Fender '62 P-Bass (Left-Handed)

2007 model, 1962 Re-issue Fender Japan Precision bass. I ordered this bass in 'Old Lake Placid Blue'. This bass arrived as my Candy Apple Red one did, via the U.S. Post office, directly from The Ishibashi Web Shop, in a Fender unpadded gig bag. It is packed in a very thin looking typical guitar shipping box, with bubble wrap around it. It seems to be adequate, as both were ding-free and perfect when they were delivered. The details are known to Fender Japan bass afficionados- basswood body, maple neck with vintage tinted lacquer, rosewood board, etc.. The factory hardware on these basses is era WRONG! Let me say, this is actually a minor point, as I simply replace it with the commonly available Fender era correct parts. A 10 here even with this complaint... still a great bass.

I LOVE the finish! Also, the typical, predictable P-bass tone we all know. Dead quiet humbucking p-bass pickup, NAILS the classic p-bass bark and push. A good player can get anything from Jamerson to Rocco, to Entwistle Live At Leeds tone with no problem! As far as recording...its' the most recorded bass in the history of music other than upright bass violins.

The finish work is second to no other. The Lake Placid Blue color is PERFECT. Man, other than the crummy hardware, the bass is so much like a '62 it's just beautiful! There is a small 'lip' on the lower cutaway, almost unnoticeable... it's probably there to distinguish the Japan made bodies. I don't mind it at all. It played well from the factory, but I'm a guitar and bass tech, so it gets a complete setup when I get it. Frets are level, polished well, just a really good bass for the money...buy one!

I'm playin' it all the time, as all the other basses in my rotation. It is a Fender Precision bass... meaning it'll outlive me, and probably several other owners through this century. The greatest bassists ever to play the instrument have and do use the p-bass, and Fender jazz bass in their careers. I see 50+ year old Fender basses being played all the time. I work on 'em.... great, simple, solid, lots of parts available. A given, these are without a doubt among the best designs of any musical instrument ever produced. STILL being made, all over the world!

Aside from The Ishibashi Web Shop, who are very cool! THEY get a solid 10+ ! They are very helpful, and in spite of a bit of difficulty in the communication with a language barrier- English to Japanese, and vice-versa...they are very helpful, and communicative.

This part AIN'T gonna be nice. Fender U.S.A. actually gets a ZERO here! The company is just plain DISCRIMINATORY! Against us, the huge untapped market of left handed bassists. There are just 3 or 4 models are available to us. The manufacturers and retailers say they can't sell them...horesh*t! I want and will BUY a lefty 55- butterscotch Precision bass. I know there's a lot of other left handed bassists that would love one, too. If I go to the Fender Custom Shop, I could order one, and pay a couple of thousand dollars. Leo Fender wanted to make his guitars and basses AFFORDABLE to the working musician, and that's not in keeping with his concept at all. I had a '71 j-bass, and a '73 p-bass.. right off the line, exactly like what was available to righty's. No more. The Fender corporation should offer ANY of it's models to us. I have to look offshore to find what I want. In addition, there is always a hanging threat of Fender stopping the Japanese from selling us what we want! I've said it before, I want an American made, reissue left handed Fender bass! WAKE UP FENDER!

1. I've been a bassist for 40 years. A long time. I still love to play and still love to buy a new bass. I have G.A.S., buy a lot of stuff. I have a lot of stuff out there in my shed! LOL!

2. Weird you should ask... it WAS stolen recently, but I got it back a month later, because - well, how many Lake Placid Blue LEFTY P-basses are there, with a mint green pickguard? I also identified it under the pickguard with my information, which got the thief arrested, and me my bass back. I AM going to buy another bass form Ishibashi anyway.


I'm totally satisfied with this bass, and my decision to purchase from Ishibashi.