I had the same experience at a Sam Ash store recently. Thought it looked cool but my damaged left shoulder and back could not deal with this. Still not as heavy as my 1978 Gibson RD Standard bass I had a few years back.
As far as the truss rod Its a artist model patterned after a original early 70s P bass which is true to its original design as it should be with the truss rod access at the heal.
I guess they changed it for a reason to the top of the neck in later models? Still they could have routed for easier access for adjustment. Removing the neck is a time consuming job for a simple truss rod adjustment. If you live in a climate like mine in the North East you make these adjustments annually or perhaps even twice a year. I would not own a bass where you had to take off the neck to adjust, as it would be a general major PITA, plus it would get beaten up quickly with chips and stripped screws etc that just happen with all that off/on work. No thanks! Fender could have at least routed the body in such a way to provide access with simply removing the pickguard, as the owner has done, and even that is more screws than I am generally willing to remove for such a common adjustment. Perhaps if you live in a constant dry climate it is perfect and you never adjust, but Iron Maiden is from the UK! LoL It is perpetually soggy there haha
It's one thing if you have an original, to say we're not going to modify this. When you make a copy 50 years later, however, there's no reason to ignore the lessons that were learned and retain a stupid feature, unless you really are making this strictly as a collectible for Iron Maiden fans, not as a high quality instrument.
@@countzero1972 I agree 100% ! I’m in Florida and summertime if I got from AC to my garage there has been a couple times I’ve had to adjust my Truss rod I’d be pissed if I ordered that bass not thinking about the truss rod lol
Price vs feature wise, this is a hard pass for me and I'm a HUGE Iron Maiden fan. It does sound pretty great. I've never heard the Geezer P and the Steve Harris in the same bass but I have heard them through the same rig and I must say, that Harris is a solid pickup. Might be the next one I go for when the need arises. Big thanks to the listener that sent you the bass for evaluation.
Had one of my own for a year or so as a "daily driver." Purchased new for $850, and like this one, it only came with a cheap, very thin gig BAG. The neck on mine was stable, but it never was subjected to extreme climate changes. It sounded great, played great, but it was also HEAVY-- the higher side of 12 pounds (closer to 13). Loved the old style headstock, but the neck didn't feel any thicker than the Player's Series to me. Ended up selling it for $900. Never could get over the football sticker on the body... Still LOVE Iron Maiden, but I'm glad someone else now owns the bass ;) These are now $1300?! Totally agree with you Lobster-- It's wall art for the hard core Maiden with cash burning holes in pockets...
I preferred the first (blue) version. I enjoyed one for a while at a Sam Ash. It was a beast! The neck was quite easy to play because it was filled with ... wood! This one is too niche for me.
I own the blue MIJ Steve Harris bass which was built in 2001 and it's been my main bass for over 20 years. It's got a fat maple neck, the truss rod is accessible from the headstock, small vintage frets, light weight basswood body, the whole bass weighs less than 9 pounds, and it came stock with a Badass bridge and a SD Quarter Pound pickup. My band prefers this one over any other bass that I had so far. It covers any style of music and always sits well in the mix. In this respect it is the easiest bass I have ever played, just strap it on and it will work nicely, no tweaking required. The excessive weight of the reviewed white MIM SH bass would be a no go for me.
Let's see... - $1300 MIM Fender - 11.5 pounds - Need to remove neck to adjust truss rod - Not able to get decent string height Any one of these things alone would prevent me from buying the bass. It does sound great though!
I remember owning the sparkle blue with mirror pickguard version of that bass, in fact, that’s the reason why I have back issues, because of how horrifyingly heavy that bass was xD
All American P's have this truss rod arrangement. There's a little gap in the pick guard, but they get all scratched up trying to adjust the neck without taking it off. It only takes an extra five minutes, literally, to take the neck off and adjust it anyway.
That’s the 2nd time someone has talked me out of this bass. My desire for this bass is purely “MAPLE” ,but the truss rod adjustment and the advice of others have kept me away from this bass (also not a spots fan). As a matter of fact… the last time I almost bought one of these, the music store owner talked me out of it, by putting the Kiloton tribute in my hands. I figured, if the guy is willing to sell me a bass at more than half the price… I should listen. (and I love that kiloton) Still….an all maple P Bass! Oh well. Cheers. Thank you for sharing
Great review, thank you Lobster! 🦞 I wish more manufacturers/models (especially Fender/P basses) offer a mirror pickguard - that's one of the main reasons I've been keeping my eye on Steve Harris signature basses (including the earlier blue sparkle; I believe it's placid lake blue). Maybe one day... 🤘
Yes et c'est cher en tabarnak Constantine! I love this bass but.... today at 1,659 + taxes ...its so expensive for this bass ..so bad. I pay 1,950 for PB USA PRO II in dec, 2020!!
That truss rod thing is to keep it "vintage". Did you notice the finish on the headstock? There is a darker tear drop shape to make it look like the truss rod is there, from a distance at least. I get that when they started making basses no one thought of access, but once they did no excuse to exclude it. I am always critical of Fender for this, and they do this on more expensive basses too. Dumb. I bought an Ibanez MDB5, put a Steve Harris pikcup in it, added Steve Harris strings, and it came with a hardcase. One of the lighter basses I own, and it wasn't $1300. And I have access to the truss. Better deal in my book.
I have an American Professional P-Bass which has the channel at the heel for adjusting the truss rod, but the very first time I adjusted it, I ended up gouging a bit of the pickguard… still not very well designed! I guess I prefer having the truss rod adjustment on the headstock.
