Fender · Precision Bass · 1957–1965 (split-coil design)
Leo Fender's Precision Bass of 1951 was the first commercially successful electric bass, but the version everyone pictures dates from 1957. That year it got a Strat-style headstock, a gold anodized aluminum pickguard carrying the controls, a four-saddle bridge with the strings loaded at the bridge, and the split-coil pickup that cancels hum and still defines the sound. A rosewood board with clay dots replaced the maple neck in 1959, and a tortoise guard took over from the gold one. This is the bass of the early 1960s. James Jamerson played most of his Motown lines on a 1962 he called the Funk Machine, and Brian Wilson taught himself on one his father bought him in 1961. It barely changed until CBS, and because it was so simple, later P-Basses suffered less from cost cutting than other Fenders. The maple-neck gold-guard basses look and feel different from the rosewood-board 1960s ones, so pick the style first. Then check the neck, body and pot dates, because necks get swapped.
Serials are on the neck plate, with an L prefix for 1963–1965, and the neck heel carries a pencil date until 1962 and an ink stamp after. Features help, with the gold anodized guard and one-piece maple neck from 1957 to 1959, then rosewood with clay dots and a tortoise guard.
Swapped necks, replaced pickups, refinishes and modified bodies are the usual problems. Most bridge and pickup covers were taken off long ago, and the gold anodized guards scratch easily.
Buying guide
We'd buy the 1965 titled 100% original from a US seller at $16,200 delivered, inside the $14,025–24,375 delivered band where most of the about 29 listed sit. Originality sets the spread, with 1962–63 basses titled refinished asking $13,840–17,999 delivered against $24,500 for a 1959 gold-guard bass titled 100% original and $33,446 for a 1963 titled 100% original, while gold-guard 1957–58s from a Japanese dealer run up to $47,101. Necks get swapped, so ask for the neck heel date and the date in the pickup cavity, a photo with the guard lifted to check the pickup, and the neck plate serial, and check the guard fits the year (gold anodized 1957–59, tortoise or white in the 1960s). Skip the 1962 at $3,286 delivered and the 1965 at $4,150, both far too cheap for originals, and the zero-feedback sellers asking $10,800–12,129.
$9,999.99delivered
An auction for a 1959 titled original owner with its gold guard, opening at $9,999.99 with free shipping and no bids yet. Nothing in the title says original finish, so we'd stop around $14,000, what a late-1959 titled refinished asks here, unless photos under the guard show factory paint.
1959 Fender Precision bass - ORIGINAL OWNER - gold'gard - FREE SHIPPING
$16,200.00est. delivered
Titled 100% original, a 1965 from a 100% US seller in the lower half of the band and open to offers. Ask whether it has an L serial, and for the heel stamp and pot codes to back up the year.
1965 Fender Precision Bass Electric Guitar 100% Original
![Fender 1962 Precision Bass Refinish [75405]](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/MB0AAeSwADBqu0Hj/s-l500.jpg)
$13,840.00delivered
Titled refinished, so you get a 1962 rosewood-board P-Bass to play at the lowest refinished ask here, with free shipping from a 100% Japanese shop. Ask for the neck and cavity dates and whether the pickup is original, and you may owe import duty.
Fender 1962 Precision Bass Refinish [75405]
$24,500.00delivered
A 1959 with the gold anodized guard titled 100% original, from a 100% US dealer with free shipping, about $22,600 under the 1958 from Japan at the top. Ask for photos of the neck heel and pickup cavity dates, which should sit within a few months of each other.
1959 Fender Precision Bass Anodized Gold Guard Sunburst 100% Original Vintage
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$9,999.99delivered
$9,999.99 · free shipping
Auction · no bids yet · ends in 20h 21m
Good buy
Auction, titled original owner, gold guard. In the US.
Seller: nancyt45
100% positive
Used$16,200.00est. delivered
$16,000.00 + $200.00 shipping
Buy It Now$16,000.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Titled 100% original. In the US.
Seller: jwkujo
100% positive
Used$13,840.00delivered
$13,840.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$13,840.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Titled refinish. Ships from Japan.
Seller: ishibashimusic
100% positive
Used$24,500.00delivered
$24,500.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$24,500.00
Good buy
Titled gold guard, 100% original. In the US.
Seller: kcvintageguitars
100% positive
Used$12,149.99est. delivered
$11,799.99 + $350.00 shipping
Buy It Now$11,799.99
Our take
Titled pre-CBS Olympic White, with case. Not titled original finish. In the US.
Seller: mmguitarbar
99.5% positive
Used$17,217.00est. delivered
$16,752.00 + $465.00 shipping
Buy It Now$16,752.00
Our take
Titled refinish, serial L01916. Ships from Japan.
Seller: nippondeals
99.5% positive
Used$3,286.00est. delivered
$2,821.00 + $465.00 shipping
Buy It Now$2,821.00
Check the seller
Far too cheap for an original 1962. Likely a reissue or parts bass. Ships from Japan.
Seller: nippondeals
99.5% positive
Used$47,101.25delivered
$47,101.25 · free shipping
Buy It Now$47,101.25
Priced high
Titled 1958, the top ask here. Ships from Japan.
Seller: dimeback-516
99.5% positive
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