Fender Precision Bass Solid Body Electric Bass Guitar (1958)
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Item # 13196
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Fender Precision Bass Model Solid Body Electric Bass Guitar (1958), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 32619, sunburst lacquer finish, alder body, maple neck, tweed hard shell case.
This very well worn 1958 Fender Precision Bass is a great player's example of what many hold to be the finest electric bass ever made, the ideal template for so many to follow. In mid-1957 the Fender Precision bass was heavily re-designed with the features seen on this instrument: anodized aluminum pickguard, deep 3-color sunburst finish, split series-wired 8-pole pickup, fully adjustable 4-saddle bridge and a larger "Strat style" headstock on a slimmer one-piece maple neck. These basses have been sought after by discerning players since the beginnings of electric instrument collecting in the late 1960s. They are generally regarded as some of the most desirable of all Fender basses and the apex of Precision Bass design.
This bass is a very heavily played-in original example from late 1958. The one-piece maple neck is pencil-dated 11 (or possibly 12) -58 with the body marked 11-58 in the pickup cavity. The pots are coded 137-825 so date to the 25th week of 1958 as well. The bass was assembled around 6-8 months before the model was altered to receive the new "slab" rosewood fingerboards and tortoise celluloid pickguard. The production run for this version of the Precision was only about a two-year span; although always desirable these basses have never been common! This one still has raised A polepieces on the split pickup; a late example of that interesting if inconsequential feature.
This bass carries a lovely three-tone sunburst lacquer finish with a surprising amount of the red hue remaining considering the amount of wear. The natural-finished neck has a round-backed but slim profile; it is a bit meatier than some '59s we have handled. The headstock is adorned with the old "Spaghetti" Fender logo decal, which has survived in excellent shape.
The original pickguard has been buffed down to bare aluminum on the face; it appears to been painted at some point bases on spillage visible on the still-gold underside.
Through the wear this bass remains its major Mojo as an absolute classic, played by the great majority of the then-new electric bassists of the late 1950s and heard on countless recordings. Even in the 1960s one of these old maple neck, gold guard basses was often considered a status symbol by the discerning bassist (Amusingly illustrated in the film "That Thing You Do"). While massively worn this remains a wonderful instrument for any style of music, an absolute joy to play from the ultimate glory days at Fender.
Overall length is 46 in. (116.8 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.).
Overall this bass shows heavy wear but no repairs. The finish (what's left of it!) has noticeable checking with large areas worn away on the face and a huge swath of belt-buckling on the back. The remainder has a large collection of chips, dings, dents and scrapes over most of the instrument, with thumb wear spots into the wood on the face. As with many of these basses this one was played for decades but unlike a sizable proportion of them has never lost the original finish entirely; it remains epically worn but unaltered. There is a large chip knocked out of the back of the body above the strap button, the area is heavily worn so this must have happened decades ago. The back/top edge has a tiny grain split just below the bridge; this has not opened into a full crack.
The neck is also well worn but with less checking than many '58s; the fingerboard has numerous chips and wear spots into and through the finish, but is not heavily worn down. The back of the neck is largely worn through to the wood as many are, with that "ultimate played-in Fender" feel. The original anodized pickguard has been cleaned and buffed down to bare aluminum on the face; it appears to have been painted at some point based on some drips visible on the still-gold underside. Two other pickguards are included, a correct repro gold guard and a white enameled aluminum piece offering some aesthetic options.
Internally the bass is original including the pickups and wiring; even the original foam under the pickup coils is still intact. The solder joints in the rig appear unaltered original. The chrome covers and plastic "tug bar" are long gone, otherwise the original hardware is intact including the tuners, bridge and knobs. What appear to be the original small-wire frets have been crowned down noticeably and show some subsequent wear; they are quite playable though some modern players might prefer a refret with larger wire. The maple neck is lovely and straight and the truss rod does not even appear to have been adjusted much over 65+ years despite the heavy use. This bass plays and sounds fantastic with vibe for days, currently housed in a re-issue tweed Fender case, simply one of the coolest and best playing "Real Relic" Precisions we have ever had. Very Good Condition.
