Bullet bass deluxe anyone else into these? One of the most under-rated Fender basses of all time, the "student model" step child replacement for the Mustang. But the "Deluxe" model is 34" Scale. I just won this one earlier today.
After owning over 100 basses over the last 12 years, gibsons, rick 4001-4003s, early 70s p-basses, Jazzes,customs, you name it These are the basses I come back to full circle.
Heres why.
Built in the original Fullerton Fender factory with left over old parts.
Where else can you get the following neck for this kind of money? this combo on a Fender bass is not too common.
Neck specs
Full scale -
"B" width,
1 piece maple
Your choice of either walnut OR maple skunk stripe, as they came with both, Maple skunk stripe I haven't seen on another fender bass.
small vintage frets.
Soft V profile.
Early P-Tele headstock with the little bit smaller Sting ray style tuners.
a GREAT neck!
Body, Slightly downsized slab P-bass body.
electronics consist of left over Mustang bass pickups under white covers.
Tone -Heres the best part, You have your classic fat woody p-bass here, but its a bit brighter,super punchy and has a very unique growl. I think of it as a Precision-jazz-single coil early p hybrid tone.. a bit more upper high mids in the mix then a split coil p-bass.
The Mustang pickups have 1 pole piece per string but are very very long.
I see a lot of these basses routed for regular split coil p-pups, I did this with my first bullet deluxe back in the early 90s with a dimarzio and was very disappointed these mustang pickups are really great.
So there ya have it, The overlooked bastard Fender bass, Nothing cheap about them quality or tone wise. Just the price of them used. USA 79-82' P-basses seem to currently start at $1000-$1100 and up with some occasions of a great deal out there but these basses are currently topping out at around $550..
If you have the means, I highly recommend you check one out.
Just cant decide on a new pickguard for this one, Vintage pearloid or parchment?
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