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Fender Standard Precision Bass

 

Review of the Fender Standard Precision by The Man in the Jar

The number one, the classic, the first. Could it be the best?

Features of the Fender Standard Precision Bass 

Tuners - Unbranded open-backed tuners with large clover knobs are surprisingly easy to use and accurate for fine tuning.

Headstock - The Precision is really simply a socking big Stratocaster with four strings. The classic scroll headstock looks particularly attractive in this very light maple. The access to the truss rod is uncovered but finished beautifully.

Nut - The white plastic nut is of the set-in-slot variety and is tidily finished.

Neck - The modern C-shaped bolt-on neck is very slim and comfortable for a long scale bass. The satin finish on the maple neck makes for a smooth and comfortable playing experience.

Fretboard - The medium brown rosewood fretboard has a nice even grain. Traditional dot markers are inlaid in white and repeated on the top edge for player reference. 

Frets - The medium-heavy gauge frets are well finished and provide a positive feel whilst playing. It was the concept of a fretted bass that made the Precision such a revolution in its day.

Action - Very low straight from the box - these Mexican-made basses have been treated to a fine setup at the factory.

Body - The alder body is simply a a larger version of the Stratocaster and has the same comfort contouring on the back. The Arctic white finish on my review model made this maple-necked bass a joy to look at.

Bridge - Very simple oblong plate combining bridge and stop-tail in the same unit. Each string is carried on barrel saddle that has a single groove to ensure the string doesn't move around. Each barrel has a height adjusting Allen screw at each end and is also fully adjustable for intonation.  

Pickups - The Standard Precision has only one single coil pickup, but that coil is split into two units that are staggered midway between neck and bridge.

Controls - One Volume and one Tone - basic stuff. The knobs are the cool Telecaster types in chrome. 

Scratchplate - The three-ply white/black/white scratchplate mimics the lines of the Stratocaster's pickguard. The brilliant white of this scratchplate offers an attractive contrast with the creaminess of the Arctic white finish. 

Strap-buttons - The are two medium-sized strap buttons, one on the bottom of the body and one on the upper horn. 

Output Jack - This sits below the controls on the scratchplate. 

Finish - Very good throughout.

Accessories - A rather nice Fender gigbag.

 

Sound of the Fender Standard Precision

The Precision is the original sound of the electric bass and there's a bright, friendly authority about the voice of this instrument that is shaped by the tonewoods of alder and maple and defined by the single coil pickup. It's difficult to think of any kind of music that couldn't give a Precision a place in the rhythm section.   

 

Overall Impressions of the Fender Standard Precision

Along with the Telecaster, the Precision has that rarest of accolades - First of its Kind. If you are a bass player you have, or will at some time play one of these beasts. The Mexican variant is a very fine bass guitar for the money and would be a perfect upgrade option for an intermediate player looking for a professional quality bass. 

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