This very well worn 1958 Fender Precision Bass is a great player's example of what many hold to be the finest electric bass ever made, the ideal template for so many to follow. In mid-1957 the Fender Precision bass was heavily re-designed with the features seen on this instrument: anodized aluminum pickguard, deep 3-color sunburst finish, split series-wired 8-pole pickup, fully adjustable 4-saddle bridge and a larger "Strat style" headstock on a slimmer one-piece maple neck. These basses have been sought after by discerning players since the beginnings of electric instrument collecting in the late 1960s. They are generally regarded as some of the most desirable of all Fender basses and the apex of Precision Bass design.
This bass is a very heavily played-in original example from late 1958. The one-piece maple neck is pencil-dated 11 (or possibly 12) -58 with the body marked 11-58 in the pickup cavity. The pots are coded 137-825 so date to the 25th week of 1958 as well. The bass was assembled around 6-8 months before the model was altered to receive the new "slab" rosewood fingerboards and tortoise celluloid pickguard. The production run for this version of the Precision was only about a two-year span; although always desirable these basses have never been common! This one still has raised A polepieces on the split pickup; a late example of that interesting if inconsequential feature.
This bass carries a lovely three-tone sunburst lacquer finish with a surprising amount of the red hue remaining considering the amount of wear. The natural-finished neck has a round-backed but slim profile; it is a bit meatier than some '59s we have handled. The headstock is adorned with the old "Spaghetti" Fender logo decal, which has survived in excellent shape.
The original pickguard has been buffed down to bare aluminum on the face; it appears to been painted at some point bases on spillage visible on the still-gold underside.
Through the wear this bass remains its major Mojo as an absolute classic, played by the great majority of the then-new electric bassists of the late 1950s and heard on countless recordings. Even in the 1960s one of these old maple neck, gold guard basses was often considered a status symbol by the discerning bassist (Amusingly illustrated in the film "That Thing You Do"). While massively worn this remains a wonderful instrument for any style of music, an absolute joy to play from the ultimate glory days at Fender.
Overall length is 46 in. (116.8 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.).
Overall this bass shows heavy wear but no repairs. The finish (what's left of it!) has noticeable checking with large areas worn away on the face and a huge swath of belt-buckling on the back. The remainder has a large collection of chips, dings, dents and scrapes over most of the instrument, with thumb wear spots into the wood on the face. As with many of these basses this one was played for decades but unlike a sizable proportion of them has never lost the original finish entirely; it remains epically worn but unaltered. There is a large chip knocked out of the back of the body above the strap button, the area is heavily worn so this must have happened decades ago. The back/top edge has a tiny grain split just below the bridge; this has not opened into a full crack.
The neck is also well worn but with less checking than many '58s; the fingerboard has numerous chips and wear spots into and through the finish, but is not heavily worn down. The back of the neck is largely worn through to the wood as many are, with that "ultimate played-in Fender" feel. The original anodized pickguard has been cleaned and buffed down to bare aluminum on the face; it appears to have been painted at some point based on some drips visible on the still-gold underside. Two other pickguards are included, a correct repro gold guard and a white enameled aluminum piece offering some aesthetic options.
Internally the bass is original including the pickups and wiring; even the original foam under the pickup coils is still intact. The solder joints in the rig appear unaltered original. The chrome covers and plastic "tug bar" are long gone, otherwise the original hardware is intact including the tuners, bridge and knobs. What appear to be the original small-wire frets have been crowned down noticeably and show some subsequent wear; they are quite playable though some modern players might prefer a refret with larger wire. The maple neck is lovely and straight and the truss rod does not even appear to have been adjusted much over 65+ years despite the heavy use. This bass plays and sounds fantastic with vibe for days, currently housed in a re-issue tweed Fender case, simply one of the coolest and best playing "Real Relic" Precisions we have ever had. Very Good Condition.