Fender Precision Bass 1956 – Vintage Player’s Grade, Refinished, Original ’50s Tone

No sales tax for customers outside California.

The Fender Precision Bass (1956) represents the golden era of Fender’s bass innovation, when Leo Fender’s groundbreaking design reshaped modern music.

This example is a player’s grade vintage P-Bass, featuring a professional refinish that preserves its utility while keeping the instrument accessible compared to museum-grade examples.  

The body retains its original date, written under the pickup.  The neck finish is original and the 12-56 neck date is present.  The tuners and bridge are original.  The frets have been professionally replaced and show little wear.

The neck feels amazing and plays perfectly with room left in the truss rod for future neck relief adjustments.

Parts changes include:

• The pickup, a gray bottom pickup that does appear to be Fender made - it sounds just like it should.
• The pickguard is a reissue/replacement.
• Aged knobs and control plate.
• Pots and wiring.

The 1956 Precision Bass introduced refinements that set the standard for generations: a contoured ash body, maple neck with a comfortable profile, and the signature single-coil pickup that delivers the deep, punchy tone that defined rock ’n’ roll, blues, and early R&B. Despite its refinished status, this instrument retains the unmistakable clarity, growl, and resonance that only a genuine ’50s Fender can provide.

Perfect for players who want the feel and tone of a mid-1950s P-Bass without the premium price tag of an all-original collector’s piece, this bass offers the best of both worlds: vintage mojo with stage-ready functionality.

At Mahar’s Vintage Guitars, every instrument is carefully inspected, photographed, and set up to ensure playability and authenticity.

Explore more at maharsvintageguitars.com:

• Used and vintage Bass Guitars

Specs:

• Color: Black ReFin
• Weight: 8lbs 6oz
  
• Body: Ash
  
• Neck: Maple
  
• Profile: Thick C
• Fretboard: Maple
• Inlays: Black Dot
• Frets: Original
• Fret count: 20
• Nut: Original
• Nut width: 1-3/4"
• Radius: 7.25"
• Scale: 34"
• Neck thickness at 1st fret: .94"
• Neck thickness at 12th fret: 1.10"
• Action 1st String at 12th Fret: 2/32"
• Action 6th String at 12th Fret: 2/32"
• Overall length: 45-7/8"
• Lower bout: 12-7/8"
• Waist: 9"
• Upper Bout: 11"
• Body depth/thickness outside edge: 1-1/2"
• String gauge: 45, 65, 80, 100
• Hardware Color: Nickel
• Pickup/Brand: Non Original Single Coil
  
• Pickup Reading: 6.76k
• Bridge: String-thru bridge with double "barre" saddles
• Tuners: Clover style open gear
• Knobs: Original
  
• Pots/Codes: 
• Case: Non Orig Fender HSC
• Notes:

Shipping policy:

There are multiple shipping cost options for purchases made on our site.  Select Ground, 3 Day, 2 Day, or Next Day Air Saver.  For Reverb purchases, there is one cost option for these Eastern states and shipment will be made by UPS three-day-air.  Shipments will require signature on delivery, no exceptions.  If there is damage, the buyer must retain all packing materials intact and picture them immediately and send them to sales@maharsvintageguitars.com.  Less than 1% of our shipments are damaged in transit, and we are committed to making sure your item arrives safely, but we are taking these additional measures to make sure you are happy with your purchase.