Fender Precision Bass, Sunburst (1961)
Long Scale (Bass) · S (1 Single Coil) Pickups · Vintage
New. Old. Stock. How else could we describe a 1961 Fender Precision Bass this clean?!
Just when you think you've seen "clean"...This 1961 Fender Precision Bass is now claiming the top spot in our highly esteemed sub-catalogue of clean vintage instruments, and for well deserved reason. Have you ever seen any others like it from this period?!? We certainly haven't!
This '61 is one of the most desirable of its kind, featuring the newly adapted "tortoiseshell" nitrate pickguard atop a 3-Tone Sunburst finished Alder body along with the slab Rosewood fingerboard Fender had just introduced the year prior. With the exception of the "gold guard" variant from mid/late 1959, one could argue that this is the Precision Bass by which all others are judged.
Hardware? Gleaming clean.
Pickguard? Vibrant, unbroken.
Electronics? Untouched and perfect sounding.
Finish? Do we need to say anything about it?!
Even the original foam under the bridge cover still has some give to it!! The neck plays as smooth as butter with hardly any signs of wear. The gloss of the nitrocellulose is fully intact, and the fingerboard's rich and chocolatey color along with the original fretwire look closer in age to a 2025 instrument than one from over 60 years ago.
With an instrument this clean, it's typical to see the case follow suit. No surprise - its condition matches the bass perfectly. Even the brass case latches and plates are shining bright. If there's any critique, it would be that there's a small protrusion of the top edge of the case from the headstock having knocked up into it at one point in time. The bass is unaffected, and the case is totally solid.
If you want the cleanest of the clean, and a bass that offers legendary tone and feel the way only a great vintage Fender can, where are you going to find a better example?
**Expedited Shipping Required**
| Style | Solidbody | 3-61 Pencil Date (Pickup Cavity) |
| Body | Alder |
| Finish | Nitrocellulose |
| Color | 3-Tone Sunburst |
| Pickups | Original Black Bobbin | 10.43k |
| Electronics | Original |
| Controls | Volume / Tone |
| Bridge | Original |
| Tuners | Original |
| Pickguard | Original |
| Neck | Maple |
| Binding | None |
| Fingerboard | Slab Rosewood |
| Profile | Oval C | .81-.97" |
| Inlays | Dots |
| Nut | 1 3/4" |
| Scale Length | 34" |
| Serial # | 55926 |
| Weight | 8lbs 13oz |
| Case | Original Brown Hardshell |
Every instrument is thoroughly checked and set up before shipping fully insured via UPS with tracking to your door. We reuse boxes and materials to cut waste when they meet our protection standard.
Inspect it, play it, and if it isn't right, contact us within 48 hours of delivery to arrange a return or one-time exchange. Returns are subject to a 5% restocking fee, and the buyer covers shipping both ways.
Pricing
We price vintage instruments using current market trends and our extensive in-house sales history, ensuring each piece is accurately valued and fairly positioned.
Tasteful Restoration
When restoration is needed, we approach it with respect and restraint - always in service of preserving the instrument’s integrity and extending its musical life for decades to come.
Accurate Listings
Every vintage guitar we list is authenticated by our seasoned team and photographed in high detail, with clear, honest descriptions that show exactly what you’re buying - no surprises.
Shipping
With decades of experience shipping high-value guitars, we know how to pack and protect vintage instruments so they arrive exactly as they should: safe, sound, and ready to play.