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Post subject: Please advise: Buy new P-bass from shop or used dated 2004?
Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 1:25 pm
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Dear Fender bassists of the world, I'm an owner of a Fender 'longhorn' American Standard Jazz bass (see my avatar), but looking into buying a Precision now.

I've got two options: buying new from a shop here in the UK, which is ticking all the boxes in terms of look, but it is a bit of a stretch in the price, or buying a pre-owned dated 2004 with s/n Z2131276. The only box it's not ticking is the pickguard, which is white. The new one comes with a tortoise pickguard.

Looking for pros and cons, but particularly, what's the build quality of a new bass to date? I would guess the guitar is made in 2014, not sure.

Thanks for your time and thoughts
Muri


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Post subject: Re: Please advise: Buy new P-bass from shop or used dated 20
Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 2:47 pm
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If you like the playability and sound of both equally, and the only thing keeping you from jumping on the used bass is the pickguard all you need to do is add the price of the replacement tort guard to the price and see where you're at. Swapping a guard is quick and rather painless and can completely change the look of the instrument. So if that's all that is holding you back it's an easy decision. However, the new bass also comes with a warranty. So there's that.

As far as price I can only say that after years of talking myself out of higher end P basses I am finally at a point in my journey where I get what I want. Even if I have to be patient and wait a little while to save some funds. If you think deep down you really want the new bass. Then you honestly deserve it. Don't settle. You will likely end up regretting it in the end.

Good luck which ever way you go!

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Post subject: Re: Please advise: Buy new P-bass from shop or used dated 20
Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 3:01 pm
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Fender really raised the quality of both American Standard and Mexican Standard Precisions in recent years. So long as it's affordable to you, I would purchase new.

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Post subject: Re: Please advise: Buy new P-bass from shop or used dated 20
Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2015 1:24 am
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I prefer to buy used. More value for the dollar - err - pound in your case. And as long you get a decent deal on it you can pretty much resell it for the same price 6 months later. If it is used it doesn't really matter if you are the 4th owner or the 10th. There is only one "new owner" and unless it is a collectible model he(or she!) is the one that is going to take the loss if he decides to sell it later.

But I'm also the type that would rather buy a nice used car with all the options rather than a stripped down econobox for the same price.

I did buy a Tele new though. Don't know if same everywhere but around here you can go to the store and used Strats cover the walls. Hard to find a used Tele.

A nice used P Bass is next on the list though.


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Post subject: Re: Please advise: Buy new P-bass from shop or used dated 20
Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2015 8:25 am
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I always buy used basses because I know enough to spot problems before I buy and I feel I get the most value for my money.
There is the fact that you can resell the bass for close to if not more that what you paid for it if it is not what you like or you want to move on to something else.

Only you can make the final call.
A new bass does come with a warranty, but If something was going to go wrong with the used bass it likely would've already happened.

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Post subject: Re: Please advise: Buy new P-bass from shop or used dated 20
Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2015 7:47 pm
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Welcome back.

There is no right answer, as you can tell from the responses. All have value. However, I would lean towards the used, only because you say the new would be a stretch. Like a car, the new one loses value when you drive it off the lot. If that stretch causes an issue, you will not get it back, but you would be okay with the used.

A ten year old American Standard Precision is a very, very nice bass. And as pointed out, you can swap the PG. (but keep the original for down the road)

Go with what you can afford - and it's ten years closer to being collectible. :D

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Post subject: Re: Please advise: Buy new P-bass from shop or used dated 20
Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2015 5:45 am
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Thanks guys, I really appreciate your comments.

I'm still out on the hunt for a bass to join my arsenal. At the moment it comprises of my entry level guitar, which was an Ibanez GSR 180 (brown sunburst), and the Fender longhorn dated '89.

The reason for the hunt is that I'm with three projects, two of these are indie/pop/rock bands, and the third — and my favourite — is a funk project made of drums, bass and vocals.

I've been fan of parliament and funkadelic for years, not to mention James Brown and Jamerson, but I recently, and I mean very recently, discovered people like Curtis Mayfield, The j.B.'s, The Headhunters, to name just a few, and I just love that vibe!

I'm pretty happy with the longhorn, but I'm just curious about how a p-bass would add to the mix... I'm actually also considering a Musicman Stingray, if you don't mind me confess.

Thinking of P-bass or humbucker pickup just from the way I play for the funk project. I tend to use the neck pickup because I like the low, and fat sound that I get with the Jazz longhorn. Please not it has the stock pickup.

What you reckon?

Cheers,
M.

PS: This weekend is the London Bass Guitar Show, and Friday is payday.... dangerous!


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Post subject: Re: Please advise: Buy new P-bass from shop or used dated 20
Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2015 6:39 am
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If you're looking for 70's humbucker thump Fender used to do that back in the day pretty well, too. Last year they put out a revamp of the Tele Bass II now with two humbuckers instead of one. They weren't terribly expensive and they will surely get you that 70's deep thick sound.


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


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Post subject: Re: Please advise: Buy new P-bass from shop or used dated 20
Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2015 6:46 am
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TheKingofPain wrote:
If you're looking for 70's humbucker thump Fender used to do that back in the day pretty well, too. Last year they put out a revamp of the Tele Bass II now with two humbuckers instead of one. They weren't terribly expensive and they will surely get you that 70's deep thick sound.



Thanks for the suggestion. Didn't even know about it!


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Post subject: Re: Please advise: Buy new P-bass from shop or used dated 20
Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2015 4:06 pm
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I don't think you can go wrong with a P-Bass, as far as versatility is concerned. Then again, a Jazz isn't exactly a slouch, either.

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Post subject: Re: Please advise: Buy new P-bass from shop or used dated 20
Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2015 4:09 pm
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TheKingofPain wrote:
If you're looking for 70's humbucker thump Fender used to do that back in the day pretty well, too. Last year they put out a revamp of the Tele Bass II now with two humbuckers instead of one. They weren't terribly expensive and they will surely get you that 70's deep thick sound.



That's a pretty cool bass! By the way, that place isn't too far away from where I live (in fact I've been by there a few times in my travels.) I should find out if they still even have one of those in stock. I could possibly go down and check it out.

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