Fender U.S. Deluxe Precision Bass [1995-1997]

(Originally written by Tibo1987/translated from Audiofanzine FR)

50th anniversary USA-made Fender Guitar (1996). My model is a sunburst.

22 frets.

Deluxe machine heads (very, very good).

1 Precision pickup (upgraded to a Bartolini)
1 Jazz humbucker in bridge position (jazz pickups pair)
Only active...
Bass, mid, high, pickups balance, volume.

Fender bridge with through body strings.

Maple neck and rosewood fingerboard.

Slightly cheap pearl pickguard!

It's the best Precision bass I've ever played. It has a huge sound and a very sweet feel. The big advantage comes from the dual jazz pickup in the bridge position providing a growling jazz sound although it is a Precision model. Good manufacturing quality exception for the neck varnish.

I only give it a 9 because its only active and the flaking neck varnish.

UTILIZATION

I've been playing it for a couple of days now and I will soon take it to a rehearsal. I already know that it will sound great.

If I were a professional musician, it would be my favorite working tool: Very good and versatile tone providing classic Precision and Jazz Bass sounds. It's not too heavy, it's well balanced, it has a good finish, it looks great but not too flashy. It's perfect.

SOUNDS

Neck pickup: Big and round Precision sound. The Bartolini pickup is awesome the tone a really good definition. It sounds warm, full and round, it provides a wide frequency range, specially in the lows and ultra-lows. It also produces nice high frequencies for slap playing... A real Precision tone.

Bridge pickup: Typical Jazz Bass sound with perhaps a bit less bite. I'm using the original pickup and it does a darn good job. I set it as close as possible to the strings to enhance the sound precision and the result is a powerful growling Jazz Bass tone. With both pickups the sound is full with the big low-end of the neck pickup and the biting mid and high frequencies of the bridge pickup. This combination produces a huge, full and "straight" sound.

OVERALL OPINION

I've been using it for a couple of months.

I love it. In the beginning I thought it didn't have as much character as other models. But it's great. I said great but I could've said perfect because I don't find any weaknesses (yes I do... the varnish. It is flaking off the edge of the neck).

Excellent value for money (even with the Bartolini price increase). You get a beautiful and rare professional instrument for a reasonable price, .

I would definitely buy it again (although it might be hard to find a second one).

I'm just asking myself why Fender doesn't increase the production.

I have 10 years. It has a handle Saddle two microphones: one type Prcison and a double Jazz Bass but that can be used sparment or mixer. An electronic active trs effective can boost the bass and treble mdiums. Many possibilities of sounds. The violin is of excellent quality.

UTILIZATION

The handle is quite large but comfortable, however. Access in acute is ais. The bass is heavy enough it has a slight tendency to prick head. The rglages are very simple and effective. Can not find the right sound at all times.

SOUNDS

The sound, the sounds are superb. Trs big round sounds good. You can play anything with this bass (rock, funk, slap ...). The sounds are, however, trs typs Fender Obviously. Pure happiness.

OVERALL OPINION

A superb low comfortable in all situations. Very beautiful sounds of trs. A little heavy, though?

American Deluxe series - alder body - Neck and Fingerboard Saddle - 22 Medium Jumbo frets - 1x Micro P-Bass and 1x Humbucker new design new design - Rglages: Master Volume, Balance microphones, bass, mid, treble - Bridge Deluxe chrome in metal (passing string through body or standard) - Case included


UTILIZATION

Channel pleasant but I realize that after 15 years of use, the handle s'avre too wide for my hands, both the left (from the 5th case) that the right. I could work it but I think a J-Bass will suit me much better. Think about it is super important! Attention fatigue!

The handle is quite heavy and tends dsquilibrer all but this is not a rel problem, you get used to. The bass is a little heavier than the average heavy.

A good sound is easily adjustable GENERALLY, can boost the bass / Medum / AIGS, there is a neck pickup panpot (softer) bridge pickup (more aigbr />

SOUNDS

For style "Classic Rock", no problem, sound is l.

I use a Trace Elliot GP12 1210 SERIES 6, and frankly, there's nothing to complain, spent across all occasions (rpt, concert bar, concert hall etc. transplanted ).

I love her very fat, this bass gives you on a good amp. Remember the amp (and especially the size of its speaker is half of your sound: big speakers big bass =) my Trace Elliot has only 10 speakers and''do not sound as fat as the bass could give it but good, "even when going well ...



OVERALL OPINION

I use this bass since I bought new, in 1995. I had bought 40,000 Belgian francs (= 1000) with the tui and all the little accessories (cls of rglage, cloth, etc. ...), I succeded Minimizing request because she was offering 50,000 Belgian francs (= 1250) ...

A trip to California, I think, caused some DGAT: rest in the trunk of a car in the hot (Mohave deserts) a little too long to dilate the frets and "curdle polish (well, I think it's because of the heat) = juice finger was introduced by the end of the frets and varnish s'enlve small small s'caille and especially on the 5 Premire frets = hurt! I had to sand the edges of the button to soften the edges of keys = find themselves naked and blackened ... The Saddle Saddle, unlike wood exotic style rosewood or ebony rot MUST be varnished.

The frets are well worn after 15 years and require replanning, but the instrument is still playable without problem.

I'd even when another low. The handle is too wide for me. A Jazz Bass, for example.

(The photo was taken in 2005 t)