Fender Precision Bass

2003 made in Mexico. Passive pickups with 1 volume 1 tone. Maple neck with a rosewood stripe and a rosewood fretboard. I was lucky enough to get one of the last Metallic Black finishes made.

Not too bright, not too warm, it's pretty mellow.

The bridge is trash. The E and G strings raise and lower themselves when they want to, even when I'm playing the E will lower itself and buzz past the 7th fret.

If it broke down at a gig it wouldn't be a big shock for me. The material and finish on the back of the neck is so weak it's already dinged and scratched up pretty badly. The strap buttons aren't bad but they aren't straplocks either. If you have gigs, you better have 2 backups for this one. Better yet, don't even make it your primary bass.

Never dealt with Fender, but I'm sure they wouldn't be much help.

When the bridge isn't freaking out it's a pretty good bass. I'm planning on replacing the bridge and putting straplocks on it. Sometimes the sound doesn't through the mix very well if you play fingerstyle.

First electric bass ever made in history. It's made in Mexico, a standard Precision bass not only for beginners but for most bassists. It has 20 frets, 4 strings, with passive electronics. I prefer passive, because I'm always paranoid the batteries will go dead during a gig if you use Active. Anyway, I love the finish (Midnight Wine), I think it's the best finish compared to Blue Agave and Metallic green. It makes it look expensive and rich. I bought this bass new at a local music shop. I've tried several basses before selecting this one and for $620CDN (with tax), no bass comes close.

I play mostly hard rock, worship, and anything inbetween. Obviously, these are two different styles of playing, but it covers a range of music styles. The only thing holding me back is my crappy amplifier I got which I will be switching soon. However, when I play this bass on better amplifiers, it really sounds awesome. You can get a warm sound and also a punk sound. I've played Blink182 to L'arc en ciel and it matches it nicely. I wouldn't say this is the best bass out there, but again, for the price, what more can you ask? In my opinion, it sounds better on stage than at home.

I've tried other brands, such as Musicman, but I wasn't willing to spend $1000 on that. Because I am on a tight budget, I chose a bass that fit me perfectly. However, when I brought it home, I found a few scratches. I couldn't see it at the music store, because the lgihts were so dim. From far away, you can't notice it, but if you're playing it, you can see some wood chipped. This is clearly not Fender's fault.

I've played live and it hasn't failed yet. My previous bass had loose strap buttons, because I wear the bass very low and I tilt it several times. I'm not a stationary bass player and often times my guitarist wants us to move around. For the Fender, the strap buttons are tightly screwed.

1961 Precision Bass,
Bartolini pickups(original pickups wereonly half original)
Reverse tuning pegs, why did everyone including Fender change?
Light as a feather, never pulls on your neck ,just sits there comfortably.
Seldom needs tuning, I do use Rotosound strings and D'Addario rounds etc, but started out 30 years ago with flats, may go back.
Ampeg SVT 4 pro purchased recently,hope I got a lucky one that won't let me down.
2 Eden 2x10 XTS cabinets.
Play blues,few gigs,but look forward to taking the P-Bass out.
Did play it 30 years ago 6 nites a week as a pro musician and it never let me down, no warped necks or anything, solid.
Replaced pickups not quite the same as originals were but they are not offensive, not overly bright or boomy, more neutral.
The finish was scratched up sunburst with toroise pick guard,
it has been au natural ala Denny Gerrard(Rember the Paupers?)for 30 years.
I have had Gibson EB3, Rick 4001, different newer Fenders and Sting ray basses, only the P-Bass was the Keeper.
In short it was not my first bass but will be my last.

Never a problem

1989 Japanese P-Bass. I bought it used in '92. Stock pick-ups, heads and knobs. Finished neck with rosewood fingerboard. Basically, bare-bones features, but who needs more than that?

This is the best sounding bass I've ever played. I get positive comments about the tone from other players, sound guys and techs. Records like a dream, even with out eq-ing. I set the tone for high end and let my Trace pull out the lows. The result is smooth and warm with clear punchy highs when I need them and bar rattling lows. The action is kept low and that really speeds up my playing. The neck and bridge have to be adjust from time to time, but doesn't every bass?

The finish has held up well. With the exception of a few drummer related gouges (the first night I played it) the bass looks new. The knobs are chromed and starting to crack. Its 16 years old, so its okay.