I’ve always loved this bass however there are a lot of downfalls to it, I love that Pup tho! Very cool of your buddy here in Fl to send it to you for a review for us. Ouch 2 /5 claws 😬 I’d get a sire p5 and throw the SH pup in it
I bought one of these in late 2017, being both a keen Fender fan and a huge Maiden fan. Personally I loved mine. The build quality on it was excellent, as was the fit and finish, and it was highly playable. I had expected the neck would be huge because my first bass was a 1976 Precision that my cousin bought new and whose neck was like a telephone pole with frets. However the neck was not that fat, though U-shaped, was in fact very comfortable to play even though I have small hands. Of course it was a beast with the maple body making mine also weigh about 11.5lb. The weight was really the only thing I could complain about, but I knew in advance it was going to be heavy. I thought it was good value, but the price then was $999, not the $1299 it is now. I would not buy it now at that price. I feel and felt similarly about the Mike Dirnt roadworn Precision I had, also Mexican built. I thought the build quality, fit & finish and playability was excellent, with a very nice pickup, and it was good value at $1099 but again I would not buy it now at $1499. Fender's price increases are obscene, IMO.
Yes there is no extra access to the truss rod because this bass was 100% based on the OG one which Steve plays. It doesn't get any more authentic than this, so if you want a lightweight P-bass with easy-to-play neck than you shouldn't look for a 1970´s styled-like P-bass. And I think this is worth the 13 hundred you mentioned quite few times.
I scored one, used at GC for $800. First, Fender should never have changed that headstock font and I can't believe they won't bring it back. I, mistakenly, sold a '79 a million years ago but what's done is done. I could spend thousands of dollars trying to buy that same era again and then probably upgrade the bridge and the pups or, hey, this thing is the one stop shop. Is it heavy? Fuck yeah. I'm guessing that, since this is the signature model, 67 year old Steve Harris probably also plays a maple body P. My primary bass is a 6 string, fanned fret so, the weight doesn't scare me. Newsflash, new American made Ps aren't cheap and don't sound like this. Older Ps are now collectors items and are overpriced. Depending on your needs, this is a deal. To me, it sounds and feels great.
Love the sound and neck profile on it. There's something about the maple body that cranks out a very appealling sound and sustain. Yeah-it's heavy but still doable IMO. A good strap is essential.
I live in North Texas, so the Toadies are local legends. I’ve seen them many times. Their bass player uses this exact bass, bone stock, through and old Acoustic b600h then into the PA or front of house. That live tone is incredible. The perfect fat, dark, constant walks under the saturated feedback and overdriven guitars, as well as haunting vocals. One thump of the low E and you’re there at Possum Kingdom (a HUGE lake and party destination, for the non Texans 😂).
I bought this bass a few months ago, and just thought I would share my thoughts. Yes, the weight takes some getting used to, but it's the maple body that gives it a distinctive sound. To get an authentic Steve Harris tone, I recommend swapping the Hi Mass bridge for a Leo Quan Badass II which brings out more of the mid range, and putting his signature strings on. The action needs to be very low and the neck as straight as possible to allow the strings to 'clack' without them choking out above the 12th fret. The West Ham badge won't be popular with some players here in the UK who support other teams, but I doubt this affects sales in the USA. This review does seem to focus quite negatively on the truss rod access being on the neck heel, but as other commenters have pointed out, this is a common design on many Fender instruments, including the Mexican Vintera range and most American models. It is definitely not a beginner instrument, and it wont suit a bassist who plays different styles. However, if you're a die hard Maiden fan and want to play like Steve, this is as close as it gets and won't dissapoint.
I won't lie I like the pickups quite a lot but the flaws you pointed out I'm not willing to deal with. Eventually I'll buy the SPB-4 pickups and slap them in a precision bass better suited to my needs. Appreciate the review.
Excellent review. It's important to adjust the neck easily, I won't spent one dollar on a bass without easy trussroad acess. Too heavy for me. Sounds great. I'm not sure Steve harris would play this bass. Nice to see the cat 💖
Seriously thanks for the review. I am a die hard Maiden fan and have given that a look a time or two. However, even though I am a die hard fan I am not dropping that much $$$ on something with that truss rod issue etc. Nope.
Love Steve Harris and wanted his signature bass. Not anymore. Sounds ridiculous having to route the neck out to adjust the truss rod. Can buy so many nicer basses for the money. Thank you for this review.
@@jimmytgoose476 My G&L L-1000 for example is 8 pounds. More options for quality sounds as well. My Dad has a “made in Mexico” Fender precision. Can’t compare it in terms of quality and sound / tones when compared to my MusicMan Cutlass Bass.
Being made in USA doesn't automatically make anything better, least of all something as simple as a P-bass . Are you seriously saying your Cutlass is better just because it's American made rather than because it's a different design ? 🤔
Threw his signature pickup in a 2000s Mexican pbass plus a hipshot high mass bridge and got the tech21 Steve Harris pedal and rotosound strings and it’s spot on for tone. The tension of those flatwounds makes it’s really hard to get a low action. Mine is due for a visit to Domenic!
Most of the reviews I've seen say similar things. Many of them say that the Steve Harris tone is coming from the pickup and the Steve Harris signature strings - which are brighter-than-usual Rotosound flatwounds - on a maple neck, plus a low setup and hard playing for lots of fret noise. As both pickup and strings are available separately, and the weight and lack of truss rod access are bugs, not features, I wouldn't consider buying this bass, even for a more normal price. At the asking price, it looks like a vanity product for superfans.
Picked up a used one in immaculate condition, for $400 a few years ago. I am a big Steve fan, so I wanted one, I also have the blue sparkle version, but this things weighs a freaking ton. Its getting little playing time only because it weighs a ton and I'm getting older. Now I know why Steve uses that extremely thick strap.
Although the specs on paper don’t sound so appealing, for me playing it blew my mind. I have an American J Bass deluxe that costs more than twice this bass and this bass beats it every time sound wise
The weight alone would be a "no" from me. I had a 1978 Fender Jazz Bass that was a 11 pounder and, while I loved the tone, I hated the shoulder and back pain (even bought an "X" brace strap but still it hurt). The looks of the Harris P are nice. Not a fan of fingerprint mirror guard. I like the look of the neck. The bridge looks hi-mass. The tone is 8/10 and sounds good. I wouldn't pay more than $800 for it and never over $1,000. No easy truss rod access deducts points for me- but I suppose they are keeping with the Harris original. I'd rather add a few hundred more and buy an American P-Bass.
