Fender American Pro II Precision Bass 5 String – Dark Night

Leo Fender nailed the essence of a great instrument when he launched his Precision Bass in 1951. Today, the Fender American Pro II Precision Bass 5 String – Dark Night draws on over six decades of innovation, evolution, and inspiration to exceed the requirements of today’s working bassists. The ’63 C-profile neck feels just right, with its smooth, rolled fingerboard edges, “Super-Natural” satin finish, and newly sculpted neck heel that gives you effortless access to the upper register. Fender’s new V-Mod II Precision Bass split-coil pickup serves up classic P Bass punch and growl, with more articulation than ever before. A genuine bone nut and string-through-body or top-load 4-saddle HiMass Vintage bridge deliver solidity and sustain for authoritative tone, while lightweight vintage-style tuners with tapered shafts provide outstanding tuning stability and fast, hassle-free string changes. Rocking premium appointments, flawless playability, optimized electronics, and classic visuals, the Fender American Professional II Precision Bass offers you a new standard of comfort, tone, and performance.

Fender American Professional II Precision Bass at a Glance:

• Single V-Mod II split-coil Precision Bass pickup
• ’63 P Bass neck profile
• Bone nut; 20 narrow-tall frets for familiar playing feel
• HiMass™ Vintage bridge for increased sustain
• Tapered-shaft tuning machines; Posiflex graphite rods for neck reinforcement
• Includes Deluxe Molded hardshell case

Session King

The Fender American Professional II Precision Bass carries on the tradition of the first mass-production electric bass guitar. The Precision has driven the bass lines of some of the biggest hit records ever made. The ’60s were a typically prolific decade, with the instrument in the capable hands of session bassists like LA Wrecking Crew stalwart Carol Kaye, who lent her Precision chops to countless iconic recordings such as the Beach Boys’ “California Girls” and “Good Vibrations.” Then there was Motown bass legend James Jamerson, whose ’62 Precision (dubbed “the Funk Machine”) delivered the infectious bounce that buoyed a slew of Motown hits like the Temptations’ “My Girl” and Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On.” In fact, the Precision Bass was standard issue for Motown recordings. After bassist Bob Babbitt auditioned for a slot in Motown’s in-house studio rhythm section (the Funk Brothers), he was told his playing made the cut, but was instructed to “get a Precision” before returning for his first session. He did, and remained a P Bass player for the rest of his career.

The industry standard

Producers and engineers know that the Precision Bass always sits perfectly in the track, with minimal processing and the ideal amount of punch and growl. It’s the de facto industry standard. Perhaps that’s why many of today’s first-call bassists who had been playing exotic active instruments, such as LA session ace Sean Hurley (John Mayer, Gwen Stefani, Alanis Morissette, Robin Thicke), have come home to the Precision. Precision players often cite how “balanced” their instrument feels, whether they’re playing seated or standing; indeed, the P Bass is a supremely balanced instrument, from its playing feel to its fat, punchy, authoritative tone. The instantly recognizable P Bass sound is the end product of a number of factors, including scale length, tonewoods, its bolt-on neck, and of course, Fender’s one-of-a-kind Precision Bass split-coil pickup — the latest, state-of-the-art update of which comes standard on the American Professional II Precision Bas.

V-Mod II Precision Bass split-coil pickup

The Precision Bass split-coil pickup bucks the hum, but it’s technically two single-coil pickups working in tandem, so it has the note definition and harmonic richness many humbucking bass pickups lack. It’s placed in an optimal position along the string length to capture and deliver girthy low end along with midrange growl that cuts through thick arrangements. And it also makes a great thumb rest! The American Professional II Precision Bass features Fender’s latest upgrade to their venerable split-coil bass pickup. The V-Mod II Precision Bass pickup delivers greater note articulation than previous versions, while serving up the epic punch and growl the P Bass is famous for. The V-Mod II P Bass pickup brings out the rich harmonic overtones that enhance the expressive nuances in your playing, while maintaining the solid fundamental that makes the P Bass perform admirably cross-genre, onstage and in the studio. Bass players are blown away by the flawless playability and amazing tone of the American Professional II Precision Bass and its V-Mod II pickup. Trust us: you will be, too.

What Fender Says…

The American Professional II Precision Bass® draws from more than sixty years of innovation, inspiration and evolution to meet the demands of today’s working player. The ’63 P Bass profile neck now sports smooth rolled fingerboard edges, a “Super-Natural” satin finish and a newly sculpted neck heel for a supremely comfortable feel and easy access to the upper register. The new V-Mod II Precision Bass split-coil pickup is more articulate than ever while delivering the punch and growl the P Bass® is known for. The American Pro II Precision Bass delivers instant familiarity and sonic versatility you’ll feel and hear right away, with broad ranging improvements that add up to nothing less than a new standard for professional instruments.

V-Mod II Pickups

V-Mod II Precision Bass pickups are modified versions of our classic vintage pickup designs. Packed with the fundamental Fender bass sound you know and love, these split-coil pickups deliver the vintage warmth, punch and clarity that made Fender a legend.

New Sculpted Neck Heel

The rounded neck heel and beveled neck-plate improve access to the upper register and make leads easy and comfortable.

HiMass™ Vintage Bridge

This precision manufactured string-through or top load bridge adds sustain, resonance and improved attack thanks to a cold-rolled steel baseplate, high mass brass backstop, and chrome-plated brass saddles.

’63 P Bass® Neck Profile

Considered by many to be the gold standard of bass neck profiles, American Professional II Precision Bass guitars use the ‘63 P Bass® neck profile. The Super-Natural satin finish on the back of the neck provides a smooth fret-hand feel complimented by rounded fingerboard edges.

Posiflex™ Graphite Rods

All American Professional bass necks incorporate Posiflex graphite rods to reinforce against movement that can occur with fluctuations the environment. Embedded beneath the fingerboard, they improve reliability on the road, in the studio or in your home.

Tapered-shaft Tuning Machines

Wider at the top than the bottom, the tapered shafts force the string windings downward and keep them tight, resulting in a sharper and consistent break angle over the nut, creating increased sustain and better tuning stability.

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