1951 Fender Precision Bass
The original 1951 Precision Bass — the instrument that revolutionized popular music by making bass guitar practical and recordable. Only 195 made. The Telecaster-style single pickup design was entirely different from the later split-coil design.
Current Market Value
* Prices are estimates based on recent market data. Actual value depends on originality, condition, and provenance. Pricing methodology
Specifications
| Body Wood | Ash (slab body) |
| Neck Wood | Maple (one-piece) |
| Fingerboard | Maple (integral) |
| Scale Length | 34.000" |
| Frets | 20 |
| Pickup Config | S |
| Bridge | Four-saddle bridge (individual string saddles) |
| Tuners | Kluson Deluxe tuners (bass-spec) |
| Finish Options | Blonde (natural ash) |
| Est. Production | 195 |
Pickups & Electronics
Single single-coil pickup (Telecaster-style) — the original P-Bass pickup design before the split-coil was introduced in 1957.
What Changed in 1951
First year of the Precision Bass — the first commercially successful electric bass guitar. Leo Fender's design replaced the upright bass in countless recording studios and stages. Only 195 made in 1951.
Collector's Notes
The 1951-1956 'slab body' P-Bass with single-coil pickup is fundamentally different from later models. These are the rarest and most valuable P-Basses. Verify single-coil (not split-coil) pickup.