It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 10:44 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 11 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: ADPB: White Blonde or Olympic White?
Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2014 8:06 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Mon May 24, 2010 2:33 pm
Posts: 27
Location: Prescott Valley, Arizona
I've been trying to pick out the model of Precision bass for my next purchase, and the winner is (or will be, more accurately) the American Deluxe. My only decision now is picking the color I want. The nearest Guitar Center is around 118 miles from me. The only ADPB anywhere around me is Natural with the 3-ply B-W-B pickguard. Nice, but not for me.

My ADPB will be either Olympic White or White Blonde. I guess the thing to do is to get down to a GC that has both colors, and see for myself. But it just seems such a hassle to drive 236 miles round-trip just to see a couple of colors side-by-side. The pics on the Fender website makes them look about the same. Now, I'm a retired printing press operator and we used to use a standard color swatchbook called the Pantone Matching System. So I know for a fact that there is such a thing as being able to compare color swatches and telling someone that "well, my bass looks like _____ color swatch". But I doubt any of you guys who have access to both colors of Precison bass would also have access to a Pantone Matching System swatchbook as well.

Ideas, anyone? Or should I just suck it up and get down to my nearest GC?

Thanks,
...Doug

_________________
Doug in Prescott Valley, Arizona U.S.A.
4-string Squier P-bass Special with EMG "Geezer Butler" P-J pickups
"Smoothie" compressor by OVNIFX
Ampeg B-100R, Ampeg B-50R


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: ADPB: White Blonde or Olympic White?
Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2014 10:46 am
Offline
Amateur
Amateur

Joined: Sun Nov 04, 2012 10:11 am
Posts: 195
I know from seeing many of them the blonde white has kind of a transparency that makes it almost look natural i know how you did not like the natural finish i do like the vintage blonde because it looks well vintage or broken in but you can never go wrong with olympic white either the current bass im just finishing building is a white P bass with black Pickguard and a maple fretboard


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: ADPB: White Blonde or Olympic White?
Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2014 11:06 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Mon Oct 15, 2012 7:16 pm
Posts: 18659
Location: In this country town, where the laughter sounds...
I have Olympic White, and have compared the two in a local store. The Blonde White is very washed out looking. I'll go with Olympic White, over the Blonde White every time. Personal preference for me anyway.

_________________
"Electric Lady"
Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: ADPB: White Blonde or Olympic White?
Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2014 1:05 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Mon May 24, 2010 2:33 pm
Posts: 27
Location: Prescott Valley, Arizona
Two votes for Olympic White - thanks guys. I suspect you're right - I knew a couple of guys with O.W. Strats, and I always liked the look. For myself, I've decided to go with an Aged White Pearl pickguard on Olympic White for my American Deluxe - maple fingerboard, by the way. That's the combo that really does it for me!

I truly appreciate the helpful, friendly advice I've gotten from this board. Makes an old coot like me think there's a bit of hope for the world.
...Doug

_________________
Doug in Prescott Valley, Arizona U.S.A.
4-string Squier P-bass Special with EMG "Geezer Butler" P-J pickups
"Smoothie" compressor by OVNIFX
Ampeg B-100R, Ampeg B-50R


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: ADPB: White Blonde or Olympic White?
Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2014 12:37 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2007 4:18 pm
Posts: 1921
Location: Upstate, NY
White Blonde. My AVS 57 Precision is gorgeous. Oly White is cool, but there's really no comparison.

Image

_________________
http://www.reverbnation.com/casanovafrankensteinandthevoodoomachine
https://www.facebook.com/CFandtheVM

2012 Fender Custom Shop 55 Precision Bass
2012 Fender American Vintage 57 Precision Bass RI
2014 Fender Super Bassman and Bassman 100T/410 Neo


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: ADPB: White Blonde or Olympic White?
Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2014 6:07 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Mon Oct 15, 2012 7:16 pm
Posts: 18659
Location: In this country town, where the laughter sounds...
TheKingofPain wrote:
White Blonde. My AVS 57 Precision is gorgeous. Oly White is cool, but there's really no comparison.

Image


That does look good.

