Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

The time has come in my life that I need a Fender Precision. I want that classic Motown Jamerson P sound with some flats. My main basses are still my Ric 4000 and the Fender Jazz. I was thinking about getting a ’62 reissue in 3 tone sunburst, probably a USA one or even a Fullerton if I could find one at about 1600 USD.

Any thoughts on this? Would a top Japanese RI with Alder body and USA PUP do the business? I have asked questions from the helpful folk on the Fender forum and the opinion is that it is all a bit of a **** shoot and just try some ‘P’s until the right one talks to me.

go to a local music store and pick out one that is a good player

My experience with the Japanese Fenders (teles and strats) has been extremely good. I nearly bought the Geddy Lee model Jazz bass before I bit the bullet and bought what I really wanted- a 4003.

The quality of workmanship of the MIJ Fenders seems to me to be top notch. As they are a little more sensitive to wood waste, you may see a little different figuring in clear lacquered instruments than a US or Mexican one (that was apparent in about a quarter to a third of the Japanese instruments I've played the past few years and by memory was mostly evident on the backs of the necks.)

As I think that you can't save a bad-sounding instrument with a good pickup, I have found that the MIJ Fenders tend to sound very good with stock pickups. I thought two of my MIJ guitars were a little noisy, but I compared them to US ones (that didn't have "noisless" pickups) and they were very similar.

I think you will find a little more similarity between rosewood fretboards and the US counterparts than finished maple ones, as it is my belief that the lacquer on those is thicker (and I don't mind it that way.) I'm not positive about this conclusion as an absolute, but it is my observation.

Above all, even with the very careful quality control that these enjoy, it is always good to find the one that speaks to you. At least with a Fender you can try a lot of them before you buy.

I applaud your decision to get a P. I FINALLY did so about a year ago & haven't regretted it one bit. I still love my Ricks, but every bassist should have a P in his arsenal. Mine is a 2004 MIA that I found as NOS on eBay with the plastic still on the pickguard for a great deal. I love this bass!!!!!!!!!!!

I also have a MIJ Jazz that I bought new in 89. It's supposedly from the "glory years" of Fender MIJ. It's a terrific bass that has served me well for many (at times abusive!) years. I dropped some DiMarzio Model J's in it about 6 years ago & it simply screams now.

Some people complain about Fender, but I can't. I hear that most of their Japanese stuff is pretty consistent, though I do avoid any of their other "pacific rim" offerings.

Good luck on your quest!

If I am playing at a questionable job, where I am worried about theft, I’ll take my MIJ Fender “P” Lyte bass. It has a nice “P” sound to it and it is very lyte. They sell used for around $350.00.

Here’s one now..

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fender-Precision-Lyte-4-String-Bass-Guitar-Gig-Bag-1989_W0QQitemZ130109299682QQihZ003QQcategoryZ64451QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Thanks for the help guys. I think I might go for the MIJ '62 RI with Alder and USA PUPS. I want the best tone I can get and the Japanese ones have a slimmer neck, after playing on my Ric 4000, you get used to a slimmer neck!

The cost is not silly money, about 750 USD I think. I will get back to report when I have tracked one down.

I like P basses. The 62 RI P bass is a good-looking instrument, I think.

Be patient while you look. I got my MIA P for $675! And as mentioned before, it was New Old Stock!

There's a lot of P's out there - you'll find one you'll be happy with...

Chris that was a great deal! I think I still want to go for a Japanese one as the necks are quite a bit slimmer. They make a model number PB70-88US that is floating my boat as well. 3 tone sunburst with a black pick guard, Ash with USA PUPs.

Are you friends of 'P' ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKJm-vVGrgE

You down with OPP?

Yeah you know me!

I P daily.

I played P bass for 25 years, had a 71 and a 68 and although I'm sure you don't want to pay the price, the older ones are much better than the new ones, they just don't sound the same. I have heard good things about the 62 RI P bass though from someone in this forum. A big part of his sound besides the way he played and his 62 P bass was the .110 Labella flatwounds he used with very high action, these strings are still made.

Because of my small hands and love of all necks that are slim I have just ordered two MIJ P basses. They are the PB62-78US models with alder body and USA PUPs. I’m getting them both in 3 tone sunburst. I hope that one of them will suit me well and I will sell the other. I’ve been trying some MIA P’s over the past week and I feel that a neck profile closer to a USA Jazz would suit me better. Thanks again for the help and support.