(SOLD) Fender Precision Bass Natural 1975
Fender Precision, made in USA 1975, refinished in natural. Phwoar... what a creature. Fender's 70s era P basses always look cool, with bold black CBS era logos and simple hardware , but they're often very heavy. At 3.9kg, this is *relatively* light as a feather, which is a welcome novelty. The neck is a moderate C style shape with a nice dark rosewood board, which sits in the hand nicely. The bass is currently wearing a set of flats, and it's a slinky, smooth, satisfying thing to play. The tone is very round: big wide lows with a huge fundamental note, warm and thick through the mids, a little outline of sizzle and snap on the top end. It's a groove-players' bass: perfect for filling those lows and low mids in a mix and getting feet tapping and bodies moving. It's had a refinish in natural satin on the body and back of the neck and headstock at some point, which makes for a tactile win: it feels classy, but still looks like a vintage instrument, as a lot of the dents and marks are still visible under the clear coat. This is an affordable and fun foray into the world of legit vintage Fender stuff... it's wild to think this will turn fifty next year.
Model: Fender Precision Bass
Made: USA, 1975
Serial: 591345
Finish: natural, satin poly, body and back of neck refinished
Body: alder
Neck: maple, rosewood fretboard, 34" scale, 40mm nut, vintage C
Weight: 3.8745kg
Mods: body and back of neck refinished, pickguard replaced, original 1973 dated pots look to have been re-soldered, frets appear to have been replaced
Pickups: original Fender split single coil, stamped codes read '212080' and '127280'
Accessories: non-original oversize Baldwin branded vintage hard case, ashtray covers
Cosmetic condition notes: moderate finish wear. The headstock has scuffs, dents and dimples on the end and both edges, as well as some dimples on the back along the bottom edge and discolouration and dimples on the front. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, it's been re-finished on the back in fresh satin at some point, and has some scuffs and rub wear on the back and some sticker fade marks from faux-block inlays on the fretboard. The back has some scuffs along the belly carve, checking lines in the bottom corner and a bunch of dents and dimples around the whole body that are on display underneath the new clear finish. The sides have scuffs and rub wear in the elbow area, near the jack and on the bottom horn, as well as minor dimples and dents mostly under the new clear coat around the whole body. The front has scuffs behind the bridge and in the elbow area, checking near the jack and on the horns, rub wear around the pickup area, a bunch of dents and dimples underneath the refinish and some play wear on the guard and horns.
Overall: good condition (7/10)
Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electronics tested and working properly. Wearing fresh La Bella flatwound strings.
Fret life: 7/10, appear to have been replaced at some point, minor wear but recently levelled and polished, playing evenly with no major buzz issues