things. I can play the 50's and it does not feel like a step down from my AVRI. The quality is very very good for the price. Why is it so inexpensive in comparison? Well the craftmanship of the AVRI is exceptional. when I took the neck off of the 50's, I noticed extra screw holes in the pocket. It was not as flawless as an AVRI, but it has no effect on the bass. The tuners are also inferior to the AVRI, which has some of the best tuners on any bass I have owned. They are not awful by any means though, and I doubt I will swap them out. Also, the AVRI comes with an incredible case, lots of extra stuff in it and ashtray and pickup covers. The classic 50's comes in a modest gig bag, not a lot of case candy and no ashtrays. I dont care about any of that stuff, although the case for the AVRI is absolutely awesome.
The low down for me is that you simply can not go wrong with the Classic 50's P. It's that good for the price. If you can find one for less than $700, just get it. I know some people can not get on with the chunky necks, but I think it is the best neck in the game personally. While the AVRI is still my main player, I am convinced anyone who plays both basses will come away wanting to have one of each. And if you shop smart, you can make that happen for under $2,000 total.
Super impressed with Fender, and I am sure others who have owned both will chime in with their own thoughts as well.
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