Definitely some nice sounds coming out of this monster! Weight is one of the main reasons I went for the SR300E (It's noticeably lighter than even a Squier Affinity Jazz) so I don't think the heaviness of this one would do for me. And yes, I prefer Steve's blue one over white 😅
- I live in Mexico, yet I still cannot bring myself to purchase any made in Mexico Fender instruments. Most of the MIM instruments I’ve played always have set up and quality issues. Would definitely have remorse spending several hundred dollars on one of these instruments. I’ve even seen quality issues with USA Fenders, always try before you buy and if it sucks just walk away.
There are quality issues on all factory made instruments on all cost levels these days you have to look at each specific instrument, doesn't matter where it was made or how much it cost. And a set up can change just durn shipping from where the storage or factory is to your climate. It could have been perfect when it left and due to a change in climate it could have changed it doesn't mean the bass is trash, a set up is something you are going to have to do every once in a while regardless how well it is made wood shifts and moves, unless its carbon fiber. The real issue is today the entry level MIM Fenders are getting close to a $1000. I bought mine new back when they were $349.99, but a grand for a entry level MIM is starting to get out of hand.
@@t.c.v.t. - that’s the main point, the price mark on the MIM instruments keeps rising, set up issues are easily remedied but the quality issues are a concern. I’d rather spend a little more for the Made in USA instruments.
agreed they are just trying to keep it true to the original my 62 jazz bass is the same way yous have to loosen the neck bolts and adjust but it rarely moves anyway thx lobster the bass sounds great .
I had a first run of these basses when they were blue, much lighter, made in Japan with Eddie the head on the headstock. I regret selling it and would never shell out that much for a heavy Mexican p bass.
I have this bass. It is indeed ridiculously heavy. Pro tip: to adjust the neck relief, you just remove the pickguard. Then there is enough space for a screwdriver. You're welcome!!
Sort of true-there's no slot like many other Fenders-but you can get a small flat tip screwdriver to engage with about half of the screw head and do small turns-which is probably a good thing.
Steve was my first bass hero and the first bass I bought was a P... which I soon painted metallic blue and added a Quarter Pounder and Rotosound flats. To me the iconic Steve bass was when it was blue. If they made a mexican blue version with the mirror guard I would be all over it.
I always liked the look of the bass but 11 1/2 pounds ( I'm too old for that) Fender is trying to get their MIM basses the price of a American . Myself I'm hoping for a American Geddy someday , I cant buy a Phil Lynott 12.5k price is absurd. As for the heel based adjustment I actually like that better , like how Sire does it.
I will never understand these guys who review Signature instruments. The guy plays everything that has nothing to do with the musician himself (in this case, Steve Harris) and still feels entitled to judge the instrument. Are you going to review an Iron Maiden bassist instrument? Play Iron Maiden!
I got mine second hand (but little used, still had the pack of Rotosound flats in the gigbag). In the UK they do retail for £100-150 below MSRP, still expensive for MIM but they do seem to be going that way anyway, anything above the Player Series seems to sit in the price range once occupied by American Standard... Anyway, I love mine (though I'm considering swapping the stock HiMass bridge for an Omega BadA** copy), but I do acknowledge it won't be for everyone. That's fine, just means I'll keep an eye out for reasonably-priced used examples. Maybe if I see one that's a little beaten up I'll have it refinished to royal blue sparkle. Yes I'm aware the preceding run of Steve Harris model came in that colour, but they had alder bodies AFAIK and the 50s headstock logo bothered me. Plus they seem to command pretty high prices too (perhaps reflecting their relative rarity?).
I've owned one - brand new condition(the original owner cased it thinking it would be a collectors item - obv it isn't)..paid 800 bucks Canadian. LOVED the big fat neck,(but I had to shim it to get the action low), I changed the tuners to Hipshot ultra-lites, ...and mine was actually a touch over 9.5lbs. I changed it all to stock, and traded it to a Maiden fanboy for his mint USA G&L LB-100. I think I won to be honest.
Seems a FGN Neo Classic P bass and adding in the Seymour Duncan pick up would be an equally cool set up and made in Japan for less even with the pick up.
Maple body maple neck always sound great to me. Gibson grabber(?), Some Ken Smith's, Pedulla MVPs and Warwick older SS1 being the most famous maple on maple basses I know and love the tone of.
I love Iron Maiden, I’d pass in a heartbeat. I could build or modify my own Harris tribute. Find a LPB body , jazz width maple neck, SH pickup, quality wiring and a mirrored pick guard….
Oh Jeez...it's West Ham...Steve would be upset being a huge 'Hammer's/Irons' fan....my old team when i was younger...ICF...Inter-City Firm..great bass...the P pickup is a Seymour Duncan Steve Harris Signature Hot Precision now, he used to use QP's & he always uses fresh Rotosound Flats..55-110...i like it, it's a fair price for a well made solid roadworthy bass with a great tone...cuts through well for a Precision bass...2 claws...it's a great P bass...a 3" padded strap would help with the weight...
I agree with you that the price tag is a bit high. Addjng the inconvenience of having to remove the neck makes this unappealing to me. Sounds decent though. I'll stick with my regular MIM P bass which I snagged on sale for $650.
I had the bass and sold it. It was heavy. With the price increase from Fender, they went up a little more on this one than they should have in my opinion. I never got the chance to play mine in a live setting. I feel like you really have to be careful with fender’s quality control when buying online. The one I had was in almost perfect condition. There was a rust spot on one of the tuners and that was the only cosmetic issue. My fender Tony franklin fretless bass had issues. The G string was weak and I had it adjusted and it was fine for a few months, then the same issue again. I really wanted to love that bass. It didn’t help when I discovered the Ernie ball stingray special bass
Wow. I thought these were made in the USA. The old lake placid blue model from the late 90's early 00's was at least made in Japan. It had a Seymour Duncan pickup as well and I believe a real Leo Quan Badass II bridge.
was horsing around with my gibson eb5 getting used to the boss eq200 pedal through my svt 7 pro program for my 4 basses using different mids and different eq for each bass
Steve prefers heavy basses and that i believe had much to do with selecting a maple body and arguably the tone of a maple neck n body. I personally wouldnt want to gig 11.5 bass but each their own.
