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Post subject: American Vintage '62 Precision questions
Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 9:08 am
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Hello, All:

I'm looking at buying a new American Vintage '62 Precision. Some of my questions are probably best addressed by Fender, but I value your input.

- would you expect it to be neck-heavy at all?
- would you expect any G-string dead spots, and could I return it if found?
- would you expect a good set-up (outside of personal preference)?
- approximate weight?
- any difference in tone or neck (rosewood aside) between the '57 and the '62?
- how can I try one? they all seem made to order

Thanks...Lyle


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Post subject: Re: American Vintage '62 Precision questions
Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 12:58 pm
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Location: Albemarle, NC
LyleR wrote:
Hello, All:

I'm looking at buying a new American Vintage '62 Precision. Some of my questions are probably best addressed by Fender, but I value your input.

- would you expect it to be neck-heavy at all?
- would you expect any G-string dead spots, and could I return it if found?
- would you expect a good set-up (outside of personal preference)?
- approximate weight?
- any difference in tone or neck (rosewood aside) between the '57 and the '62?
- how can I try one? they all seem made to order

Thanks...Lyle


Well balanced weight wise.

Returning or exchanging the instrument is something you should have an agreement with the dealer about in advance of purchase. Most dealers have a satisfaction guarantee for 30 days, if yours doesn't find another dealer. Be sure to check it for dead spots before taking it home.

The 62 weighs 9.0 pounds on average.

The 57 and 62 have slightly different pickup winding specs so they will inherently sound a tad different. The 62 sounds a bit warmer to me but your mileage may vary. I like the sound of the 57 better but the look of the 62 better. I also prefer a rosewood board personally. I just find it more comfortable to play. The sound difference between the pickups is so minute you probably would never notice any unless playing them side by side and even then it is a tough call. I think the 62 sounds slightly better than the 57 with a pick though.

Go to the DEALERS tab and start checking every dealer within driving distance to see if they have one or know another dealer who does. I would not buy one without playing it or at least an exchange option for a replacement. No two are going to be exactly alike.


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Post subject: Re: American Vintage '62 Precision questions
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 8:41 am
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In the past week, I've played a '51 (Japanese?) and a '57 (American) Precision Reissue.

Both had the classic dead spots around C and C# on the G-string. Both were probably made in the 90's.

If I order a new '62 American Vintage Precision, can I expect to find (and accept) the same problem?

I hear you, Brother Dave, on "don't leave the store with it unless happy". I'll contact the local Fender Sales Rep to see if he knows of one I can try first. But I'll probably be ordering one from a remote (non-local) dealer and have it shipped. As I understand, the American Reissues are about tops in Fender quality for a production Bass these days, and I wish I knew what to expect or not, regarding dead spots.

Thanks for any advice...Lyle


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Post subject: Re: American Vintage '62 Precision questions
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 10:04 am
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Just talked with Fender Consumer Relations, and the answer was "some will have dead spots, and some won't".

So it's back to the quandary of "try before you buy" but there's no place to try one.

I guess one option is to ask the remote dealer to do acceptance testing. Or order it locally, and do the acceptance myself. In either case, I'm not sure who gets stuck with the shipping if it's rejected, or how many can be tried.

Thanks for any advice....Lyle


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Post subject: Re: American Vintage '62 Precision questions
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 9:59 pm
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Roadie
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My 2006 model:

Neck drops a few inches and then stops when I release my hands from the instrument. But not an issue when playing.

Maybe a little lack of sustain around the c# on the g string. But nothing
that bothers me. I would have to check it again to see if it really is there. Neck sings great though.

Setups are n/a for me as I always change them to my taste when I get the bass after upping the string guages.

Mine is 8.8 lbs.

To me it feels as if the neck is flatter (depth), but wider at nut than my '54RI neck.
The sound is unbelieveable.
My only complaint when I initially got it was the swirling, fine scratches in finish. Mine is black. But I liked it so much I kept it. The scratches are extremely fine like they happened while buffing or something.

Image

Image


Last edited by lungimsam on Wed Oct 26, 2011 9:32 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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Post subject: Re: American Vintage '62 Precision questions
Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 9:58 am
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Posts: 2842
The swirl marks are easily buffed out by someone who knows how to do it. It's not a big deal at all.

The G string is always a consideration on all basses to me. My biggest problem with the G string is it overall being weak. Not so much dead spots. Sometimes it can be made to sound right with pickup adjustment or new pickups.

I've cured a couple Fender P basses of weak sound and have turned them into kick butt sounding basses by using different pickups. I love Fenders but sometimes I don't love the pickups. I have a Jazz with stock pickups that sound killer so it's kind of a gamble with basses to begin with. :)


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