Fender Nate Mendel Signature Precision Bass

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.