A Tribute to the P Bass' Tumultuous Transitional Years
The Fender Custom Shop Shop ’59 Precision Bass Journeyman Relic is a masterfully crafted tribute to Fender’s first 4-string in its turn-of-the-decade transitional period, emboldened with a few performance upgrades you’re not likely to see on any 1950s Fender. This model’s 1-piece maple neck sports a ’60s-style oval “C” profile — a favorite of Sweetwater bassists who prefer a slightly chunky neck without venturing into baseball-bat territory. The matching maple fingerboard reaches even farther into Fender’s future with 20 medium-jumbo frets shaped in a 9.5-inch radius for a smooth and easy-playing feel across the entire ’board. Next, the 2-piece alder body’s captivating vintage-style chrome covers sit above a classic 4-saddle period-correct bridge with threaded steel saddles and a warm, punchy Custom Shop hand-wound ’62 P Bass split-coil pickup. To top it all off, the Fender Custom Shop’s expert luthiers drape this ’59 in a nitrocellulose lacquer Journeyman Relic finish, giving you a perfectly worn-in P Bass right out of the box.
Related Videos: '59 Precision Bass Journeyman Relic - Chocolate 3-color Sunburst
Genius in the details
With Fender’s 1959 Precision Bass Journeyman Relic, there’s genius in the details. This remarkable bass’ beauty, tone, and playability are no accident. Originally sporting a non-contoured “slab” body at its 1951 launch, the Precision Bass received its first makeover for the ’54/’55 model year, gaining the comfortable Stratocaster-like body contours we know and love. Of course, a late-’50s Precision Bass has to have the classic gold anodized aluminum pickguard. Then, there’s the satisfyingly chunky 1-piece maple ’60s-style oval “C” neck, crowned with 20 medium-jumbo frets in a 9.5-inch radius to please players who prefer a more modern-feeling bass.
Fender comes alive
Vintage panache colors the electronics of this bass, precision-designed to reflect their heritage in quality as much as aesthetics. The Custom Shop’s hand-wound ’62 Precision Bass split-coil pickup rocks a thundering low-end thump, delivering a robust lower register that refuses to quit. Dial it back or crank it out with the volume and tone controls, comfortably situated atop a single-ply gold anodized pickguard, housing vintage wiring so exquisitely replicated you’d keep any historian guessing.
The Dream Factory
Since its founding in 1987, the Fender Custom Shop has been home to some of the finest luthiers in the world. Whether you’re picking up a unique limited edition like this ’59 Precision Bass Journeyman Relic or having them build-to-order the Fender of your dreams, the Custom Shop earns its nickname — The Dream Factory — with every masterpiece they create. Custom Shop instruments are made from only the highest-grade, hand-selected materials, including impeccable tonewoods, high-end electronics, and premium hardware. And to protect your investment for many decades of playing enjoyment, your Fender Custom Shop instrument comes in a deluxe hardshell case, complete with a certificate of authenticity.
Fender Custom Shop ’59 Precision Bass Journeyman Relic Features:
- A tribute to the Precision Bass in its late 1950s transitional period
- Lightweight 2-piece alder body with a handsome gold anodized single-ply pickguard and shining chrome covers
- 1-piece maple ’60s-style oval “C” neck, fit with a modern 9.5-inch radius and 20 medium-jumbo frets
- Fender Custom Shop hand-wound ’62 Precision Bass pickup produces a warm and midrange-forward punch, packed full of vintage-style P Bass vibe
- Incredibly stable vintage-style Fender tuners and 4-saddle threaded steel saddle bridge
- Perfectly worn-in nitrocellulose lacquer Journeyman Relic finish
