PricePaid: 1339 USD (New)
Purchased From: Sweetwater
Model Year: 2003Features: [7]
This precision bass has an ash body (as mine is white blonde - see below)
Maple one piece neck with 20 frets and reverse tuning machine heads (took a little while to get used to)
Split single coil pickups and basic 1 tone 1 volume configuration.
The pick guard is gold anodized aluminum which I think is really cool and looks especially good against the white blonde finish
It also comes with the vintage style tweed case and standard stuff for the American Vintage series i.e. vintage style cable and strap.
Also included are the chrome bridge and pickups covers. These aren't mounted - I guess cos many take this off and would rather not have the screw holes remaining. However, they don't even provide the screws (ok it's not rocket science to get some screws but you want to make sure you get the right ones that look correct!). Mounting would be another issue - if you are going to do it then you really had better have a little skill in that area because if they are slightly off they would look terrible. My own preference, considering this is a VINTAGE REISSUE, would be that they actually came mounted.
Still, I concede that there are as many people out there that would prefer them not to be because of the holes.
Sounds: [8]
The maple neck does obviously make this bass sound a little brighter but it does have punch.
Actually I don't even own a bass amp - I use this exclusively through a Bass PodXT and though my Boss BR-1600 with monitors. It sounds awesome though the POD so I am happy!
I've bought a set of flat wounds for it which I haven't used yet but that will be an interesting experiment.
Maybe I'll go out an play bass live sometime and I'm sure this'll do me just fine.
Action, Fit & Finish: [10]
I paid extra for the White Blonde finish. They use ash instead on alder that they use on the solid color finishes. I feel the grain showing is just such a nice look.
It's got a nice thin nitrocellulose finish that I prefer on my guitars. The side affect of this is that they are easy to mark BUT I do feel the body can resonate much better. Plus you get that "worn in" and loved look!
Reliability & Durability: [8]
It's a good, solidly constructed bass that has great vintage vibe. It came from the factory well set up although I did lower the action a little more.
Like I've mentioned you need to be careful with the nitro finish but it's really well made. Surely you aren't going to throw it around anyway???
Overall Rating: [9]
I am primarily a guitarist and bought this bass really for home recording etc. While I've played a lot of guitars I haven't really played that many basses (and most of those have been Fender).
My music tastes are a little stuck in time and this was the bass that started it all - so it's perfect for me ;)
Probably a bit expensive or a first bass but as I already play guitar and have quite a few high end guitar's then it make sense to get something that would really make me happy and hopefully last a lifetime!
| 
American Series Vintage 57 Precision Bass Reissue
