http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fender-Precision-Bass-Special-1982-Olympic-White-Hang-Tags-Collector-Grade-/302192035960
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/0xcAAOSw2xRYdA2v/s-l1600.jpg)
Pretty, but like the P Elite of that era, it doesn't sound like a traditional P. They do have their fans, though.
Gold hardware on an offwhite finish/natural light wood (the maple neck) is a major fashion faux pas though [shudder].
Personally, I like it. I think the gold hardware goes nicely with the body and neck colors.
Quote from: Dave W on January 10, 2017, 08:21:32 AM
Pretty, but like the P Elite of that era, it doesn't sound like a traditional P. They do have their fans, though.
In passive mode they are a traditional P. The pickup is a just standard grey bottom P pickup under the cream cover.
Quote from: ilan on January 10, 2017, 03:26:04 PM
In passive mode they are a traditional P. The pickup is a just standard grey bottom P pickup under the cream cover.
I had a standard passive early 80s P with that pickup. Sure didn't sound traditional to me. Replaced it with a regular Fender vintage P. That improved the tone. Didn't keep it long, though, couldn't get used to the neck profile.
They come with some weight which is putting it mildly.
One out of every 50 will be light. Regular pup but active-y controls. As a kid I saw the CAR finish everywhere. I liked the look but none of them had rosewood, which would've been nicer. A handful shipped with the Claw, which I love.
(http://stujay.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/get-smart-CRAW2.jpg)
I owned a Lake Placid Blue one between for over ten years. Nice playing bass but on the heavy side. I later stumbled across an identical bass which weighed a lot less so light specimens do exist.
Quote from: eb2 on January 11, 2017, 05:43:50 AM
I liked the look but none of them had rosewood, which would've been nicer
The one I owned for a very short time was LPB with rosewood. The majority had maple but I saw some with rosewood. There are two (1 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Orig-1980-Fender-Precision-Special-Bass-Lake-Placid-Blue-Matching-Headstock-/291994741751), 2 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fender-American-Precision-Special-1980-Relic-/282312277463)) on eBay right now. And the walnuts all had rosewood boards. I have always thought those were the nicest.
Here is a dealer sheet parts list - with a rosewood board option.
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Ju4AAOSw1DtXKhTw/s-l1600.jpg)
(http://www.riverband.demon.nl/PBS0.jpg)
(http://i631.photobucket.com/albums/uu31/djlotus36/pbasswal/walnut6.jpg)
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/14QAAOSwnHZYcgdY/s-l1600.jpg)
That brown/tobaccoburst one - shwing. The Blue one too but I just hate white guards ... I was gonna say on strats and Ps, but I think generally is more accurate.
Did you notice that the parts sheet lists the two pickup halves as different part numbers? One is described as lead and the other as rhythm -- huh? ???
Quote from: Granny Gremlin on January 11, 2017, 01:13:34 PM
That brown/tobaccoburst one - shwing. The Blue one too but I just hate white guards ... I was gonna say on strats and Ps, but I think generally is more accurate.
Shwing indeed! That one looks awesome. And almost anything looks better with a black pickguard. I have one on my Geddy Lee Jazz, and it's like night and day (pun intended). So now it's sort of a Greg Lake Jazz Bass. ;D Hmm... same initials.
My first "real" bass was an '81 CAR. Bought new on layaway, paid for $20-40 at a time. I had it less than a year. It was beautiful but didn't grow on me once I had it. Bought a '77 BC Rich Eagle with the money I got when I sold it and then my first Thunderbird (black '76) a few months later. GAS hit me young!
A guy in Holland collects those for finishes haha. And of course John Deacon used one.
Here's my '63 P, original except for the '72 neck. I had it painted a Ford gold metallic around 1972. That may have hit the value hard, but no one had any idea about that. At the time, it was just an old bass with big chips in the paint. I think this is a good color for a P.
(http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j306/apowell1/Electric%20Basses/P3120045.jpg)
Headstock, very early 70's.....
(http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j306/apowell1/Electric%20Basses/P9170318.jpg)
That's funny, my first "real" bass was also an '81 CAR ... but it was an Ibanez Blazer that in hindsight was clearly imitating that Fender CAR.
It looked like this (not mine) - note the brass knobs, white pickguard, brass bridge with heavy tailpiece... sure there are obvious differences, like the all-maple neck and the body shape, but I have to think they were consciously imitating the Fender, even the bridge design (brass, and fatter in the back than a usual P bridge). And I unknowingly took mine closer to the Fender look for a while when I had a creme DiMarzio Model P in there!
(http://thebassgallery.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/0f396e8a55728e79b48334e699243c07/s/d/sdc11741.jpg)
I still have my Blazer in fact, though it has been mutilated beyond recognition since then... see my avatar!