Fender Bass V

Infobox Guitar model|title=Fender Bass V


bgcolor=#FFFFFF
manufacturer=Fender
period=1965—1970
bodytype=Solid
necktype=Bolt-on
bridge= Fixed
woodneck=Maple
woodbody=Alder
woodfingerboard=Maple
pickups= 1 split single-coil pickup
colors= Classic sunburst, Black, Chrome Red, Electron Blue, Midnight Wine

Background

The original Fender Bass V was a quirky and unusual electric bass guitar model produced by Fender between 1965 and 1970. It was the world's first five string bass guitar, a popular concept today that, like many of Leo Fender's ideas, was well ahead of its time.

The Fender Bass V is unusual in its dimensions: Although it is three inches longer than a P-Bass, the Fender Bass V inexplicably has only 15 frets. A high C string was added to a combination of traditional Fender body designs. (At the time, not much about electric bass construction was traditional because it was still a brand new technology.) Players did not accept the Fender Bass V, partly due to its size and shape. Players also had problems with the small amount of space between strings. Only about 200 Fender Bass V models were produced, before being discontinued in 1970.

Players

The following players are purported to have owned a Fender Bass V:
* James Jamerson, Motown legend
* John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin

The idea behind the top C string was to enable reading bass players to get to the high notes on the instrument easily, without having to go up the neck.

The top note on the instrument is Eb which is the same top note as a standard 4 string Jazz or Precision bass.

The maple neck on the one pictured here is very rare.

Originally came with chrome bridge and pickup covers.

Literature

*Peter Bertges: "The Fender Reference"; Bomots, Saarbrücken 2007, ISBN 978-3-939316-38-1