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Fender Precision Bass

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The Fender Precision Bass (or "P-Bass") is a model of electric bass guitar manufactured by Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. In its standard, post-1957 configuration, the Precision Bass is a solid body, four-stringed instrument usually equipped with a single split-coil humbucking pickup and a one-piece, 20-fret maple neck with rosewood or maple fingerboard.[1]

Fender Precision Bass
ManufacturerFender
Period1951–present
Construction
Body typeSolid
Neck jointBolt-on
Woods
BodyAlder
Ash
Poplar
Basswood
NeckMaple
FretboardMaple
Rosewood
Pau Ferro
Ebony
Hardware
BridgeFixed
Pickup(s)One single-coil (1951–1957, occasional reissues)
Usually one two-piece split-coil humbucker (1957–present)
One split-coil humbucker and one Jazz Bass single-coil ("PJ" configuration)
One split-coil humbucker and one humbucking Jazz Bass pickup (1995-2009)
Colors available
Various 2- or 3-color sunbursts
Shades of blonde
Various shades of white, blue, red, green, etc.

Its prototype, designed by Leo Fender in 1950, was brought to market in 1951.[2] It was the first electric bass guitar to earn widespread attention and use, remaining among the best-selling and most-imitated electric bass guitars with considerable effect on the sound of popular music. Leo Fender designed the Precision bass for big band guitarists. Kansas City–based Roy Johnson of Lionel Hampton's big band was the first bassist to use the Precision in a concert setting. Music critic Leonard Feather wrote about this new development in Down Beat magazine, expressing surprise at hearing bass sounds from a guitar. Hampton soon replaced Johnson with bassist Monk Montgomery (Wes Montgomery's brother) who was depicted in a sketch next to the Precision bass models inside Fender's printed catalog in 1957–58. Montgomery helped to popularize the Precision during Hampton's European tour of 1953, despite some sour responses from veteran double bass players who were quoted in Melody Maker saying the new electric bass was just "a weak note amplified" or "an amplified plink-plonk."[3]

Design alterations and variants

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A patent sketch for the original Fender Precision Bass design

The original Precision Bass of 1951 shared several of its design features with the Telecaster electric guitar, the main difference being its double cutaway body. The 1954 Stratocaster guitar with its contoured edges for comfort, was inspired by the Precision bass.[4] In turn the Precision Bass then borrowed design elements from the Stratocaster guitar: The model season of 1954/55 saw the introduction of a body shape and comfort carve similar to the Stratocaster. The 1957 model had its headstock and pickguard redesigned to resemble the Stratocaster, and a rounder neck heel replacing the original square shape. A redesigned pickguard was made of a single layer of gold-anodized aluminium with 10 screw holes.

 
A patent sketch for the Fender Precision Bass

Most notably, in the 1957 model, the original single-coil pickup was replaced by the "split-coil" design with staggered pole pieces which is now known as the typical Precision pickup. Its two coils are typically connected in a hum-cancelling mode, a feature that was not emphasized by Fender at the time, as Seth Lover's patent on the humbucker pickup had not yet expired.

In 1959 a glued-on rosewood fingerboard featuring "clay"-style dot position markers replaced the one-piece maple neck and remained standard until 1966/67, when the now-CBS-owned Fender company began to offer a separate, laminated maple fingerboard capped on a maple neck. Rosewood fingerboards were then made of a veneered, round-laminated piece of wood and pearloid dot markers replaced the "clay"-style inlays introduced in 1959.

In 1960 the aluminum pickguard was replaced with a 13-screw celluloid design having three or four layers of black, white, white pearloid or with a brown "tortoise-shell" pattern). In the same year the newly designed Fender Jazz Bass was released.

The original Telecaster-derived design, with a few updates, was reintroduced in 1968 as the Fender Telecaster Bass. Within a few years, this evolved into a model distinctly different from the contemporary Precision Bass, alongside which it was marketed through 1979.[5] Two artist-designed models use the Telecaster Bass body style; the Mike Dirnt Precision Bass, using today's standard single split-coil pick-up, and the Sting Precision Bass, using a single coil pick-up as did the earliest design.

 
1958 reissue Precision bass

Since 1969 the one-piece maple neck option was offered on many Fender basses, with the rosewood fretboard as an alternative. Some Precision Basses made in the 1970s were also available with an unlined fretless rosewood, ebony or (usually) maple fingerboard, popularized by Sting and Tony Franklin.

