Vintage 1966 Fender Precision Bass Black With OHSC

Here at Truetone Music, we love Fender basses as well as vintage instruments - and here is something that is both.  We were thrilled to see it come in the door.  This one has an interesting story....

This is a super cool, and rare, vintage 1966 Fender Precision Bass in Black.  You won't see many of these out there like this.  Over the past 60 years, it's been all around and put to good use.  It's got all of the wear to show for that, creating a great vibe.

This bass was owned by the legendary Terry Messal, bass player in the LA hardcore punk scene that began in the late 1970's.  According to his son, the bass was obtained in 1968 in New Mexico and played it in a west Texas funk and R&B band called the Dukes of Soul.  It stayed in the family, until now.

Messal's main claim to fame was the band Flies on Fire, which he founded, and later Vitamade and VOMF.  Known as a blistering bassplayer and headbanging wildman onstage, off-stage he was a charismatic rocker with a smile for anyone and everyone.  He played this bass on-stage for countless shows while cross-crossing America in a van.  It took the beating with grace, aging into an old rocker of a bass, with the wear and battle scars to prove it. 

An addition to our images of the bass, we've included photos of Terry Messal himself with the bass (contributed by his son).  To see this bass in action, check out these video clips:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRS5Gktdu2E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnG1Z_7EuYs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zORwcLJNveE

When we took the bass in, we verified the authenticity and orginality of the bass, and have now made it available for the first time on the open market.  Obviously if you want a perfectly clean '66 P Bass - this isn't the one - but if you like one with some honest player wear and on a good deal, this is a great find.  

The finish is original - that's the key thing.  The hardware was replaced, as was the pickguard, but the pickup is original.  The neck is in great shape, with life left in the frets, and it plays perfectly after being setup by the techs in our shop.  The original hardshell case is included.

We don't see many basses like this coming through, especially not as good as this one.  It's quite the find!

Serial # 152747