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Post subject: New American Vintage P-Basses?
Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2012 4:29 am
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As the AVRI series was updated with new guitar models, it's now a good time to overhaul the range with a fresh lineup of basses.

For me four distinctive models of Precision Basses are obvious to replace the existing '57 and '62 reissues: the '54 split-coil pickup with a contoured ash body, the '58 with a gold anodised pickguard, the '66 with a tortoiseshell pickguard, a bound rosewood fretboard with pearloid dot inlays and a transitional decal and - finally - a '72 fretless with a bold CBS decal and an unlined fretless maple fingerboard.

Nice, uh?


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Post subject: Re: New American Vintage P-Basses?
Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2012 7:14 am
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chromeface wrote:
As the AVRI series was updated with new guitar models, it's now a good time to overhaul the range with a fresh lineup of basses.

For me four distinctive models of Precision Basses are obvious to replace the existing '57 and '62 reissues: the '54 split-coil pickup with a contoured ash body, the '58 with a gold anodised pickguard, the '66 with a tortoiseshell pickguard, a bound rosewood fretboard with pearloid dot inlays and a transitional decal and - finally - a '72 fretless with a bold CBS decal and an unlined fretless maple fingerboard.

Nice, uh?



Wait, a split coil 54? Never heard of it... You've piqued my interest.

I don't want to see the 57 and 62 go away. They are very important steps in the P evolution and have very different sounds..well, as far as split coil P basses go.

The fact that the 51 or 56 isn't included in there is a bit of a shame though. Though you can get the 55 through the CS, and they did do a CS 51 P for quite a few years I believe.

A few years ago you could get a CS 58 P through the CS for a short period. Given that a 58 is really for the most part simply a 59 P bass with a 57 neck and pickguard (minus the burst), does it really need a production run? Hell, if you want a AVS 58 P bass get a MIM Roadworn. That's basically what you are buying, just that it's Relic'd.

If anything I think I'd like to see an AVS 56 RI P, as a Bill Black Tribute, and a White Blonde 66 Slab Body P ala Entwistle. If those were added to the AVS line up I'd be happy. Or if they would do them as limited runs. Like pick one bassist every couple of years and do an AVS limited run of their bass in addition to the two mainstay basses.

JMO

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Post subject: Re: New American Vintage P-Basses?
Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2012 7:33 am
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Sorry, I mean SINGLE-COIL, not split as erroneously cited.

If I really wished a '54 with a split-coil pickup I would pick a Mike Dirnt signature with a 51-style maple neck (though this bass is available with a rosewood fretboard).


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Post subject: Re: New American Vintage P-Basses?
Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2012 8:17 am
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chromeface wrote:
Sorry, I mean SINGLE-COIL, not split as erroneously cited.

If I really wished a '54 with a split-coil pickup I would pick a Mike Dirnt signature with a 51-style maple neck (though this bass is available with a rosewood fretboard).



You know what irks me most about the Dirnt? That it has the modern fret radius! They said they modeled the neck off a late 60's P (it's like a baseball bat). Yet, it's got the 9.5 radius. Had they kept the neck heel square I could've scooped up a Sting and thrown it on there, atleast. So there's this awesome 53 style P body with a split coil, and it's got a neck I can't stand and one I can't easily replace with one I like. Blah. :?

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Post subject: Re: New American Vintage P-Basses?
Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2012 8:21 am
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Yeah, but Sting removed the pickguard from his battered old '53!

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Post subject: Re: New American Vintage P-Basses?
Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2012 8:27 am
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A mid or late 60s P-Bass would be VERY nice... would also save me the trouble (and the arm and leg) of hunting down a vintage instrument.

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Post subject: Re: New American Vintage P-Basses?
Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2012 8:32 am
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Garf wrote:
A mid or late 60s P-Bass would be VERY nice... would also save me the trouble (and the arm and leg) of hunting down a vintage instrument.



