Fender Squier releases Matt Freeman Sig bass
(Dave Molter | Posted 2011-04-10)
Most of the affordable, head-turning action in Fender basses these days is coming from their sister company, Squier. In the lasts year alone, Squier has rolled out several Vintage Modified basses that, for less than $400 -- give players some pretty cool axes. Now Squier -- albeit at a bit higher price point -- has done it again by teaming up with punk legend Matt Freeman to release the Matt Freeman Signature Precision Bass.
Modeled after his beloved and battle-hardened mid-’70s Precision Bass guitar, Freeman’s Squier signature model features a traditional split-single-coil pickup, contoured basswood body in Black or Vintage White, vintage-tint gloss fast-action maple neck, 20-fret maple fingerboard with modern
9.5” radius, HiMass bridge with four brass barrel saddles and a three-ply black-white-black pickguard. The Freeman P will retail for about $800 USD, a making it a bit more pricey than most Squiers.
Freeman is an avowed fan of the archetypal instrument (“I can’t really imagine what rock ‘n’ roll would be like without the Precision Bass,” he said). He has Precision Bass guitars from many eras, but professes a particular fondness for ’70s models, which is exactly what Squier turned to in designing his bass.
“My favorite is a ’77 P Bass that I picked up in 1987 for, like, $400 when I was in Operation Ivy,” Freeman said. “I went all over the world with that bass. And I still have it and I actually play it on all the Rancid records.”
That’s exactly the instrument that the Squier Matt Freeman Signature Precision is modeled after, albeit with slightly less wear and tear.
“It’s not as beat-up as mine,” Freeman said. “You’re gonna have to do that yourself. But it’s pretty close, and I love it.”
Specs:
Body: Basswood
Neck: 1-Piece Maple, Modern “C” Shape
Fingerboard : Maple, 9.5” Radius (241 mm)m
Frets: 20, Vintage Style Frets
Scale Length: 34” (864 mm)
Width at Nut : 1.65” (42 mm)
Pickups: 1 Custom Precision Bass® Split Single-Coil Pickup, Controls: Volume, Tone
Bridge: 4-Saddle HiMass Bridge with Brass Barrel Saddles
Machine Heads: Open Gear Tuning Machines
Hardware: Chrome
Pickguard: 3-Ply Black/White/Black
Strings : Fender® USA, NPS, (Gauges .045-.105)
Colors: Black, Vintage White
Unique Features:
Matt Freeman Signature on Front of Headstock; Vintage Styling; Knurled Chrome Dome Control Knobs; Gold Squier Logo; Lower Finger-Rest; Synthetic Bone Nut
For more information, visit www.squierguitars.com.
From a press release.