In 1968, the headstock graphic was changed to a new "waterslide" design. In 1977, the "Precision Bass" wordmark was changed to a smaller, sans-serif design.

In the mid-1990s Fender briefly offered a fretless Precision Bass as a part of the first generation of the "American Standard" line. This variant was dropped at the end of the 20th century.

 
1956 Precision bass
 
A black Precision Bass

Active electronics models

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From 1980 to 1984 various models of the Precision Bass were given new active pickups and a high-mass brass bridge. The Special (1980) featured a split-coil pickup with white covers, gold hardware, a 2-band EQ and an active/passive toggle switch. The Elite (1983) had one (Elite I) or two (Elite II) split-coil humbucking pickups, TBX tone circuit and a Schaller fine-tune bridge later used on the Plus Series models of the early 1990s. Some models were available with solid walnut body and stained ebony fretboard.

Precision Bass Lyte models were made in Japan and came to the market in late 1984. They had a smaller body shape and a modern C-shape maple neck with 22 medium-jumbo frets. They had an active P-J pickup configuration with a 2 band eq and pickup pan knob. They were produced until 1995.

The later 1980s and 1990s saw the introduction of the Precision Plus and Deluxe Plus basses in 1989 and 1991, featuring Lace Sensor pickups, fine-tuner bridges, 22-fret necks and passive or active electronics on certain models. The limited-edition Custom Shop 40th Anniversary model of 1991 was a luxurious version of the Precision Plus Deluxe bass with gold hardware, a quilted maple top with no pickguard, highly figured neck, 3 stacked knobs and an ebony fretboard with side dot position markers. Only 400 of this model were produced. Some P-Basses with J-style bridge pickups used the Jazz Bass control layout—2 volumes and tone—and a side-mount jack socket. Others had the front pickup volume control moved forward to leave room for a top-mounted jack socket. Other variants include dual stacked control knobs similar to that of an early 1960s Jazz Bass or a 3-way pickup selector switch (as used on the Tony Franklin Signature and Plus Series P-Basses).

Model additions and name changes

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In 1983, Fender introduced the Standard Series with a new Bullet truss rod system, updated die-cast tuning machines, chrome hardware, white pickup covers and a single-ply white pick guard. The Headstock graphics were changed to reflect a blend of new and vintage. The Fender logo remained underneath the string guide but was changed to silver with a black outline. The "Precision Bass" wordmark was changed to a boldface font similar to the early 1960s model but remained to the right of the Fender logo. From 1984 to 2000, this was referred to as the American Standard Precision Bass. The most notable visual change was the return to black pickup covers. The model was revamped in 1995. In 1996, a special run of 500 instruments was sold as the Limited Edition 50th Anniversary Precision Bass to celebrate the company's anniversary. This model had gold hardware and a "Fender 50" stamp on the neck plate.[6]

In 1984, Fender introduced a lower cost Standard Precision Bass model made in Japan. The Standard model was made in Japan until 1990 when Fender shifted operations to its new Mexican factory which produced the model from 1991 to 2018.

The American Deluxe Precision Bass was added to the revamped lineup in 1995. It had an Ash Body (offered until 2006), 18-volt preamp with 3-Band Active EQ and an added Humbucker in the bridge position.

The American Series Precision Bass was introduced in 2000 and discontinued in 2008. From 2003 the S-1 switching system allowed the pickup coils to be switched from series to parallel, offering a wider tonal range, but this was discontinued in 2008 with the second generation of American Standard Series instruments. 2011 models bear a special "Fender 60" badge on the back of the body to celebrate the company's 60th Anniversary.

In 2002, Fender added a new lower-cost American passive model series known as the Highway One. There were two iterations of this line - known as Highway 1 and Highway One. Highway 1 featured 60's spaghetti logo, and a nut side truss rod adjustment port. They were painted with thin nitro lacquer. In 2006, it was updated with a BadAss II bridge with grooved saddles and a Greasebucket tone circuit. The Highway One Precision Bass featured '70s styling and thin satin nitro lacquer finish. The series remained available until it was discontinued in 2011.[7]

The American Standard, American Deluxe (featuring a J-style humbucking pickup in the bridge position and an active 3-band EQ with an 18V power supply), Highway One and American Vintage series models were manufactured in Corona, California.