At this point isn't it almost getting to be a wash with buying a truly vintage instrument from the mid to late 60's or just getting a CS model? I too would prefer vintage, but any reasonably priced 60's Fender is going cost a pretty penny and while you get all the mojo, you also get all the possible abuse along with it. I know some of the big box stores have some mid or late 60's CS models available that they ordered. I'd think dropping 5k on a pristine CS bass might be better then 5k on a "player" that might have some serious issues. Granted, the vintage bass will always gain value. However, if you're going to be gigging with it the CS model would likely be more dependable. Or at least I'd hope so...

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Post subject: Re: New American Vintage P-Basses?
Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2012 8:35 am
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chromeface wrote:
Yeah, but Sting removed the pickguard from his battered old '53!

Image



True, but the old square neck heel is going to require some work to get it into the Dirnt pocket wouldn't it? If not I may very shortly be buying a Sting neck because they are a lot cheaper then a 51RI neck since no one wants his signature :lol: and trying to find a loaded Dirnt body. I could have swore I had this though years ago and decided that trying to lathe down the neck heel wouldn't be worth it should I screw it up. :?

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Post subject: Re: New American Vintage P-Basses?
Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2012 8:41 am
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I think...

54/55/56 Precision Bass;
CIJ/MIJ 51RI is Now Discontinnued, and not everyone has the money for a CS, they do crop up used, but I still think there is a case for having these available as AVRI.
(I was always shocked there was never a 'Road-Worn' one of these!)

64 Precision Bass;
Not an overly original idea, but just a nice variant, maybe some cool custom colours, Burgundy Mist?

70's Precision Fretless is something i'd second - Had a rare Ash/Unlined Maple Japanese reissue for a while, and apart from the weight of the thing; it was perfect!

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Post subject: Re: New American Vintage P-Basses?
Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2012 8:55 am
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BassTrav wrote:
I think...

54/55/56 Precision Bass;
CIJ/MIJ 51RI is Now Discontinnued, and not everyone has the money for a CS, they do crop up used, but I still think there is a case for having these available as AVRI.
(I was always shocked there was never a 'Road-Worn' one of these!)



Agreed. I play the CIJ model, and when it got restricted I had hoped that Ensenada would do one for the Roadworn series. The only thing that could make me part with mine would be one in lacquer with those amazingly broken in necks. I wouldn't mind seeing The Sting get moved to Mexico and it given the Roadworn treatment. Hell, it'd actually look like the real deal then. Well....except for the "Stinglay" ..which is gross when you say it out loud. :mrgreen:


Quote:
64 Precision Bass;
Not an overly original idea, but just a nice variant, maybe some cool custom colours, Burgundy Mist?


I agree there's nothing wrong with the mid 60's P idea, but I still think the Entwistle slab 66 model might do better as it has features that separate it from the 62 other then finish. It's not like they couldn't do the 66 slab with other finishes.

Quote:
70's Precision Fretless is something i'd second - Had a rare Ash/Unlined Maple Japanese reissue for a while, and apart from the weight of the thing; it was perfect!


In my opinion this is another place where we've been given the shaft a bit. The CIJ Classic series instruments actually used the classic fretboard radius. While the MIM Classic 70's P looks totally badass, it's got very little that makes it "classic" in real features. The CIJ Oly White Sid Vicious knock off with the Jazz A width P neck and vintage radius was a very well thought out bass and gave people access to one of the rarest P basses of the era. The fact that it's restricted and we're given a pale imitation sucks. :?

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Post subject: Re: New American Vintage P-Basses?
Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2012 10:02 am
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Quote:
The CIJ Oly White Sid Vicious knock off with the Jazz A width P neck and vintage radius was a very well thought out bass and gave people access to one of the rarest P basses of the era. The fact that it's restricted and we're given a pale imitation sucks.


Sid used an Olympic White P with a rosewood neck and a 3-ply black guard.

Glen Matlock had a similar bass except it got a natural ash body, 1-piece maple neck/fretboard and a 4-ply tortoise shell pickguard.

If you've already watched the "BEDAZZLED" version of Anarchy in the UK, you'll instantly recognize this particular bass, plugged into a silverface Bassman 100 head.