You're getting some nice tubular/bell sounds out of it but then again it's maple so it's expected for it to have those deeper lungs that punch around a mix instead of through it. There are a lot of design notes that I DON'T like about this bass, regardless of cost or mfg location but for 1300 USD you should get a neck that can at least be trued out of the box. I think you got a lemon build, honestly. It's nice but it should be better than it is, these parts put together should work better than this. The sound is great even though it's a bit mumbly in the bottom and again the maple seems to have that natural resonance that wraps around a mix instead of bashing around inside it.
Imma be honest here, it just sounds like a bright P-bass. No reason to pay 1300 for it. I know there is a beauty in the simplicity of a P-bass but man, fully knowing imma step on someone's toes here; They all sound the same. The only real different P - Pickup I've heard in a while are Spectors p in the Puls 2 and the Nordstrand in Ibbys 60xe and 12..something.
I love the Precision for it's simplicity - i don't need a load of adjustment I'll never use rather than one tone i really like - but the cost of the things , especially considering their options and build quality , sadly rule them out . I tried over two dozen Ps when i was shopping for a new bass in 2019-20 and the one that impressed me the most was a Squier Classic Vibe . None of the Fenders came close to saying BUY ME! , they all had something missing . In the end i bought two Sandberg Californias and never looked back . If there is a better bass than these then i dont need it 🤗🤗
Awesome video! Yeah it is a boat anchor for sure lol 😂 My local shop has had one for a few years now because of the weight! I like it but man it’s too heavy for me! Cool bass that sounds good to me 👍
Imagine - just buy a white P-BASS and invest about 70 Buck's for the Fender high mass bridge; a mirror Pickguard and the Manchester sticker - an another 50 to buy a decent anchor ☺
I wasn't a fan before but the more I watch your reviews I'm liking F products less and less. Reminds me of IPHONE. Double the price for half the product. On the brightside....almost 30K!!
You've got a point or two.. But it's a.... Signature Model.. Thus its How Steve wanted it.. Obviously his doesn't have a Fender logo neck plate either..
OMG, West Ham United, not Manchester! Steve will go mad if he finds out 🤣🤣🤣
Ahahahaha if there's one thing I'm absolutely 1000% clueless on, it's sports (and soccer/football specifically)
Says West Ham right on the logo XD
A Davey Cameron moment here.
I'd steer clear of East London for a while if I were you... ;)
Steve Harris will be shell shocked. Man U ? Huuuuuuuuuuu 🔥 Out goes the tea ☕️
I remember picking this thing up in a shop and instantly thought “HELL NO”. It’s like trying to hoist a large log.
I had the same experience at a Sam Ash store recently. Thought it looked cool but my damaged left shoulder and back could not deal with this. Still not as heavy as my 1978 Gibson RD Standard bass I had a few years back.
No mass produced P-bass comes close to the Nate Mendel P Bass, it’s amazing!
i just swapped that for the steve harris
My wallet can only afford one bass at the time - I own a vintage Precision Special from '80 and I still want a Nate Mendel signature.
Are there enough nate mendel fans to warrant a plain looking p bass for $1300?
As far as the truss rod Its a artist model patterned after a original early 70s P bass which is true to its original design as it should be with the truss rod access at the heal.
I guess they changed it for a reason to the top of the neck in later models? Still they could have routed for easier access for adjustment. Removing the neck is a time consuming job for a simple truss rod adjustment. If you live in a climate like mine in the North East you make these adjustments annually or perhaps even twice a year. I would not own a bass where you had to take off the neck to adjust, as it would be a general major PITA, plus it would get beaten up quickly with chips and stripped screws etc that just happen with all that off/on work. No thanks! Fender could have at least routed the body in such a way to provide access with simply removing the pickguard, as the owner has done, and even that is more screws than I am generally willing to remove for such a common adjustment. Perhaps if you live in a constant dry climate it is perfect and you never adjust, but Iron Maiden is from the UK! LoL It is perpetually soggy there haha
It's one thing if you have an original, to say we're not going to modify this. When you make a copy 50 years later, however, there's no reason to ignore the lessons that were learned and retain a stupid feature, unless you really are making this strictly as a collectible for Iron Maiden fans, not as a high quality instrument.
@@countzero1972 I agree 100% ! I’m in Florida and summertime if I got from AC to my garage there has been a couple times I’ve had to adjust my Truss rod I’d be pissed if I ordered that bass not thinking about the truss rod lol
@@audibletapehiss3764 yep!
Price vs feature wise, this is a hard pass for me and I'm a HUGE Iron Maiden fan. It does sound pretty great. I've never heard the Geezer P and the Steve Harris in the same bass but I have heard them through the same rig and I must say, that Harris is a solid pickup. Might be the next one I go for when the need arises. Big thanks to the listener that sent you the bass for evaluation.
Had one of my own for a year or so as a "daily driver." Purchased new for $850, and like this one, it only came with a cheap, very thin gig BAG. The neck on mine was stable, but it never was subjected to extreme climate changes. It sounded great, played great, but it was also HEAVY-- the higher side of 12 pounds (closer to 13). Loved the old style headstock, but the neck didn't feel any thicker than the Player's Series to me. Ended up selling it for $900. Never could get over the football sticker on the body... Still LOVE Iron Maiden, but I'm glad someone else now owns the bass ;) These are now $1300?! Totally agree with you Lobster-- It's wall art for the hard core Maiden with cash burning holes in pockets...
I preferred the first (blue) version. I enjoyed one for a while at a Sam Ash. It was a beast! The neck was quite easy to play because it was filled with ... wood! This one is too niche for me.
