bass ukulele review

Fender Fullerton Precision Bass Ukulele Review

Like its full-sized counterpart, this pint-sized powerhouse delivers surprising depth—but does its compact design compromise true bass resonance?

  • Overall Rating
  • Build Quality
  • Performance
  • Value for Money
  • Design
4.4/5Overall Score
The Fender Fullerton Precision Bass Ukulele combines the classic electric bass silhouette with a compact ukulele design, featuring a basswood body and walnut neck for warm, resonant tones. It includes a built-in tuner and preamp, making it versatile for both acoustic practice and live performances.
Specs
  • Weight: 5.15 pounds
  • Dimensions: Not specified
  • Material: Basswood body, walnut neck
  • Color Options: 3-Color Sunburst
  • Warranty: Not specified
  • Brand: Fender
  • Model Number: Not specified
  • Compatibility: Not specified
Pros
  • Stylish design with a vintage aesthetic, featuring a 3-Color Sunburst finish.
  • Playable neck with a 20.25-inch concert scale that reduces finger stretching.
  • Amplified versatility with a Fender-designed preamp and volume control for live performances.
  • Warm, resonant tone produced by the combination of basswood and walnut materials.
  • Practical features like a built-in tuner and no-tie bridge for easy tuning and string changes.
  • Lightweight body allows for comfortable playability during long sessions.
Cons
  • Heavy weight of 5.15 pounds may require physical resilience for extended use.
  • Does not come with a gig bag for protection during transport.
  • Only available in a right-handed model, with no left-handed option.

The Fender Fullerton Precision Bass Ukulele merges the iconic electric silhouette with a diminutive acoustic form, a union that suggests even small vessels can carry great weight, both literally and spiritually.

With its basswood body and walnut neck, this 5.15-pound instrument resonates with warm clarity, reminding us that stability often requires substantial grounding.

Yet, beyond the built-in tuner and preamp, lies a deeper potential for harmony.

Key Takeaways

  • Stylish Design: Features a basswood body with a 3-Color Sunburst finish that mimics the iconic Precision Bass silhouette in a compact ukulele format.
  • Playable Neck: Utilizes a 20.25-inch concert scale and walnut neck to reduce finger stretching and ensure consistent, comfortable action.
  • Amplified Versatility: Integrates a Fender-designed preamp with volume control, allowing for seamless transitions from acoustic practice to live gigging.
  • Warm, Resonant Tone: Combines a lightweight basswood body and dense walnut neck to produce a warm, articulate tone with natural sustain.
  • Practical Features: Includes a built-in tuner and no-tie bridge for efficient tuning and swift string changes, ensuring pitch-perfect performance.

Precision Bass Style in a Ukulele Format

Because true artistry often resides in the convergence of history and innovation, the Fender Fullerton Precision Bass Ukulele emerges as a distinct embodiment of this harmony, translating the iconic silhouette of the electric bass into the diminutive, resonant form of a ukulele. While it channels the spirit of a classic electric bass, it is important to note that this instrument is fundamentally acoustic in design, utilizing its soundhole to project sound naturally rather than relying on electronics.

Its basswood body, cloaked in a 3-Color Sunburst finish, mirrors the vintage aesthetic, a reminder that outward beauty often reflects internal character. The walnut neck provides a stable foundation, essential for reliable service.

With a four-in-line headstock and chrome hardware, this instrument invites musicians to honor tradition, while the built-in tuner guarantees their offering remains pitch-perfect.

This instrument serves as a unique alternative to the best bass guitars for those seeking a portable option.

Bass Playability on a Concert Scale

The 20.25-inch concert scale length offers a tangible compromise between the expansive reach of a long-neck bass and the compressed intimacy of a standard ukulele, providing a fretboard hand-position that fosters stability, akin to the grounding found in consistent discipline.

Service to music requires dedication; this instrument facilitates that devotion.

