Bass Gear Review

Reviewer	matt blake
Experience	5
Email	matt_blake@gmx.at
Review date	August 22 2003
Manufacturer	Fender
Model	American "Hot Rodded" Precision Bass
Price	€ 1500.--
Item owned for	2-5 years

Bass type	4 string fretted
Neck join	Bolt-On
Neck construction	maple
Fingerboard	rosewood, 20 frets, 34"
Body	Fender says body made of alder
Finish	olympic white
Pickups	1 "split coil" (neck) & 1 Jazz (bridge)
Hardware	combined strings through body or top load bridge, chrome
Electronics	passive, 2x volume, 1x tone

my first "professional" bass. bought it because it sounds well balanced even without amp, especially considering low E string which is weak on many other Fender basses. PUs matched together very well, I think the Jazz-PU is hotter than the standard version, and the split coil seems to have extended high mids. playabilty was ok when I bought it, I adjusted everything on the first day when I changed the factory strings (Fender Super Bass, not really bad, but d'Addario sound better, besides I use a "custom" set, .045 .060 .080 .105 and I couldn't get single Fender strings). I didn't have to readjust it ever since. it doesn't sound vintage, but if you want a vintage tone you oughta buy a vintage instrument... it's a great bass for most styles. whenever I can take only one bass to a gig, I take this one.

Construction	100%
(well, it's a precision)
Appearance	100%
(looks perfectly like a precision)
Playability	100%
Sound	100%
Value	90%
(for me, it had to be a Fender, maybe you could get the same thing cheaper)
Overall	95%