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Fly Guitars Interview: Bob Daisley - part 3: Fender basses

Introduction | Gibson basses | Fender basses | Other vintage basses


Fender basses

FlyGuitars Your collections obviously dominated by a large number of Fender basses and Fender appear to be your chosen workhorse. Is that because you find those most practical for live work and recording?

Bob Daisley Yeah they've always been very versatile you can get lots of different sounds out of especially a Precision bass. Very versatile, very reliable, very robust for travelling. I love Gibsons for some stuff but sometimes you only have to look at them the wrong way and the head falls off, they're notorious for that though. If they fall or they get transported the wrong way or they are not packed properly the head can break off, it's always the head that goes first. I've had that happen to a couple of mine but the Fenders are very robust and you could probably throw it across the room and it'd be still in one piece you know. You've got to really mean to break one, somebody like Ritchie (Blackmore) or Pete Townsend to break a Fender, they're very robust. You know I've always found them very versatile.

FlyGuitars What was your first Fender

Bob Daisley I actually got a Telecaster bass at first which was ok but when I joined Chicken Shack with Stan Webb I ended up getting the 61 Precision bass and I remember Stan saying to me "Oh you won't be sorry, you'll have that for the rest of your life". That's one I've really hung on to and it's been great, it's been really good, a real workhorse, it's been on so many records and albums and done so many tours.

1964 Candy Apple Red Precision bass
Chicken Shack in 1972 - Bob plays an early Fender Telecaster bass
Chicken Shack in 1972 - Bob plays an early Fender Telecaster bass, and below, the 1961 blond Precision, bought shortly afterwards
1961 blonde Fender Precision

FlyGuitars In '72 Fender edged into Gibson territory by putting a large humbucker right up by the neck of the Telecaster bass. Your original Tele didn't have this, but have you now got a humbucker equipped Tele in your collection?

Bob Daisley No, mine's the '68 Paisley which is another pretty rare one but that hasn't got the humbucker it's the one with the early Precision straight pole pickup.

FlyGuitars What's it like in terms of tone compared to the other Fenders that you've got?

Bob Daisley It's nice, you know it's got nice playability and it sounds good. Very similar to the early 50's ones, I have got a couple of early 50's ones, a 53 Precision, the butterscotch with the black pickguard, that's really nice, I like that one and the other one I've got is the '55. Same sort of thing but with the contoured body.

1968 Fender Telecaster - paisley finish
1968 Fender Telecaster - paisley finish

The pictures below show a selection of Bob's Precision and Jazz basses. Six Fender Precision basses: 1953 blond, 1954 Sunburst, 1957 Sunburst, 1959 Sunburst, 1962/3 Olympic white, 1964 Sunburst

1953 Fender Precision
1953 blond
1954 Fender Precision
1954 Sunburst
1957 Fender Precision
1957 Sunburst
1959 Fender Precision
1959 Sunburst
1963 Fender Precision
1962/3 Olympic white
1964 Fender Precision
1964 Sunburst
1962 Fender Jazz Bass - fiesta red finish 1964 candy apple red Fender Jazz bass
Two Fender Jazz basses: a 1962 in Fiesta Red, and a 1964 in Candy Apple Red




Thanks to Graham Fieldhouse and Bob Daisley for making this interview possible. Images courtesy of bobdaisley.com

Links: Bob Daisley's homepage | Kahvas Jute homepage | More FlyGuitars interviews

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1964 Fender Precision Bass - The REAL Deal!

1964 Fender Precision Bass - The REAL Deal!

Arroyo Grande, California, 934**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$6000

I'm looking for a good home for this special bass
I bought it around 2012 as a gigging bass. It had been refinished in clear which was fine with me because I planned to send it to the great Gord Miller for an authentic relic refinish job. It's like going back in time and ordering a custom color - Olympic White in this case - which really suits this bass
Other than finish, it's completely original. Neck date stamp is "5 OCT 64 C " , serial number is L62358, has clay dots, and pot date ... more
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1975 Fender Precision Bass beat sweet Blonde Maple Neck w / P / J Bartolini pickups.

1975 Fender Precision Bass beat sweet Blonde Maple Neck w / P / J Bartolini pickups.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 333**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2750

Just in is this beat sweet 1975 Fender Precision Bass, it has most of its original see-thru Blonde finish over an very grainy Ashe body that has been oversprayed in bright white, then sanded off as much as they could leaving a bit of a funky splotchy finish all over. Its Maple Neck is all original & feels great. Its original black??gard was replaced with this cool tortoise pearloid??gard. Its loaded w / a set of EMG Basslines P & J pickups that are bold & cut thru any style of music.... more
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1968 Fender Telecaster Bass  Refinished Great Player. Translucent Blonde 10 8 Lb

1968 Fender Telecaster Bass Refinished Great Player. Translucent Blonde 10 8 Lb

Spring Hill, Florida, 346**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$5500

1968 Fender Telecaster Bass Refinished Great Player. Translucent Blonde. This guitar was professionally refinished some years back. It has a few marks as pictured but very respectable. The pickup has been changed out for a modern equivalent. Bridge cover and pickup covers are replacements. If you're looking for a great vintage player without the Vintage price, this is the ones for you. We'll ship FedEx ground fully insured with tracking shipping to the lower 48 states only. No Alaska Hawaii, ... more
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1973 Fender Precision Bass (American)

1973 Fender Precision Bass (American)

Colchester, Connecticut, 064**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2900

1973 P bass. Mostly original ( only pots have been upgraded but still have originals)normal wear and tear(belt / ring scratches, finish checking)small crack in pick guard, sounds and plays amazing!!comes with original case( a little rough rough but usable)one of the lightest I??ve ever owned.... more
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1975 Fender Precision Bass- Blonde

1975 Fender Precision Bass- Blonde

White Plains, New York, 106**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1035

Stainless Steel Frets All Else Original. 1975. Solid as a Rock. Includes Original Hardshell Case.... more
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1978-79 Fender Precision Bass Natural / Maple! Clean! w / OHSC

1978-79 Fender Precision Bass Natural / Maple! Clean! w / OHSC

New Egypt, New Jersey, 085**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2299

1978-79 Fender Precision Bass! Made in the USA. Late '78 serial number, '79 pot dates. Gloss Natural finish on double-cut Ash body, with black guard. Maple neck and 20-fret board with black dot inlays. Tone supplied by a single P pickup with volume and tone controls. Chrome hardware. All original with no mods, breaks, or repairs. Bass has some minor play marks, but is in overall exceptional condition for its age. Ships in its original hardshell case which is also in great condition
All ... more
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1980 Fender Mustang Bass International Color Series, 100% Original w /  Case

1980 Fender Mustang Bass International Color Series, 100% Original w / Case

Seattle, Washington, 981**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$6000

Up for sale, a 1980 Fender Mustang Bass in excellent, 100% original condition, finished in custom color Maui Blue and complete with the original hardshell case. An exceedingly rare instrument in the "go find another" category, this Mustang Bass' Maui Blue finish was part of Fender's International Color Series and is one of the very last Mustang Basses produced in the original run before being discontinued in '81
With an ash body and an uncommon one-piece maple neck with maple fingerboard, ... more
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1978 FENDER PRECISION BASS OWNERS MANUAL & WARRANTY CARD PLUS BONUS

1978 FENDER PRECISION BASS OWNERS MANUAL & WARRANTY CARD PLUS BONUS

Berlin, New Hampshire, 035**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$129

"IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR" SALE& FREE USA SHIPPING!
I know from experience that there are not a heck of a lot of 70's instrument manuals out there. This one is from a 1978 Fender Precision Bass and also includes the signed & validated wallet-sized warranty card, a rare find in itself. Also included is what I thought to be an iron-on but I'm not sure about that. The manual itself is in excellent shape and has the original serial number sticker still applied to it. It doesn't make sense ... more
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1971 FENDER JAZZ BASS OWNERS MANUAL WELL-WORN BUT INTACT & ORIGINAL

1971 FENDER JAZZ BASS OWNERS MANUAL WELL-WORN BUT INTACT & ORIGINAL

Berlin, New Hampshire, 035**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$99

"IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR" SALE& FREE USA SHIPPING!
You can bet that there are not a heck of a lot of 70's Fender instrument manuals out there. This one is from a 1971 Fender Jazz Bass and it's in OK shape with some wear, patina and a loose cover. But even with those imperfections it will still add value to your vintage Fender Jazz Bass. Because there is no revision date inside the cover, it's perfectly suitable for Jazz Basses from 1968 thru 1975 or so.
FREE USA SHIPPING and a 30-day ... more
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1982 1983 FENDER PRECISION AND JAZZ BASS OWNERS MANUAL GREAT SHAPE & SCARCE

1982 1983 FENDER PRECISION AND JAZZ BASS OWNERS MANUAL GREAT SHAPE & SCARCE

Berlin, New Hampshire, 035**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$75

"IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR" SALE& FREE USA SHIPPING!
While not an ancient manual by modern standards, this particular manual is scarcer than you might think. Remember, the 1982 & 83 P and J Basses with the white pickups were only made for 2 years so naturally the print run only lasted that long. This is in very nice shape, crisp & flat with no stains or fading. Both the P and J bass are mentioned and if you own either one then this manual will add much more to the value of your bass ... more
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1981 FENDER PRECISION BASS OWNERS MANUAL DECENT SHAPE WITH SLIGHT BOTTOM FOLD

1981 FENDER PRECISION BASS OWNERS MANUAL DECENT SHAPE WITH SLIGHT BOTTOM FOLD

Berlin, New Hampshire, 035**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$69

"IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR" SALE& FREE USA SHIPPING!
This is a pretty nice owners manual with date revision 1981 making it perfect for 1981 thru 1984 USA Fender Precision Basses. It's got crisp pages, good color and minimal handling wear but has a slight crease or printing defect along the bottom of the pages. Still it's a great piece that will add value to your vintage P Bass add it includes the original heavy brown thread for hanging. Case candy for these old basses is getting a lot ... more
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1971 Fender Musicmaster Bass Dakota Red - Very Good Condition

1971 Fender Musicmaster Bass Dakota Red - Very Good Condition

Memphis, Tennessee, 381**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1350

1971 Musicmaster Bass in Very Good Condition. The neck is straight and the action is low. Frets are in good shape with plenty of life left. Original pickup has been replaced with a Gibson pickup (see photos). This bass is a player for sure. Plays and sounds fantastic! Serial #335976. Comes with original Fender hardshell case
Make: Fender
Model: Musicmaster BAss
Year: 1971 - 1972
Scale length: 30 "
Weight: 8lbs 15oz
Nut Width: 1 6110 "
Neck Width at 12th fret: 2 0770 " ... more
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Squier by Fender Affinity Bronco Bass Red S / N ICS10129969 AMP W / WIRE HEAD PHONE

Squier by Fender Affinity Bronco Bass Red S / N ICS10129969 AMP W / WIRE HEAD PHONE

Great Falls, Montana, 594**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$450

Included all items in pictures. Soft Cover, Stand, ta[e instruction.... more
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Fender American Vintage II 1960 Precision Bass with C&G case & J Bass Neck

Fender American Vintage II 1960 Precision Bass with C&G case & J Bass Neck

Canyon Lake, Texas, 781**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2150


Fender American Vintage II 1960 Precision Bass Sunburst w / Rosewood Fret Board, & Fender Brown Tolex Case
This Precision comes with an additional Jazz Bass Neck!
This USA made Fender vintage series bass comes complete with all of the original parts, pickup covers, bridge cover ('ash tray') and Fender brown Tolex case with keys, plus a Fender Vintera Jazz Bass Neck. (See Photos) It's is currently set up with La Bella Copper White Tape-Wound strings on the Jazz Bass neck, and the... more
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1975 USA FENDER PRECISION BASS CHROME COVER SET W / SCREWS GOOD FOOR 1974-1979

