When the prototype of the first Fender Precision Bass was released in 1951 it revolutionized the way music was performed and the way a band looked. Up until then the upright bass provided the bottom end and, although a beautiful sound, the bass notes often got lost under the loud drums and other instruments in the band.

Called the “P-Bass”

In actuality the Precision Bass was  not the first instrument of its kind. Another solid body instrument, made by Audiovox Manufacturing Co. of Seattle, Washington, was debuted some 15 years before but never caught on with bass players. The reason for the success of the Precision Bass by Fender was that it was the first to be mass produced and marketed on a large scale. The “P” could also stand for portability because a traditional bass took up a lot of room in a car!

The Design of the Precision Bass by Fender

Years before the space race began Leo Fender’s Precision was truly remarkable and remains virtually unchanged to this very day.  The original Precision Bass  featured either an alder body or an ash, solid-slab body. It was fitted with a new pickup that was split-coiled and did not produce an electronic interference sound or “hum”, unlike previous ones which had a noticeable electronic noise.

The Fender Precision Bass Had Frets

Like all of Leo Fender’s creations in the 1950′s the neck was a single piece of maple with the fingerboard made from either rosewood or machined into the maple neck. What distinguished this instrument from the upright bass was that, unlike the smooth playing board of the traditional bass, it had 20 metal frets like a guitar, leading to the term “bass guitar.” This meant that any person with minimal guitar knowledge could quickly learn to play the songs of the day whereas an upright bass had a steeper learning  curve.

The introduction of the slab bass also lead to the production of large bass amplifiers featuring double 15″ speakers. This raised the volume of the bass and required the drums and other instruments to be miked to keep up. Guitar amps followed closely behind.

The “P-Bass” is Relatively Unchanged Today

Although Fender was bought out by CBS in 1964- and this changed the Stratocaster’s feel and sound for a while – the four-stringed Precision Bass remains almost unchanged. The original chrome pickup and heel guards  -”ashtray cover” -  have been left of the instruments . This was because players took them off for better playing ease) the split pickup design and four large paddle-like, machine heads remain pretty much the same. In addition, in 1973 the finger rest migrated from the bottom to the top of the pick guard when finger style bass replaced the pick as the style of choice.

And although today’s bass players require five and even six-string basses the traditional slab by Leo Fender is still a big seller.