Built To Replicate The Uniquely Modified P Bass Lee Sklar Has Played For Decades, The Lee Sklar Precision Bass® Features A Shaved-Down Neck With Mandolin Frets, A Distressed Natural Finish, And A Hipshot® Bt3 Bass Xtender™
HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. (September 15, 2026) — Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) today announces the Lee Sklar Precision Bass®, a faithful recreation of Sklar’s highly customized P Bass® that has accompanied the legendary bassist throughout his decades-long career. From James Taylor and Carole King to Phil Collins, Toto, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, Joe Cocker, and Rod Stewart, Sklar’s unmistakable playing has helped shape some of popular music’s most enduring recordings. Now, as part of the Fender Stories Collection, Fender has recreated the singular instrument behind that extraordinary body of work, capturing the distinctive modifications Sklar made to create a bass uniquely his own and honoring the artistic ingenuity and technical mastery that helped push the boundaries of what the bass guitar could do.
“I’ve used this guitar on about 2,000 albums. It is my go-to instrument when I go in the studio. It’s the first thing I think about when I hear a song,” said Lee Sklar. “That’s what made this project with Fender and EMG so meaningful to me. We put a lot of time, detail and care into every part of this bass, from the pickups and electronics to the feel and response of the instrument, to make sure it captured what I love about this guitar. At the end of the day, though, the most exciting part is knowing that another player can pick up this bass, make it their own and use it to create some music of their own.”
Music became part of Sklar's life at age five when he was inspired by watching Liberace perform on television and quickly developed into an accomplished young pianist, earning recognition from the Hollywood Bowl Association by age 17. As a teenager, however, his passion shifted to bass; receiving his first electric bass and amplifier from his father set him on the path that would define his career. Immersing himself in Southern California's thriving rock and folk scene during the 1960s, Sklar played in multiple bands before a chance meeting with James Taylor in 1969 launched a legendary career. While his recording and touring history may have been an eclectic tapestry of genres and styles, nothing quite speaks to the sonic multitudes that Sklar displays quite like his P Bass. Having been featured on close to 85% of his recorded work, this heavily modified and entirely singular P-Bass is an integral part of Sklar’s sound and Fender has worked endlessly to reproduce it, down to every last detail.
“Whether you know it or not, you’ve heard Sklar’s playing,” said Justin Norvell, Chief Product Officer, Guitars. “His ability to weave in and out of different genres, moods and energies is unparalleled and in order to honor such fearless playing, this instrument needed to be crafted with meticulous care. Sklar’s P Bass has been alongside him for an extraordinary portion of that career, so recreating it meant getting the details that make the instrument uniquely his, exactly right. It’s an incredible instrument and a fitting way for Fender to celebrate both Lee’s legacy and 75 years of the Precision Bass.”
The latest addition to the Fender Stories Collection, the Lee Sklar Precision Bass® recreates the instrument Sklar modified and refined over decades to suit his distinctive playing style. From its stripped finish and extensively modified neck to its custom electronics and hardware, each element reflects the personal choices that created Lee's perfect bass. The result preserves the character and feel of Sklar’s original instrument while making its unique combination of modifications available to players for the first time.
Key Features Include:
● Dual EMG® Active Lee Sklar P Pickups: Signature pickups deliver exceptional clarity, powerful output and the articulate, full-bodied tone that defines Sklar's unmistakable sound.
● Modified '62 Jazz Bass® Neck with Mandolin Frets: A slim 1962 Jazz Bass "C"-shaped neck paired with mandolin frets recreates Sklar's uniquely fast, fluid playing experience.
● Hipshot® BT3 Bass Xtender™ & Badass™ II Bridge: Professional-grade hardware provides instant low-end tuning changes, outstanding sustain and rock-solid intonation for studio and stage.
● Satin Heirloom™ Nitrocellulose Lacquer Finish: An alder body finished in satin Heirloom nitro lacquer recreates the naturally worn aesthetic of Sklar's road-tested Precision Bass while allowing the wood to resonate freely.
● Designed in collaboration with Lee Sklar.
The Fender Stories Collection pays tribute to legendary musicians, their beloved modified Fender electric guitars and basses, and the extraordinary music they created together. Watch as Fender sits down with Lee Sklar to introduce the Lee Sklar Precision Bass.
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