Beedster Posted December 11, 2015 Share Posted December 11, 2015 [quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1449836753' post='2927328'] They should have been on top of this a loooong time ago... [/quote] Exactly, I find it almost sad to say that if I were looking for a Precision or a Jazz the last place I'd be looking is Fender, especially if buying new, but even I was buying vintage. I've owned/still own 70's Precisions by Yamaha and Ibanez and, despite costing no more than £300 each, both blow 70's Fenders out of the water. My current Yam is better than all of my pre-CBSs. Whilst the current Fender product line is clearly more QC consistent by comparison with earlier eras, so it bloody well should be a for a company that have been doing it for 60+ years. The problem is however that they charge a massive premium for the name. I'm not exaggerating when I say that Yamaha have better instruments in their budget ranges than Fender have in their Custom Shop range. Even Fender's standard MIA offering is creeping up to the level for which you can buy a pretty outstanding instrument from a whole range of better builders like Sadowsky. They're not alone of course, Rics are even worse, at least Fender have their current QC sorted, Ric are still sending unplayable 4003s to shops at close to £2000. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubit Posted December 12, 2015 Share Posted December 12, 2015 [quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1449864502' post='2927677'] Exactly, I find it almost sad to say that if I were looking for a Precision or a Jazz the last place I'd be looking is Fender, especially if buying new, but even I was buying vintage. I've owned/still own 70's Precisions by Yamaha and Ibanez and, despite costing no more than £300 each, both blow 70's Fenders out of the water. My current Yam is better than all of my pre-CBSs. Whilst the current Fender product line is clearly more QC consistent by comparison with earlier eras, so it bloody well should be a for a company that have been doing it for 60+ years. The problem is however that they charge a massive premium for the name. I'm not exaggerating when I say that Yamaha have better instruments in their budget ranges than Fender have in their Custom Shop range. Even Fender's standard MIA offering is creeping up to the level for which you can buy a pretty outstanding instrument from a whole range of better builders like Sadowsky. They're not alone of course, Rics are even worse, at least Fender have their current QC sorted, Ric are still sending unplayable 4003s to shops at close to £2000. [/quote] Not that you are exaggerating at all ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted December 12, 2015 Share Posted December 12, 2015 [quote name='ubit' timestamp='1449881295' post='2927794'] Not that you are exaggerating at all ! [/quote] Well perhaps a little However, the general sentiment is true, Fender are just not 'the best' any more, at anything, and certainly not Precisions. All they're doing to maintain market position is producing an almost interminable flow of 'signature', road-worn and relic instruments, most of which are all pretty much the same as each other barring the colour scheme and a few idiosyncratic details. OK, they have improved the quality of their budget instruments hugely, and should perhaps be praised for doing so, but in the context of 'best' - which is what this thread was about - they're not even top 5. My comment re FCS wasn't all exaggeration however, play a Yammie BB1024 against many FCS Precisions or P/Js and all you'll notice when you leave the shop is the extra grand in your bank account. OK, I'm no great fan of the look of the Yammie, but the build quality, playability and tone are outstanding, and you get the feeling you are playing an instrument built by a company that is constantly striving to make better instruments, not simply more instruments. This years I've sold all my Fenders - including a couple of CSs - but kept the Yamahas. In fact this is the first time in almost 20 years that I don't have a Fender. If I wanted a high quality Precision that I can't get off-the-peg or on here, I'd probably build one from custom Warmoth parts. And my comment re Ric, probably understatement Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted December 12, 2015 Share Posted December 12, 2015 [quote name='gsgbass' timestamp='1449891703' post='2927814'] You Sir, are so correct. A true Precision, is a Fender Precision. [/quote] But not necessarily the 'best', as sought by the OP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nash Posted December 12, 2015 Author Share Posted December 12, 2015 I guess if I should re-word the question. Suggestion of P type basses around the new price of USA Fenders and Lakland Skyline (£1k?) and also a brand with a good QC consistency. So not necessarily the absolute best but still very good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KK