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Post subject: 2011 vs. 2012
Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2012 7:14 pm
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What are the differences between an American Std P Bass 2011 and American Std P bass 2012?

Including pick ups, electronics, wood & material, bridge nut and tuners, neck shape and width, etc etc.

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Post subject: Re: 2011 vs. 2012
Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2012 10:01 am
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I know the pickup changed. Have yet to see a wiring or parts diagram though so can't say about any other electronics, such as the tone capacitor. The new American Standard stock pickup is a Custom Shop 60's pickup. I thought at first that possibly this was a premium version of the more full range type pickup used for years in the American Vintage 62 P-Bass. I personally prefer fuller range pickups as compared to those wound to a higher resistance that are louder but don't have real strong upper mids. My reasoning for that is that it is possible to roll off frequencies you don't need while impossible to boost ones that are not there in the first place.

(SIDEBAR: The AV 62 pickup formerly called the Fender Original Precision Bass Pickup is now called the Fender Vintage Precision Bass Pickup on the AV 62 spec sheet since the "Original" part of the old name was a misnomer because that pickup really wasn't made to the original split coil Fender specs.)

Since first thinking it might be similar to the full range pickup used on the AV 62 model I've read one report that the new Custom Shop 60's pickup on the 2012 American Standard is actually overwound! Overwinding is exactly what cuts out the upper mids I like so much and would make it very different from the one used on the AV 62.

The Custom Shop 60's pickup is different than the American Standard pickup offered in 2011 for sure but that is about all I can say about it. At least until someone measures the coil impedance anyway.

I'd like to read more about the new pickup and know for sure what tone cap is being used. Fender traditionally has been using a 0.05uF tone capacitor on American Standard P-Basses since the model was introduced, but on the 62 American Vintage P-Bass they use a 0.10uf cap to enable the tone control to roll off more highs. With most modern P-Bass pickups a 0.10 tone cap is tonal overkill making the bass sound far too dark. It looks like the new 60's Custom Shop pickup could in fact be a compromise between the full range one used in the AV 62 and the darker sounding severely overwound pickups to enable them to continue using a 0.05 cap in the tone circuit, and while being "overwound" to some degree this new Custom Shop 60's pickup is not as overwound as some other pickups.

Also there is for sure one new color option. Jade Pearl Metallic. It looks reminiscent of Sage Green to me with a sparkle to it.

The neckback finish is now satin, and is said to play smoother.

I think the high mass bridge on the 2012 was introduced in 2011 even though they still call it "new." It is a convertible type meaning you can top load or body-through string a set of strings. It looks identical to me. It is a good compromise between a massive high mass bridge like a Leo Quan and Fender's original bass bridges. The option of whether or not to string it body-through is an excellent feature, but not new. Fender has offered convertible bridges for many years on higher end instruments.

The specific woods used no longer appear on the spec sheet, which is sort of disturbing but I think Fender just wants the freedom to change it if they need to due supply issues and suspect it is the same as 2011 but again there is no way to know for sure just reading the Fender specs. Online dealers still say alder body and maple neck but the Fender spec sheet doesn't.

The neck shape and body contours appear unchanged.

I've read a report or two (but not on the spec sheet) that it has a thinner undercoat which typically is referred to as primer/sealer. The undercoat claim made by some writers may or may not be true or unique to the 2012.

Another unconfirmed writer stated that the tuners are lighter weight, but I haven't weighted them and don't plan on it since I don't think tuner weight impacts tone.


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Post subject: Re: 2011 vs. 2012
Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2012 10:02 am
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Nut is still plastic. They call it synthetic bone, but it is plastic.


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Post subject: Re: 2011 vs. 2012
Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2012 11:01 am
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Roadie
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Location: London, UK
brotherdave wrote:
Nut is still plastic. They call it synthetic bone, but it is plastic.


Thank you very much for the information!

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AVRI 62 J Bass, AVRI 62 P Bass, USA Std. FSR Hand stained P Bass, USA Std. J Bass, F Cabronita P Bass, Squire P Bass special fretless, Squire HSS Strat.


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Post subject: Re: 2011 vs. 2012
Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 6:05 am
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@brotherdave

The CS 60s Precision pickup can be matched with a CS 60s Jazz pickup in the bridge. Have you ever tried this combination?


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