When I was 16 I almost bought that bass and I regret not going back and buying it later!
This is my bass . It was a gift to me for my birthday . It’s more if a display piece that. A daily driver
I own the blue MIJ Steve Harris bass which was built in 2001 and it's been my main bass for over 20 years. It's got a fat maple neck, the truss rod is accessible from the headstock, small vintage frets, light weight basswood body, the whole bass weighs less than 9 pounds, and it came stock with a Badass bridge and a SD Quarter Pound pickup. My band prefers this one over any other bass that I had so far. It covers any style of music and always sits well in the mix. In this respect it is the easiest bass I have ever played, just strap it on and it will work nicely, no tweaking required. The excessive weight of the reviewed white MIM SH bass would be a no go for me.
I'm glad you covered this bass because I was curious about it.That pickup sounds pretty good.
Calling West Ham Manchester is how you get beat up/stabbed in East London😂
I know where I'm not going for vacation/holiday LOL! Yeah that was my mistake. I am not a sports person in any capacity.
Let's see...
- $1300 MIM Fender
- 11.5 pounds
- Need to remove neck to adjust truss rod
- Not able to get decent string height
Any one of these things alone would prevent me from buying the bass. It does sound great though!
I do't understand how we've come to a world were MIM basses are sell at this price, crazy
I remember owning the sparkle blue with mirror pickguard version of that bass, in fact, that’s the reason why I have back issues, because of how horrifyingly heavy that bass was xD
All American P's have this truss rod arrangement. There's a little gap in the pick guard, but they get all scratched up trying to adjust the neck without taking it off. It only takes an extra five minutes, literally, to take the neck off and adjust it anyway.
That’s the 2nd time someone has talked me out of this bass. My desire for this bass is purely “MAPLE” ,but the truss rod adjustment and the advice of others have kept me away from this bass (also not a spots fan). As a matter of fact… the last time I almost bought one of these, the music store owner talked me out of it, by putting the Kiloton tribute in my hands. I figured, if the guy is willing to sell me a bass at more than half the price… I should listen. (and I love that kiloton)
Still….an all maple P Bass!
Oh well.
Cheers. Thank you for sharing
Lmao smart salesman! Good choice!!
Idk why people care so much about this. A P bass is a P bass and tonweood doesn't matter
Great review, thank you Lobster! 🦞 I wish more manufacturers/models (especially Fender/P basses) offer a mirror pickguard - that's one of the main reasons I've been keeping my eye on Steve Harris signature basses (including the earlier blue sparkle; I believe it's placid lake blue). Maybe one day... 🤘
Always loved those pinstripes, kind of like substitutes for binding. Fender should use them on some more models.
Thanks for the review. $1,659 in Canada.
Yes et c'est cher en tabarnak Constantine! I love this bass but.... today at 1,659 + taxes ...its so expensive for this bass ..so bad. I pay 1,950 for PB USA PRO II in dec, 2020!!
That truss rod thing is to keep it "vintage". Did you notice the finish on the headstock? There is a darker tear drop shape to make it look like the truss rod is there, from a distance at least. I get that when they started making basses no one thought of access, but once they did no excuse to exclude it. I am always critical of Fender for this, and they do this on more expensive basses too. Dumb.
I bought an Ibanez MDB5, put a Steve Harris pikcup in it, added Steve Harris strings, and it came with a hardcase. One of the lighter basses I own, and it wasn't $1300. And I have access to the truss. Better deal in my book.
I have an American Professional P-Bass which has the channel at the heel for adjusting the truss rod, but the very first time I adjusted it, I ended up gouging a bit of the pickguard… still not very well designed! I guess I prefer having the truss rod adjustment on the headstock.
I’ve always loved this bass however there are a lot of downfalls to it, I love that Pup tho! Very cool of your buddy here in Fl to send it to you for a review for us.
Ouch 2 /5 claws 😬 I’d get a sire p5 and throw the SH pup in it
Frikin love that thing. I played one for about 8 seconds before I needed it. I thought the tone and feel was awesome. Love how beefy that thing is.
I bought one of these in late 2017, being both a keen Fender fan and a huge Maiden fan. Personally I loved mine. The build quality on it was excellent, as was the fit and finish, and it was highly playable. I had expected the neck would be huge because my first bass was a 1976 Precision that my cousin bought new and whose neck was like a telephone pole with frets. However the neck was not that fat, though U-shaped, was in fact very comfortable to play even though I have small hands. Of course it was a beast with the maple body making mine also weigh about 11.5lb. The weight was really the only thing I could complain about, but I knew in advance it was going to be heavy. I thought it was good value, but the price then was $999, not the $1299 it is now. I would not buy it now at that price. I feel and felt similarly about the Mike Dirnt roadworn Precision I had, also Mexican built. I thought the build quality, fit & finish and playability was excellent, with a very nice pickup, and it was good value at $1099 but again I would not buy it now at $1499. Fender's price increases are obscene, IMO.
Sadly, pretty much all instruments have gotten more expensive due to supply.
I'll just build one. I prefer the look of the original blue sparkle finish anyway.
Yes there is no extra access to the truss rod because this bass was 100% based on the OG one which Steve plays. It doesn't get any more authentic than this, so if you want a lightweight P-bass with easy-to-play neck than you shouldn't look for a 1970´s styled-like P-bass. And I think this is worth the 13 hundred you mentioned quite few times.
Thanks for the review.
I would be interested in your thoughts on the Duff McKagan Signature bass.
Me too!
I scored one, used at GC for $800. First, Fender should never have changed that headstock font and I can't believe they won't bring it back. I, mistakenly, sold a '79 a million years ago but what's done is done. I could spend thousands of dollars trying to buy that same era again and then probably upgrade the bridge and the pups or, hey, this thing is the one stop shop. Is it heavy? Fuck yeah. I'm guessing that, since this is the signature model, 67 year old Steve Harris probably also plays a maple body P. My primary bass is a 6 string, fanned fret so, the weight doesn't scare me. Newsflash, new American made Ps aren't cheap and don't sound like this. Older Ps are now collectors items and are overpriced. Depending on your needs, this is a deal. To me, it sounds and feels great.
