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Post subject: Fender P Lyte
Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 8:07 am
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Helloo people!! (happy first poster)

the fender p lyte bass is (I.M.O) the best bass ever produced.
i've played a couple of them, and have wanted to own one for ages, but i'm having a pretty hard time finding one, (has it been discontinued?- could i make one at a Fender Custom shop?) is there any one out here that knows where i can find one?

thanks, BeanzCorpMiller

@BeanzCorp


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Post subject: Re: Fender P Lyte
Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 11:38 am
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There is one on Craigslist Seattle today.


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Post subject: Re: Fender P Lyte
Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 5:03 pm
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BeanzCorpMiller wrote:
Helloo people!! (happy first poster)

the fender p lyte bass is (I.M.O) the best bass ever produced.
i've played a couple of them, and have wanted to own one for ages, but i'm having a pretty hard time finding one, (has it been discontinued?- could i make one at a Fender Custom shop?) is there any one out here that knows where i can find one?

thanks, BeanzCorpMiller

@BeanzCorp


Great bass. It has been discontinued since the mid 90s. It's an MIJ (made in Japan). It has active electronics with Lace (Sensors) pick up on them. Its almost like my '89 but mine is not a lyte, mine is pretty heavy. Same quality tho, maybe my stock pick ups aren't as good. The electronic is the same. BrotherDave or Lawsuit Bass might be able to answer your question(s) with better info tho, as BD is our bass guru and Lawsuit is the MIJ/CIJ man in charge around these parts.

Oh, welcome to the Forums!

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Post subject: Re: Fender P Lyte
Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 11:21 pm
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okie doke, thanks :)


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Post subject: Re: Fender P Lyte
Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2011 4:00 am
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I don't think you'd be able to have the Custom Shop build you one, but it wouldn't hurt to try and ask. You'd be surprised to what could happen, haha.

Now I myself have considered getting a P-Bass Lyte, and most of the ones I find are on ebay. Used obviously, but many of them are still in working condition and judging by photos only, some look cosmetically good. I'd try eBay. Get 'em before someone else does. :D

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Post subject: Re: Fender P Lyte
Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 1:08 pm
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I owned a slightly used one around 1994. It was metallic red with gold hardware and those nasty tophat knobs. It was in very good condition.

It played pretty well and sounded OK.
I ended up selling it to buy a 5-stringer later.

Id be happy to have it back again though.

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Post subject: Re: Fender P Lyte
Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 1:30 pm
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Have you tried the Fender American Special Precision bass yet? I bought one the other day new at the store with a gig bag too.

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Post subject: Re: Fender P Lyte
Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 1:34 pm
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mtnclimber wrote:
Have you tried the Fender American Special Precision bass yet? I bought one the other day new at the store with a gig bag too.

I own and have owned a few Fender P-basses, but not an american special P.

How are you liking it?

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Post subject: Re: Fender P Lyte
Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 12:39 am
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BeanzCorpMiller wrote:
Helloo people!! (happy first poster)

the fender p lyte bass is (I.M.O) the best bass ever produced.
i've played a couple of them, and have wanted to own one for ages, but i'm having a pretty hard time finding one, (has it been discontinued?- could i make one at a Fender Custom shop?) is there any one out here that knows where i can find one?

thanks, BeanzCorpMiller

@BeanzCorp


I agree these were fine instruments.

These were mass produced for Fender Japan at the Fuji-Gen complex in Nagano by the thousands and were discontinued in the 2000 model year. The FENDER USA DELUXE SERIES ZONE BASS was basically an 18 volt USA made adaptation of the LYTE. There was also a MIM version of the USA ZONE bass which had a P/J pickup arrangement and I actually like those a lot myself.

Like about all the Japanese Fenders, if the Lytes have a weak point it is the electronics. The hardware for example was first rate and the fit and finish excellent. Yet of all the Fender Japan basses the Lyte's electronics were probably among the best stock electronics. The knobs on them were "F" topped knobs and the "F" top tends to fall off so watch out for that.

I have always been mystified by the low resale value of the 4 string Japanese Lytes. They are gorgeous instruments, play like butter and if you like the active type tones they sound good enough for about anything stock. Here's one for sale: http://www.guitarcenter.com/In-Store-Vintage-VINTAGE-1980-S-FENDER-P-BASS-LYTE-METALLIC-09101-106935410-i2117541.gc#
and another: http://raleigh.craigslist.org/msg/2609998367.html
and another: http://fenderbass.net/fender-precision-bass-lyte-3/18505
and another: http://regina.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-musical-instruments-guitars-Fender-Precision-Lyte-Bass-Guitar-for-sale-W0QQAdIdZ302021218
and another: http://raleigh.craigslist.org/msg/2609998367.html
Ok, I'm tired of copying links of Lytes for sale.
That isn't even counting the ones on eBay.

That average $380 price actually is about what the Japanese 4-string Lytes bring around here too. Now in Europe they seem to bring more. For example in the UK they bring about 700 Pounds since they are scarcer there.

Hard to believe they are so affordable in the USA, but there is just so dang many of them in the states it holds the value down and they are not hard to find at all. There is no way a dead solid mint one should be priced at over $550 in the USA. In fact I wouldn't pay that for one myself, but in some markets a perfect like new mint one would be marked about $550 to $600 but I bet they'd negotiate. Lytes come up for sale all the time on eBay and often close between $300 good condition and $500 for excellent condition ones.

Unless you are wealthy and have money to burn there is no need to bother the Custom Shop folks. Just look around there are dozens for sale at any given time.

The early 21st century USA 18 volt Zone basses had much better electronics. The MIM 9 volt Zone basses were somewhat less Deluxe than the USA made ones. But both Zone basses are still very good basses that get overlooked all the time when someone is looking for a Fender bass. You can do a LOT worse than a Japanese Lyte, a USA Zone or MIM Zone. They are usually bargains, sort of like the Fender USA JP90 which usually sells around the same price and is also usually a good gigging bass, just freaky looking because of the teardrop pickguard.

The earlier Japanese Lytes marked MADE IN JAPAN are somewhat more collectible than the ones marked CRAFTED IN JAPAN. But they all look, play and sound pretty much the same other than that marking. As was mentioned, forum member LAWSUIT is the Fender Japan go to guy. I'm sure he knows more about them than I do.


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Post subject: Re: Fender P Lyte
Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 1:00 am
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oright, thanks :)


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