It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 11:06 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 32 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3  Next
Go to page 1, 2, 3  Next
Author Message
Post subject: Who likes the fender bullet bass??
Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 4:28 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jun 28, 2008 4:47 pm
Posts: 35
i wont to know what you think about the bullet bass :D 8)

_________________
theres a cat on the roof


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject:
Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 5:29 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 11:26 pm
Posts: 2849
Location: Green Bay, WI
10 days and still no reply. I was hoping someone can elaborate, cuz I don't know anything about it either.

_________________
Rez(# 30916)
'89 Power Jazz Bass Special-BadAssIII, EMG P/J
Project PBass-EMG PX, Schaller BM Light Tuner
'05 Aerodyne JBass
'06 Spector Legend Custom Neck Through
VT Bass
Hartke TA5000 w/XL Cabs(210, 410, 115)


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 10:44 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Mon Jul 09, 2007 10:59 am
Posts: 457
I owned a Fiesta Red MIA 34" scale Fender Bullet Bass at one time and played it at a few band rehearsals. Here's what I know about them:

There were both 30" and 34" scale versions. The bodies were different but the pickguard was the same, and on the 34" version, the bottom of the pickguard (near the output jack) didn't follow the body contours as you normally see, for example, on a P-Bass.

The first Bullet Basses were MIA and branded as Fenders. I think they came out around 1980 or so.

A couple of years later, they were branded as Squiers and MIJ.

They came with split single-coil pickups, not like a modern P-Bass but more like the old Fender 12-string electrics in the '60s, or the '90s Squiers like the Venus. I ended up putting a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounder single coil in mine (like on a first-generation Precision Bass) and it was a decent bass for rock. I had to rout away a little bit of wood under the pickguard to make it fit and install a new pickguard.

The necks were one-piece maple and very full and thick, like a '50s Reissue Precision Bass. I don't know what the fingerboard radius was. They also had a Telecaster style headstock as seen on the first-gen P-Bass and the '60s/'70s Telecaster bass. Great neck. I don't miss the bass, but I'd love to still have that neck to use with a different Fender body.

I bought mine used in the mid-90s. I paid $200 at a MARS store (remember them?) and sold it for $215 to a Music-Go-Round store a few weeks later. It was a decent bass but I'm sure there was something else I wanted more so I dumped it.

I found this picture on the net. You can see what I mean about the pickguard not following the body contour. I assume the finish was stripped off this bass. If I remember correctly, Bullet Basses were available in Arctic White, Black, and Fiesta Red.

Image


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 10:50 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 11:26 pm
Posts: 2849
Location: Green Bay, WI
George, very cool. Thanks for the answer sir. That bass in the pic looks very nice.

_________________
Rez(# 30916)
'89 Power Jazz Bass Special-BadAssIII, EMG P/J
Project PBass-EMG PX, Schaller BM Light Tuner
'05 Aerodyne JBass
'06 Spector Legend Custom Neck Through
VT Bass
Hartke TA5000 w/XL Cabs(210, 410, 115)


Top
Profile
Post subject: Fender Bullet
Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 10:44 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Sat Aug 02, 2008 10:52 pm
Posts: 4
I play one at an old guitar shop in Hawaii, very nice, much like a P-bass. It has a unique feel and think that Fender should start making them again.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Bullet
Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 12:39 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 11:26 pm
Posts: 2849
Location: Green Bay, WI
Vitamins3 wrote:
I play one at an old guitar shop in Hawaii, very nice, much like a P-bass. It has a unique feel and think that Fender should start making them again.


Did you buy the one you tried out? Or would you buy it if they made it again? It's about making money, they didn't make money on it the 1st time around, that's the main reason Fender cancels a model. Some due to sales, some for collectability.

_________________
Rez(# 30916)
'89 Power Jazz Bass Special-BadAssIII, EMG P/J
Project PBass-EMG PX, Schaller BM Light Tuner
'05 Aerodyne JBass
'06 Spector Legend Custom Neck Through
VT Bass
Hartke TA5000 w/XL Cabs(210, 410, 115)


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 12:30 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Sat Aug 02, 2008 10:52 pm
Posts: 4
I wish i bought it, but it was too expensive. I liked it a lot and if Fender put some time into re-amping the cool design of the body it could probably sell as well as the Jag-bass. The guy who ran the shop said that the bullet's rarity is what gave it all the appeal. and i agree, but still maybe a historical collectors model would interest some


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 2:49 pm
Offline
Roadie
Roadie
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jun 29, 2007 6:40 pm
Posts: 291
Location: Eugene Or
Hi:

I just got a 1983 Squier MIJ model Today. Very similar to the USA models of 1981-1983.