The Jack need to be tightened to the pick-guard pretty regularly, but it might just be the new clear lucite pick-guard I put on.

Never needed it. Use local guys!

I've been playing since '89, from classic rock, metal to free-form improv jam rock. This bass has been with me through most of it. My sound has evolved, but stayed steady for the last 7 years. The classic design of the P-Bass didn't always go with the music, but the sound did. Low end holds it together, and a strong bass sound can fit in with any genre. I also own a 2003 OLP MM5, a $200 5 string that plays like an expensive bass.

1963 P-Bass, U.S.A.
Standard frets, 4 strings
Volume, tone
Olympic white with rosewood slab board and clay dots, tortoise shell pickguard. Pickup cover, bridge ashtray, and all else original except for a respray years ago of the same original color.
Standard P-Bass C neck, stamped 5 OCT 63
For 1963, these were all the features you'd need :-)

The sound of this bass is what all others have been trying to imitate for years. Typical P-Bass thump, yet notes are clear and well defined. It probably doesn't hurt that my strings of choice are Rotosound Swing Bass 66 mediums. The tone can go from the clearness above to that Noel Redding mud with a turn of the tone knob and by playing with your thumb. Haven't gigged with it, but if I did it would never leave my sight.

It's currently at my local vintage pro guitar shop getting set up. High action may have been good for James Jamerson, but not for me. It wasn't bad, but I felt it could be better. Will reserve comment until I get it back. It's interesting to note that although the action was higher than I liked, it still didn't prevent me from being able to play some of the faster riffs that I have created. Of course, there was no fret buzz at all.

This bass has lasted this long, and it feels bullet proof. I would use this bass to gig without a backup and not have to think twice. I had a Steinberger XL-2DB before the Fender, and this Fender feels every bit as durable. Undoubtedtly, this is the reason that pre-CBS Fenders are still highly desirable today.

Never used it. Warranty? We don't need no stinkin' warranty!

I've been playing for 27 years and have the '63 Fender, a 1979 Mighty Mite bass in Koa with brass and gold hardware and P/J EMG pickups (1986 passives), and a 1955 Sting Reissue bass, which will shortly be getting the same pickup he uses in his--Basslines stacked single coil humbucker. I have had the Steinberger, a Paul Reed Smith with maple top in wine, and a 3/4 scale Ventura was my first bass (sheesh). An Ampeg BA-115 rounds out the three basses nicely, but I'm looking for another bass with a 2 octave neck for my solos :-) If you're a Fender fan and find a pre-CBS P Bass for a good price, just buy it.

1975 p-bass, natural (which has crazed/aged to a mellow butterscotch colour), all original hardware & case, maple one-piece neck A-WIDTH!!! 1-1/2" at nut, so basically the same sort of feel as the jazz neck.
9 for this rating, even though it's not covered in knobs or detuners, simply because this combination of "features" is time-tested & has more real endorsements than any other guitar.

it makes "that" noise. with the low action that I prefer, there's a familiar growl along with the genuine precision thud. I was delighted to note that this is still the case with the narrower neck. my girlfriend has a '69 sunburst p-bass with the same A-width.

I play through a 1972 orange or120 (the non-overdrive version) & an ashdown 4x10 w/ horn.

these 70s fenders were variable to the extreme in build-quality- I have a late 73 p-bass that's a total dog. persevere- if you find a good one, it will stay that way & become an heirloom. the cbs period is rightly regarded with some suspicion, but some absolute beauties escaped all the same, & they are all out there still plugging away (read the other reviews of the post-cbs fenders on this site) & appreciating in value.
this one is a peach.

it's 30 next year. I wish I'd been this attractive when I was 30. the 70s polyurethane is like bullet-proof glass, & appears to be gradually going opaque. to reiterate, if you find a good 70s fender, it will stay good. the bad ones are the ones that were bad in the first place & have been fiddled with some more in a vain attampt to improve them. keep trying til you find one like this.

fender? you're kidding me. find a decent local luthier. this can only be done by talking to other guitarists, especially folks who've used their instruments a lot & have had to have major surgery done (like refrets & so forth). I've got a guy who I trust. he took the lacquer off the back of the neck of my '74 4001 & transformed it. but factory-type support? forget it.

