New 5-String "P-Bass" from Squier

February 6, 2000 -- Squier is proud to introduce its latest offering, a bass guitar designed for musicians who want to explore the world of the five-string bass, but have a limited budget with which to "travel". To be introduced at this winter’s NAMM show in Los Angeles, the Precision Bass“ Special 5 from Squier will put that world within anybody’s reach.

This new 5-string bass is fashioned after the highly successful Squier Precision Bass Special, differing primarily in the pickup configuration. As opposed to the split P-J configuration of the four-string model, two special-designed Jazz Bass“ pickups are used on the new Precision Bass Special 5. Rather than simply using standard bass pickups, these have been designed specifically to give an articulate response from each of the five strings.

Special attention was also paid to the spacing of the strings on the new Precision Bass Special 5, which offers the wider spacing that is more typical of a professional five-string bass than that of an entry-level bass.

Says Keith Brawley, Vice President of Strategic Brands, "Many entry-level five-string bass guitars on the market sacrifice playability for looks. What you often find are five strings squeezed into a bridge with really narrow spacing so that it looks proportional to someone who’s never played a five string before. The problem is that the narrow spacing doesn’t give you room to play - it just doesn’t feel right.""The Precision Bass Special 5," adds Brawley, "is designed with the professional in mind, but it’s affordable enough for beginning five-stringers who want to expand their musical palettes."

Also featured on the Precision Bass Special 5 is its unique 4 + 1 tuning machine configuration, which allows the bass to fit into any standard Precision Bass case, eliminating the need for an extra case that is specially designed for a five-string.

The Precision Bass Special 5 from Squier is available in six different finish options, including Black, British Racing Green, Brown Sunburst, Frost Red, Arctic White and Galactic Purple. Available in February, 2000. United States MSRP is $349.99.

For more information, visit Fender's web site at www.fender.com.