Since its introduction in 1951, one of the only major design changes for the P Bass was the use of contoured body edges brought about in 1954. These basses retain the single-coil pickup from the first run, but the poles are staggered rather than flat for a slightly lower overall output. This period also saw the introduction of the Sunburst finish to the P-Bass, which became standard around mid-1955.

Notable Players: Geezer Butler, Roger Waters, John Deacon, Sting