This bass is one of the delightful examples of a mid-60s P Bass. It has a round-lam fingerboard, 13-ply pickguard, and original case. The original pickup cover is included in the case. As far as we know, the only substantial work to this instrument is a heat-press and fret dress within the last month. It now plays like butter. To cap it off, the bass only weighs 8.5 lbs.
A 1966 Fender Precision Bass is a vintage classic—essentially the epitome of that golden-era Fender craftsmanship. Here's a detailed breakdown of what you'd typically find on one:
Body & Finish
Body Wood: Alder
Finish: Nitrocellulose lacquer, aged to a nice patina by now.
Contours: Classic double-cutaway, contoured body for comfort.
Neck & Fingerboard
Neck: Maple with a rosewood fingerboard (typically a round-lam rosewood board starting in '62, replacing the earlier slab boards).
Scale Length: 34 inches.
Neck Profile: Medium “C” shape, generally slimmer than early-‘50s models.
Frets: 20 vintage-style frets.
Dots: Clay dot inlays.
Headstock
Logo: Transition logo—this is key. In '66, Fender started using a larger, gold and black logo with a bold look compared to the earlier spaghetti-style.
Tuners: Open-gear “elephant ear” reverse tuners.
Electronics & Hardware
Pickup: One split-coil hum-canceling pickup—thick, punchy tone.
Controls: Volume and tone—simple and effective.
Bridge: Original bridge with four individual threaded saddles.
Pickguard: 3-ply tortoiseshell guard over sunburst finishes
Knobs: Flat-top knurled chrome knobs.
Tone & Vibe
Warm, punchy low-end with great midrange growl. The '66 P-Bass has that authoritative thump that made it a go-to for Motown, rock, soul, and funk. It records beautifully and sits in a mix like a champ.
Historical Notes
This was just before CBS’s changes started to majorly alter Fender’s production process (they bought Fender in 1965). So, a ‘66 P-Bass is considered one of the last truly "pre-CBS" quality instruments, even if technically under CBS ownership.
Neck dates, pot codes, and serial numbers from '66 can be helpful for verification—collectors love these!