Following the success of the Aerodyne Jazz Bass, Fender briefly produced the Japanese-made Aerodyne Classic Precision Bass from 2006 to 2008. This model retained the basic shape of the classic Precision but had dramatically thinner contours. It had a basswood body with figured maple top and cream binding, Precision and Single-coil Jazz pickup combination and matching finish headstock.[8]

On December 5, 2008, the American Standard Precision Bass was updated with CBS era-style decals, a 3-ply parchment pickguard and a tinted maple neck with rosewood or maple fingerboard. Other features included a high-mass vintage bridge, Hipshot lightweight staggered tuning machine and a return to the knurled chrome flat-top control knobs. Models produced before 2003 came for a period with aged white Stratocaster control knobs.

As of March 23, 2010, all American Deluxe Precision Basses came with an N3 stacked-coil Jazz Bass pickup in the bridge position, a 21-fret tinted maple neck with compound rosewood or maple fingerboard with white or black pearloid dot markers, an active/passive toggle switch, a high-mass vintage bridge, Hipshot lightweight vintage tuners, a stealth retainer bar for the A string and a bold CBS-era headstock decal. As of March 23, 2012 the American Standard Precision Bass (except the 5-string version) came with a Custom Shop 60's P-Bass split-coil humbucking pickup. The 2012 color chart listed 3-Color Sunburst, Olympic White, Black, Candy Cola, Jade Pearl Metallic, Charcoal Frost Metallic as available finishes during that period. As of April 19, 2012 the American Standard Precision Basses are loaded with the Custom Shop '60s Precision Bass split single-coil pick-ups, a 20-fret graphite-reinforced maple neck with compound rosewood or maple fingerboard with white or black pearloid dot markers and a high-mass vintage bridge. It be bought as a 4 or 5 string bass. and were again made available in 2011; the 2004 color chart listed Aged Cherry Sunburst, Butterscotch Blonde and Tobacco Sunburst as available finishes during that period.

The Road Worn Series 50s P-Bass (introduced in 2009) features a distressed alder body with nitrocellulose lacquer finish, a 1-ply gold anodized pickguard, a synthetic bone nut, American Vintage hardware, a split-coil humbucking pickup and a one-piece maple neck/fingerboard with 20 vintage frets.

Fender offered the Made-in-Mexico Blacktop Series from 2013 to 2014. Like Most of the other instruments in this series, the Blacktop Precision Bass was given high-output humbuckers. It also had a Hi-Mass Bridge, Vintage Jazz Bass Style Knobs (Volume, Volume, Tone) and a C-shape neck with 9.5" Radius.[9]

In May 2016, Fender brought back the American Elite Precision Bass to replace the American Deluxe series.[10] The new model featured a Precision neck pickup combined with a 4th-generation Jazz noiseless pickup, 18-volt active circuit with 3-band EQ, passive bypass switch, Posiflex graphite support rods in the neck which. The 21-fret neck profile was a modern “C” shape at the genuine bone nut, and changed along the length of the neck to a modern D-shaped profile at the updated neck heel, with a compound radius of 9.5–14".[11] Fender produced this bass until 2019.

 
Introduced in 2019, the American Performer employs both the standard split single-coil "Precision Bass" and single-coil "Jazz Bass" pickups.[12]

In January 2017, Fender retired its American Standard line to be replaced by the American Professional Series. The Precision Bass was updated with new V-Mod pickups, upgraded tuners that featured increased sustain and better tuning stability, Narrow-Tall frets and a '63 P Bass profile neck.[13] Fender ceased production of this model in 2020.

On June 19, 2018, Fender announced that it would be upgrading the build quality of its Made in Mexico Standard Series by replacing it with the Player Series instruments. The Player Precision Bass received new Alnico V pickups, modern C-shaped neck with a contemporary 9.5" fingerboard radius, synthetic bone nut, new Fender standard open-gear tuners and a choice of Pau Ferro or Maple fretboards.[14]

Fender updated the Elite Series on November 5, 2019, when it announced the arrival of the American Ultra Precision Bass.[15][16] The Ultra retained similar features to the Elite Series model but now had updated body contouring and sculpted neck heel, Modern "D" Neck Profile with a compound radius of 10"–14", new Ultra Noiseless pickups and a redesigned active/passive preamp. New finishes offered were Aged Natural, Mochaburst and Ultraburst with rosewood fretboard and Arctic Pearl with maple fretboard.[15]

In October 2020 Fender introduced the American Professional II Precision Bass. Updates included a V-Mod II pickup which had varying amounts of Alnico in each pickup pole for a more balanced sound, new sculpted neck heel (similar to those seen previously on the Elite models), Super-Natural neck finish, Posiflex graphite rods for added neck stability and tapered-shaft turning machines. Fender also added new finishes were also added to the lineup: Dark Night, Mercury, Miami Blue and Mystic Surf Green. Finishes that remained in the lineup were 3-Color Sunburst, Black and Olympic White.[17]

In July 2024, Fender released the Player II Precision Bass, adding a vintage-style tint to the neck and headstock, reintroduction of a Rosewood fingerboard option, rolled fingerboard edges and new vintage inspired colour options, Hialeah Yellow, Coral Red, Birch Green and Aquatone blue, added to the remaining 3 Tone Sunburst, Black and Arctic White from the former Player series. The text below the serial number now reads 'Made in Ensenada', as opposed to the prior Made in Mexico.

Squier models

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Fender initially revived the Squier sub-brand to produce lower-cost guitars and basses in 1982. The first model the brand produced was the JV series which was made in Japan. This later became known as the Squier Traditional P-Bass and was retired in 1996.

The current basic model is the Affinity Precision Bass. This model was introduced in 1996 and was made in China. In more recent years, the Affinity Precision Bass PJ (named for its Precision-Jazz pickup configuration) was added to the lineup. The wordmark on the headstock graphic refers to this model as a Squier P-Bass. The PJ model is currently the only variation produced and released in the Affinity line.

Squier introduced the Vintage-Modified Series in 2007 to slot between the Affinity Series and the Made-In-Mexico Fenders. The Squier Vintage-Modified Precision Bass Had a Duncan Designed™ PB101 Split Single-Coil Pickup and late-70's style headstock graphics. The Squier Vintage-Modified Precision Bass PJ was added in 2013 with Fender-designed Split Single-Coil Precision and Single-coil Jazz Pickups. Both models (along with the rest of the line) were subsequently replaced with Fender-Designed pickups before the Vintage-Modified line was discontinued altogether by 2019.

2020 saw the introduction of a short scale Precision. The Squier Mini Precision Bass has a 28.6" (726mm) scale with 9.5" radius and 1.5" nut width. Similar to the previously introduced Mini Strat, the body remains faithful to the shape and contours of its full-size counterpart but is scaled down to correctly match with the neck.[18]

5-String variants

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Fender made an American Deluxe 5-string model with a split-coil neck pickup, a humbucking bridge pickup and a 3-band active EQ between 1998 and 2007. In 2008, Fender first produced a passive American Standard Precision Bass V with a single passive split-coil Precision pickup (three poles toward the neck, two poles toward the bridge) and single volume/tone. It remained in the same configuration when Fender transitioned to the American Professional Precision Bass V model in 2017 and the American Professional II Precision Bass V in 2020. Squier also produced a Standard version sporting two J-Bass pickups with alnico magnets. The company has also built a Korean-made Squier ProTone Precision V with dual humbuckers and gold hardware in the mid-1990s. In the mid-2010s, Squier produced the Vintage Modified Precision Bass V with the basic passive P bass single pickup and single volume/tone.

Artists

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There are many artists known for using the Precision Bass Guitar. A few of the more notable artists include:

 
Green Day's Mike Dirnt with his 1951-style signature Precision Bass
 
Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy with his Signature Squier Precision Bass

