New for 2023, the Fender Custom Shop introduces the ’53 Precision Bass Heavy Relic. Exactly 70 years after its groundbreaking (and ground shaking) predecessor, the instrument is loaded with looks, sound and vibe that expertly evoke the Precision Bass in one of its earliest incarnations.
The two-piece select slab ash body is most conducive to sweet midrange and tight lows, and is wrapped in cool Journeyman Relic lacquer finishes in Aged Butterscotch Blonde. This special treatment imparts the look of a bass that has changed hands or been handed down over the years, mostly played around the house and the occasional jam session or weekend gig.
The one-piece quartersawn maple neck has a ’51-style “U” profile and is thicker at the body end, with a slight taper toward the nut for feel that’s big and round but not cumbersome; topped by a 7.25”-radius maple fingerboard with 20 medium vintage (47095) frets and a bone nut. Beneath the early-’50s-era chrome cover sits a single Custom Shop hand-wound Vintage 55 Precision Bass pickup for full and warm low-end power and tone. Other premium features include a single-ply black phenolic pickguard, two-saddle vintage-style bridge with fiber saddles, vintage-style tuners, disc string tree, deluxe hardshell tweed case, strap and certificate of authenticity.
General:
Model Number: 9236053099
Series: Limited Edition
Color: Aged Butterscotch Blonde
Orientation: Right-Hand
Body:
Body Finish: Lacquer
Body Shape: 55-Precision Bass®
Body Material: 2-Piece Ash Slab Body with No Contours
Neck:
Neck Material: Quartersawn Maple
Neck Finish: Dark Tint NCL
Neck Shape: 1951 "U"
Fingerboard Radius: 7.25"
Fingerboard Material: 1-Piece Quartersawn Maple Neck
Number of Frets: 20
Fret Size: Medium Vintage (47095)
Nut Width: 1.70"
Position Inlays: Black Micarta
Headstock: Telecaster®
Neck Plate: Engraved Ltd Edition
Hardware:
Bridge: 51 Vintage Precision Bass® with Fiber Saddles
Tuning Machines: Vintage-Style
Pickguard: 1-Ply Black Phenolic
Control Knobs: Knurled Chrome
Electronics:
Controls: Volume, Tone
Switching: None Bridge Pickup: Handwired 55 P-Bass
Configuration: Single Coil
This meticulously crafted product represents a harmonious blend of classic Precision Bass® design and modern innovation, promising a unique and outstanding playing experience.
