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Post subject: Fender '51 Precision Bass
Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 11:21 am
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So they pumped that price on this instrument quite a bit does anyone know why? I mean i believe this as well as some of the others such as the Mustang were in the 500-600 dollar region anyone know what's up? My first guess was that they changed the arena of manufacture but i'm not sure someone please help thanks :)

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Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 12:45 pm
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Fender recently (around February) raised prices across the board -- it wasn't tied to any changes I heard of, just bringing everything up. Apparently sales suffered, so a lot of guitars and basses got price reductions (but not down to pre-hike levels). Some in-demand models were not rolled back. Among these was the '51 P. I have one (pre-price increase) and it's a great instrument.

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Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 3:32 pm
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i'm not trying to be one of those people that look at an instrument and see where it's made and decide if they are going to buy it / not buy it i've played a very good one of these before but i do believe they are made in Mexico is that correct? Or is it japan i forgot >_<

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Fender FSR Hot Rod J-bass White w/ Matching Headstock and parallel switching :)
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Laguna 4-string Acoustic bass-Bubinga and abalone inlays (sounds great)


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Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 3:41 pm
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bassist18244 wrote:
i'm not trying to be one of those people that look at an instrument and see where it's made and decide if they are going to buy it / not buy it i've played a very good one of these before but i do believe they are made in Mexico is that correct? Or is it japan i forgot >_<


They are "Crafted in Japan." Very well made, nicely finished. For what it's worth, I have a couple of Mexican Precisions, and they are equally good.

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Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 4:27 pm
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Being made at the Funi-Gen Japan plant the 51 RI and all the other Fender CIJ instruments have to be paid for in Yen. The US dollar has been very weak against foreign currencies such as the Euro, GBP and Yen. This means you get less Yen now for a US dollar than just a year ago. Just be happy you don't have to pay a 50% import tax like in the Bahamas or a VAT tax like in many other countries.

The Yen actually has been weaker than the Euro so it could be worse. The Thomastik-Infeld stings I use have gone up nearly 100% over the past five years due to the shrinking dollar. Meanwhile the 51 RI has gone up nearly 50% over the same period.

The unfavorable exchange rate also explains why there are no rebates on the Japanese issues.

Fender did raise prices on everything and are doing some promotions to spur sales, but don't expect promotional discounts or rebates on the Japanese imports due the still shrinking dollar.


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Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 5:39 pm
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brotherdave wrote:
The Thomastik-Infeld stings I use have gone up nearly 100% over the past five years due to the shrinking dollar. Meanwhile the 51 RI has gone up nearly 50% over the same period.


Yeah, let's not talk about $80 bass strings! But, once you try TI Jazz Flats, nothing else is good enough. A friend put a set on his $250 Squier Jazz Bass and doesn't think he got a bad deal, at all.

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Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 6:08 pm
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lpdeluxe wrote:
Yeah, let's not talk about $80 bass strings! But, once you try TI Jazz Flats, nothing else is good enough. A friend put a set on his $250 Squier Jazz Bass and doesn't think he got a bad deal, at all.

Well the Euro is strong and the dollar is weak....so we PAY what we gotta. I do use the TI JF344 Jazz Flats on one active bass but actually I prefer the TI EB344 PowerBass rounds on passive basses and use them on two different passives. TI's are expensive initially but since one set of TI's will outlast about 12 sets of anything else they actually are a bargain in the long run. There is nothing else like the TI JF344's or EB344's. Nothing.


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Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 6:39 pm
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brotherdave wrote:
TI's are expensive initially but since one set of TI's will outlast about 12 sets of anything else they actually are a bargain in the long run. There is nothing else like the TI JF344's or EB344's. Nothing.


I've got 344s on three Precisions -- wouldn't think of stringing 'em up with anything else -- although my "butterscotch" '51 looked like a Black & Decker with black tape wounds.

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Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 7:17 pm
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If money is tight but you still want a decent sounding single coil bass, you may want to consider this Douglas bass pictured here next to my '51 reissue:


Image
Image


The Douglas goes for about $130 and aside from the ugly headstock (which you can reshape) it plays and sounds pretty darn good.
:wink:


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Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 7:47 pm
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The Douglas knockoff looks a lot like the Jay Turser 401 which is another '51 Tele bass knockoff. The Turser has a slab fretboard, some are rosewood. I have one of the Tursers with the rosewood board. Other than the stock strings it was ok out of the box but I upgraded the electronics anyway. They go for about $200.


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Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 7:57 pm
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brotherdave wrote:
The Douglas knockoff looks a lot like the Jay Turser 401 which is another '51 Tele bass knockoff. The Turser has a slab fretboard, some are rosewood. I have one of the Tursers with the rosewood board. Other than the stock strings it was ok out of the box but I upgraded the electronics anyway. They go for about $200.


Yeah I don't own a Jay Turser but I've read good reviews at talkbass.com from those that do. I actually considered buying a Turser but opted for the Douglas instead since they're new this year, plus the Douglas has an alder body and cost (with shipping) about $40 less.

When I bought my Fender 51 reissue last year I paid $650 and soon after that the price shot up to over $900. So it's nice to know there are some really cheap knock-offs that are much better basses than the price might imply. The quality of my Douglas is every bit as nice as the Squiers I've owned and played but at half the price. If you can get past the ugly headstock you'll save quite a bit of money.


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Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 9:31 pm
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Alrighty thanks guys :)

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Fender FSR Hot Rod J-bass White w/ Matching Headstock and parallel switching :)
~plays like heaven~

Laguna 4-string Acoustic bass-Bubinga and abalone inlays (sounds great)


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Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 4:21 am
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Mine does not say CRAFTED IN JAPAN but, it is written, MADE IN JAPAN.

Mine, according to Fender was Manufactures in August 2008. I have added the bridge and pickup covers and also the engraving(etching) artwork, new bridge for better intonation and my signature birdseye maple thumbrests. Pearloid pickguard


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Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2009 4:40 pm
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The only CIJ bass I've played is the Geddy Lee Jazz (which is awesome). However, I have to have the '51 RI. Is the neck/action as good as the Geddy Lee? Unfortunately nobody in my area carries the '51 so I can't try it out.


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Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2009 7:59 pm
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The '51 has a Precision neck: chunky, with a 7-1/2" radius. As a result, it feels very different from the Geddy, which has the skinny J neck.

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