80s was an interesting time where the market wasn’t really looking for more same products from the 60s and 70s .   As CBS ear coming to its end, they released this the first Vintage reissue lines and also this Elite line as their “Deluxe” offering .    I’ve had a chance to play the Elite I Precision few yrs ago and this Elite II happened to pass by my bench for some TLC and of course some play around . 

Background

This was their Deluxe offering, they’ve had the Elite I with only 1 split coil pickup and this Elite II with 2 split coils ..   The bass came out in 83, and discontinued in 85 when CBS sold Fender to the current company.   

Specs

Some of the uncommon features

• Dual Split Coil pickups in custom housing 
• Active Circuit, and bass only runs in Active mode
• V / V / TBX Tone Circuit, deluxe rubber wrapped chrome knob with Fender logo
• 2 x 3 way toggle , one is for pickup selection (neck/both/bridge), and the 2nd toggle is for Tone control assignment (neck/both/bridge)
• Maple neck / rosewood board with neck tilt adjustment
• Micro running screw (similar to Violin)on the bridge 
• Scholar deluxe hardwares (Bridge, Tunner)

Playbility
This 40yrs bass feels great and plays well.   Overall well balanced, and the neck tilt screw does help me to archive an ideal action. 

Sound
This is the fun part ..    the bass is not overall bass heavy ..   has great focus and definition.   TBX Tone Circuit starts flat in the centre position and works as a treble boost in one way and a convention tone control when rolling to the other way.    The neck pickup works like a solid Pbass ..   overall sound is not hot as I imagined when thinking about 80s active electronic ..    Bridge pickup is more tone down than a typical jazz pickup in bridge position ..   still decent sounding with it’s own vibe ..    both pickup blend is also not as mid-scoopy and fairly usable / tasteful .

Thoughts
3 way tone assignment can possibly do some creative stacking /blend between the 2 pickups , it’ll require sometime to really explore and get used to .   I tend to leave both ..  not all the settings are pleasant sounding, but also not difficult to archive a good usable sound at all .   This bass is well thought after and nicely made ..    

Gallery

Video

Bass strung with a fresh set of Labella 760FL