Vintage 1978 Fender Precision Bass Fretless Modified 3-Tone Sunburst with Case

Modified heavily, a special bass made it's presence to us recently, and we knew it was one we had to have.  Partly because we love playing it, but also partly because it's a true "player's instrument".  Don't concern yourself with what's original on it....just concentrate on the smooth lines you'll be playing on it.

First things first: this bass began life (in 1978) as a regular fretted P Bass.  Sometimes in the last 45 years, the frets were removed, with the lines filled, and turned into a fretless.  Sometimes this is done sloppily, but in the case of this one, it was done very well.  So, whether you're going for some Jaco Pastorius or some Jack Bruce (or how about Rick Danko, or Bill Wyman, or Pino Palladino), you'll be able to get the smooth sailing of a fretless bass underway.

The next thing that you'll notice is the body, especially the wood grain on the ash body showing through beautifully underneath the 3-Tone Sunburst finish (original body, refinished).  Be sure to check the photos out, not just of the front, but also the back - then you'll really be able to see what we're talking about it.  It's simply awesome.

It's also been modified by the addition of a Jazz bass pickup in the bridge position, in addition to the regular Precision bass pickup in the neck position. While the PJ configuration is common today, it was not back then.  Somehwere along the way, this bass modified to provide the variety of tones you can get with having both of those pickups in there.  These are Valley Arts pickups - in fact, from what we can tell, all of the work was done by Valley Arts here in Southern California.

You'll see that the bridge was updgrade to a Leo Quan Badass II.  That really helps with sutain, and of course is well known bridge that bassists love.  Additionally, the knobs have been replaced (what's on there looks great).  It's like the pots were replaced as well.  The pickguard seems to be a new thing too.  The original case went missing long ago; a newer Fender case was applied to it.

 This is not a collector's or purist's vintage find.  It's for the player that's really going to be putting it to us.  The bass has been been setup by the techs in our shop to play perfectly.  If you're hunting for a fretless and this flots your boat, get it before it's gotten.

 

Serial # S871584