Brand: Fender
Instrument Categories: Bass, Electric, Guitars, SOLD, Solidbody
The Fender Precision Special bass was built from 1980 to 1982 as part of a trend to modernize some of Fender’s best sellers, particularly the Precision Bass and Stratocaster as ‘The Strat’. These instruments were built at Fender’s historic Fullerton, California plant under CBS management.
Using the same basic construction and materials, the Fender Precision Bass Special starts with an Ash body and one piece Maple neck, here finished in Lake Placid Blue with matching headstock and “Fender Precision Special” decal. However, the gold plated hardware and gold metal thumb rest start to hint that there are differences.
The tuners and string retainer are a traditional Fender Bass style but Gold, while the new Gold plated ‘Brassmaster” brass bridge has far more mass than the original style. The white pickguard covers new selectable Active electronics, powered by a standard 9v battery. Starting with the regular split and hum-cancelling P-bass pickup, a switch then selects an Active or Passive tone control signal path. The passive Volume control comes at the end of the signal chain and feeds the output jack. The Active circuit is mounted on a small PCB with three transistors to provide controls for treble and bass. Since these are active, they can increase treble or bass, not just cut them.
Details of the Fender Precision Special, its wiring and manuals can be found at this site. Unfortunately this model is old enough that Fender has not converted its schematics to PDF for viewing online.
This Fender Precision Special is in overall good condition. There is some wear through the Lake Placid Blue finish on the lower bass edge, and on the back there are a few small dents and a finish mark, likely from an interaction with the padding on a short stand. Fret wear is light to moderate.
This Fender Precision Special bass is sold with a gig bag.
- Model: Precision Special Bass
- Year: 1980
- Finish Lake Placid Blue
- Class: Vintage
- Serial Number: G 021881, built 1980 at Fullerton CA
- Country of Origin: USA
- Condition: Good
- Date Posted: 30/10/2020
- This instrument has been sold
- Consignment Item
- Including Gig Bag case
- Instrument Weight: 9.768lbs 4.44kg
- Scale Length: 34in 863.6mm
- Nut Width: 1.665in 42.3mm
