Vintage Fender L-Series Precision Bass Refin - USA 1963

The Fender Precision Bass changed the sound of music forever. When Leo Fender launched the P-Bass in 1951, it gave bass players a reliable, portable alternative to the upright - and by the early 1960s, the Precision had become the undisputed standard of electric bass. The early-’60s “L-Series” instruments (1962–65) are considered a golden era: slim, fast necks; beautifully balanced alder bodies; and a tone that shaped countless records in soul, rock, pop and jazz.

This 1963 L-Series Precision Bass started life as a sunburst example and has since been refinished in Olympic White, now aged to a cool, played-in patina. It has seen a number of changes and updates over its long life but still retains the bones, feel and magic that make an L-Series P-Bass special. The neck remains wonderfully comfortable with that classic early-’60s profile, and the overall balance and resonance feel unmistakably vintage Fender.

It’s been modernised where needed for reliability and performance. The bass now wears a set of Fender Pure Vintage ’63 pickups, providing a rich, rounded low end with that unmistakable P-Bass punch. Electronics have been refreshed with replaced pots and a Switchcraft jack, while the bridge and tuners are also Fender Pure Vintage ’63 units for solid tuning and intonation. Under the hood there’s some additional routing from a previous Jazz Bass pickup experiment, but it doesn’t affect stability or tone. The original Brazilian rosewood fingerboard has been professionally replaced with a beautiful Madagascan rosewood board by highly-respected Australian luthier, Jeff Mallia.

Despite the updates, this instrument still feels and sounds like an inspiring, soulful early-’60s Precision - lively, resonant and dripping with vintage character. The new pickups deliver a familiar, warm growl with plenty of attack, and the neck has that well-played comfort only decades of music can give. It comes with its original bridge and pickup covers, adding a touch of vintage authenticity, and is supplied in a modern Fender hard shell case.

Features:

Action at 1st Fret: 0.25mm

Action at 12th Fret: 1.75mm

Neck Depth at 1st Fret: 21.39mm

Neck Depth at 12th Fret: 24.61mm

Nut Width: 42.79mm

Width at 12th Fret: 55.15mm

Weight: 3.81kg / 8.4lb

Scale Length: 34"

Fretboard Radius: 7.25"

Neck: Maple, Madagascan rosewood fingerboard (replaced by Jeff Mallia)

Body: Alder (refinished Olympic White, originally sunburst)

Pickups: Fender Pure Vintage ’63 Precision Bass

Controls: Volume, Tone (replaced pots, Switchcraft jack)

Bridge: Fender Pure Vintage ’63 (original covers included)

Tuners: Fender Pure Vintage ’63 replacements

Pickguard: 3-ply

Case: Modern Fender hard shell case