Bass Gear Review

Reviewer	matt blake
Experience	5
Email	matt_blake@gmx.at
Review date	August 22 2003
Manufacturer	Fender
Model	50th Anniversary Precision Bass 2001
Price	€ 1850.--
Item owned for	1-2 years

Bass type	4 string fretted
Neck join	Bolt-On
Neck construction	maple
Fingerboard	laquered maple, 20 frets, 34" scale
Body	alder
Finish	butterscotch blonde
Pickups	1 vintage split coil
Hardware	strings through body bridge, chrome
Electronics	passive, 1x volume, 1x tone

I bought it for its "original" P-Bass tone. it has got tons of low mids, and the maple fretboard gives it an extra amount of attack. I use it whenever I need pure pressure. played through almost anything that looks like a bass amp it sounds great. played through a pair of Ampeg SVT3Pros with 810s + 215s it sounds like a serious earthquake. I could slap on it or play fast licks (playability is super), but on this bass, one note is enough... the only problem is, unlike on "non-vintage" Fender basses where the pickguard has a small gap, you have to remove the pickguard to adjust the neck, which means, you have to 1. lower string tension, 2. remove the pickguard-mounting screws, 3. adjust the neck, 4. retune, 5. check if (hope that no) more adjustment is required, 6. lower string tension again (very good for string-life...), 7. reinstall the pickguard (the screws "bite" into the wood...), 8. retune again

Construction	98%
(would be perfect without the pickguard problem)
Appearance	100%
(looks like directly out of the 50s)
Playability	100%
Sound	100%
(if you like the sound of a Precision bass)
Value	95%
Overall	98%