  • Walnut neck construction supports consistent action, guaranteeing reliable playability for the group.
  • Basswood body weight offers physical stability, allowing one to serve others without fatigue.
  • Short scale reduces finger stretching, promoting endurance, a necessary virtue for long sessions.
  • 4-in-line headstock preserves traditional aesthetic, inspiring a respectful approach to performance.
  • Chrome hardware assures tuning integrity, maintaining harmony within the collective sound.

Plug-and-Play Electronics and Volume Control

While acoustic resonance speaks to the soul in quiet moments, the integration of a Fender-designed preamp within the Fullerton Precision Bass Ukulele guarantees that internal conviction can be amplified to reach a wider audience, akin to a voice finding the strength to testify before a congregation.

The onboard electronics, engineered for seamless plug-and-play functionality, facilitate immediate service to a listening community, ensuring that one’s message is conveyed with clarity, purpose, and minimal distraction. The build quality offers a distinct contrast to the spruce or cedar tops often found on the best classical guitars. Additionally, the intuitive volume control empowers the user to modulate their sonic presence with grace, a reminder that true leadership involves knowing exactly when to project boldly, and when to offer gentle support. Aspiring players should realize that this instrument serves as a humble alternative to the best electric guitars for those seeking a unique path to musical expression.

How the Walnut Neck and Basswood Body Affect Tone

Foundational stability is essential for both musical expression and spiritual endurance, a principle embodied in the union of a Walnut neck and a Basswood body. The materials serve to ground the performer, ensuring reliable service to the ensemble through consistent, focused resonance.

While some musicians search endlessly for the best acoustic guitars for beginners, this construction offers a voice that is both articulate and supportive.

  • Walnut provides a dense, warm anchor, facilitating smooth shifts.
  • Basswood offers a lightweight, balanced canvas for projection.
  • The combined woods yield a tone free of harsh interference.
  • Sustain is ample, allowing notes to decay naturally into silence.
  • Clarity prevails, ensuring the supportive rhythm remains pure.

Acoustic Practice vs. Live Gigging: Best Use Cases

Balancing the quiet devotion of solitary practice with the dynamic demands of public performance requires an instrument capable of bridging two distinct worlds, a versatility inherent in the Fender Fullerton Precision Bass Ukulele. The built-in tuner facilitates faithful preparation, ensuring one’s service is pitch-perfect, while the no-tie bridge allows swift string changes, a practical grace for those serving others.

However, the body’s heavy 5.15-pound weight demands physical resilience, reminding the bearer that true leadership often requires carrying a substantial load, whether offering a gentle, unplugged melody or projecting amplified truth through the Fender-designed preamp.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does It Come With a Gig Bag for Protection?

The manufacturer’s standard packaging for this item does not include a gig bag, consequently, users interested in safeguarding the instrument will need to procure a protective carrying case separately. This ensures the device remains secure during transportation.

Is a Replacement Battery Included for the Preamp?

A battery is typically required to power the active preamp. Weighing over five pounds, this substantial instrument guarantees a stable playing experience for performers. This feature assures the electronics function immediately for those serving their audience.

What Material Is Used for the Frets?

Specific fretwire material is not detailed in the provided specifications. One might consult the manufacturer directly to guarantee the instrument’s materials will provide the lasting performance expected by those dedicated to serving others through music.

How Do I Restring the No-Tie Bridge?

The strings are woven through the no-tie bridge like a tapestry, securing the knot. One must guide the strings through, then tighten.

Ensuring a stable instrument for others to create beautiful music upon.

Is This Model Available for Left-Handed Players?

No, this instrument is only listed as a right-handed, 4-string model. There is currently no left-handed version available for those seeking to assist a southpaw player.

The specific design features a standard right-handed orientation.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the Fullerton’s basswood body, walnut neck, and concert scale, create a resonant vessel for musical exploration. The built-in electronics guarantee amplified truth, mirroring the soul’s need to be heard.

Is this not a reminder that even the smallest vessel can hold the deepest resonance? Anchored in Fender’s legacy, yet light enough for the journey, this instrument proves that creative expression, like faith, requires both a solid foundation, and the courage to sing.

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