The pickups are the same type as the "Mustang Bass"

I played it briefly..I'm at work and I'm boiling out the strings right now, I'll gig with it tonight.

The one I have is a 7.25 Radius Neck. I have 2 of my other Fender Basses with me and they are both 9.5 radius necks, this Bullet has more curve to it.

The neck is like what George said, it's very thick and meaty :wink:

I won't sell it or part it out, but this is a Great "Forgotton Fender"

This little bass has a permanent home


Top
Profile
Post subject: Bullet Basses
Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 6:16 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Mar 21, 2008 11:00 am
Posts: 1226
Location: In the pocket north of Washington D.C.
I have two USA Fender Bullet basses . One is fretless because it had the frets burned off, but the neck is still perfectly straight. Both of mine are white and the pick up appears to be a Mustang Bass pickup. The necks are outstanding. I have a Bullet bass neck on my '83 Jazz bass and its a perfect fit! :!:

The odd thing is tha they come with strat knobs with no gold printing for the knob numbers. You have to let the dirt form your hands eventually fill in the numbers on the knobs.

I have to wonder exactly how much that saved Fender, not having to paint numbers on the knobs.

They are very cool basses.

_________________
If thine enemy wrong thee, buy each of his children a drum.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 8:34 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2007 6:07 am
Posts: 1747
Location: Central WI
I'm a huge fan of my Musicmaster and would love to try one of the Fender Bullet Bass in 30" scale.....that's all I know. 8)


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 11:55 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Mar 21, 2008 11:00 am
Posts: 1226
Location: In the pocket north of Washington D.C.
Bullet basses are cool. I like the long scale models. the pickupd have pole pieces that are twice the depth of the coil.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2009 9:38 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2009 9:17 pm
Posts: 3
George wrote:
I found this picture on the net. You can see what I mean about the pickguard not following the body contour. I assume the finish was stripped off this bass. If I remember correctly, Bullet Basses were available in Arctic White, Black, and Fiesta Red.

Image


The Bullet Bass was also available in the color shown in the pic above. This is not a stripped bass. I've owned the one in the pic. I've owned it since the early 80's and have always treasured it as my first Fender. When I was younger I felt that it was a lesser product compared to a Precision. As I have compared it to others nearly 25 years later I don't feel that way any longer. It's actually a good sounding bass. It has a great finish and neck. Mine is actually a B-34 USA product (later versions were available in B-30 and not USA products. I believe that in the 80's it retailed for around $200 and today can be found for mid $400's. Not a great appreciation but solid.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 8:20 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2009 10:10 am
Posts: 7
Hello. I have a 84 bullet bass sunburst mij with a neck date of 12,18 83.I love it. The neck is wide and not to thick with small frets. I wonder if it is a late usa or a early mij. Any info would be great! I use GHS pressure wound strings and the sound works in any venue big or small. I always wanted one, then i found mine in a local music store for $229 with ohsc. It's very clean and i like it. When i play it out people don't know what it is. I had a 68 Telly bass and a 77 "p" that i sold the years. This bass is like having them in one piece. This one is never going a way! See ya Rare bird


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 12:58 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2009 9:17 pm
Posts: 3
rare bird wrote:
Hello. I have a 84 bullet bass sunburst mij with a neck date of 12,18 83.I love it. The neck is wide and not to thick with small frets. I wonder if it is a late usa or a early mij. Any info would be great! I use GHS pressure wound strings and the sound works in any venue big or small. I always wanted one, then i found mine in a local music store for $229 with ohsc. It's very clean and i like it. When i play it out people don't know what it is. I had a 68 Telly bass and a 77 "p" that i sold the years. This bass is like having them in one piece. This one is never going a way! See ya Rare bird


If it's US it will say specifically on the headstock "Made in U.S.A" Typical US Serial numbers for this age instrument begin with an "E"


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 9:26 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sat Jun 27, 2009 9:09 am
Posts: 7
I have a 1981 vintage white w/original case, but it is missing the tuners. I know that the original tuners were a shorter stem than what in on the P or J, because of the fact that Fender did not want to have the cloverleaf sticking up to far above the Telecaster style peghead and look out of balance. I would love to find a set of tuners, new or used, so I can get this old girl fired up and play it. I have owned Bullets before, but none this good of shape. If anyone knows how to help me, please respond. Thanks.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 32 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3  Next
Go to page 1, 2, 3  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: