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Posted by mieke at 9 April , 2009

Fender Precision Bass

fender precision bass guitar

fender precision bass guitar

The Fender Precision Bass (often shorted to ” P Bass “) is an electric bass guitar and the first to be made widely-available.

Background

A patent sketch for the Fender Precision Bass

Although the Precision Bass was first presented some 15 years after the original solid body, fretted, guitar-style electric bass produced by the Audiovox Manufacturing Company in Seattle, Washington, the Precision Bass was the first mass-produced electric bass.

The Standard P-Bass is sanded, painted and assembled in Ensenada, Baja California along with the other Standard Series guitars. As of December 5, 2008, the Standard P-Bass has been updated with CBS era-style decals, a 3-ply parchment pickguard and a tinted maple neck with rosewood or maple fingerboard. Other features include a split-coil hum-cancelling pickup and knurled chrome flat-top control knobs.

The Road Worn Series 50s P-Bass (introduced in 2009) features a distressed alder body with nitrocellulose lacquer finish, a 1-ply gold anodized pickguard, a synthetic bone nut, American Vintage hardware, a split-coil humbucking pickup and a 1-piece maple neck/fingerboard with 20 vintage frets.

Black was beginning to use a Precision Bass during the filming of Jailhouse Rock .

With electric pickups, a small body and fretted neck, the Precision Bass overcame these problems.

Design updates

The original Precision Bass of 1951 was essentially a bass counterpart to the six-string Telecaster and shared several of its design features–the main difference being its then-radical double cutaway body. In 1953 the Precision Bass received contoured edges for comfort while otherwise retaining the existing Telecaster-like styling.

In 1959, a rosewood fingerboard glued on a maple neck featuring “clay”-style dot position markers replaced the 1-piece maple neck. Since 1969, the 1-piece maple neck option is a standard feature on many Fender basses, with the rosewood fretboard offered as the second neck wood option.

Fender briefly offered a fretless P Bass in the mid-1990s as a part of the first-generation American Standard line, featuring a lined fretless rosewood fingerboard. The fretless American Standard P Bass left the Fender pricelist at the end of the 20th century. The American Series Precision Bass (introduced in 2000 and discontinued in 2008) sports the S-1 switching system since 2003, allowing the split-coil pickup to be wired from series to parallel, giving the bass a brighter, snappier tone similar to a Jazz Bass.

Fender made an American Deluxe 5-string model featuring a split-coil neck pickup and a bridge humbucker until 2007, tuned BEADG, but also a passive 5 string tuned EADGC called the Bass V in the 1960s.

From 1980 to 1984, the Precision Bass has been redesigned with new pickups, an active onboard circuit and a high-mass brass bridge.

Fender has also produced several ‘Deluxe’ or ‘Special’ models over the years which feature active electronics and/or a Jazz Bass pickup or humbucking soapbar at the bridge position in addition to the normal split-coil pickup.

The 1990s saw the introduction of the Precision Plus and Deluxe Plus basses in 1989 and 1991, featuring Lace Sensor pickups, fine-tuner bridges, 22-fret necks and passive or active electronics on certain models. In 2008, Fender offered a 5-string P Bass as a part of the second-generation American Standard Series line.

Check out other guide on Epiphone Guitars.

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Posted by mieke at 12 March , 2009

10 Classic Bass Guitars

By Adrian Martin


fender precision bass

fender precision bass

The Electric Bass guitar has been around for over 70 years and has become an integral part in modern music.  Whilst there have been a few design changes over the years - the fundamental role of the instrument remains forming the rhythmic, tonal and heartbeat of the music

There are thousands of different basses on the market today, but here we list 10 classics of their genre and these are the ones to aspire to.

1. Fender Precision

First introduced in 1951, this was Leo Fender’s baby that soon became the industry standard.   Often called the P-Bass, it’s solid ’slab’ body with single pickup it has perhaps became the most popular bass of all time.

2.  Fender Jazz

Fender’s other most popular bass first seen in 1960 this one differed from the Fender Precision by having a slimmer shaped neck, two pickups and a countered body design.

3. Rickenbacker 4001

Rickenbacker introduced the 4000 series in the early ’50’s as competition against the Fender series ‘there have been a number of variations within the 4000 series’ (the 4001 and 4002 etc). As with their 6 string counterparts the Rickenbacker basses have a unique tone and the 4001 has become the rock bass of choice .

4. Hofner

One name ‘Paul McCartney’ usually seen with a 500/1 model (but this wasn’t the only Hofner bass Paul had).  This instrument has become iconic you picture the Beatles and you picture Paul with his Hofner. Not particularly expensive or superbly made but it’s association with The Beatles makes it a bass players must have.

5. Gibson Les Paul Recording Bass.

Gibson’s iconic model ‘Bass style’ introduced in the late 60’s following it’s 6 string sibling- Manufactured with the traditional Gibson Mahogany - it’s a true design classic and  despite various design changes over the years it remains much loved by bassists- great for studio use it’s often referred to as the Recording Bass.

6. Musicman Stingray

This one came on the scene in the mid 1970’s utilizing (at the time) innovate features such as humbucker bass pickups, active circuitry.  Reminiscent of the Fender Precision (sharing a designer in Leo Fender) but with features that brought it bang up to date the Stingray has remained a favorite every since.

7. Steinberger Bass

Featuring the classic headstock-less design Ned Steinberger’s guitar company were true innovators - a truly composite instrument (graphite and carbon fibre mix).  Steinberger released the Q and M series basses and nothing else looked or sounded quite like them - immensely popular during the 80’s/90’s perhaps less so now - but still a true innovation in bass guitar design.

8.  Gibson Thunderbird

Our second Gibson on the list the Thunderbird bass was first released in the early 1960’s - sharing a similar design with the Gibson Firebird 6 string the Thunderbird was the direct competition for the Rickenbacker 4001 - Perhaps Gibson’s most popular bass - it has remained popular with the hard rock fraternity over the last 20 years.

9. Fender V

Although short-lived, the Fender V bass gets onto our list by virtue of being the first 5 string bass to go mainstream, a change in the standard design this 15 fret bass had a high C string to allow bassists access to the higher register of tones.  Only a handful of these basses were produced making them collectors items today - and whilst generally derided the V is an important stepping stone to the 5 string basses that are common today.

10. Gretsch Broadkaster

Gretsch Hollowbody - great tone - almost double bass like - first released in the 1960’s - a unique tone all of it’s own - Whilst Gretsch are not renowned for their basses this one’s a beauty - somewhat distinctive from the Fender and Gibson basses - a unique sound drawing on the technology from it’s 6 string Gretsch counterparts.

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Posted by mieke at 20 February , 2009

Fender Bass: The Name That Guitarists Trust


fender bass guitar

fender bass guitar

The Fender Bass reigns supreme as a best buy bass guitar . The features and integrity of this guitar make it well respected and revered. When musicians and fans hear the words ” bass guitar” they immediately think of the Fender Bass.

“Leo” Fender created the brand for the electric solid body bass 61 years ago, opening his company in California in 1946. The guitars come from Japan, Mexico, Korea, and Corona, California. There are many styles of Fender Bass available to meet the needs of any type of musician. Still others produce the mellower sounds of jazz. Just looking at the many stars who have chosen Fender guitars shows the world that it’s a much-respected and extremely versatile brand. In fact, country artist Freddy Fender took his stage named based on the brand of his guitar.

Fender Bass : Secrets To Buying The Right One For You

Executive summary by Daniel Wright

Electric guitars have been popular almost since their invention. One brand that stands out above the others is Fender Bass. It is known as a best buy bass guitar for its quality and reliability and is known to so many musicians and fans just by the name alone as the must-have bass guitar.

The Fender brand has been around since 1946, ever since Leo Fender created his electronic solid body bass and opened his California-based company. While other firms produced electric basses, Fender’s were the first to be successfully mass marketed. A list of those stars playing a Fender Bass or other style guitar from the brand will demonstrate how respected and versatile the brand is. Artist Freddy Fender renamed himself in honor of his guitar brand!

Even small things like a coating on the fret board will change the sound. Even good guitars are less desirable on a poor amplifier.

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