Fender American Standard P Bass 3-Tone SunburstMaple Fretboard

Comments about Fender American Standard P Bass:

Great bass...I'm a proud Fender bass player.
I recently purchased a Fender Precision Bass, Olympic White, Rosewood fret board...I love it. I've been playing bass for 45+ years, always had Fenders. I have Jazz basses as well but I particularly like the sound and tone of the Precision and use it as my primary gig bass. The sound and tone of the Precision cuts through the mix of the other band instruments and lays down a bottom that is disctinctive in it's tone and quality.
All my Fenders, and this one as well, is made well, looks great. I also have a black Precision with a maple fret board and a three jazz basses. Fenders are an excellent quality instrument. I've never had a problem with the tuning keys, the control knobs, or any other mechanical aspect of the bass.
The American made Fenders are not cheap. Fender value compares above basses of comparable construction and quality from other manufacturers, and many more expenssive basses. I am a Fender man, I've played basses from other manufactures but always go back to Fender.

Comments about Fender American Standard P Bass:

Stop reading this and get yours quickly!
I must tell you this bass has been my target since the first time that I had the chance to play one. From that moment I've been on a personal quest to find the right one. I am close to it, very close. But in the meantime I've bought maybe 5 different basses to fit my need of the American Standard Precision. None of them has what it takes to step in the shadows on the real one. I was discussing with my friend John Alberts at the Guitar Center in Summerlin, NV that this is something amazing and misterious somehow: a very simple device with one pickup, one volume and one knob has more gutts on it than any other bass on Earth. This is why this bass is a MUST on my list. Very simple to setup and with the perfect weight and balance. The look is amazing and the tone... uff... the tone stands by itself among any other. This is the real deal. you don't need much, just a Real Bass. Trying to make people dance or get in a sentimental mood? this is your bass.
I have to say that the frets are a little bit weird on the sides of the fretboard. For a bass like this with such a huge tone and look this must be taken into consideration by the Quality Control of Fender. You feel the metal crashing against your thumb up and down all over the fretboard. This is the only issue I can advice. I have a MIM Jazz Bass and a Special P and none of them gives me any problem on the frets. Weird isn't it?
If you consider to own a piece of the musical history at this price you will have your reward when you get this bass. There is no other bass on Earth that has the number of recordings and #1 hits than this one.

Comments about Fender American Standard P Bass:

first off. i have a friend who owns this bass and he came over my house with it. i love the feel of it very easy to play!! smooth fast neck nice paint job also! i forgot how big the fret spaces where on basses lol. i sold my old jazz bass and have not played bass in a few months. overall very good bass great sound my first bass was a fender jazz v mim from like 1999! so this was def much better in the sound but i do like jazz basses better lol. well thats it great buy if you want it amazing sound! peace.

Comments about Fender American Standard P Bass:

I picked up a 2011 American Standard P-bass a few months ago, and I'm nothing but happy. Having moved from a 1996 American Standard J-bass, I can confidently say that Fender has made massive improvements over the past decade. If you're in the market, you owe it to yourself to see one of the new American models in person. Mine shipped with a gorgeous finish, stable neck, and FLAWLESS craftsmanship, a hundred times better than my '96 Jazz. It also came with a bulletproof case and exceptional case candy - the strap is the most comfortable ever made, hands down.Note: These new P-basses are LIGHT!! And not just a little. You'll be amazed when you pick it up, and I promise you will crap yourself when you feel how this thing resonates with every note. If you don't have one of these, you're making a mistake. The price may seem unreasonable...until you hold it in person.

Comments about Fender American Standard P Bass:

I tried these out at the local stores. I had been playing the same Precision Bass Lyte for many years and felt it was time to get something nicer. Unfortunately, the American Standard Precision didn't cut it.

It is a decent bass ... but compared to my cheaper Japanese counterpart, it sounded dull, lifeless and thin. Granted, the Japanese one had active pickups with a lot of edge, but even with just the split coils selected it sounded better. The tuners and hardware were noticeably cheaper and flimsy. The pots felt like there was virtually no resistance and turned way too easily in my hand.

Compared to my early 90's Squier, with custom pups and pots, the American Standard felt like an overpriced beginners bass. To make this bass work for me I would have to change the pups and pots at least. But that's another $100 or more.

A lot of pros use precision basses, but as per Bass Player magazine, I've never heard of a pro using an american standard. You'll see them using vintage basses, custom basses, etc.

