Fender Precision Bass Model Solid Body Electric Bass Guitar (1961), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 61838, sunburst lacquer finish, alder body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, original brown tolex hard shell case.

Here is a played-in and simply killer example of one of the ultimate vintage electric basses: an original early slab-fingerboard Fender Precision from mid-1961. This bass was made about two years after the model took this now-classic final form. The earlier 1950s maple neck and gold anodized metal pickguard had been supplanted by the features seen here in the summer of 1959, and for many years after this was the pattern for the Precision, then as now the world's standard electric bass. This neck heel shows a 5-61 date mark in pencil, while the visible original pot is to the 36th week of 1960.

The bass carries all the classic 1960s pre-CBS features that define this era's Fender basses. The clay dot, thick slab rosewood fingerboard neck has a slimmer profile than some later '60s examples, but feels somewhat thicker than the '58-'59 one-piece maple necks. The headstock is adorned with the old "Spaghetti" Fender logo decal and the Kluson tuners are the earlier "backwards" turning version. The thin 3-color sunburst lacquer finish on the body has medium fade to the red layer, the thick tortoise celluloid pickguard has a particularly attractive pattern. The black-bobbin pickup and wiring remain original.

This bass is an absolute classic, as played by the great majority of the then-new electric bassists of the 1960s and heard on literally thousands of recordings from then until now. This one has some play time over the last 65 years but remains a wonderful instrument for any style of music, an absolute joy to play and a prime example of the glory days of Fender.

Overall length is 45 3/4 in. (116.2 cm.), 13 in. (33 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 5/8 in. (4.1 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.).

This bass has been played over the last 65 years (and with good reason) but is a nice original example. All finish remains original showing average wear overall, but no large played-through areas to the face as many have. The red in the sunburst has faded somewhat, but there is still more than a "two-tone" look. There is not much checking but a decent number of dings, dents and chips are scattered around overall. This is heaviest on the back and the body edges; for some reason the lower rear edge of the body is quite heavily worn, as if it was dragged across a concrete floor more than once. This is not really noticeable in playing position!

The neck has a decent amount of finish worn through on the back worn away giving that much coveted played-in Fender feel. There are some feelable dinks across the back of the neck in the 8-9th fret area. The only anomaly of note is the truss rod recess in the heel of the neck is slightly larger then usual; perhaps the rod was sticking at some point, and someone widened it. This also may be errant factory work; the interior is neatly cut. In either case it looks like a small disc shim was added below the truss rod nut (a fairly common procedure) and the rod itself works fine. The headstock is comparatively clean and the decal has survived in excellent shape.

The pickup, wiring and hardware remain correct; the original threaded-saddle bridge is cleaner than we might expect although that cover is a repro, as is the center chrome handrest which is not quite the correct pattern but works well enough. The original pickguard is much better preserved than many with only light typical shrinkage and no cracked or popped corners, just a little scarring by the truss rod from adjustments. The plastic fingerrest/"Tug Bar" is original as are the knobs.

The original small-wire frets remain in excellent shape, we would assume the bass has had flat would strings on for most or All of its life, as indeed it does now. The bone nut is original as well. This is simply a superb early '60s Fender bass, a perfect gigger played in enough to use without fear and offering the classic tight and clear sound. It includes the original brown tolex HSC, not too much worn with a small split on the top edge but all latches still functional. Overall Very Good + Condition.