Gear Watch: Fender Releases American Special Basses and Mark Hoppus Update

Fender has rolled out a few new bass products this year, including the introduction of their bass models into the American Special series and an update to the Mark Hoppus Signature Jazz Bass.

The American Special Precision and Jazz basses are built in the U.S. and feature a slim neck profile, high-gloss finish, and the Fender “Greasebucket” circuit. The circuit is designed to roll off high-end while keeping the low-end definition in tact. Both models have an alder body and ‘C’-shaped maple neck. The Black and Candy Apple Red models come with a Maple fretboard, while the Olympic White and Three-Color Sunburst versions include a rosewood fretboard.

The Mark Hoppus Signature, which was introduced in 2002 as a Jazz bass with a P-bass pickup, now has the pickups reversed, so that the upper half is on the treble side, and the lower half is on the bass side. Fender explains this changes the sonic quality of the bass by adding throat and fullness to the D and G-strings and brightness to the E and A-strings. The bass features an ash body, maple neck, rosewood fretboard, and Seymour Duncan Basslines SPB-3 Quarter Pound pickups.

The American Special Precision and Jazz Basses are available for $1,249 and $1,269 respectively, while the new Mark Hoppus has an MSRP of $999. For more info, visit Fender’s website.

American Special Precision and Jazz Specs:

• Body: Alder
• Neck Shape: Slim “C” Shape
• Frets: 20 Medium Jumbo
• Neck: Maple
• Fretboard: Rosewood or Maple
• Nut Width: 1.5”
• Scale: 34”
• Pickups: Standard Vintage Alnico Magnet Jazz Bass Single Coils
• Special Electronics: Master Greasebucket Tone Circuit

Mark Hoppus Signature Update Specs:

• Body: Ash
• Body Shape: Jazz
• Neck Shape: Modern “C” Shape
• Frets: 20 Medium Jumbo
• Neck: Maple
• Fretboard: Rosewood
• Nut Width: 1.625”
• Scale: 34”
• Pickups: Seymour Duncan Basslines SPB-3 Quarter Pound Reverse Split-Coil Precision Bass Pickup