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Shop Fender | Electric Guitars, Acoustics, Bass, Amps & More". Shop.fender.com. Archived from the original on 2019-11-20. Retrieved 2018-08-13.
  2. ^ Wheeler, Tom, American Guitars: An Illustrated History, interview with Leo Fender, Harper Perennial, NY 1992
  3. ^ Bacon, Tony; Moorhouse, Barry (1995). The Bass Book. Hal Leonard. p. 21. ISBN 9780879303686.
  4. ^ "Fender Precision Bass". Vintagebassworld.com. Retrieved 2016-12-03.
  5. ^ "Fender Precision Bass". Vintagebassworld.com. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
  6. ^ "Legendary Lows: The Precision Bass Story". Fender.com.
  7. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-10-19. Retrieved 2020-10-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2020-10-31. Retrieved 2020-10-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2021-04-26. Retrieved 2020-10-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. ^ "Fender American Elite Precision Bass Review". Premierguitar.com. 24 May 2016.
  11. ^ "Fender American Elite Precision Bass Maple Fingerboard Electric Bass". Musician's Friend.
  12. ^ Vinnicombe, Chris (January 3, 2019). "Fender 2019 American Performer Precision Bass Review". Guitar.com. NME Networks Media Limited. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  13. ^ "The Differences Between American Standard And New American Professional Fender Electrics | ProAudioLand Musician News". Proaudioland.com.
  14. ^ "Fender Player Precision Bass - 3-Tone Sunburst with Maple Fingerboard". Sweetwater.com. November 17, 2022.
  15. ^ a b "American Ultra Precision Bass®". Fender.com.
  16. ^ "Fender Unveils American Ultra Series - Premier Guitar".
  17. ^ "American Professional II Precision Bass". Fender.com.
  18. ^ [1] [dead link‍]
  19. ^ "Coldplay End of Decade Clearout Sale – Charity Auction Catalogue" (PDF). Coldplay. 18 December 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 May 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  20. ^ "Bill Black (Elvis Presley)". Know Your Bass Player. c. 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  21. ^ "John Cale - Equipment: Fender Precision Bass". Werksman.home.xs4all.nl.
  22. ^ "Peter Cetera's Bass Gear Rig and Equipment – Chicago". Uberproaudio.com. Archived from the original on September 9, 2017. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  23. ^ "Tommy Cogbill (Elvis Presley, Dusty Springfield)". Know Your Bass Player. c. 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  24. ^ Wells, Nick (June 21, 2023). "Tommy Cogbill's 1966 Fender P-Bass, reportedly used to record with Elvis, is going up for auction with an estimate of $100,000". Guitar World. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  25. ^ Jisi, Chris (July 6, 2023). ""Like James Jamerson, Tommy Cogbill was a take-charge guy in the studio": Inside the recording of Son of a Preacher Man". Guitar World. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  26. ^ "MIKE DIRNT ROAD WORN® PRECISION BASS®". Fender.com.au. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
  27. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-05-31. Retrieved 2015-05-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  28. ^ "Donald "Duck" Dunn "Duck's" Gaggle: The Basses of Donald Dunn". Vintageguitar.com. Retrieved 2015-05-13.
  29. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2014-07-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  30. ^ "Emory Gordy (Elvis Presley, Gram Parsons, Steve Earle)". Know Your Bass Player. c. 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  31. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2014-07-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  32. ^ "James Jamerson - Bassist". Archived from the original on December 12, 2010. Retrieved 2010-12-30.
  33. ^ Owen, Matt (March 24, 2023). "Carol Kaye played a Fender Precision Bass on most of her classic sessions – but she preferred the Music Man StingRay". Guitar World. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  34. ^ "Mike Leech (Memphis Boys, Elvis Presley, Neil Diamond, Willie Nelson)". Know Your Bass Player. c. 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  35. ^ Oermann, Robert K. (January 2, 2018). "Services Set For Recording Session Great Mike Leech". Music Row. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  36. ^ "Bass Player". Bassplayer.com.
  37. ^ "Fender Duff McKagan Precision Bass Signature". Fender.com. Retrieved 2014-07-04.
  38. ^ Johnson, Kathleen (2017-05-30). "Fanny's June Millington". Vintage Guitar magazine. Retrieved 2019-04-16.
  39. ^ "Pino Palladino P bass". Fender.com. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  40. ^ "Norbert Putnam (Nashville, Muscle Shoals)". Know Your Bass Player. c. 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  41. ^ "Nobert Putnam: Nashville Cat". Country Music Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  42. ^ Madora, Ryan (July 22, 2016). "Bass Players to Know: Norbert Putnam". Notreble.com. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  43. ^ McIverpublished, Joel (November 22, 2016). "Sting talks Fender P-Basses, technique and jamming Jaco Pastorius". MusicRadar.
  44. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2014-07-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  45. ^ Staffpublished, Bass Player (2021-09-23). "April Kae: "Bringing my bass playing to social media has challenged me, and I feel like I'm growing"". guitarworld. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  46. ^ Scaramangapublished, Jenna (2023-10-27). ""When I'm not playing online, I love to blend with the band. I'm not the one who wants to stand out. But online, that's what it's all about": April Kae is on a quest to inspire new bass players – and it starts with making bass sound good on phone speakers". guitarworld. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  47. ^ Premier Guitar Press Release (2024-07-01). "Fender Releases Revamped Player II Series". PREMIERGuitar. Retrieved 2024-07-15.

Literature

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fender Precision Bass.
  • Peter Bertges. The Fender Reference. Bomots, Saarbrücken. 2007. ISBN 978-3-939316-38-1.
  • Martin Kelly, Terry Foster, Paul Kelly. Fender: The Golden Age 1946–1970. London & New York: Cassell. 2010. ISBN 1-84403-666-9.
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