Jale Posted December 12, 2015 Share Posted December 12, 2015 (edited) Simples. Buy another Japanese Precision that doesn't have the sentimental value of your old one, and use that. Squier JV, Fender JV, you know the drill. Will hold value, not hard to resell down the line, and you already know they're great. Edited December 12, 2015 by KK Jale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted December 12, 2015 Share Posted December 12, 2015 Oh... you should have said earlier. In that case - Maruszczyk. I was hanging on for the new Lakland Skyline PJ with blocks. When it came out, they couldn't guarantee the weight, and a lot of the parts a aren't the best quality. When I spotted the Jakes, I couldn't believe my luck. My exact spec, for a few hundred quid less, and it's not made in Indonesia. IMO, anyone considering a Lakland, Sandberg, Fender, wether USA, German, Japanese. Indonesian or otherwise, should at least check these out first. I'm painfully aware that I bang on about them all the time, but I'm doing everyone a favour :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted December 12, 2015 Share Posted December 12, 2015 (edited) [quote name='nash' timestamp='1449937228' post='2928191'] I guess if I should re-word the question. Suggestion of P type basses around the new price of USA Fenders and Lakland Skyline (£1k?) and also a brand with a good QC consistency. So not necessarily the absolute best but still very good. [/quote]One of our number was waxing lyrical about this in another thread http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/D_Lakin_Bob_Glaub_Sonic_Blue.html And said thread http://basschat.co.uk/topic/274892-tried-a-new-d-lakin-bob-glaub-today/page__p__2928161__hl__lakland__fromsearch__1#entry2928161 Edited December 12, 2015 by ezbass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KK Jale Posted December 12, 2015 Share Posted December 12, 2015 Those [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Maruszczyk scratchplates, though. *shudders*[/font][/color] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted December 12, 2015 Share Posted December 12, 2015 Which ones? The standard Jakes? Just a bit of a rounder lower horn. It stops you pricking your finger on it :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
interpol52 Posted December 12, 2015 Share Posted December 12, 2015 (edited) [quote name='cocco' timestamp='1449780111' post='2926835'] I've got no idea how to say it. Maroochick? I should have figured that out before I ordered one [/quote] Marooshchick I believe! With the 'i' sounding a little bit like an 'uh' and pronounced quickly. Edited December 12, 2015 by interpol52 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raslee Posted December 12, 2015 Share Posted December 12, 2015 I enjoy trying lots of different basses and never get attached to anything I plan to sell....apart from my Limelight P I sold a few months back. So much so I went to my Devon Limelight friend yesterday and alas I went for the Thin Lizzy Precision...feels like coming home..and it did. Gigged as well last night, love it. There's a little bit of magic in every limelight I've tried...magic I rarely get in other Precisions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martin8708 Posted December 12, 2015 Share Posted December 12, 2015 You can get a good JV Squier Precision for around £6 -700 ish , that would be my choice . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nash Posted December 12, 2015 Author Share Posted December 12, 2015 [quote name='martin8708' timestamp='1449960844' post='2928462'] You can get a good JV Squier Precision for around £6 -700 ish , that would be my choice . [/quote] Buying a collectors bass goes against my original post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nash Posted December 14, 2015 Author Share Posted December 14, 2015 I've got to say I quite like the new Sandberg shapes. I'm normally quite traditional when it comes to P-bass shapes but this reminds me a little of the Ibanez ATK I once had. Has anyone tried one yet? http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Sandberg_II_VM4_Orange_2.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebuckets Posted December 18, 2015 Share Posted December 18, 2015 [quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1449938532' post='2928207'] Oh... you should have said earlier. In that case - Maruszczyk. I was hanging on for the new Lakland Skyline PJ with blocks. When it came out, they couldn't guarantee the weight, and a lot of the parts a aren't the best quality. When I spotted the Jakes, I couldn't believe my luck. My exact spec, for a few hundred quid less, and it's not made in Indonesia. IMO, anyone considering a Lakland, Sandberg, Fender, wether USA, German, Japanese. Indonesian or otherwise, should at least check these out first. I'm painfully aware that I bang on about them all the time, but I'm doing everyone a favour :-) [/quote] what