Fender Bass V

The original Fender Bass V was a model of electric bass guitar produced by Fender between 1965 and 1971. It was the world's first five-string bass guitar, a popular concept today. While discontinued, its legacy can be seen in the Fender Jazz Bass V.

Fender Bass V
Manufacturer	Fender
Period	1965–1971
Construction
Body type	Solid
Neck joint	Bolt-on
Woods
Body	Alder
Neck	Maple
Fretboard	Rosewood
Hardware
Bridge	Fixed
Pickup(s)	1 split single-coil pickup
Colors available
Sunburst, Black, Olympic White, Candy Apple Red Metallic, Lake Placid Blue Metallic, and all custom finishes offered by Fender at the time

1965 Fender Bass V

The Bass V is unusual in its dimensions: although it is three inches longer than a Precision Bass, the Bass V has only 15 frets. Although most modern five-string basses feature a low B string, the Bass V featured a high C string, to allow reading bass players to reach high notes on the instrument more easily. The top note on the instrument is E♭, the same as a standard 20-fret 4 string Jazz or Precision Bass.

The Bass V originally came with chrome bridge and pickup covers.

Players did not accept the Fender Bass V, partly due to its size and shape.[1] Players also had problems with the small amount of space between strings. Only about 200 Fender Bass V models were produced, before being discontinued in 1971.[1] Surplus bodies were then used in the construction of the Fender Swinger.

In 2016, Squier released the Gary Jarman Signature Bass, the body shape of which was influenced by the Bass V.[2]