1975 USA FENDER PRECISION BASS CHROME COVER SET W / SCREWS GOOD FOOR 1974-1979

Berlin, New Hampshire, 035**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$109

"IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR" SALE& FREE USA SHIPPING!
This is a nice original chrome cover set from a 1975 Fender Precision Bass. The set is also correct for 1974 thru 1979 P Basses. The chrome is in beautiful condition with no hint of rust or oxidation & no scratches. As you can see the front cover has the very rounded shape along with the smooth underside and factory markings for the adhesive mute strip (not included). The (4) screws are original with some minor oxidation.
FREE USA... more
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EARLY 1970s FENDER PRECISION BASS THUMBREST THE MAROON COLORED ONE FOR 1968-1973

EARLY 1970s FENDER PRECISION BASS THUMBREST THE MAROON COLORED ONE FOR 1968-1973

Berlin, New Hampshire, 035**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$85

"IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR" SALE& FREE USA SHIPPING!
This is a clean and very solid thumbrest from a 1971 Fender Precision Bass. It's not dented or warped like a lot of them are and includes (2) original mounting screws. These are very hard to find because the deep maroon ones were only made for a few years. Fender discontinued them because they actually stained the pickguards, especially white ones. I always loved seeing the maroon outline when I removed them for playing. The screws are in ... more
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FENDER POWER JAZZ BASS SPECIAL 1984-1987 MADE IN JAPAN

FENDER POWER JAZZ BASS SPECIAL 1984-1987 MADE IN JAPAN

Spring Hill, Florida, 346**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$600

The Fender Power Jazz Bass Special, made in Japan between 1984-1987, is a classic 4-string electric bass guitar designed for right-handed players. This model features a solid body in a beige color, making it both stylish and versatile for various musical styles. With its high-quality Fender brand and Japanese craftsmanship, this bass guitar is sure to deliver exceptional sound and performance for any musician looking to add a vintage touch to their collection.... more
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1973 Fender Jazz Bass Natural Ash w /  Black Blocks + Binding, Case

1973 Fender Jazz Bass Natural Ash w / Black Blocks + Binding, Case

Seattle, Washington, 981**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$4400

Up for sale, a 1973 Fender Jazz Bass in excellent condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case. A quintessential example of an early ?70s Jazz Bass, this bass features an ash body and bound maple neck with black binding and block inlays
Offering smooth sustain and a detailed, punchy quality, the maple fretboard delivers enhanced note attack and more upper midrange accentuation, with a particular burp and grind from the bridge pickup. The original pair of ... more
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Vintage Fender Jazz Bass Special Fretless - MIJ - 1982

Vintage Fender Jazz Bass Special Fretless - MIJ - 1982

New York, 100**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1499

Shipping costs calculated by eBay. I will refund you the difference if it is cheaper.
Incredible Fender Japan jazz bass special: so it has a PJ pickup configuration but with a fast Jazz-bass style neck
In a truly excellent condition, no visible dents, and only some very minor scratches in the back that I couldn't even get in the photo
It has a pickup selection switch, volume control, and the famous TBX tone control (a passive system that is flat at center, works like a normal tone in... more
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1963 Fender Precision Bass 100% Original

1963 Fender Precision Bass 100% Original

Westminster, Colorado, 800**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$45000

The 1963 Fender Precision Bass is a highly sought-after electric bass guitar known for its exceptional craftsmanship and classic design. This professional-level instrument features a solid Alder body, a 4-string configuration, and a rosewood fretboard with 20 maple frets. With its right-handed design and iconic Fender brand, this bass is a standout choice for musicians looking for a vintage sound and feel in their instrument.... more
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