Reviewer Michael Nelson
Manufacturer Fender
Model American Standard Precision Bass
Price approx $600 street price inc hardshell case

Neck Type Maple, 1 piece, bolt-on
Fingerboard Rosewood, fretted
Body Type Alder, 3 pieces
Finish Sunburst
Pickup(s) passive, vintage P-bass, Fender
Controls Volume & Tone
I was looking for that classic P-Bass sound for a country band I'm in. My Tobias Classic V is a great bass, but I wasn't able to get the classic tone I was looking for. Tried a number of P-Basses, old and new, including a U.S. Vintage Reissue '62 model. I actually like the American Standard better than the '62 Reissue. It has better tuners, same pickups, better bridge (heavier material and is strings through body type). Workmanship is terrific. In fact, although I like the LOOK of the "aged, yellowed" maple on the neck and headstock of the '62 Reissue, the neck is glossy and the headstock is larger... the glossy finish makes my hand stick to the neck more than the American Standard's satin finish, and the smaller headstock on the American Standard provides slightly better balance.

It cost 50% less than the '62 Reissue, sounds the same, and after I added a Chandler tortoiseshell '62 Reissue pickguard, it even looks very much like the '62 Reissue.

I'm using Thomastik flatwound strings on it in pursuit of that '60's country bass sound, and it works great for that. I'm very pleased with it overall.

Construction 100%
Playability 100%
Appearance 100%
Sound 100%
Value 100%
Cust. Service 50%
Overall 98%
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