Fender Precision Bass Solid Body Electric Bass Guitar (1966)
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Item # 10579
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Fender Precision Bass Model Solid Body Electric Bass Guitar (1966), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 165443, Candy Apple Red lacquer finish, alder body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard,, original black hard shell case.
This is an extremely fine original example of an early CBS-era Custom-Color Fender Precision Bass, appearing not heavily played since new. CBS had owned Fender for creeping up on two years when this one was built; it shows only cosmetic changes from the pre-CBS pattern and still retains the feel of Leo's earlier instruments. The Precision underwent fewer changes than many Fender instruments through the CBS years, the simplicity of the design was left intact.
Candy Apple Red was one of Fender's most popular 1960s custom colors, and looking at this bass it's easy to see why. The deep but bold metallic red was a California real hot rod color, and while far from the rarest of these player/dealer ordered finishes, all are much scarcer than the standard sunburst. Custom color Precisions have a whole different aesthetic than their sunburst siblings, saying "look at me" more than "I'm just the bass player standing at the back!" Many of these flashier Fenders were striped to "hippie wood" later on in the '70s when that was considered the cool thing to do.
Typical Precision Bass features for this period include a thin rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay and the then-new larger frets, the silver "transition" Fender logo decal on the headstock and a thick 3-ply white plastic pickguard in place of the earlier greenish nitrocellulose piece. Of course the most notable feature on THIS bass is a beautiful unfaded Candy Apple Red lacquer finish on the body, which shows some light wear and small touchups but has retained its color extremely well over 50+ years, with less fading to the red of yellowing of the overcoat than many.
The pots are dated to the 31st week of 1966; we snuck a look under the pickguard to verify the electronics are untouched but did not lift the 'guard fully as these are now often a snug fit around the pickups after 55 years. The date stamp on the neck heel is October 1966. Besides its killer looks, this bass is fairly light at 8.46 Lbs. (with both covers mounted) and handles superbly, an effortlessly excellent player. We often find that 1966 era Precisions have a distinctive sound, a bit brighter than earlier versions and with a midrangey growl. This is a super sharp looking and great playing example.
Overall length is 45 in. (114.3 cm.), 13 in. (33 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 34 in. (864 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/4 in. (44 mm.)., 8.46 lbs.
This bass is not absolutely pristine but way better preserved than many from the mid-'60's, it remains a true beauty in its hot rod red, white and chrome livery. The original Custom Color finish is very nicely preserved overall, showing very little checking and mostly minor play wear.
There are a couple of touched-up chips on the top, one on the upper back edge and the other on the inner curve of the lower horn. There is a thine line chipped down to the primer under the upper tail of the bridge cover, and similarly at the front edge of the upper pickguard shield plate. Apart from there are just small dings and dents, the body edges are cleaner than most. The back has only very light belt buckle scuffing onto but not through the lacquer and a few more fairly small touch-ups, with one more on the upper edge and another at the tip of the lower horn.
The neck finish is quite clean, with a few small dinks but no worn away areas on the sides as is common. The pickguard has shrunk up somewhat, most notably at the forward edges. The two front tips of the pickguard have small cracks off the screwholes, but luckily are not missing. The original screw holes have been re-located slightly inward to compensate.
The all-original hardware has just minor corrosion mostly on the bridge cover; the saddles underneath are quite clean. The original (now ossified) foam mute under the cover is still in place. The original large frets show just a touch of wear and play great. This bass looks fantastic and sounds even better, with the typical '66 growl. The original "No-Tail logo" case is included, it is a bit dirty externally with a sticker mark on the face but remains solid and fully functional. Overall Excellent Condition.
This is an extremely fine original example of an early CBS-era Custom-Color Fender Precision Bass, appearing not heavily played since new. CBS had owned Fender for creeping up on two years when this one was built; it shows only cosmetic changes from the pre-CBS pattern and still retains the feel of Leo's earlier instruments. The Precision underwent fewer changes than many Fender instruments through the CBS years, the simplicity of the design was left intact.
Candy Apple Red was one of Fender's most popular 1960s custom colors, and looking at this bass it's easy to see why. The deep but bold metallic red was a California real hot rod color, and while far from the rarest of these player/dealer ordered finishes, all are much scarcer than the standard sunburst. Custom color Precisions have a whole different aesthetic than their sunburst siblings, saying "look at me" more than "I'm just the bass player standing at the back!" Many of these flashier Fenders were striped to "hippie wood" later on in the '70s when that was considered the cool thing to do.
Typical Precision Bass features for this period include a thin rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay and the then-new larger frets, the silver "transition" Fender logo decal on the headstock and a thick 3-ply white plastic pickguard in place of the earlier greenish nitrocellulose piece. Of course the most notable feature on THIS bass is a beautiful unfaded Candy Apple Red lacquer finish on the body, which shows some light wear and small touchups but has retained its color extremely well over 50+ years, with less fading to the red of yellowing of the overcoat than many.
The pots are dated to the 31st week of 1966; we snuck a look under the pickguard to verify the electronics are untouched but did not lift the 'guard fully as these are now often a snug fit around the pickups after 55 years. The date stamp on the neck heel is October 1966. Besides its killer looks, this bass is fairly light at 8.46 Lbs. (with both covers mounted) and handles superbly, an effortlessly excellent player. We often find that 1966 era Precisions have a distinctive sound, a bit brighter than earlier versions and with a midrangey growl. This is a super sharp looking and great playing example.
Overall length is 45 in. (114.3 cm.), 13 in. (33 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 34 in. (864 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/4 in. (44 mm.)., 8.46 lbs.
This bass is not absolutely pristine but way better preserved than many from the mid-'60's, it remains a true beauty in its hot rod red, white and chrome livery. The original Custom Color finish is very nicely preserved overall, showing very little checking and mostly minor play wear.
There are a couple of touched-up chips on the top, one on the upper back edge and the other on the inner curve of the lower horn. There is a thine line chipped down to the primer under the upper tail of the bridge cover, and similarly at the front edge of the upper pickguard shield plate. Apart from there are just small dings and dents, the body edges are cleaner than most. The back has only very light belt buckle scuffing onto but not through the lacquer and a few more fairly small touch-ups, with one more on the upper edge and another at the tip of the lower horn.
The neck finish is quite clean, with a few small dinks but no worn away areas on the sides as is common. The pickguard has shrunk up somewhat, most notably at the forward edges. The two front tips of the pickguard have small cracks off the screwholes, but luckily are not missing. The original screw holes have been re-located slightly inward to compensate.
The all-original hardware has just minor corrosion mostly on the bridge cover; the saddles underneath are quite clean. The original (now ossified) foam mute under the cover is still in place. The original large frets show just a touch of wear and play great. This bass looks fantastic and sounds even better, with the typical '66 growl. The original "No-Tail logo" case is included, it is a bit dirty externally with a sticker mark on the face but remains solid and fully functional. Overall Excellent Condition.