Fender Unveils American Professional Series Basses
Fender has unveiled the American Professional Series, which takes the place of their recently discontinued American Standard line. The new series will, of course, include Precision and Jazz bass models, but each will have new features. Updated specs include a new fret shape, new pickups, new electronics, new hardware, and new colors.
Both the American Professional P-Bass and Jazz Bass will come in four- or five-string versions as well as lefties, while the Jazz adds the option for a fretless fingerboard. The basses will have tall-narrow frets instead of the classic medium jumbos. Their hardware will also be changed up to include HiMass bridges and fluted tuners, which makes the string wind down for a better angle in relation to the nut. Posiflex graphite rods reinforce the neck.
The American Profession Precision Bass will sport a ’63 P-Bass neck profile with a satin finish. It is fitted with a V-Mod Precision pickup, which the company describes as modified versions of their vintage designs. The Jazz Bass will also be fitted with V-Mod single-coil pickups. It will retain its slimmer “C” neck profile from previous incarnations.
All Fender American Professional instruments ship with an elite molded hardshell case. The American Professional Precision Bass starts at $1,449 and the Jazz Bass starts at $1,499.
Fender American Professional Precision Bass Specs:
Body Material: | Alder |
Body Finish: | Gloss Polyurethane |
Neck Material: | Maple |
Neck Finish: | Gloss Urethane Front, Satin Urethane Back |
Neck Shape: | “1963 C” |
Scale Length: | 34″ (864 mm) |
Fingerboard Material: | Maple or Rosewood |
Fingerboard Radius: | 9.5″ (241 mm) |
Frets: | 20 |
Fret Size: | Narrow Tall |
Nut: | Material Bone |
Nut Width: | 1.625″ (41.3 mm) |
Position Inlays: | Black Dot |
Truss Rod: | Standard Truss Rod |
Nut: | 3/16″ Hex Adjustment |
Pickup: | V-Mod Split Single-Coil |
Controls: | Master Volume, Master Tone |
Bridge: | 4-Saddle HiMass Vintage (String-Through-Body or Topload) |
Hardware Finish: | Nickel/Chrome |
Tuning Machines: | Fender Lightweight Vintage-Style Keys with Fluted Shafts |
Case: | Elite Molded Case |
Fender American Professional Jazz Bass Specs:
Body Material: | Alder |
Body Finish: | Gloss Polyurethane |
Neck Material: | Maple |
Neck Finish: | Gloss Urethane Front, Satin Urethane Back |
Neck Shape: | “Slim C” |
Scale Length: | 34″ (864 mm) |
Fingerboard Material: | Maple or Rosewood |
Fingerboard Radius: | 9.5″ (241 mm) |
Frets: | 20 |
Fret Size: | Narrow Tall |
Nut: | Material Bone |
Nut Width: | 1.5″ (38.1 mm) |
Position Inlays: | Black Dot |
Truss Rod: | Standard Truss Rod |
Nut: | 3/16″ Hex Adjustment |
Pickups: | V-Mod Single-Coil Jazz Bass |
Controls: | Volume 1. (Middle Pickup), Volume 2. (Bridge Pickup), Master Tone |
Bridge: | 4-Saddle HiMass Vintage (String-Through-Body or Topload) |
Hardware Finish: | Nickel/Chrome |
Tuning Machines: | Fender Lightweight Vintage-Style Keys with Fluted Shafts |
Case: | Elite Molded Case |