I wish they would bring back the Adam Clayton signature with those sparkle bodies. Those were some sweet looking basses.
Love the sound and neck profile on it. There's something about the maple body that cranks out a very appealling sound and sustain. Yeah-it's heavy but still doable IMO. A good strap is essential.
I live in North Texas, so the Toadies are local legends. I’ve seen them many times. Their bass player uses this exact bass, bone stock, through and old Acoustic b600h then into the PA or front of house. That live tone is incredible. The perfect fat, dark, constant walks under the saturated feedback and overdriven guitars, as well as haunting vocals. One thump of the low E and you’re there at Possum Kingdom (a HUGE lake and party destination, for the non Texans 😂).
I hope you compare this Bass and your other P-style basses against your Sire P5 bass to see how the sire stacks up.
I bought this bass a few months ago, and just thought I would share my thoughts.
Yes, the weight takes some getting used to, but it's the maple body that gives it a distinctive sound. To get an authentic Steve Harris tone, I recommend swapping the Hi Mass bridge for a Leo Quan Badass II which brings out more of the mid range, and putting his signature strings on. The action needs to be very low and the neck as straight as possible to allow the strings to 'clack' without them choking out above the 12th fret. The West Ham badge won't be popular with some players here in the UK who support other teams, but I doubt this affects sales in the USA. This review does seem to focus quite negatively on the truss rod access being on the neck heel, but as other commenters have pointed out, this is a common design on many Fender instruments, including the Mexican Vintera range and most American models.
It is definitely not a beginner instrument, and it wont suit a bassist who plays different styles. However, if you're a die hard Maiden fan and want to play like Steve, this is as close as it gets and won't dissapoint.
It looks and sounds sweet! That price tag though...Plus, I would have to swap the West ham badge for a Manchester City one:)
lol, yeah, I’d have to cover that WHU badge with a Gunners one (the old badge)
I won't lie I like the pickups quite a lot but the flaws you pointed out I'm not willing to deal with. Eventually I'll buy the SPB-4 pickups and slap them in a precision bass better suited to my needs. Appreciate the review.
Excellent review. It's important to adjust the neck easily, I won't spent one dollar on a bass without easy trussroad acess. Too heavy for me. Sounds great. I'm not sure Steve harris would play this bass.
Nice to see the cat 💖
Seriously thanks for the review. I am a die hard Maiden fan and have given that a look a time or two. However, even though I am a die hard fan I am not dropping that much $$$ on something with that truss rod issue etc. Nope.
Sounds amazing, thanks for the review. Weight is a critical point for me when choosing a bass, so not for me.
Love Steve Harris and wanted his signature bass. Not anymore. Sounds ridiculous having to route the neck out to adjust the truss rod. Can buy so many nicer basses for the money. Thank you for this review.
Great review! Really enjoyed learning about that particular model. Thanks to your friend for the loan.
Your welcome lol
Just found the channel! Subbed. Always good to see a CRUSTACEAN rock the NATION!!
I would have loved to have seen this in a USA made model as the sound is really good. I’ll stick with my G&L’s and MusicMans for now.
What difference would that make (apart from cost)?
@@jimmytgoose476 My G&L L-1000 for example is 8 pounds. More options for quality sounds as well. My Dad has a “made in Mexico” Fender precision. Can’t compare it in terms of quality and sound / tones when compared to my MusicMan Cutlass Bass.
Being made in USA doesn't automatically make anything better, least of all something as simple as a P-bass . Are you seriously saying your Cutlass is better just because it's American made rather than because it's a different design ? 🤔
@@jimmytgoose476 how do you not know the answer? You seem offended. Lol.
Threw his signature pickup in a 2000s Mexican pbass plus a hipshot high mass bridge and got the tech21 Steve Harris pedal and rotosound strings and it’s spot on for tone. The tension of those flatwounds makes it’s really hard to get a low action. Mine is due for a visit to Domenic!
Most of the reviews I've seen say similar things. Many of them say that the Steve Harris tone is coming from the pickup and the Steve Harris signature strings - which are brighter-than-usual Rotosound flatwounds - on a maple neck, plus a low setup and hard playing for lots of fret noise. As both pickup and strings are available separately, and the weight and lack of truss rod access are bugs, not features, I wouldn't consider buying this bass, even for a more normal price. At the asking price, it looks like a vanity product for superfans.
I wouldn't come close to considering it because of the football logo.
@@jimmytgoose476i hate football but would totally buy this bass
I like how in the thumbnail it looks like you're taking the photo with the pickups.
My old euro Spector is also full maple and also 11.5 lbs. I once did a show that lasted 2:30 hours. My shoulder didn't liked it lol.
Picked up a used one in immaculate condition, for $400 a few years ago. I am a big Steve fan, so I wanted one, I also have the blue sparkle version, but this things weighs a freaking ton. Its getting little playing time only because it weighs a ton and I'm getting older. Now I know why Steve uses that extremely thick strap.
I remember about 20 years ago, the Steve Harris signature bass was $700 Canadian!
Everyone in East London died a little when you said "Manchester United"... And now I see you noticed that already in the description. Whoops!
Yup lol. I have zero interest in sports in general but this was definitely a flub on my part XD
Now that I’m seeing lobster play his bass I’m now realized how much his playing reminds of Steve’s
Although the specs on paper don’t sound so appealing, for me playing it blew my mind. I have an American J Bass deluxe that costs more than twice this bass and this bass beats it every time sound wise
The weight alone would be a "no" from me. I had a 1978 Fender Jazz Bass that was a 11 pounder and, while I loved the tone, I hated the shoulder and back pain (even bought an "X" brace strap but still it hurt). The looks of the Harris P are nice. Not a fan of fingerprint mirror guard. I like the look of the neck. The bridge looks hi-mass. The tone is 8/10 and sounds good. I wouldn't pay more than $800 for it and never over $1,000. No easy truss rod access deducts points for me- but I suppose they are keeping with the Harris original. I'd rather add a few hundred more and buy an American P-Bass.
