For most players, the Fender Vintage Custom 1951 Precision Bass is about as close to an actual original instrument as one can get. This example, dated to early 2019 was refinished, aged and set up by Mike Palermo at Palermo Guitars in mid 2021. It now looks like a well-used 1951 model.

Following the simple and very effective original design, the Fender Vintage Custom 1951 Precision Bass features a slab Ash body paired with a Maple neck. The ‘skunk stripe’ on the back of the neck is Walnut and covers the rear-mounted truss rod. Vintage style tuners are at the head, and a simple through-body string mount bridge at the other end. As on very early examples, there are two wooden dowel saddles, each supporting two strings. The finger rest appears to be a black-dyed Maple, with one mounting screw. All the screws are slot-head, as was normal for the period. The pickguard is a black fibre with a lacquer coating. Electronics consist of the single-coil Precision Bass pickup, followed by volume and tone controls and an output jack.

The original rectangular tweed hard shell Custom Shop case by G&G is included, and contains the bridge and pickup covers, hang tags warranty and other paper items, and the Certificates of Authenticity from both Fender Custom Shop and Palermo Guitars.

Here’s the builder on the Fender Vintage Custom 1951 Precision Bass:

“The debut of the Precision Bass in 1951 is arguably one of the most important milestones of the 20th Century. The P Bass® gave bass players a means to be heard clearly while eliminating the need to lug around a heavy (and fragile) upright bass. It also profoundly changed the sound of popular music and gave birth to a slew of new musical styles. The Vintage Custom 1951 Precision Bass offers the appointments that made the original the undisputed champion of working bassists the world over, including a supremely fast and comfortable tinted quartersawn maple neck with a 7.25” fingerboard radius, ’51-’55 P Bass bridge with vintage fiber bridge saddles and flatwound strings. It also boasts an original slab-style P Bass body with a NOS flash-coat lacquer finish that lets the instrument breathe more organically and shows some of the natural grain through the finish.

Other features of the Vintage Custom 1951 Precision Bass include Closet Classic hardware, a 2-piece ash body, 20 vintage frets, ’55 P Bass pickup, volume and tone controls, single-ply black pickguard, bone nut, round string retainer and vintage-style tuning machines.

A living legend, this Precision Bass sounds just as good now as the original did back in 1951. Includes a deluxe hardshell case, strap and Certificate of Authenticity.”

Fender Vintage Custom 1951 Precision Bass Specifications: