Fender Sting signature Precision

[Radiobass81]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v215/Radiobass/fendersting4.jpg

Often confused with the '54 reissure (which uses basswood...), this is a very underrated bass, which can work in a variety of styles. Can be found for $600-$800.

Features: 2/5

Two piece maple neck, Ash body, single coil precision pickup in the neck position, Volume/Tone controls. Only feature here is lack of features, sort of :p. I find it actually gives it class.

Sound: 3.5/5

The tone is incredible; with the tone knob full, you can get a rather standard P, for fast-finger playing and the like. With the tone cut, you get that vintage tone we all know and love, and, when palm muted, it makes this tone even more apparent (seeing as older basses had a piece of foam to sound muted). It only lacks in versatility (as you can't mold the tone a lot) and a good tone for fingerpicking. I've always heard that this is a noisy bass, but I hear no noise at all. Still, lack of versatility is a bother for some.

Feel: 5/5

Since the moment I started playing it, I noticed I loved the neck; big and fat, which used to turn me off a bass, but now, it becomes so apparent that this is the right feel for me. Even my Teen Town attempt wasn't THAT bad, and playing Tempus Fugit on it was just great. Definitely it's strong point. Takes a while getting used th pickup, if you rest your thumb on them, tho.

Reliability: N/A

Not owning it YET is limiting this review in some aspects, but I am sure the bass can handle a lot.

Setup: 5/5

It was a BIT off tune, hardly noticeable (sp?), and the action was perfect. What more could I ask for?

Overall: 4/5

The tone is not as versatile as some people would like, but the few tones it has, it pulls of amazingly. A bit too bright for some, tho. The feel is superb, and, depending on your tastes, it's a looker. My next bass, hopefully.

[Jahmez]

Great review, but I got mine for about $515.

[Deacy]

I thought the '51/'54 reissue was made from Swamp Ash...

[morpcat]

Reissues from 51 and 55 are both ash, I don't know about 54.

[Radiobass81]

The '54 Reissue (The Tele bass) was made of basswood.

[Deacy]

I've never heard of these '54 and '55 reissues, anyone got pics?

[fallen_angel2121]

I just can't get over that pickup and that pickguard, no matter how good it sounds.

I'm a bigot.

Fallen Angel

[Radiobass81]

I've never heard of these '54 and '55 reissues, anyone got pics?
'54 = A sting sig without the signature on the 12th fret (TO MY KNOWLEDGE).

Never seen a '55.

[Jaco]

My sting sig was a nice bass. A little light, for my tastes, and the neck wasnt ideal for me. But a great vintage tone. Pretty much a one trick pony - but what a great trick! I've been brought round to considering the 12th inlay pretty awful. Overall, a great bass.

[Radiobass81]

There is something about Precisions that, even if you can't mold their tone very well, they still work great in most music styles. In that sense, I don't mind it having only a few useable tones.

:)

[twopelu]

Soooo you are close to get it I guess... if you like the feel just go for it, you wonmt regret, or at least, thats what I think after reading your comments.

[twopelu]

I found something odd... only two pegs for intonation? Never seen that before, maybe it provokes some kinda intonation problem, hope not.

[DaveTNG]

And is the space between the A and D string bigger than the space between E and A/D and G?

[Radiobass81]

Twopelu: Yeah, the first precisions had them like that, and so do some reissues (like this and the '51).

DJD: Nah, it probably just looks like that because the A and D strings are higher than the others (fretboard is a bit curved, so you don't really notice).

[DaveTNG]

Oh ok then. It's not really my thing looks wise but seems a pretty solid bass.

[KSD_Heath]

alright, are you calling the '54 precision a telecaster?...cos telecaster basses were made from the late 60's till about the late 70's and there were two stages, the precision look alike (but was made from ash not alder, and had no body contours) then the gibson humbucker style

a '54 p had basswood body, stings has ash..and the '54 p bass (which is clearly not a telecaster bass) has body contours....a tele doesnt

[WhoDidTheElf]

Great review! Who would have though Radio doing a review on a Sting Sig bass? Anywhoo, question, is the neck like a P's too, or is this another type of Fender neck?

[Radiobass81]

The neck is like the old P's, the thick ones.

KSD: Ah, sorry then. The bass is indeed confused with the first type of tele, tho. And I found out it's modeled after a '53, so my mistake as well.

[KSD_Heath]

The neck is like the old P's, the thick ones.

KSD: Ah, sorry then. The bass is indeed confused with the first type of tele, tho. And I found out it's modeled after a '53, so my mistake as well.
its all good, im just a telecaster bass lover and hate when people think that the early precisions are tele basses...and when i say telecaster bass they think g&l asats

[Radiobass81]

I know what a Tele bass was, I just got completely confused with the dates :p.

I've recently heard and have fallen in love with the Teles, with the Tele deluxe-ish humbucker (second kind you mentioned earlier)...

[KSD_Heath]

just remember, a telecaster bass has no body contours, while a p bass does

[NavyBass]

just remember, a telecaster bass has no body contours, while a p bass does
Not entirely true. The 51-53 P-basses had NO body contours.

The first generation Telecaster Bass (single coil pickup) was essentially a 51-53 Precision bass reissue.

Look at all the similarities;
Slab body
Single coil Pickup
same pickguard
same pickup and bridge covers
same control plate
2 string per saddle bridge
string thru body bridge

[Jaco]

That's right, Fender marketed it as a reissue.

[JamesXKillXyou]

they have the 51 reissue on musicians friend... i really want one baddddly!!!

[Radiobass81]

Sweet pic:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v215/Radiobass/fendersting4.jpg

[morpcat]

^ You wish....

[Radiobass81]

^ You wish....
:upset:

I may get one, soon...

Sure, I won't nail the Jaco tone (which I never did anyway) on it, but for my own music, it's great :).

Some Piezos would do it wonders :).

[kev_trb1006]

How does the tone differ between the Sting sig and the Fender Classic Series '51 Reissue P-Bass?

[Radiobass81]

I haven't actually been able to compare them, but I doubt they are much different.

[kev_trb1006]

ok thats cool, I'm trying to choose between the two... i know i like Sting's tone so that'd be a safe buy i guess...

[kev_trb1006]

some people say you can get LOADS of highs out of those single coil pickups, others say no... what did you find about the highs? some reviews say they have to roll the tone back to 2/3 to take off the highs

[Radiobass81]

I can't help you there.

See, when I get a P bass, I cut the tone knob, and cut the treble on the amp. If I have high mids, I cut them, too...

*May get the Sting soon!!*

[Chris K]

So Radio, you're just looking for a "thump-thump-thump" in your sound?

[Radiobass81]

Pretty much.