Do someday the Geezer Butler signature lakland, whichever model you can get fastest.
Definitely some nice sounds coming out of this monster! Weight is one of the main reasons I went for the SR300E (It's noticeably lighter than even a Squier Affinity Jazz) so I don't think the heaviness of this one would do for me. And yes, I prefer Steve's blue one over white 😅
Nice review as usual…...,btw your cat is super adorable
Thank you!
- I live in Mexico, yet I still cannot bring myself to purchase any made in Mexico Fender instruments. Most of the MIM instruments I’ve played always have set up and quality issues. Would definitely have remorse spending several hundred dollars on one of these instruments. I’ve even seen quality issues with USA Fenders, always try before you buy and if it sucks just walk away.
There are quality issues on all factory made instruments on all cost levels these days you have to look at each specific instrument, doesn't matter where it was made or how much it cost. And a set up can change just durn shipping from where the storage or factory is to your climate. It could have been perfect when it left and due to a change in climate it could have changed it doesn't mean the bass is trash, a set up is something you are going to have to do every once in a while regardless how well it is made wood shifts and moves, unless its carbon fiber. The real issue is today the entry level MIM Fenders are getting close to a $1000. I bought mine new back when they were $349.99, but a grand for a entry level MIM is starting to get out of hand.
@@t.c.v.t. - that’s the main point, the price mark on the MIM instruments keeps rising, set up issues are easily remedied but the quality issues are a concern. I’d rather spend a little more for the Made in USA instruments.
@@debu9374 🤦♂ok whatever you think
Nice playing! Love the bass, wish they made it without the West Ham logo on there. But 11+ pounds is too much for my back anyway. :-)
Considering inflation, $1,300 for Mexican Fender is still significantly cheaper than any American made Fender I know of these days.
- looking forward to your review of the new Fender Aerodyne Jazz and Precision basses.
Good job.I will never understand a bass without access to the truss rod.My $111.00 Harley Benton 51' P even has one.Go figure .
Manchester United, he says, while the camera zooms in on the West Ham United sticker. Hmmmm.... time to get new prescription glasses?
agreed they are just trying to keep it true to the original my 62 jazz bass is the same way yous have to loosen the neck bolts and adjust but it rarely moves anyway thx lobster the bass sounds great .
I had a first run of these basses when they were blue, much lighter, made in Japan with Eddie the head on the headstock. I regret selling it and would never shell out that much for a heavy Mexican p bass.
I have this bass. It is indeed ridiculously heavy.
Pro tip: to adjust the neck relief, you just remove the pickguard. Then there is enough space for a screwdriver. You're welcome!!
Totally agree I have done this on several of my Fender basses
Sort of true-there's no slot like many other Fenders-but you can get a small flat tip screwdriver to engage with about half of the screw head and do small turns-which is probably a good thing.
Steve was my first bass hero and the first bass I bought was a P... which I soon painted metallic blue and added a Quarter Pounder and Rotosound flats. To me the iconic Steve bass was when it was blue. If they made a mexican blue version with the mirror guard I would be all over it.
They did make that one but it was MIJ I believe. It was before this one. You can find them used.
@@t.c.v.t. no, you can't find them used anywhere for the past 5 years
@@johnhareiel5118 You sure, or you just can't find one used?
@@t.c.v.t. I can't find any, period
@@johnhareiel5118 well one sold just a month ago so they do pop up.
I always liked the look of the bass but 11 1/2 pounds ( I'm too old for that) Fender is trying to get their MIM basses the price of a American . Myself I'm hoping for a American Geddy someday , I cant buy a Phil Lynott 12.5k price is absurd.
As for the heel based adjustment I actually like that better , like how Sire does it.
I will never understand these guys who review Signature instruments. The guy plays everything that has nothing to do with the musician himself (in this case, Steve Harris) and still feels entitled to judge the instrument. Are you going to review an Iron Maiden bassist instrument? Play Iron Maiden!
completely irrelevant point
🙄.
I got mine second hand (but little used, still had the pack of Rotosound flats in the gigbag). In the UK they do retail for £100-150 below MSRP, still expensive for MIM but they do seem to be going that way anyway, anything above the Player Series seems to sit in the price range once occupied by American Standard...
Anyway, I love mine (though I'm considering swapping the stock HiMass bridge for an Omega BadA** copy), but I do acknowledge it won't be for everyone. That's fine, just means I'll keep an eye out for reasonably-priced used examples. Maybe if I see one that's a little beaten up I'll have it refinished to royal blue sparkle. Yes I'm aware the preceding run of Steve Harris model came in that colour, but they had alder bodies AFAIK and the 50s headstock logo bothered me. Plus they seem to command pretty high prices too (perhaps reflecting their relative rarity?).
Thanks for a great review ! ( wonder what your thoughts are on the Ampeg Dan Armstrong bass … )
I think when this bass first came out, it was being made in Japan, not Mexico, and the same price though. Am I right?
I've owned one - brand new condition(the original owner cased it thinking it would be a collectors item - obv it isn't)..paid 800 bucks Canadian.
LOVED the big fat neck,(but I had to shim it to get the action low), I changed the tuners to Hipshot ultra-lites, ...and mine was actually a touch over 9.5lbs.
I changed it all to stock, and traded it to a Maiden fanboy for his mint USA G&L LB-100. I think I won to be honest.
Seems a FGN Neo Classic P bass and adding in the Seymour Duncan pick up would be an equally cool set up and made in Japan for less even with the pick up.
Maple body maple neck always sound great to me. Gibson grabber(?), Some Ken Smith's, Pedulla MVPs and Warwick older SS1 being the most famous maple on maple basses I know and love the tone of.
