I have a Fender bass at home for a review. It's a new Chinese Modern Player Tele Bass. (MP) No gigbag, as expensive as a standard Mexican P, but ofcourse a strange animal.
As you know it's made in the Squier factory. I have the Squier TB Bass, which is almost the same, but with one pick up. The MP has two. Some differences:
- The whole neck/fretboard is lacquered. The Squier TB has an unpainted neck, but the Squier '54 Tele has. So I think it's the same neck as this one, but with 'Fender' on it. No 'Tele' or 'Precision' on it. Just 'Fender'.
- The Squier TB has two brass saddles and is string through. The MP has four brass saddles and it has the non-string through Himass bridge. Again the same as on the Squier '54.
- Ofcourse it has two pickups and so an extra volume control. Cheap pots and cheap controls without an adjustment screw.
- According to the site it has an alder body and not basswood like the Squier.
In short it's the neck and the bridge of the Squier '54 combined with the TB-body.
My review example is butterscotch with a black guard and that one looks MUCH better than the sunburst version. Because of its white plate and black pickup ring it's a bit too much... This one is just like it was designed that way in '72 and I always think the pickguard of the '72 Tele is the nicest Fender-guard.
This bass looks very good, it resonates good, it's very well made and in Holland it costs approximately 500 euros. The Squier TB is 350 or something and a standard Mexican P 450. So for 150 euros extra, compared to the TB, you have a better bridge, a lacquered neck, a Fender decal, an extra pickup and extra body woods. I think it's worth it.
I only played it acoustic yet, but the body resonates very well. For the first time in years I'm a bit in love with a Fender bass... And I reviewed quite a lot of 'm. Last great one was the 50s P.
More on it when I played it trough an amp.
Of course I also think it's strange Fender puts its name on a Chinese bass.
OW: AND I LOVE THE NEW PAWNSHOP GUITAR AMPS... I would almost start to play guitar....