There is no sound like a Vintage Fender Bass

Classic Fender P-Bass

Member of Motown's The Funk Brothers - holding the Funk Machine

James Jamerson of Motown's The Funk Brothers - holding the Funk Machine

More than just an instrument, and more than just innovation, Fender Bass Guitars literally changed the face, and sound, of music. Fender created the first popular instrument of its kind, the Fender Precision Bass, and changed the course of music history forever. In 1960, he decided to change the game all over again, and introduced the Fender Jazz Bass. Arguably two of the most popular instruments of their kind; the chance to own a Vintage Fender Jazz Bass, or a Vintage Fender Precision Bass, is without question, a chance that any Fender loving bass player would jump at. We’ll be reviewing vintage basses, going over some history and the details that made these awesome bass guitars special.

Thumbnail image for 1962 Fender Precision Bass

1962 Fender Precision Bass

When you think of the classic sound of Motown, Stax Volt, Capitol Records, or any of the history changing music of the 60’s, your hearing the 62 Precision Bass in all its glory. This is the bass that made Fender Basses Iconic. This is the bass that that set musicians on a new course.

1975 Fender Jazz Bass

1975 Vintage Fender Jazz Bass

The 1975 Jazz bass stands out as an evolutionary move by Fender. A CBS period bass, Fender had been making slight improvements to the jazz bass model, some of which were to become standard, and some rolled back. The ‘75 J-Bass can be seen as a culmination of those efforts.

1957 Fender Precision Bass

1957 Vintage Fender Precision Bass

When Fender restyles a bass, they often take it into a whole new direction. Such is the case with the ‘57 Fender Precision. The changes to this bass would reverberate through the years, solidifying the Fender Precision bass guitars’ place in the hearts and minds of bass players all over the world. After a few years of Telecaster inspired ‘51 style P-Bass, Fender changed the game.

1962 Vintage Fender Jazz Bass

1962 Vintage Fender Jazz Bass

If Fender wanted jazz players to convert to electric bass, they needed a bass that would register with them. But at first, the decision to develop the jazz bass was probably due more to marketing than anything else. Fender created a top of the line bass to fill out its product offerings. Little did they know the impact on the music industry the bass would have.

1951 Fender Precision Bass

1951 Vintage Fender Precision Bass

Fender’s solid body Precision electric bass guitar changed modern music. It’s name, Precision, comes from Leo Fender’s desire to create a “precise” bass in tonality. Fretted down to an accurate 100th of an inch, he got his wish. In 1951, when Fender introduced the Precision Base at NAMM, some people didn’t really cotton to a base that played like a guitar.

60's Jazz Bass

60’s Fender Jazz Bass

There are many changes the Jazz Bass went through during the sixties. From the reworking of the body to the addition of inlays, and the adoption of the bass by musicians of every style including jazz and rock, the magic of the era can be revisited by the music, and by Fender’s 60s Jazz Bass.