This 1966 Fender Precision Bass is a piece of New Orleans (and really the world's) musical history. If you are looking for a truly exceptional vintage P-Bass, look no further.
Owned by famous NO bass master Jack Cruz since he got it brand new in 1966 at the age of 15 years old. Jack made a life with this instrument, playing, recording, and touring the world with all the New Orleans titans. James Booker, Professor Longhair, Huey "Piano" Smith, Allen Toussaint. Dr. John, as well as a a decades long stint as a member of Walter "Wolfman" Washington's band "the Roadmasters". Jack played and toured with Wofman Washington from 1986 until his passing in 2022.
As a working musicians primary tool, this bass has seen changes and repairs over the years that reflect the extensive use it's seen. The pickups have been swapped. So has the bridge and the pots, plus some other pieces of hardware. What has not changed is its legendary tone. Jack describes what makes this bass so extraordinary in an interview:
Below is an expert from an interview with Jack.
JC: Ah, let me tell you about it. My mother bought it for me when I was 15 years old. It’s a 1966 Fender Precision. It’s my favourite bass. It’s the one I use to record all the albums I’ve ever done. It’s got the best tone of all the (even new) basses I’ve ever had and played—and I’ve tried them. When it comes to recording, that is the best tone of all of them.
I replaced the bridge. It’s a Steinberger that has a [detune lever] so you can lower the [‘E’] string to any pre-tuned note. I pre-tune it to ‘D.’
The pickups are EMG’s. That may have been a mistake. I did it about 35 years ago and I don’t know what I did with the originals. I can’t find them. It may have been a mistake, but it still sounds good.
The bass has a new bridge and saddles (the old bridge is not included nor is the Steinberger bridge)
emg pickups
Replaced tuner screws
The sale includes an original 1960s Bass gig bag and Jacks personal gig bag.
