Fender Recreates the Original P-Bass
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(Click for a close-up) |
July 22, 2001Celebrating the 50th anniversary of one of the most significant innovations in musical history, the Fender Custom Shop is proud to announce the introduction of its 1951 Anniversary Precision Bass. To be unvailed at this summer’s NAMM show, the Custom Shop will take orders for this long-awaited tribute model and will begin shipping them in October - the same month that the originals began shipping in 1951.
Says Mike Eldred, manager of Fender’s Custom Shop, "We’ve been waiting for the opportunity to make this instrument for quite awhile now. When the Precision Bass first came out, there was nothing else like it - it literally changed the face of amplified music. To say that it’s an honor to recreate history and offer this instrument is an understatement. The thrill of doing this is beyond words."
The Custom Shop set out to make this limited edition 1951 Anniversary Precision Bass is historically correct in every detail. Every aspect, from the solid ash body to the vintage pickup and wiring to the step-drilled tuner holes, conform to the exact same specifications as Leo Fender’s very first electric Precision Bass of October, 1951.
"We’ve even recreated the original and very rare form fit chipboard case," adds Eldred. "Of course, we’ll ship it in a sturdier hard shell case."
Using numerous original 1951 basses as reference points, the Custom Shop was able to recreate the exact shape and construction of the Precision Bass’ maple neck, including the truss rod assembly. Historically correct tuners, string tree, output jack cup, string ferrules, knobs, fiber pickguard and fingerboard dots, phenolic bridge saddles - even the maple finger rest and step-drilled tuner holes - complete this exacting recreation.
Orders will be taken from July 21st through December 28th, 2001. The Custom Shop will build to order through that time, and guitars will begin shipping in October. Serial numbers for this historic model will begin with "A001". For more information, visit their web site at www.fender.com. | 
