On loan to The Met The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.
Precision (serial no. 0043)
Not on view
Leo Fender introduced the Precision bass (commonly known as the P-bass) in 1951. Named for the precise intonation enabled by its fretted neck, the P-bass was the first commercially successful electric bass guitar and set off a revolution in popular music. Jazz bassists could compete with the high volumes of big bands, and guitarists could double on bass without the struggle of learning a cumbersome fretless instrument. This bass is one of the first five P-basses made by Fender, identifiable by the cracking lacquer on its Bakelite pickguard, and was previously in the collection of the Who’s John Entwistle.
Technical Description:
Ash body, one-piece maple neck with walnut skunk stripe; 34 in. scale; blonde finish; bolt-on neck with black dot inlays; silver “spaghetti” Fender logo decal on headstock; one single-coil pickup with volume and tone controls; composite adjustable bridge with string mutes in “ashtray” cover, clover leaf tuners, and knobs, black Bakelite pickguard with cracking lacquer and finger rest on upper treble bout
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