Fender Precision Bass Model Solid Body Electric Bass Guitar (1980), made in Fullerton, California, serial # S901348, natural polyester finish, ash body, maple neck, black gig bag case.
This is a nice playing example of a "late CBS" 1980 Fender Precision, with an ash body in the then-common natural finish with the black pickguard introduced in 1976. The features are typical for the end-of-the-70s period, with the finger rest now above the strings and a slimmer nut width. At a hair under 9 pounds, this is a pretty typical weight for a the period; the bass handles well and has a even, growly tone.
This bass has a the theoretically date-encoded serial number on the headstock decal, something CBS/Fender tried for a few years then abandoned as too much trouble. The number suggests 1979 but the pots are dated to the 29th week of 1980. The poly-finished maple neck has a slim 1 5/8" nut, topped off with the large black Fender logo decal on the headstock and chrome-plated Fender-branded tuning keys.
This now 45+ year old bass still plays and sounds great, an excellent gigging and recording instrument and more proof that, even in the deepest depths of the CBS-Fender era, the Precision Bass was a design that was almost foolproof!
Overall length is 46 in. (116.8 cm.), 13 in. (33 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 34 in. (864 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.)., 8.98 lbs.
This is a nicely original bass showing just some wear overall but nothing too serious. There is checking and some scuffs, dings and dents to the finish, but no wear spots through the (very thick) Poly except a few small chips to the body edges. The neck has some wear on the wood on the edges of the fingerboard but only a couple of shallow dinks to the back.
The pickups and wiring are original as is all hardware; both chrome covers and the thumbrest are long gone. The original pickguard has a lot of scuffing and there is a typical small repair at the screw near the jack. New foam has been added under the pickups to preserve adjustability. This is a very good player with a solid growly sound, still the world standard in low-end muscle. Excellent - Condition.
