Fender is celebrating the legacy of a Motown legend with the James Jamerson 1962 Precision Bass – a reissue of a bass that “changed what the low end was capable of forever”.
Although the celebrated session player was uncredited for much of his work, Jamerson and his 1962 P bass were the bedrock of countless Motown hits, providing famous basslines for the likes of My Girl, I Heard It Through the Grapevine, and What’s Going On.
This reissue coincides with the instrument’s 75th anniversary, and at its core sits the James Jamerson ‘62 Precision Bass pickup at its heart, which voiced to replicate the “warm, punchy low end that anchored the Motown hit factory”.
The single-pickup bass pairs a classic alder body and period-correct C-shaped neck with a slab rosewood fingerboard. Other appointments include a chrome Pure Vintage four-saddle bridge with threaded steel saddles and a chrome cover, knurled flat-top controls, and reverse open-gear tuners.
Fender is also leaning into the trends of relic’d guitars and finishes that wear over time with an Heirloom nitrocellulose lacquer sunburst finish that will patina over time. That will make each copy age just like the original, albeit in their own unique ways.
The 34” scale bass features 20 vintage tall frets, clay dot inlays, vintage clay side dots, and a bone nut.
In keeping with Jamerson’s preferences, each guitar comes with .052- .110-gauge La Bella Flat Wound strings.
“Every detail of the James Jamerson 1962 Precision Bass has been obsessed over to put that same magic in players’ hands,” says Fender.
It's a fitting tribute. Jamerson was crowned the world’s best bassist by Bass Player in 2017, describing him as “the most important and influential bass guitarist in the 66-year history of the Fender Precision.”
“Jamerson is the reason the bass is what it is today. His 1962 Precision Bass wasn't just an instrument, it was the heartbeat of an era,” said Justin Norvell, Chief Product Officer, Fender Guitars.
“As we continue celebrating 75 years of the P Bass, we wanted every player, from bedroom musicians to touring professionals, to be able to hold a piece of that legacy in their hands.”
From funkifying Christmas classics to laying down classic basslines after one too many drinks and offering his peers sage advice they still live by, few players have impacted the instrument’s history quite like Jamerson.
The James Jamerson Precision Bass is available now for $2,999.
See Fender for more.