I have 16 basses, 5 guitars & 20-some keyboards, including moogs, mellotron.... the other basses are all decent- rickenbacker, ibanez (musicians fretted & fretless), other fenders (a 71 jazz defretted, a 78 jazz/p hybrid, a 73 p-bass, a reissue VI) but there's something compelling about this 75 p.
it is an heirloom. if it got nicked, I would become patrick bateman.

Not a lot of features on a Precision bass. One big fat pickup, slab body, big neck. I'm using jazz basses a lot. This Precision bass feels almost like a five string Musicman bass. Some may find it manly, but I think it's just too course. Fair enough...it's based on the first bass ever made. No very versatile though. Made for simple music.

Sound is fat, thick, big, you name it. There's only one sound though. Good enough for a night full of straigh forward rock or blues. Hell, James Jamerson used one. Put some distortion in it (Big Muff or something) and you got a sleazy funk machine. Okay...not so with the Mexican made basses, they sound thin to me. Often muddy too. You need a good amp to compensate. Bottom line: one sound, nut not mine.

Good enough for a Fender. Mexican basses are well made.

Detunes a bit when playing long and hard. Tune after 3 or 4 songs. Pull the strings hard enough and you might break the neck. The neck wood is thick and heavy. The neck joint is weak. Using a pick is easier on the bass. Personally I think the playability of this bass is total cack. I can't play anything fast on this bass. Not even with a pick. Not a bad thing if you are a cool, laid back bobo, but I'm not. At least not a whole evening...And a backup is required. Maybe even two.

Did anyone really call Fender while living outside the US? I think not. Go back to your dealer if it breaks.

This bass is okay if you play one syle and one syle only. Rock, blues or funk. This bass was not made for fusion, metal, anything fast or anything considerate. Sound is weak, unless using a good amp with a lot of EQ tweaking. Playability is bad (for me) because of the big neck and for not staying in tune long enough.

Bottom line (again): buy it for $200 or less. Then you might have some value. Anything more than that is just wasted money.

Better find another decent brand. Try an OLP bass for instance. Or a Peavey. Warwick Rockbass maybe? Why? If you want tobuy a mexican Precision, you are not looking for a quality bass. Better buy an alternative.

1978 Fender Precision Bass. Fretted. Sunburst. Volume and Tone controls. Fender case in rough shape. Needed some screws and tape to keep it together. But keeping it in service.

Suits my style just fine. Contemporay Worship. Right now I use an SWR Combo, but I'm looking into a Fender either 200 or 400 watts combo. Not noisy with my current amp. This is a simple Bass. I like simple rigs. Too many knobs and you can lose the setup you like real easy, and too hard to get it back. Sound is warm with good low end thump.

I set it up myself. Tweaked the truss rod and put on new set of D'addario Chromes Flatwounds, adjusted the intonation, real easy with the Badass bridge installed. A recommended upgrade. Pickup was fine. Finish is rough in spots, 26 year old ax, been played.

78 P Basses have always been reliable, need I say more?

No need..........

Started playing the day after watching the 1st Beatles appearance on Ed Sullivan. They can still rock my world........amazing talent. It's the only Guitar I own. I can play many instruments but got rid of everything but this old Bass. Compared it to Washburn, Ric and Ernie Ball. I like the way the neck feels in my hand. Once you pick it up it's hard to put down.

Made 1978 in USA. Standard number of frets, 4 stringed. 1 volume & 1 tone pot for standard PBass pickup. Pickups currently active EMG (9V), replaced a set of Fender replacement pickups. Body - black painted alder (I think) maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, high gloss finish on body & back of neck. Stock bridge & tuners, brass nut. I have also used this bass with a Fender Jazz Bass neck (made between '68 & '73 - 4 bolt, block inlays with bindings). I purchased a bridge cover from Musician's Friend which I use. Black Metal pickguard (aluminum?). The green date on the bottom of the P neck wore off, but the serial number starts with S76.

In addition to the above mentioned features, here is some of the history. The original pickups to this bass were wired along with circuitry to give this bass filters (high and low), and to make it active (18V). There is a hole cut into the side (below the output jack) so that an external power supply could be used. The pickguard (not original, but purchased like that) was modified to accomodate said adjustments. There is also a battery cavity in the back, with a plastic cover. Electronics were replaced with gray-colored pickups (Fender?). I replaced those pickups after 10 years of use with EMGs this past April (2004).