Image


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Post subject: Re: New American Vintage P-Basses?
Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2012 10:46 am
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chromeface wrote:
Sid used an Olympic White P with a rosewood neck and a 3-ply black guard.

Glen Matlock had a similar bass except it got a natural ash body, 1-piece maple neck/fretboard and a 4-ply tortoise shell pickguard.

If you've already watched the "BEDAZZLED" version of Anarchy in the UK, you'll instantly recognize this particular bass, plugged into a silverface Bassman 100 head.



Exactly. This is the bass I was refering to as the "Sid Knock Off". It's the Fender Japan "70's P Bass". Not the natural ash model, but the regular PB70 model. With the highly sought after "A" width Jazz Bass style P neck. There were a few made in the late 70's and they are highly sought after. If you read the Japanese translation it reads "with non-useless neck" or something to that effect. Too funny.


http://www.fenderjapan.co.jp/pb70.html


The fact that we can't get that here is a travesty. I had to sell my vintage 78 P a few years ago when my girl was out of work to get us by. I'm now in a place where I could replace it with one of these easily and I can't. I refuse to buy the MIM model as there's nothing "vintage" or "classic" about it. Same goes for those Antigua knock offs. They're just MIM Standard basses with finish or neck options. Nothing more.

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Post subject: Re: New American Vintage P-Basses?
Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2012 11:30 am
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The Natural Ash P with the tort guard and maple neck is a pristine replication of Glen Matlock's old P-Bass.

Image

Image

Prior to the Precision Glen used a MapleGlo Rickenbacker 4001.

Image


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Post subject: Re: New American Vintage P-Basses?
Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2012 11:43 am
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chromeface wrote:
The Natural Ash P with the tort guard and maple neck is a pristine replication of Glen Matlock's old P-Bass.

Image

Image

Prior to the Precision Glen used a Rickenbacker 4001.



Oh, I know. I spent enough of my youth in punk bands. :D The Japanese subculture that enjoys punk makes me sometimes long to move there. However, I'm far too old to be "cool" enough for that anymore. No one wants to watch some creepy out of shape old geezer playing punk tunes. I hear it's expensive to get by there, too.

I can't stand that we miss out on so many good products because of this nonsense. That's not to knock Ensenada. They do some seriously awesome work, especially for what their products cost.

The Roadworn Basses are top notch, and really provide a great instrument at a pricepoint easily attainable for the working musician.

I like the idea of an AVS 57 RI P bass, but it's just not a practical purchase right now. I toy with the idea of what will happen if I ever am in a position to get a CS bass made? As much as the idea of paying extra for a beat up bass rattles my common sense a bit. However, There's no denying that the necks on the relic and roadworn basses simply play better then their "new" counterparts.

I'd hate to think of parting ways with my CIJ 51 RI, but the only bass that's made me even pause about trading it in was a burst Roadworn 50's P. The neck was to die for. Luckily, no one in the area has any in stock. :lol:

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Post subject: Re: New American Vintage P-Basses?
Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2012 12:57 pm
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TheKingofPain wrote:
Garf wrote:
A mid or late 60s P-Bass would be VERY nice... would also save me the trouble (and the arm and leg) of hunting down a vintage instrument.



At this point isn't it almost getting to be a wash with buying a truly vintage instrument from the mid to late 60's or just getting a CS model? I too would prefer vintage, but any reasonably priced 60's Fender is going cost a pretty penny and while you get all the mojo, you also get all the possible abuse along with it. I know some of the big box stores have some mid or late 60's CS models available that they ordered. I'd think dropping 5k on a pristine CS bass might be better then 5k on a "player" that might have some serious issues. Granted, the vintage bass will always gain value. However, if you're going to be gigging with it the CS model would likely be more dependable. Or at least I'd hope so...

Oh I fully agree. That alone is why I haven't actually bought a vintage instrument. These reissues are a swell idea, and I just want some newer options other than the current ones.

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