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.



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.

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








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
Gibson bass guitars for sale
1976 Fender Precision Bass P-Bass Vintage W / OHSC
Boston, Massachusetts, 021**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$3000
FENDER 1970s USA JAZZ BASS 3-BOLT NECK TILT METAL INSERT WITH ORIGINAL SCREWS
Berlin, New Hampshire, 035**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$38
This is from a 1975 3-Bolt Fender Jazz Bass and is in excellent condition. This is the piece that attaches to the body of your bass. The metal is nice with just a hint of oxidation and no warping or stress, there is no rust or pitting. Includes the original wood screws that mount the plate to the neck. I don't have the set screw but aftermarket ones are easy to find. Besides, it's hidden from view! You can tell this is a real one because the screw holes are ... more
1966 Fender Precision Bass
Encinitas, California, 920**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$12000
1966 Fender P-Bass in factory custom color Candy Apple Red !
Beautiful golden age P-bass that plays and sounds incredible
All original save for a repro pickup cover and the original owner had diamonds inlaid on the fingerboard but has since been replaced with factory dot inlays
This is a FANTASTIC Fender bass and you will not be disappointed
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Classic 1983 Fender Jazz Bass 3-Bolt with Ash Body & Bound Maple Fretboard
Pompano Beach, Florida, 330**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$3983
Made in the USA
Serial # S865079
Ash Body & Bound Neck!
Classic Medium U Shape Profile Neck
Radius: 7 25
Nut Width: 1 42
Weight: 12 lbs
Measures .80 at the first fret
and .91 at the 12th
Authentic Vintage Mojo, No Fake Aging!
Upgraded Vintage Dimarzio Pickups
Neck is Straight & Truss Rod Works Perfectly
2 Dimarzio Pots 1 CTS Pot
$$$ Professionally Set-Up and Dialed in for Optimal Tone & Playability. ... more
Fender Jazz Bass 1974 Vintage All Original
Beverly Hills, California, 902**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$7690
Great Condition
Original Hard Case
I am the second owner.
Kept in a smoke free environment.
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Fender Precision Bass 1959 *Bridge*
Arlington, Massachusetts, 024**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$599
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1959-1960 Fender Precision Bass Original Sunburst Relic with Hardshell Case
El Cajon, California, 920**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$14000
The serial number is ??40496?? which dates it to late 1959. The neck is date is not readable and the body is dated to December 1959. The pots date to November 1959 (137-945 and 947). So all dateable parts are from 1959 but it probably was not sold until early 1960. It has the original Sunburst finish
The body is in good condition overall, but has a lot of natural wear - dings, scratches and scuffs. There are also two small holes above the pickguard ... more
Fender Elite Precision Bass I 1983 3-Color Sunburst w / Rosewood Fingerboard
Galesburg, Illinois, 614**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$1999
1978 Fender Musicmaster Bass Guitar Shortscale Short Scale Bass
Austin, Texas, 787**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$3400
1962 Fender Jazz Bass Sunburst Pre-CBS
Syracuse, New York, 132**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$20000
1968 Fender Telecaster Bass - ??51 P-Bass Style, Fralin Pickup - 68 Neck 66 Pots
Adel, Iowa, 500**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$7500
Built to echo the legendary 1951 Precision Bass, this bass was rescued from rough 1970s mod (see last photo for reference of our starting point) and expertly restored by The Luthier Shop in Des Moines, Iowa. With a Lindy Fralin ??51 P-Bass split pickup, original CTS pots, and a one-of-a-kind homemade wood case, it??s a collector??s ... more
1974 Fender Jazz Bass Natural w / HSC
San Diego, California, 921**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$4995
This Bass Is Located At IVG Sherman Oaks
In Very Good Overall Condition (Please See Photos)
Shows Cosmetic Playwear Including Various Marks, Dings, And Scratches
Some Finish Checking Throughout
Lightweight Alder Body With Natural Polyurethane Finish
Maple Neck With Bound Maple Fingerboard And Block Inlays
Original Frets Are Low But Playable
Pickups And Electronics Mostly Original With One Pot Replaced, Original Included
34" Scale ... more
1974 Fender Telecaster Bass Blonde, 100% Original w / Case
Seattle, Washington, 981**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$4500
The tonewood pairing of an ash body and one-piece maple neck results in a particularly punchy, authoritative acoustic response with great midrange complexity and treble articulation. The Wide Range humbucker in the neck position dishes out... more
1982 Fender JV '57 Precision Bass PB57-95 Sunburst Lacquer, Japan MIJ Fujigen
Seattle, Washington, 981**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$2800
1973 Fender Jazz Bass - All Original - American Made
Frisco, Texas, 750**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$6000
1973 Fender Precision Bass Electric Bass Guitar 3-Tone Sunburst with Case!
Buffalo, New York, 142**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$3500
Here we have a 1973 Fender Precision Bass guitar with original case and in a beautiful Sunburst finish! We took this Bass in trade and this one is a players dream! All original but the original bridge has been replaced with an original Badass bridge, a popular upgrade among bass players seeking improved sustain and intonation. Whoever installed this bridge apparently recessed and glue it into the body (see pics) also we figured the pickguard isn??t original but was replaced with an ... more
1953 Fender Precision Bass
Loveland, Ohio, 451**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$31500
... more
1961 Fender Precision Bass Sunburst Refin Pre-CBS w / HSC
San Diego, California, 921**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$15995
This Bass Is Located At IVG Sherman Oaks
In Very Good Overall Condition (Please See Photos)
Finish Shows Cosmetic Playwear With Various Visible Dings, Marks, And Scratches
Sent Back To Fender Factory For Body And Neck Refinish In The Early 70's (Per The Previous Owner)
Made In Fullerton, CA
Solid Alder Body
Figured Maple Neck With Slab Rosewood Fingerboard And Clay Dot Inlays
Original Black Bottom Pickups
Original ... more
1966 Fender Jazz Bass With Case
Saint Joseph, Missouri, 645**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$9500
Low profile oval neck makes this bass play so nice . Everything is original except for the pick guard
Which I replaced some twenty years ago. Not sure about the finish as this is the way I bought it
Some of the finish has worn as shown in the pictures
I believe this is probably a 1966 model, because of the tuning pegs but the neck is dated Nov 65
They don??t make em ... more
1959 Fender P Precision Bass Natural Refinished
Salt Lake City, Utah, 841**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$7499
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