A Well-worn Tribute to the P Bass in its Prime
The Fender Custom Shop’s Limited-edition ’63 Precision Bass Heavy Relic is positively beaming with swinging 1960s style. From the lightweight alder body to the maple neck’s chunky ’60s oval “C” profile, this 4-string represents the very best of Fender’s time-honored 4-string tradition. And while the rosewood fingerboard’s curvaceous 7.25-inch radius conforms to period-correct specs, even Sweetwater’s most die-hard vintage Fender fanatics can’t fault the Fender Custom Shop for loading this P Bass up with 20 medium-jumbo frets — a more modern spec, admittedly, but one that many bassists prefer over vintage-style speed-bump frets. Under the hood, the Limited-edition ’63 Precision Bass Heavy Relic features a Hand-wound ’62 Precision Bass Split-coil pickup, fulfilling the Precision Bass’ 7-plus-decade reputation for punchy mids, booming lows, and present top end. Finally, from the vintage-style Fender tuners to the ’59 P Bass Bridge, this instrument proudly displays a well-worn nitrocellulose lacquer Heavy Relic finish.
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Balanced, bold bass
Fender’s Custom Shop always does its homework, and the alder body gets an A+, carrying cutting mids and bold bass, thanks to its naturally luscious warmth and sustain. Alder may not normally be known for its upper register, but that A+ wasn’t for nothing. Opting for maple in the neck does wonders to the P Bass’s sonic profile. This tonewood’s tight bass boasts phenomenal, balanced projection, with excellent note separation, remaining bright across all four strings without sounding tinny. Its natural light weight is welcomed in a bass, in addition to being very forgiving with changing climates. The rosewood fingerboard employs period-precise construction, coupling well with the maple wood’s qualities to deliver rich, glassy tones and distinct articulation while allowing you to focus on this well-rounded aural offering.
Time-honored tones
As the old adage goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Fender’s P Bass design has endured for the better part of a century for good reason, and this ’63 is brimming with character. The maple neck is quarter-sawn, ensuring stability and consistent tone, with a lacquer finish to embolden the 1960s-style oval "C" neck profile. The rosewood fingerboard features a 7.25-inch radius, topped with 20 medium-jumbo frets and is ready to rock. Vintage-style tuning machines and disk string tree take the strings from the Strat-style headstock through a bone nut, down to the historic bridge. With its individual threaded saddles, intonation and height adjustment are a breeze.
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 4-ply brown shell pickguard, housing vintage wiring so exquisitely replicated you’d keep any historian guessing.
Fender Custom Shop Limited-edition ’63 Precision Bass Heavy Relic Features:
- Lightweight alder body provides a bold and balanced response
- Maple neck in a rather chunky oval “C” profile
- Period-correct 7.25-inch-radius rosewood fingerboard, studded with 20 modern medium-jumbo frets
- Hand-wound ’62 Precision Bass split-coil pickup grants you all the punchy mids, bottomless lows, and growling highs you’d expect from a vintage-style P Bass
- Period-correct hardware, including vintage-style Fender tuners, a ’59 Precision Bass bridge, and charmingly chromed-out bridge/pickup covers
- Battle-scarred nitrocellulose Heavy Relic finish captures more than a half-century’s worth of gigging wear
