P Bass Punch Straight Out of the Swinging ’60s
A throwback to the final year of pre-CBS Fender production, the Fender Custom Shop Time Machine ’64 Precision Bass Relic represents the pinnacle of swinging mid-’60s P Bass style. This 4-string’s ’60s oval “C” maple neck is sure to please bassists who prefer a robust grip, while the rosewood fingerboard blends the best of old and new with 20 medium-jumbo frets in a vintage-correct 7.25-inch radius. Underneath the Time Machine ’64 Precision Bass Relic’s 2-piece alder body and charmingly chromed-out covers lies a Custom Shop Hand-wound ’62 P Bass split-coil, a pickup that supplies a masterful replication of the full-bodied thump that represents the P Bass in its prime. To complete the package, the Fender Custom Shop’s finest luthiers outfitted the Time Machine ’64 Precision Bass Relic in a light nitrocellulose lacquer finish, topped off with all the battle scars and scratches that befit a well-loved vintage classic.
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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 neck 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 ’64 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, past the chrome covers, and 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 Time Machine ’64 Precision Bass Relic Features:
- 2-piece select alder body provides a rich, balanced response with a gentle boost to your midrange
- Ultra-stable quarter-sawn maple, shaped into a slightly chunky ’60s oval “C” profile
- Round-lam rosewood fingerboard in a vintage-correct 7.25-inch radius, finished off with 20 modern medium-jumbo frets
- Custom Shop hand-wound ’62 P Bass Split-coil pickup supplies a warm, rich, and midrange-focused thump that naturally slides into any mix
- Vintage-correct 4-saddle bridge and tuning machines
- Packed with old-school Fender features, including bridge and pickup covers, a pickguard-mounted thumb rest, a disc string tree, and a 4-ply tort pickguard
- Masterfully aged Fender Custom Shop Relic nitrocellulose lacquer finish