2013 Fender Nate Mendel Signature Precision Bass, Candy Apple Red (Mexico)
Year: 2013 – 2014
Finish/Color: Candy Apple Red
Made in: Mexico
Factory/Plant: Ensenada
The First-Run “Badass” specs This isn’t just a Nate Mendel signature; it’s a first-year specimen featuring the hardware that defined the model’s early reputation. While later versions switched to Fender’s in-house HiMass bridge, this 2013–2014 model is factory-equipped with the legendary Leo Quan Badass II bridge for maximum sustain and punch. Under the hood, it’s loaded with a Seymour Duncan SPB-3 Quarter Pound pickup, known for its oversized magnets and high-output growl. Pair that with a slightly slimmer nut width (1.615”) and a light Road Worn nitrocellulose finish, and you have a Precision Bass that feels like a vintage ’71 but sounds like a modern stadium-rock icon.
Did you know? Nate Mendel is famously loyal to his original 1971 Precision Bass, which he’s played for nearly his entire career with the Foo Fighters. When Fender approached him for a signature model, he was obsessive about the neck profile – it’s a unique hybrid that is narrower than a standard P-Bass but thicker than a Jazz Bass, designed to reduce hand fatigue during three-hour marathon sets. This Candy Apple Red beauty also features a subtle but cool detail: a custom “F” neck plate with Nate’s signature and the Foo Fighters logo. It’s a bass built for high-gain, high-energy rock n’ roll, and because it’s a first-run model with the original Badass II bridge, it’s already a modern classic.
Reported sighting: The 2013 Fender Nate Mendel Signature Precision Bass, Candy Apple Red (Mexico) have been spotted.
Frequently asked questions about the Fender Nate Mendel Precision Bass
The clearest tell is the bridge. First-run 2013-2014 examples left the factory with the Leo Quan Badass II bridge, while later production switched to Fender’s in-house HiMass bridge. A first-run also carries the custom “F” neck plate engraved with Nate Mendel’s signature and the Foo Fighters logo.
Nate Mendel specified a hybrid neck profile that is narrower than a standard Precision but thicker front-to-back than a Jazz Bass, with a slimmer 1.615-inch nut width. The goal was to cut hand fatigue over long, high-energy sets while keeping the substance of a P-Bass neck.
It is voiced for high-gain rock. A Seymour Duncan SPB-3 Quarter Pound split pickup brings oversized magnets and a high-output growl, delivering the punchy, aggressive Precision tone associated with Nate Mendel’s playing in the Foo Fighters.
All about that bass, no treble
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