It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 6:38 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 11 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: Precision lite bass
Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 10:47 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sat May 08, 2010 10:37 am
Posts: 1
I have a precision lite bass I bought in the mid 90's. Does fender still make these guitars? Can't find any or know anyone who has heard of them. I have asked music store owners about them and they have'nt heard of them either. Does anyone have one?


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject:
Posted: Sun May 09, 2010 12:34 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:12 pm
Posts: 6355
Location: Albemarle, NC
Welcome to the forum John. If you are referring to the Precision Bass LYTE yes I've heard of them and played one of the Deluxe Lytes a couple of times. They were made in Japan. Discontinued years and years ago. Very nice instrument and everyone who has one seems to love them.

To me the P-Bass Lyte sounds more like a Jazz than a Precision and there are at least four reasons that I know of for that. First, it has a Jazz neck profile. (Really nice thin fast neck if you like that sort of neck.) Second, the body is mahogany which is lighter weight than alder used on most Precisions and the body was downsized and made sleeker meaning less mass. Third, it had body through stringing for increased sustain. Fourth, it had active P/J electronics. I always liked the control design on this bass as it had a BLEND control which I love. It also has MASTER VOLUME, and three active tone controls for HIGH, MID and LOW. Yes MID control! They are VERY nice instruments with versatile electronics!

I only have two criticisms about them. First, they can have a bit of neck-dive due to the smaller, lighter body but it is manageable especially with a wide suede lined strap. Second you have to remove the entire control cavity cover to replace the battery. Would have been better if this bass had introduced the pop out battery box. Fender was a tad slow on the uptake to adopt the much easier to use quick-change battery boxes. Changing batteries during a gig is a hassle with these or any bass requiring you to remove screws and cavity covers, so change it beforehand or have a backup ready.

I rarely gig with an active bass, but this was a really good one and I would consider it one of Fenders better imported actives. Just change the battery before important gigs and UNPLUG the thing when not actually playing it to extend battery life.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sat May 22, 2010 4:49 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sat May 22, 2010 4:33 am
Posts: 1
A had the opportunity to play a friend's Precision LYTE an found it to be very comfortable as compared to my PBass. Even with an incredibly wide strap, my PBass would cause me neck pain by the end of the show, but the LYTE bass never caused me any discomfort.

Of course, it didn't have the resonance of the standard PBass, but it was a great sounding, great playing bass. I never could get my bud to sell it to me, but I was able to "borrow" it for an extended period of time. 8)


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sat May 22, 2010 10:07 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2007 12:52 pm
Posts: 2588
Location: Out there on the road
http://www.google.com/search?q=precisio ... 1I7ADBR_en

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/search.ph ... id=3500389


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun May 23, 2010 12:31 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun May 23, 2010 12:26 pm
Posts: 1
I am new here,say hello to everyone.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Lyte Electronics
Posted: Mon May 31, 2010 5:59 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sat Jan 31, 2009 12:57 pm
Posts: 26
brotherdave wrote:
I always liked the control design on this bass as it had a BLEND control which I love. It also has MASTER VOLUME, and three active tone controls for HIGH, MID and LOW. Yes MID control! They are VERY nice instruments with versatile electronics!


Bro' Dave - Right awn! You - as always - are on target here. Just picked one of these basses up - but the pre-amp to my ear (comparing to Audere and Aguilar's I've had before) sounds anemic.
Any thoughts on what a good micro size pre might be to cram into that crowded cavity to take the "veil" off the sound of the Lyte? Thanks. TOdd


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Lyte Electronics
Posted: Mon May 31, 2010 1:56 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:12 pm
Posts: 6355
Location: Albemarle, NC
berman3313 wrote:

Bro' Dave - Right awn! You - as always - are on target here. Just picked one of these basses up - but the pre-amp to my ear (comparing to Audere and Aguilar's I've had before) sounds anemic.
Any thoughts on what a good micro size pre might be to cram into that crowded cavity to take the "veil" off the sound of the Lyte? Thanks. TOdd


I would not modify these at all. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. There are fewer of these around intact than your might think. Looking long term they are a good investment right now and I'd leave it stock.

I would instead tweak the amp tone controls and if that doesn't do it for you, an inexpensive EQ pedal or a preamp pedal like the Tech21 Bass Driver might give you some extra oomph. So do very high end bass cables.

Another thing to try is the PASSIVE input option on your amp but roll the master volume on the instrument itself back a bit. These were very early active EQ boards and were intended to work well with existing Fender amps of the day that didn't have Passive/Active input circuitry options, therefore the output is lower than the actives of today. I find the one active bass I have sounds better using the passive amp input with the master volume on the instrument itself turned down some. I know that works well with my amp, but your mileage may vary.

The very last thing I'd do is modify one of these right now. But if you do there are many preamps to choose from and I have no experience personally with any of them. Also these are passive pickups with an active EQ circuit so they won't have as much bite as true active pickups do even if you do replace the preamp.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Message Received
Posted: Mon May 31, 2010 4:40 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sat Jan 31, 2009 12:57 pm
Posts: 26
Bro' Dave - I appreciate the forthright - and probably 101% true - advice! Leave it alone! It IS a specimen at present and likely should remain that way.
Todd


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Mon May 31, 2010 8:19 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 10:34 pm
Posts: 10760
Location: Athens, Greece
The Precision Lytes were replaced by the "Zone" series in 2003.

Image

The Deluxe Zone Bass came in two versions, American and Mexican. The American Zones sported a pair of humbuckers and the Mexican a P/J configuration. The Mexican Zone was also available with 5 strings, while the American employed some beautiful exotic timbres. Fender discontinued the Zone series in 2006.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Anyone know what pickup would replace the bridge?
Posted: Mon May 31, 2010 8:40 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sat Jan 31, 2009 12:57 pm
Posts: 26
What's the size of the bridge pickup in the Zone and by relation - the bridge in the MIJ Lyte? Am thinking about beefing that part up if someone can recommend a pick up with the dimensions and punch. Todd


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 11 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


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: