Up for sale, a 1966 Fender Precision Bass in exceptional condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case. Featuring a stunningly accurate body-only refinish in Lake Placid Blue courtesy of Riggio Custom Guitars, this Precision Bass is a deeply resonant instrument, retaining the original hardware, plastics, and gray bobbin pickup.

A medium-weight example at 8lbs 13oz strung with 45-105 roundwound strings, this Precision Bass has a rich, balanced natural acoustic sound, and the gray bobbin split-coil pickup yields fullness and woody thump with excellent treble articulation and a sweet, defined tonal character in every register. This Precision Bass has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with comfortable action and accurate intonation.

The maple neck has a medium C-shaped profile carve with a gentle increase in additional heft up the fretboard, measuring .830" deep at the 1st fret and .985" at the 12th. The rosewood fingerboard has a 7 1/4" radius, retaining the original medium fretwire which shows only very light wear on the crowns of frets 1-7. The bass plays cleanly in every register up the 34" scale with a straight neck and responsive, optimally adjusted truss rod. The nut measures 1 3/4". The headstock retains the original tuning machines with long stems and clover buttons, and the Precision Bass logo is fully intact and flawless. The bass does exhibit the very common slight split adjacent to the E tuner post on the back of the headstock, and this has been professionally stabilized and does not extend to the headstock face. On the neck heel, the original August, 1966 date stamp is bold and fully intact, and the truss rod nut is flush with the end of the fretboard.

All of the electronics work as they should, and the stock Stackpole Volume pot dates to the 17th week of '66, while the Tone pot is a CTS modern replacement. The original gray bobbin pickup has stock windings, with an 8-9-66 date on the bobbin. Originally finished in Ice Blue, the stock finish is retained in the pickup cavity beneath the shielding plate. The finger rest and chrome ashtray covers are modern Fender replacements. The body routes are clean and untouched, and the original hardware includes the knurled metal knobs and bridge with threaded saddles. The pickguard sits flat with the original shielding plate and only minor shrinkage, and the guard is a nice warm parchment tint that compliments the Lake Placid Blue lacquer.

The nitro lacquer Lake Placid Blue finish was executed by Riggio Custom Guitars, exceedingly accurate to vintage spec with subtle greening of the clear coat. There is no wear beyond Riggio’s aging on the body, comprising horizontal lacquer checking and light, simulated marks of wear including buckle rash and case rub. The smooth ambered gloss on the neck profile is original, exhibiting subtle palm wear (particularly along the bass-side shoulder) with a worn-in, easy-playing feel that is exceedingly comfortable in the palm.

The original black tolex hardshell case is included with a trio of original, functional latches, stock leather handle, clean leather ends, and Fender logo w/ tail on the exterior.