Reviewer Mark Barron
Experience 40
Review date January 06 2002
Manufacturer Fender
Model American Deluxe Zone Bass (walnut version)
Price $1100.00
Item owned for Less than 1 month

Bass type 4 string fretted
Neck join Bolt-On
Neck construction Maple with Graphite stiffening rods
Fingerboard Rosewood,22 frets.
Body 5 piece body.This version,walnut/flame maple/mahogany/flame maple/walnu
t.Also available,flame maple/walnut/alder/walnut/flame maple.
Finish Clear amber tint gloss.
Pickups Fender soapbars (at this point, I don't know if the electronics are
proprietary or developed by an outside party).
Hardware Schaller Ultra Light tuners,Schaller Straplocks,Fender string throu
gh body or rear loading bridge.Gold.
Electronics 18 volt active with 3 band eq.
Ok...I was in my friend's shop trying to figure out how to spend my store credit, when the UPS man came in with a box from Fender. Of course, being the nosey MFer that I am, I opened the box to find one of the new American Zone basses, this was the Walnut/Mahogany/Walnut version (they also come Flame Maple/Alder/Flame Maple). Holy cripes! It was beautiful! I've been waiting for the new Victor Bailey Jazz basses with the Koa tops to show up but I haven't seen one yet. I had already played the Maple version of the Zone bass, so I had a head start. The main difference in the Bailey and this is the woods, the smaller body on the Zone and that the Bailey uses the Noisless Jazz bass pickups, while the Zone has soapbars. Let me say this: Fender has now turned the corner and joined the 21st century. In all respects this bass hits the mark. It is rock solid in construction....this walnut version is totally reminiscent of the Alembic Europa I once owned,although it is a bolt on neck.The fretwork is impeccible, they really paid attention to detail. The fit and finish is tight as a drum and the electronics sound freakin' amazing.These soapbars give you a very broad and "tied together",smooth low end and the highs can almost be compared to a Stingray....yet it still sounds like a Fender somehow. I imagine that's the sonic difference too between these and the Victor Bailey Jazz pickups....but I'd have to A/B them.My only gripe: they're sticking with the standard Fender Deluxe string through body bridge. I'm much rather see them using a Hipshot or ABM style rear loading brass bridge on this model. I plan on doing that modification on my own instrument. I walked out with it.....she's all mine. Sitting proudly and with equal respect next to the MTD 535's. If I see a Victor Bailey Jazz and it's as nice as this, I'm in big trouble....lol.

Construction 98%
(Incredible attention to detail. I'd prefer a different bridge.)
Appearance 98%
(Looks like a Custom Shop level instrument.)
Playability 98%
(Capable of taking a very low set up with very light strings.)
Sound 95%
(Sound is so subjective....I love what this thing does.)
Value 90%
(Once again...subjective.)
Overall 95%
(Fender has finally responded to the state of the art.)
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