Perry Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 I intend to buy a P Bass. Looking around the net and have seen some negative views on the USA being overpriced. I've always wanted one and it will be a long while till I have the same amount of money to spend on a bass again so I would appreciate your advice. My budget is around £1000 - £1200 I don't mind a used one. Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highfox Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 (edited) Overpriced, some maybe, you'd lose a bit buying from new but secondhand you'd get a decent one off here for around £700 I'd say, and it would hold it's value quite well. Edited November 22, 2013 by Highfox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 I'd checkout good used Pbasses. I'm very happy with my passive Pbass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andydye Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 s/h is the only way to fly matey unless you're pressed for time in which case you pay the 'new bass tax'... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dingus Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 [quote name='Perry' timestamp='1385129197' post='2284782'] I intend to buy a P Bass. Looking around the net and have seen some negative views on the USA being overpriced. I've always wanted one and it will be a long while till I have the same amount of money to spend on a bass again so I would appreciate your advice. My budget is around £1000 - £1200 I don't mind a used one. Thanks in advance. [/quote] Hi Perry I don't think the current USA Fender Precision Basses are particulaly overpriced , and I would say that providing you get a good example that is well put together, ( always that proviso with anything made by Fender) then they can in fact be a bit of a bargain , especially if you compare how well they perform compared to custom-made boutique equivalents costing a lot more, usually . If you are looking at buying new or used , the post-2008 American Standard Precisions are superb basses , and the post- 2012 models have the added bonus of Custom Shop Vintage pickups. Even without the Custom Shop pickup , if you find a nice example of these basses they play and sound excellent , have good quality hardware ( high mass bridge, lightweight tuners ect) , are usually a reasonable weight and just generally tick all the right boxes . You get a great case with them , too , and they are a solid investment all- round. Used post- 2008 Am St PBasses pop up regulaly for sale on Basschat at very reasonable prices , and usually get snapped up pretty quickly , so it could be worth keeping an eye out on here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 What is "overpriced" anyway? To some people a custom bass costing nearly £10,000 is value for money. For others, £300 for a Squier may seem over the odds. If you want a P bass, and you have a grand to spend - then why not go for a US model? Personally, I would rather buy a used one. Two main reasons. One, you will save quite a bit of money against a new price; and two (especially if you buy from a trusted member on here), you can speak to its current owner and get a good idea of how good an example it is. Fender QC is not always what it should be - and that applies to US models as well as MIM! (Seems to be far less of an issue with Japanese-made Fenders though). Strangely, although their are loads of J basses for sale at the moment, there are not so many Ps - especially US ones! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badboy1984 Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 If the bass is for playing then it worth the money, nothing beats a simple passive p bass with a volume and a tone knob lol. But if you planning to buy it and then sell it at a later day, then it is not worth buying it ....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smaz Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 I have a USA Precision that I got from new in 2008. It's my main bass, it's absolutely fantastic - best out of the 10 basses I have. I paid £850 for it - I think £1k is still a fine price for it. A second hand one on here would be a great idea, you'd definitely get your moneys worth as they seem to go for around £750. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
throwoff Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 I love mine to pieces. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesFlashG Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 i have one for sale in the market place for £650 ;] case tools and original documents included Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebassist Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 I can't remember a playing a bad USA Precision Bass. I have one next on my list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebassist Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 [quote name='JamesFlashG' timestamp='1385135927' post='2284888'] i have one for sale in the market place for £650 ;] case tools and original documents included [/quote] Got a link to the sale page? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 New? Yes. And I have one that I bought new. Used, just wait for a good one at a good price and it'll be worth every penny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiMarco Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 USA P basses are cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 [quote name='JamesFlashG' timestamp='1385135927' post='2284888'] i have one for sale in the market place for £650 ;] case tools and original documents included [/quote] That`s a bargain. The 2008 - 2011 Series for me is the best and this is one of them. I love my 2011 - it`s the one bass that, unless I really get into a pickle financially, I`ll never sell, I rate it that much - and I`ve had many Fender Precisions. James - have copied a link to your bass below: http://basschat.co.uk/topic/222633-fender-precision-usa-standard-2009-l650/page__hl__precision__fromsearch__1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 [quote name='JamesFlashG' timestamp='1385135927' post='2284888'] i have one for sale in the market place for £650 ;] case tools and original documents included [/quote] Yep it is a real beaut wish I had some money Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spongebob Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 Definitely worth the money IMHO. Quality instrument, quality hard case.....look after it and it'll play for a lifetime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiOgon Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 [quote name='JamesFlashG' timestamp='1385135927' post='2284888'] i have one for sale in the market place for £650 ;] case tools and original documents included [/quote] Yep - you might have to go a long way to find a better deal than this http://basschat.co.uk/topic/222633-fender-precision-usa-standard-2009-l650/page__hl__precision__fromsearch__1 That looks a bloody lovely bargain to me. Another American P-bass driver here, best you can get by a country mile Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lojo Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 My 70s CIJ P cost that, but it was what I was after (neck profile, finish etc), upgraded with KiOgon wiring, it rocks Second hand is the way to go, but hey spending a few hundred more on a bass thats what you are really after, well a lot sillier things have been done, and if its used from years, who cares Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perry Posted November 22, 2013 Author Share Posted November 22, 2013 Many thanks for your help guys/gals. Would be happy to buy one off here but have to PX in my Spector LX. It's off to bass gallery for me! Thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oggiesnr Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 [quote name='Perry' timestamp='1385145231' post='2285050'] Many thanks for your help guys/gals. Would be happy to buy one off here but have to PX in my Spector LX. It's off to bass gallery for me! Thanks again [/quote] You might well be better off selling your Spector privately. Anyone who takes it on PX is going to want to make a profit on the deal so you'll get anything up to 30% less than its market value (more if they think it's going to hang around for a while). Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 [quote name='oggiesnr' timestamp='1385146886' post='2285077'] You might well be better off selling your Spector privately. [/quote] Yeah - good luck with [i]that[/i]! Nobody seems to want Spectors at the moment - as I know to my cost! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 [quote name='noelk27' timestamp='1385148180' post='2285105'] I'd buy a clean example of a used MIJ/CIJ, then put whichever pickups, Fender or aftermarket, into the carcass suited my tastes. You'd be left with a chunk of change from your budget, and I'm betting there's a whole bundle of others on BC who'd do the same. [/quote] Me too. But there are others for which the MIA stamp carries more weight. For me, the build quality of a Japanese bass has the edge - but the pickups can be changed fairly cheaply if you find the Jap ones a bit "polite" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dark Lord Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 [quote name='Highfox' timestamp='1385129647' post='2284785'] Overpriced, some maybe, you'd lose a bit buying from new but secondhand you'd get a decent one off here for around £700 I'd say, and it would hold it's value quite well. [/quote] More like £600 or less at the moment. When you get a proper USA P Bass, you can take your seat at the top table of bass playing. Do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Alsatian Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 If you can get one second hand, go for it - £650 is a mighty bargain. I'd happily buy another one new, as of all the P-basses I've owned, the 2010 US pipped them all for the overall combination of feel and sound. It's the neck, which sets them apart, for me. I have one on my shopping list for next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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