Built to match Jamerson's original, the new signature P Bass features a custom '62 pickup, classic C-shape neck and a sunburst nitro finish that'll age like the real thing.
Fender has announced the James Jamerson 1962 Precision Bass, an era-accurate tribute to the instrument that underpinned some of the most recognisable recordings in popular music history.
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Jamerson joined Hitsville U.S.A. as a session bassist in 1959 and became a cornerstone of the Funk Brothers, laying down bass lines for Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and John Lee Hooker, among many others. His 1962 Precision Bass was a constant throughout – warm, articulate with a feel and response that shaped how generations of players approached the low end. Geddy Lee, Pino Palladino, Bootsy Collins and Geezer Butler are among those who cite his influence.
Built to match the original as closely as possible, the signature features a custom James Jamerson ’62 split single-coil pickup that’s tuned for lush low end with enough definition that fills and runs stay audible in a mix. The neck is a classic C-shape on a slab rosewood fingerboard, and the chrome bridge and pickup cover put it firmly in Hitsville-era territory. The Heirloom sunburst nitrocellulose lacquer finish is designed to patina over time in the same way vintage instruments do.
“Jamerson is the reason the bass is what it is today,” said Justin Norvell, Chief Product Officer at Fender Guitars. “From the Heirloom Nitrocellulose Lacquer finish to the custom James Jamerson ’62 Precision Bass pickup, every detail was obsessed over to put that same magic in your hands.” Jamerson was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.
The 1962 Precision Bass is available now. Head here to learn more.
