LemonCello Posted September 28, 2015 Share Posted September 28, 2015 I got this from Bass Direct at the wknd and it's the nicest US P Bass I've played. The two previous ones an Oly white 2008 and hand stained FSR 2012 had slightly roughly finished necks. This one is very nicely finished and has a great action. The previous owner added a Gotoh bridge, the gold anodized pickguard (which looks great) and swapped the standard pup's for Seymours. Very happy with it [attachment=201716:PTop.jpg] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassman Sam Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 That looks sweet. The pick guard is a great touch, it really works with the CAR finish. Which Seymours did you fit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LemonCello Posted September 29, 2015 Author Share Posted September 29, 2015 Hi Sam. Seymours were fitted by the previous owner as was the pickguard and bridge. I think they are Qtr Pounders judging by the size of the pole pieces. Sound fat and punchy whatever they are! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary mac Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 Looks lovely and the gold p/g is a very fetching addition Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madshadows Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 Looks great, congrats John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 Pretty! Was it a standard P originally? I'm not aware of any American special PJ's..? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 I do like that colour scheme Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franzbassist Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 Looks like a [url="http://www.gak.co.uk/en/fender-active-p-bass-special-chrome-red-maple/15792"]Deluxe Active Precision Special[/url] to me, with upgraded bridge and pups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 [quote name='walbassist' timestamp='1443525390' post='2875477'] Looks like a [url="http://www.gak.co.uk/en/fender-active-p-bass-special-chrome-red-maple/15792"]Deluxe Active Precision Special[/url] to me, with upgraded bridge and pups. [/quote] Aren't they MIM...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 (edited) [quote name='walbassist' timestamp='1443525390' post='2875477'] Looks like a [url="http://www.gak.co.uk/en/fender-active-p-bass-special-chrome-red-maple/15792"]Deluxe Active Precision Special[/url] to me, with upgraded bridge and pups. [/quote] I sold one of these recently. Other than the upgrades that's exactly what it looks like. Edited September 29, 2015 by Bigwan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franzbassist Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 [quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1443525806' post='2875485'] Aren't they MIM...? [/quote] I don't know, Michael Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 (edited) [quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1443525806' post='2875485'] Aren't they MIM...? [/quote] The P-bass Deluxe Special IS MIM. This looks extremely similar... If I were the OP I'd be having a wee word with Mark at Bass Direct... Edited September 29, 2015 by Bigwan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LemonCello Posted September 29, 2015 Author Share Posted September 29, 2015 Chaps... I bought it from Mark as advertised as a USA. The serial number starts with the letters US and there is a Corona California neck plate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LewisK1975 Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 Think the confusion is being caused by the P/J pickups. I don't believe any US production models have that as standard, has the J pickup been added maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LemonCello Posted September 29, 2015 Author Share Posted September 29, 2015 The following from Fender website which (I think) clears it up [color=#000000][font=robotoslab, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=4]A new serial numbering scheme was adopted toward the end of 2009 using the number “10” as a prefix, followed by a space, followed by seven digits. The “10” prefix was designed to identify the first year of the second decade of the new millennium, and while it appears on the instrument decals, it was not captured in Fender’s operating system. Only the seven-digit suffixes were actually entered into the database. These serial numbers did not identify the country of origin in the body of the number. Instead, the instrument's country of origin appears on the decal on the back of the headstock, near the serial number.[/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=robotoslab, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=4]This new numbering scheme was short-lived and was replaced only a few months later by an improved scheme that identifies an instrument’s country of origin and year of manufacture in the body of the serial number.[/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=robotoslab, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=4]This new scheme uses the letters “US” as a prefix to designate an instrument made in the United States, followed by an eight-digit number. The first two digits of the number identify the year of manufacture, (10 for 2010, 11 for 2011, etc.). The following six digits are the unit identifier, although it should be noted that these final six numbers are not sequential and do not provide any other identification information about the instrument. This new scheme is now used on the majority of U.S.-made Fender instruments, with exceptions including the American Vintage series and certain special-run instruments.[/size][/font][/color] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 Hmm... serial numbers aside, it' still a pretty unique instrument... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LemonCello Posted September 29, 2015 Author Share Posted September 29, 2015 The headstock clearly says made in USA and the neckplate says Corona California. This still doesn't explain the fact it's a P/J however, but this might. I have heard that Fender have built 'some' instruments , not often, using mixed parts (MIM/USA) which were assembled in Corona and this may fit into that category? I spoke to Mark and although a bit vague did say if I wasn't happy he'd have it back. To tell you the truth, as it's such a good instrument I'm minded to keep it. I might e mail Fender customer support for a definitive answer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LemonCello Posted September 29, 2015 Author Share Posted September 29, 2015 E mail to Fender sent....I'll keep you all posted Thanks for all your comments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LemonCello Posted October 3, 2015 Author Share Posted October 3, 2015 Update: I e mailed Fender customer relations and got a reply the next day - great service as I really wasn't expecting a response! The serial number of my P/J relates to an Am Stnd which left the factory in 2010, the neck from which became 'aquainted' with what must only be a Mex body on my bass some time after. I forwarded the mail from Fender to Mark at Bass Direct where the Bass was advertised as a USA. He had assumed it was a (full) USA as it was told to him that way when the previous owner Px'd it for a Sandberg. Mark e mailed the previous owner to try and get some more info and the chap told Mark he had bought it off a mate as is. When I originally phoned Mark about the provenance of the Bass he told me he'd done some research after taking the Bass in and come to the conclusion it was a US/Mex mix. I made the point to him that really that should have been pointed out in the advertising. To be fair he's been very good about it and has refunded part of the price I paid and I am very happy with the outcome. It has the best Fender neck I've played and overall the action is perfect for me. It is a beautiful instrument and the addition of the Seymours and Gotoh bridge really do improve things no end. Mystery over! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cytania Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 Sometimes a marriage of different parts just works, sounds like you've got a good one. I'm reminded of Dan Patlansky's Strat, old and new paired in a great way. http://www.guitar-bass.net/interviews/interview-dan-patlansky-qa/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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