The deluxe models are MUCH nicer. If you can afford it, give those a try. I almost bought one of those ... but since I had the cash I went for something else.

That said, I would be happy enough with one of these if i didn't already have something better.
Basically, there are none. Compared to other designs/basses if you are looking for 'features', this isn't the bass for you.
For the price, it seemed passable. The pots felt cheap and loose, the tuners/machine heads felt cheap but the other hardware was alright.
Middle of the road ... possibly a little over priced.

Comments about Fender American Standard P Bass:

I tried these out at the local stores. I had been playing the same Precision Bass Lyte for many years and felt it was time to get something nicer. Unfortunately, the American Standard Precision didn't cut it.

It is a decent bass, but compared to my cheaper Japanese counterpart, it sounded dull, lifeless and thin. Granted, the Japanese one had active pickups with a lot of edge, but even with just the split coils selected it sounded better. The tuners and hardware were noticeably cheaper and flimsy. The pots felt like there was virtually no resistance and turned way too easily in my hand.

Compared to my early 90's Squier, with custom pups and pots, the American Standard felt like an overpriced beginners bass. To make this bass work for me I would have to change the pups and pots at least. But that's more money put into it.

A lot of pros use precision basses, but as per Bass Player magazine, I've never heard of a pro using an American standard. You'll see them using vintage basses, custom basses, etc.

The deluxe models are MUCH nicer. If you can afford it, give those a try. I almost bought one of those, but since I had the cash I went for something else.

That said, I would be happy enough with one of these if I didn't already have something better.
Basically, there are none. Compared to other designs/basses if you are looking for 'features', this isn't the bass for you.
For the price, it seemed passable. The pots felt cheap and loose, the tuners/machine heads felt cheap but the other hardware was alright.
Middle of the road. Possibly a little over priced.

Comments about Fender American Standard P Bass:

Every few years Fender does something new to their products or runs a special run of instruments. When they upgraded the Fender American Standard Precision bass in 2008 they really DID make some big changes. Some of these may seem small, but they translate into big gains in the tone department. Let me start by saying that I have owned and played various pbasses from 65 till my 50th Anniversary Pbass in 2001. My 2008 re-designed pbass has the best tone and playability comparable with anything I've ever played. The neck profile is slim, the thinner undercoat lets the resonance of the alder wood work together with the pickup to give that great thumpy and woody tone associated with this bass. Although it is NOT a 1 3/4 inch neck at the nut, this neck is more comfortable to me at 1 5/8 and I have no problem with that. Purists and bassists who prefer the old style will still appreciate the sound of this bass though. I don't know if its the wood and a new pickup along with my maple fingerboard, but this bass nails the pbass sound bone-stock with no mods needed. The new tuners do indeed help keep the neck from diving and the string thru body and high mass vintage bridge all contribute the great sound and playability of this bass. The graphite supported truss rod made adjusting the neck easy and the neck on mine is straight with low action after minor adjustment. About the only thing I can think to change is the ceramic capacitor with an orange drop or a vitamin Q. 'Nuff said, If you love Precision bass tone, try one and you'll want to get one!

Comments about Fender American Standard P Bass:

I love this new model of the American Standard P Bass. It's sort of like Fender did all the after market work for you this year. First off, really glad they started going through the body. It's more resonant now. Just gotta remember to be longer strings. I really love this new bridge, its a HUGE improvement. I really hope they start selling the bridge, I've got some other basses that could really use it. The graphite truss rod neck is a big plus too. I know it sucks that Fender keeps getting more expensive, but I think with this model, its worth the price.

Comments about Fender American Standard P Bass:

Well, I've own this bass for 9 years now.. The body is top-of-the-line crafted, much better than any other bass guitar IN THE WORLD.. I play now every technique in this lovely instrument. It has never in 9 years letted me down. So I give a 5/5 to this superior instrument.

Comments about Fender American Standard P Bass:

When i finally received my bass, i heard a rattling sound as i was unpacking it from the shipping carton. As I opened the case, there was the knurled metal volume knob just rolling all over the body of the guitar! The hold down screw was backed all the way out and I don't think it was ever tightened from the factory, thus the volume knob just falling off during shipping and putting minor scratches in the finish of my new Bass! I can live with it, but where is the great American workmanship and quality control that you are paying the higher price for? I read another review where a guy had to tighten tuners,etc. on his new Fender also.