is the hardwate on the jake like? can the p pups be swapped out for standard p sized pups (|SPD1/3 etc and what are their own pups like? id want to fit a drop d tuner what size and type of tuners do they fit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted December 18, 2015 Share Posted December 18, 2015 [quote name='thebuckets' timestamp='1450459132' post='2933103'] what is the hardwate on the jake like? can the p pups be swapped out for standard p sized pups (|SPD1/3 etc and what are their own pups like? id want to fit a drop d tuner what size and type of tuners do they fit? [/quote] The hardware is all good. The tuners are usually their own, P-style, but they use Hipshots etc. when needed. Best drop Adrian a mail and ask him. As for pickups, both the Haussels in my 'burst and Maruszczyks in my new white one are marvellous. The Maruszczyks seem hotter and growlier (but that might be down to other factors). There's a lovely red Jake knocking around Tyneside (was owned by Warwickhunt, recently sold on to another player around here) that has an aftermarket DiMarzio in it - whether it was a straight drop-in or not, I don't know. Again, Adrian will be able to let you know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebuckets Posted December 19, 2015 Share Posted December 19, 2015 [quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1449903502' post='2927823'] Well perhaps a little However, the general sentiment is true, Fender are just not 'the best' any more, at anything, and certainly not Precisions. All they're doing to maintain market position is producing an almost interminable flow of 'signature', road-worn and relic instruments, most of which are all pretty much the same as each other barring the colour scheme and a few idiosyncratic details. OK, they have improved the quality of their budget instruments hugely, and should perhaps be praised for doing so, but in the context of 'best' - which is what this thread was about - they're not even top 5. My comment re FCS wasn't all exaggeration however, play a Yammie BB1024 against many FCS Precisions or P/Js and all you'll notice when you leave the shop is the extra grand in your bank account. OK, I'm no great fan of the look of the Yammie, but the build quality, playability and tone are outstanding, and you get the feeling you are playing an instrument built by a company that is constantly striving to make better instruments, not simply more instruments. This years I've sold all my Fenders - including a couple of CSs - but kept the Yamahas. In fact this is the first time in almost 20 years that I don't have a Fender. If I wanted a high quality Precision that I can't get off-the-peg or on here, I'd probably build one from custom Warmoth parts. And my comment re Ric, probably understatement [/quote] totally agree my yammie 1025 is spot on, a quality instrument but I still find myself looking at the good old humble fender P. I am also spending a lot of time looking at the Jake 4p they have a fiesta red pino a like for about 650 which looks a bargain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Dean Posted December 19, 2015 Share Posted December 19, 2015 JJB Shuker , built for gigging qell worth the money , I wouldn't go for the graphite neck one unless you really need something ultra lite . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hutton Posted December 27, 2015 Share Posted December 27, 2015 The copies all come and go and are fashionable for a while but Fender remains as the standard pro instrument. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funky Dunky Posted December 28, 2015 Share Posted December 28, 2015 Mike Lull Lakin G&L LB100 All superb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gareth Posted December 28, 2015 Share Posted December 28, 2015 [quote name='Hutton' timestamp='1451249042' post='2939114'] The copies all come and go and are fashionable for a while but Fender remains as the standard pro instrument. [/quote]exactly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deepbass5 Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 (edited) If you are on a budget have a look at these [url="http://flexxbasses.com/"]http://flexxbasses.com/[/url] [url="http://www.youtube.com/v/hENl2hPNRBs&autoplay=1"]http://www.youtube.c...NRBs&autoplay=1[/url] [url="https://youtu.be/Q3Mf3lVTnRI"]https://youtu.be/Q3Mf3lVTnRI[/url] Edited January 4, 2016 by deepbass5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebuckets Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 Those flexx basses look nice. Similar price to a 'jake' tuners look to be better quality but thats not a deal maker. Anyone any experience of them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guinness21 Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 For me it's the G&L Lb-100 or the Fender am. standard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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