My main music style is jazz & fingerstyle funk, so this bass fits it perfectly. I use it with a vintage Ampeg B-15 Portaflex & a new Ampeg BA-115. Quiet on all settings (the BA-115 hisses on its own!). The sound of this bass is great with the EMG pickups. It is bright, due to the brass nut. It makes the standard P-bass sounds. I play with the tone & volume all the way up. I have only played this bass live. If you want to hear soundclips of my band featuring this bass, contact me at the email address listed below & I will send the link to my band's website (so that I am not promoting our band in this review board). It isnt the best sounding bass, but it gets the job done.

Action - Because of the poor pickups, I used to have EXTREMELY high action, but have the action at a reasonable height with the EMGs. I had to shim the neck with pieces of credit card when I used the old fender jazz neck. I adjust the pickups to be as high as possible but not to affect my fingers when playing.

Fit - the P-neck fits reasonably well in the neck pocket - there is some overhang of the body, but it doesnt move so there is no problem.

Finish - Good and Bad. Fender switched to the high gloss poly(urethane??) coating in order to save money (lower production time compared with the nitro lacquer). On one hand, the finish protects the back of the neck and the body VERY well. On the other hand, the back of the neck tends to be a little sticky because of the high gloss. I played this bass in an extremely humid environment & the finish on the body turned a milky white color so that the bass looked like a dull gray. I tried to wipe this off & ended up scratching the bass quite heavily. The gray went away when I took it home, but the scratches did not (obviously). I do not want the finish of my bass to be hygroscopic! I wish I could wear the finish on the neck down to the bare wood. I am considering having a local luthier sand the high gloss coating off of the neck. I treat the rosewood on the fingerboard with copious amounts of Old English oil. It feels beautiful under my fingers.

This bass has withstood live playing by me for the past 11 years. This includes 4 years at college (moving back & forth) as well as a solid rehearsal and gigging schedule with my band. The hardware will last for many many more years. I only treat it with several drops of 3in1 oil. The tuners are fantastic. There is definitely a difference in the quality of the tuners then & the tuners on the brand new tuners. The gear ratios are different & so is the feel. Saving money, Fender? The finish is excellent, to a fault. I wish it would wear off. The strap buttons are very solid & I have not needed to mess with them in 11 years. I adjust the truss rod once or twice a year. I have used this bass for 11 years without a backup.

I am not a fan of the Fender company for customer support. They do not have much information regarding older basses (or necks, for that matter!). Everything I have learned about Fender basses has come from external sources and books (Klaus Blasquitz's The Fender Bass). The warranty has long expired. I do not (and would not) look to Fender for any help with this bass.

Fender could learn a lot from the customer support at Spector. They are fantastic & super-helpful.

I have been playing for 11 years. I also own a 2002 (or 2003) Spector Q5 5 string and a German plywood upright from the 1940s. I played this bass through HS, and my dad gave it to me for HS graduation. It is more important for sentimental reasons. If it were lost or stolen, I would be extremely upset, and I would immediately try to find it/ purchase another. I would much rather have a pre-CBS PBass, though. I love the feel, sound, & look of a PBass, and the history I have with this bass. My only real complaint is the EXTREMELY tough finish. I do not feel that I am able to purchase something like this new off the shelf. I wish it had the original hardware, such as the pickguard, pickups, and covers, and a nitro finish, but I am very happy with what I have. When I am able to get a pre-CBS Fender PBass, I will retire this to the closet, but I will never sell it.

78 P Bass. Black. Black pickguard. Maple neck. Some chips in finish, but who cares. Totally awesome bass. Features? Only what you need.

Deep rich sound. Perfect for rock playing, espeically with a pick. I loved it through my SVT Classic and 8x10 and 4x10. Even sounds good with no amp at all.

I bought this in pieces off Ebay. Had is professionally set up and it is awesome. Stays in tune. Perfectly balanced. No complaints. Nice action on the neck. The paint is worn and chipped in some places, which I feel is ok for a 78 and it also makes it look credible.

I would depend on this guitar without hesitation. Built like a brick house.

Never needed it.

I love this bass. Almost bought a Rickenbacker. Glad I went with the American made P Bass. No need to ever buy another bass. Well, a Jazz might be cool, just to see how they differ.