_________________
"Electric Lady"
Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: ADPB: White Blonde or Olympic White?
Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2014 6:30 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star

Joined: Fri Apr 08, 2011 5:14 pm
Posts: 3169
Location: Linningrad
:arrow: I love white blonde because it looks like a whitewash and you can see the wood grain through the finish. Ghastly refinished a vintage Precision in a relic'd white blonde that turned out fabulously beautiful.

Olympic white just looks like a Fender Refridgerator. So What :roll: But hey! If you're just going to be plucking around in your kitchen, your bass just might as well be color coordinated. Right? :lol:

_________________
2012 Lefty American Standard Jazz
2017 Lefty American Professional Precision
2018 Rumble Studio 40 Combo
2016 Rumble 200 Combo
One day they shall name a GREAT city after me, and they shall call it LINNINGRAD


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: ADPB: White Blonde or Olympic White?
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 12:53 pm
Offline
Amateur
Amateur

Joined: Thu Aug 11, 2011 2:43 pm
Posts: 165
Olympic White looks fantastic under stage lights. Pops right out but still has loads of depth to it, and you can sense that depth from dozens of feet away. I can't say much for that white blonde other than it looks like that hard-as-nails undercoat I used to have to deal with whenever I refin'd a Sunburst body years ago, except with a few coats of clear on it. Not saying it looks bad, just that it does nothing for me at all.

_________________
--


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: ADPB: White Blonde or Olympic White?
Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2014 12:18 am
Offline
Amateur
Amateur

Joined: Sat Aug 17, 2013 12:37 pm
Posts: 178
I went through the same dilemma.

I am a big fan of the Blonde - it is a beautiful instrument. I was against it until I saw it and instantly loved it.

The Olympic white I find a bit boring.

The other thing to consider is that if you are choosing between two whites, then it probably doesn't matter which one you take - go with the Blonde.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: ADPB: White Blonde or Olympic White?
Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2014 6:29 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2007 4:18 pm
Posts: 1921
Location: Upstate, NY
Another way to look at it is like this. What P tone do you prefer? Do you like an alder bodied or ash bodied tone? I'm partial to 50's P tones. If you dig 60's and later tones and want that darker, warmer sound that alder colors the sound of the split coil P with. Then the answer is simple. Oly White on alder. (I won't get into the other whites. That way lies madness. Arctic is very nice, though) Because Alder isn't something you do a see through finish on. Then you let what you prefer to sound like make the choice for you. In my opinion, that's always the first and foremost concern.

My playing white blonde basses isn't simply an aesthetic choice. I love 50's ash body and maple neck tones. So when choosing a bass I go with that combo. Now in white that leaves me the see through blonde which I love. However, I can tell you that if I preferred the sound of the 62-63 Precision over the 57 then I would have went with Oly White and never given it a second thought. Because in the end. Finishes are simply icing on the cake, and nothing else. If it doesn't sound and play the way you like. It doesn't matter how nice looking it is.

I happen to have two white blonde 50's reissues, but I got them both used. If I had shown up and the 55 played and sounded how I wanted it to, but it had Nocaster Blonde, or some wacky other color I would have still bought the bass. If I ever order a Custom Shop bass it will be a 51 Precision with ash/maple and a see through finish. However, i will certainly choose something a little more out there than white blonde that time around.

_________________
http://www.reverbnation.com/casanovafrankensteinandthevoodoomachine
https://www.facebook.com/CFandtheVM

2012 Fender Custom Shop 55 Precision Bass
2012 Fender American Vintage 57 Precision Bass RI
2014 Fender Super Bassman and Bassman 100T/410 Neo


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: ADPB: White Blonde or Olympic White?
Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2014 7:07 pm
Offline
Amateur
Amateur

Joined: Tue Jun 09, 2009 5:31 pm
Posts: 175
I have a 1999 american fat strat. I don't know how olympic white ages? But my white blonde strat gets sweeter with age. It's getting more creamier, with a nice glow to it.
I think white blonde is one of Fender's prettiest colors, but I love translucent finishes. I like seeing the woodgrain.


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: