Pre-Owned 1983 Fender Elite II Precision Bass Natural With Case

Straight out of Fullerton circa 1983, we have a very cool piece of Fender bass history here. And it has it's own interesting story as well - more on that at the bottom. But first.... The Elite Precision Bass showcases a fascinating era for Fender, which has become known as transitional "high-tech" time period. It's when Fender was still under CBS management, just before the company was sold. Designed as premium upgrade for pro-level players of the time, the Elite series introduced active electronics and heavy-duty hardware in a departure from departed from the standard stylings and vintage specifications of most Fender instruments. Due to the fact that the Elite line was manufactured solely from mid-1983 to early 1985, these instruments are considered quite rare. Although many initially resisted the active electronics, preferring classic Fenders, contemporary collectors and bassists value them for their distinctive, punchy sound, robust build, and unique appearance. Unlike classic passive P-basses, the Elite features active pickups and an onboard preamp powered by a 9V battery. This is the Elite II, which features dual split-coil pickups and extra toggles, offering twice the sonic output of a regular P-bass. It has a beautiful ash body, paired with a rock solid maple neck that's topped with a rosewood fretboard. The bass is equipped with a four-bolt neck plate featuring a Micro-Tilt adjustment hole to easily alter the neck angle without removing it. The Elite series was outfitted with unique hardware as well. You get heavy, fine-tuning bridges (featuring small wheels to adjust individual intonation/tuning) and robust, high-end Schaller tuners. And the hardware is gold, adding to the top-shelf vibe. The Natural finish on these early '80s models is something you don't see often, and ones as clean this are rarely hard to come by. It's sought after by collectors. We were thrilled to see it come in. This Elite II Precision bass is in excellent condition, especially considering that it's over 40 years old - this one is clean and has been well taken care of. Other than some marks on the body, it's excellent. The techs in our shop have set it up to play perfectly, and a hardshell (non-original) case is included. This bass was originally bought brand new from ACE Music - which by the late 90's closed down and morphed into Truetone Music. Since 1983, it stayed in the same family for 43 years. At one point the bridge, strap buttons and neck were swapped out, but then put back to original. It's fully restored. Those extra parts are included in the case, as are other accessories including an original ACE Music pick! Serial Number: E316941