1959 Fender Precision Basses

[Dynacord]

I saw a video of James Alexander playing a 59 recording with Isaac Hayes on the HBO Stax: Soulsville USA documentary. BIG sound, 3-tone burst, gold guard, rosewood board. I knew that bass right away.

Here's a pic of my CS '59, one of my favorite looks.

Very likely the same bass Duck Dunn had used (i.e. in the clip below) as Duck's son, Jeff, said he had lent that bass to Alexander and had assumed it was lost in the Otis Redding plane crash and never followed up on it. Duck's maple neck 3-tone, gold guard was also a '59 (Duck thought it was a '58 but Jeff pulled the neck to confirm).

 

[telglen]

Interesting to know about the short-lived 11 hole torts, thanks for posting that. I have one of the 10 hole tort guards here, along with its Kaiser alum backing plate. Bought it from a vintage dealer ~ '84 for $10 as a conversation piece, as it's too messed up to ever be mounted again.

Yeah agree on the '59 rosewood/ano P bass being much sought after....the Grand Daddy of the vintage P's to some, every vintage Fender bass nut would give a kidney to find one.

The '59-60 no-dates always fascinated me, especially ones with the serial # on the bottom of the plate. Speaking of odd serial #'s...my guitar player back in the day found an original black '57 hardtail Strat with an era correct "-1".... serial number on the bottom of its neck plate (go figure). For some reason it seems that 60-ish Fenders were prone to have their 3-tone bursts fade to 2-tone from sunlight exposure. I've seen a couple that had the red faded completely off the front, while still fully intact on the rear. I have a theory as to why that may have happened especially to Fenders circa 59-60.

I have a gold guard/ slab body 4/59 serial # 37xxx

 

[JPMcGuire]

I’m thinking of tracking down a maple board 59p. I have a killer 62 slab p original I’d work a trade cash either depending on the bass if anyone interested!

 

[klejst]

 

[kurpak]

I recently picked up a 1963 precision with a really nasty refin. After digging into the paint layers I discovered it was originally sherwood green!! It has the original green guard and all the parts, neck has the original finish and decal. It's getting refinished back to factory sherwood green over desert sand, I'll post pics when it's done.
Teaser pic-

 

[Dynacord]

I recently picked up a 1963 precision with a really nasty refin. After digging into the paint layers I discovered it was originally sherwood green!! It has the original green guard and all the parts, neck has the original finish and decal. It's getting refinished back to factory sherwood green over desert sand, I'll post pics when it's done.
Teaser pic-
View attachment 7250350

Nice! Is that Sherwood (metallic) ? Could just be my phone but looks closer to Daphne or Foam (not "Seafoam") to me. All are super cool.

 

[tvbop]

That poor 59 in the photo carrying that evil looking lump of metal bolted on the back.

 

[kurpak]

Nice! Is that Sherwood (metallic) ? Could just be my phone but looks closer to Daphne or Foam (not "Seafoam") to me. All are super cool.

Yep! It's hard to really tell unless you're looking at in in person. Originally thought it was seafoam but definitely sherwood metallic with a desert sand base coat.

 

[Bluesgrunt]

Yep! It's hard to really tell unless you're looking at in in person. Originally thought it was seafoam but definitely sherwood metallic with a desert sand base coat.
View attachment 7250447

Do you have pictures of the completed refinish yet??

 

[kurpak]

Oh yeah I thought I was in the pre cbs club thread here, not the 59 p bass thread I posted a finish pic over there... https://www.talkbass.com/threads/fender-pre-cbs-club-pics-mandatory.1030399/page-129#post-29255783

 

[Wood and Wire]

You could have 2-ton Sunburst or White Blonde over Ash in the late '59 year.

I draw the line at 10lbs.

 

[Bluesgrunt]

Oh yeah I thought I was in the pre cbs club thread here, not the 59 p bass thread I posted a finish pic over there... https://www.talkbass.com/threads/fender-pre-cbs-club-pics-mandatory.1030399/page-129#post-29255783

That explains it, heading over there.
I saw earlier in this thread that you found an original gold anodized guard. If you should run across another would you please let me know.
My 59 has a tortoise shell guard the same screw pattern as yours.

 

[JPMcGuire]

I have a killer original 59 if anyone looking. Pm me

 

[powersM3]

Interesting read, I'm gasing over this 59 refin and I'm having a hard time figuring if the pickguard is original or not... This one has a 7/59 serial in the pickup cavity. I've been looking over sold 59 all over the net and I haven't seen another tort/59 that's around the same serial.

Fender Precision Bass 1959 - Sunburst | Reverb

I just acquired a '59 PBass. It is dated 8/59 in the pickup cavity and has a tortoise shell pickguard. Has 13 mounting holes and the aluminum backing plate - aircraft grade alloy "2024 T3"

 

[Dynacord]

I just acquired a '59 PBass. It is dated 8/59 in the pickup cavity and has a tortoise shell pickguard. Has 13 mounting holes and the aluminum backing plate - aircraft grade alloy "2024 T3"

Congrats! No neck date? That would be fairly typical.

 

[InstantEctobass]

I just acquired a '59 PBass. It is dated 8/59 in the pickup cavity and has a tortoise shell pickguard. Has 13 mounting holes and the aluminum backing plate - aircraft grade alloy "2024 T3"

Where are the (mandatory) pictures? Well done

 

[powersM3]

Congrats! No neck date? That would be fairly typical.

There is no date/stamp on the neck, nor any markings in the neck pocket. Serial number is 39147.

 

[powersM3]

Where are the (mandatory) pictures? Well done

Bass is in fair condition and at some point was refinished into Olympic White (ish). There is a little red visible under the white on the back...not sure how to interpret that. Thought it would be a fun addition to my eclectic collection.

Oh - I no longer have the Hamer B12A ... sold it to some guy in Nashville named Tom Peterson.

 

[InstantEctobass]

Bass is in fair condition and at some point was refinished into Olympic White (ish). There is a little red visible under the white on the back...not sure how to interpret that. Thought it would be a fun addition to my eclectic collection.

Oh - I no longer have the Hamer B12A ... sold it to some guy in Nashville named Tom Peterson.

Seems healthy for the age!

 

[Mr.Fingers]

Very likely the same bass Duck Dunn had used (i.e. in the clip below) as Duck's son, Jeff, said he had lent that bass to Alexander and had assumed it was lost in the Otis Redding plane crash and never followed up on it. Duck's maple neck 3-tone, gold guard was also a '59 (Duck thought it was a '58 but Jeff pulled the neck to confirm).

It survived, here it can be seen with Alexander in 1972.