1966–1967 Fender Precision Bass “Slab Edge” Variant

Documentation & Historical Analysis

The following text is the English adaptation of an original article written in French.

Provenance

This instrument was submitted to me for evaluation by its original owner — a professional musician who received it new in 1967 as a gift from his parents.

It was purchased that same year in a small town in Western France, directly from a traveling sales truck operating on behalf of a well-established music store based in Tours.

Since 1967, it has had one single owner.

The bass was used extensively for approximately five years, then stored in its case for several decades.

That is the human story.

Let us now turn to the technical one.

An Immediately Visible Anomaly

At first glance, the body contours stand out.

The edge treatment does not correspond to the standard roundovers typically seen on 1966–1967 Precision Basses. Instead of the usual 1/4” roundover (with slight radius variations depending on production period), this instrument displays noticeably sharper edges, much closer in feel and appearance to those found on a Fender Telecaster.

This feature is uncommon enough to raise immediate questions.

It was not something I had personally encountered before.

Further research became necessary.

The British Connection

Archival sources and period accounts point toward a lesser-known episode in Fender history.

During the mid-1960s, Arbiter — Fender’s official UK distributor — is understood to have requested a specific run of Precision Basses incorporating certain aesthetic cues reminiscent of early 1950s production:

-Sharper body edges

-Modified contour routing

-Distinct configuration details

Available documentation suggests that approximately 25 instruments were produced for the UK market in an initial batch.

These basses, often referred to today as “Slab” variants, typically featured:

-Ash bodies

-Maple necks with maple cap fingerboards

-Single-ply black pickguards

-Kluson reverse tuners (or “lollipop/egg” variants depending on availability)

Several British artists adopted these instruments, including John Entwistle of The Who.

A Less Documented Second Batch

Between mid-1966 and mid-1967, a second production run appears to have taken place.

Unlike the original UK-focused batch, these instruments were not exclusively allocated to the British market.

Some examples retained the sharper edge profile while incorporating:

-Rosewood fingerboards

-Tortoiseshell pickguards

These variants are significantly less documented — and therefore more difficult to identify with certainty.

Evidence suggests that many were allocated to the U.S. market and sold through Manny’s Music in New York as “end-of-run” or transitional instruments.

The instrument presented here corresponds precisely to this configuration.

Rarity and Market Position

Rarity alone does not determine value.

Although this rosewood/tortoise variant may be less frequently encountered than the UK maple cap/black guard examples, the market traditionally places a premium on instruments directly associated with the original British Arbiter order.

That said, authenticated “Slab edge” variants — regardless of configuration — consistently command values above those of standard Precision Basses from the same production period.

Documented originality remains the key factor.

Condition and Integrity

What particularly distinguishes this instrument is its preservation.

The sharper body edges characteristic of these models were more susceptible to impact damage. As a result, many comparable examples have undergone:

-Full refinishing

-Overspray

-Partial restoration

Finding one that retains a complete original finish is uncommon.

This level of integrity significantly enhances both its historical and collector interest.

Contemporary Recognition

A comparable example can be seen in the collection of Joe Bonamassa, who describes it as “very cool, very rare” (visible in his collection interview at approximately 1:02:53).

While this is not presented as an appeal to authority, it does illustrate the growing awareness of these atypical mid-1960s variants among serious collectors.

Market Perspective & Availability

An instrument of this type, when retaining its original finish and correct period specifications, sits in a valuation range above that of a standard 1966–1967 Precision Bass.

This bass may be offered for sale.

Serious collectors are welcome to contact me privately via the workshop telephone number (PM only, English spoken).

The instrument remains with its original owner, which explains its unusually well-preserved condition.

It should also be noted that, although the case dates from the correct period, it is not the optional Fender-branded case originally offered at additional cost. Many dealers at the time supplied compatible third-party cases from lesser-known manufacturers. This has been taken into account in the instrument’s valuation assessment.

Price: 24500 €

French version availabel here →