Squier Announces Eva Gardner Precision Bass
Squier has teamed up with Eva Gardner to introduce a new signature Precision bass. Gardner was the original bassist for The Mars Volta and has continued to work with artists ranging from Veruca Salt to Pink.
The Squier Eva Gardner Precision Bass is built with a basswood body finished in gloss black, a maple neck, and a rosewood fingerboard sporting 20 medium jumbo frets. The bassist’s clipper ship tattoo is recreated on the body just above the bridge. Other features include special 12th-fret inlay graphics, a thumb rest, a Hi-Mass bridge with four brass “barrel” saddles, and a tortoiseshell pickguard.
The bass is shipping soon with an MSRP of $499.99. For more info, check out the Squier website.
Squier Eva Gardner Precision Bass Demo and Interview:
Squier Eva Gardner Precision Bass Specs:
| Body Material: | Basswood |
| Body Finish: | Gloss Polyurethane |
| Body Shape: | Precision Bass |
| Neck Material: | Maple |
| Neck Finish: | Gloss Polyurethane |
| Neck Shape: | “C” Shape |
| Scale Length: | 34″ (864 mm) |
| Fingerboard: | Rosewood |
| Fingerboard Radius: | 9.5″ (241 mm) |
| Number of Frets: | 20 |
| Fret Size: | Medium Jumbo |
| String Nut: | Synthetic Bone |
| Nut Width: | 1.5″ (38.1 mm) |
| Headstock: | Matching Painted Headcap |
| Neck Plate: | 4-Bolt Engraved |
| Middle Pickup: | Fender-Designed Split Single-Coil Precision Bass |
| Controls: | Master Volume, Master Tone |
| Pickup Configuration: | Split Single-Coil |
| Bridge: | 4-Saddle HiMass with Brass Barrel Saddles |
| Hardware Finish: | Chrome |
| Tuning Machines: | Standard Open-Gear |
| Pickguard: | 3-Ply Red Shell |
| Control Knobs: | Knurled Dome |
| Strings: | Fender USA Bass 7250ML, NPS, (.045-.100 Gauges) |
| Added Features: | White Sailing Ship Graphic Between the Bridge and Pickup, Eva Gardner Signature on Back of Headstock, Knurled Dome Control Knobs, Matching Black Painted Headstock Face, Finger Rest, Engraved Squire Neckplate, Single Disk String Tree |
ZZZZ. Nothing special here. It’s a P bass. 20 frets, “finger” rest. Why does Fender/Squire live in the past? How about 21 or 22 frets or a real thumb rest? How about some special pickup configuration? Something. Not just the same 57 year old design over and over again, with a special graphic. Snooze.
I think Fender’s theory has always been…don’t mess with a good thing…however, I totally agree that the company needs to at least consider the musician when they build or ship out new product. One example? Why does every bass (particularly the Jazz series) need to eb tweeked so much to reduce hum or buzz issues. I get the 60Hz problem with single coil…but come on…some of their basses are not even remotely shielded in the pickup and control cavities. I am a dedicated Fender guy…and I will not change…but I hope that Fender will look at these aspects of a proven set of instruments. I care less that they change styles (dimension series btw is not the way to go) I care more about placing as much craft in the electronics of the instrument rather than the look and feel. If that means pickup changes or updates to wiring specs….damn…do it…for the money of some of these non-American made versions as well as some American (about the only ones that seem to be better engineered but at a huge cost hike) I would expect the same specifications to be evenly applied.
The no el feature in this bass is pretty important: The bass is a P bass with a J neck.