I love Iron Maiden, I’d pass in a heartbeat. I could build or modify my own Harris tribute. Find a LPB body , jazz width maple neck, SH pickup, quality wiring and a mirrored pick guard….
Oh Jeez...it's West Ham...Steve would be upset being a huge 'Hammer's/Irons' fan....my old team when i was younger...ICF...Inter-City Firm..great bass...the P pickup is a Seymour Duncan Steve Harris Signature Hot Precision now, he used to use QP's & he always uses fresh Rotosound Flats..55-110...i like it, it's a fair price for a well made solid roadworthy bass with a great tone...cuts through well for a Precision bass...2 claws...it's a great P bass...a 3" padded strap would help with the weight...
I agree with you that the price tag is a bit high. Addjng the inconvenience of having to remove the neck makes this unappealing to me. Sounds decent though. I'll stick with my regular MIM P bass which I snagged on sale for $650.
I had the bass and sold it. It was heavy. With the price increase from Fender, they went up a little more on this one than they should have in my opinion. I never got the chance to play mine in a live setting. I feel like you really have to be careful with fender’s quality control when buying online. The one I had was in almost perfect condition. There was a rust spot on one of the tuners and that was the only cosmetic issue. My fender Tony franklin fretless bass had issues. The G string was weak and I had it adjusted and it was fine for a few months, then the same issue again. I really wanted to love that bass. It didn’t help when I discovered the Ernie ball stingray special bass
Wow. I thought these were made in the USA. The old lake placid blue model from the late 90's early 00's was at least made in Japan. It had a Seymour Duncan pickup as well and I believe a real Leo Quan Badass II bridge.
When doing your reviews how about stating the available colors and if it's available in lefty configuration. Thank you o holy crustacean!
That's a really good suggestion! I will try and start doing that.
Great review, thanks!
was horsing around with my gibson eb5 getting used to the boss eq200 pedal through my svt 7 pro program for my 4 basses using different mids and different eq for each bass
Speaking of fender I hope you can do a fender meteora bass review and maybe a vs stingray shoot out.
Steve prefers heavy basses and that i believe had much to do with selecting a maple body and arguably the tone of a maple neck n body. I personally wouldnt want to gig 11.5 bass but each their own.
Since they didn't put a no access truss rod in, they should have by passed the tone too. Supposedly Steve's basses don't even have it wired.
You're getting some nice tubular/bell sounds out of it but then again it's maple so it's expected for it to have those deeper lungs that punch around a mix instead of through it.
There are a lot of design notes that I DON'T like about this bass, regardless of cost or mfg location but for 1300 USD you should get a neck that can at least be trued out of the box.
I think you got a lemon build, honestly.
It's nice but it should be better than it is, these parts put together should work better than this.
The sound is great even though it's a bit mumbly in the bottom and again the maple seems to have that natural resonance that wraps around a mix instead of bashing around inside it.
Football Match The IT Crowd | Series 3 - Episode 2
860,563 views Mar 17, 2009
Love the IT Crowd haha
@@russellzauner tonewood literally isn't a thing
I have a 2007 5 string P bass and I also have to remove the neck to adjust the trust rod. I may try the routing good idea.
Before you get flamed by all the Brits it’s West Ham Utd not Manchester Utd…… 😉 On another note that’s a heavy f’n bass 😬
American Performer P bass is around the same price - American build quality plus a Jazz bass neck pickup. Know where my money would be going 😉
Hey lobster. I was wondering if you could look at Human Base Roxy B4 OPN. BTW love your videos as always.
The lack of truss access is fckng ridiculous. Pickup sounds great. I'd just buy the pickup.
Imma be honest here, it just sounds like a bright P-bass. No reason to pay 1300 for it. I know there is a beauty in the simplicity of a P-bass but man, fully knowing imma step on someone's toes here;
They all sound the same.
The only real different P - Pickup I've heard in a while are Spectors p in the Puls 2 and the Nordstrand in Ibbys 60xe and 12..something.
I love the Precision for it's simplicity - i don't need a load of adjustment I'll never use rather than one tone i really like - but the cost of the things , especially considering their options and build quality , sadly rule them out . I tried over two dozen Ps when i was shopping for a new bass in 2019-20 and the one that impressed me the most was a Squier Classic Vibe . None of the Fenders came close to saying BUY ME! , they all had something missing .
In the end i bought two Sandberg Californias and never looked back . If there is a better bass than these then i dont need it 🤗🤗
Awesome video!
Yeah it is a boat anchor for sure lol 😂
My local shop has had one for a few years now because of the weight! I like it but man it’s too heavy for me! Cool bass that sounds good to me 👍
I agree with you…BUT I got mine near mint at a pawn shop for $725…😉👍
It's heavy but sounds great.
Lobby you hit the nail on the head,,having too remove the neck too adjust the truss rod,,,,,what were they thinking?
Imagine - just buy a white P-BASS and invest about 70 Buck's for the Fender high mass bridge; a mirror Pickguard and the Manchester sticker - an another 50 to buy a decent anchor ☺
Or a Lake Placid Blue P-Bass to recreate the original signature model. Either one...
I recently bought that bridge on ebay. It cost me $43.89 new.
West Ham
I wasn't a fan before but the more I watch your reviews I'm liking F products less and less. Reminds me of IPHONE. Double the price for half the product.
On the brightside....almost 30K!!
Thank you Ron! Yes we're very close! It's exciting haha
11.5 isnt bad considering i use to have a squier jazz bass that weighed alot more lol.
Wow nice jamming impressed
I think you are wrong! The adjust of the neck is up, and you dont need to separate the neck to adjust it!
Sick shirt as always
MIM Fenders are getting crazy expensive and I don't think the quality is going up accordingly, especially with most electronics.
You've got a point or two.. But it's a.... Signature Model.. Thus its How Steve wanted it.. Obviously his doesn't have a Fender logo neck plate either..
well that sucks, always wanted one of these, and not a maiden riff played at all. LOL