Fender Precision Bass, Black (1957)

This 1957 Precision Bass is one of those instruments that is an instant attention grabber in many ways. First off, it's incredibly lightweight, coming in at just a tick over 8lbs on our scale. Second, it's got a very sleek and old Black refinish on the body that just oozes vibe.

This is far from a museum piece, but checks all the boxes as the perfect vintage player. It's got an amazing playing neck that's been expertly refretted along with a replaced nut, and shows a pencil date on the neck heel of '6-57', making it a June 1957 build at the earliest. All of the hardware with the exception of the strap buttons is original, including the rarely seen '-' neck plate serial number. The original pickup was carefully rewound and sounds incredible, with a woody, warm, and powerful response that has a distinct richness these early Precisions are known for.

If you're all about capturing the ultimate vintage experience and don't need an all-original example, you're not likely to find many 50s Precision Basses that offer the level of performance and feel as this '57 does. A remarkable instrument through and through that has left a major mark on our bass inventory here at TME.