For more than five decades, Leland “Lee” Sklar has anchored countless recordings with impeccable feel, intuitive melodic instinct and a Precision Bass he gradually transformed into one of the most distinctive instruments in music. Nicknamed “Frankenstein,” Lee's heavily modified P Bass became a constant companion in the studio and onstage, its stripped-down body, custom-shaped neck, active EMG pickups and purpose-driven hardware evolving alongside the demands of his remarkable career. Part of the Fender Stories Collection, the Fender Lee Sklar Precision Bass recreates that singular instrument with an alder body dressed in an Heirloom satin nitro finish that evokes the stripped-down character of Lee's well-traveled original. A slim maple neck with a round-laminated rosewood fingerboard and mandolin frets delivers the fluid, precise feel central to his setup, while dual EMG Lee Sklar P pickups provide powerful output and exceptional clarity. Loaded with a rock-solid BadAss II bridge and Hipshot BT3 Bass Xtender for extended low-end range, the Lee Sklar Precision Bass is a striking tribute to Lee's decades of innovation, musicianship and uncompromising individuality.

Heirloom-Finished Alder Body Evokes Lee's Stripped-Down Original

The Lee Sklar Precision Bass starts with an alder body that provides the balanced response, clear midrange and resonant foundation long associated with Fender basses. More distinctive is its stripped-down appearance, inspired by Lee removing the finish from his original Precision Bass and allowing decades of sessions, touring and regular use to leave their mark naturally across the wood. Fender evokes that well-traveled character through an Aged Natural finish with satin Heirloom nitrocellulose lacquer, allowing the grain and natural character of the alder to remain front and center. Heirloom nickel and chrome hardware complements the understated presentation, capturing the utilitarian character of a bass shaped by years of work rather than ornamentation.

Slim Maple Neck and Mandolin Frets Recreate Frankenstein's Custom Feel

One of Frankenstein's most distinctive modifications was its reshaped Precision Bass neck, which Lee had slimmed to dimensions closer to a Jazz Bass and fitted with unusually small mandolin fretwire. Fender recreates that streamlined approach with a sleek maple neck, 1.59" bone nut and round-laminated rosewood fingerboard, providing a more compact feel in the fretting hand than a traditional wide-nut Precision Bass. Twenty mandolin frets create a low-profile playing surface that supports precise fretting and fluid movement across the 34" scale, while clay position dots and vintage clay side markers preserve the understated character of the original. An Heirloom nitrocellulose lacquer neck finish completes a highly individual setup shaped around Lee's long-established playing preferences.

Dual EMG P Pickups Deliver Lee's Signature Studio Voice

Dual EMG Lee Sklar P split-coil pickups recreate one of the defining modifications behind Frankenstein's powerful, articulate sound. Lee adopted EMG's original P pickup platform early in his session career, eventually building his signature voice around a pair of reversed P-style pickups that combined substantial low-end presence and output with the clarity needed to remain defined in dense arrangements. Developed to reproduce the tonal response of that original setup, the Lee Sklar P pickups bring the same philosophy to this signature Fender through an active dual-pickup configuration. Independent volume controls for the neck and bridge pickups allow the two voices to be blended in different proportions, while a master tone control provides straightforward overall shaping.

BadAss II Bridge and Hipshot Xtender Expand Performance Range

The hardware found on Frankenstein reflects the same practical, purpose-driven approach as its electronics and neck modifications. A BadAss II bridge provides a substantial, adjustable anchor for the strings, supporting accurate intonation and a solid playing response across the bass. At the headstock, a Hipshot BT3 Bass Xtender integrated alongside Gotoh reversed open-gear tuning machines lets the lowest string quickly drop below standard E tuning and return without requiring a second instrument or a conventional retune between songs. GHS L5000 Light Super Steel roundwound strings complete Lee's performance-oriented setup, while a vintage-style tweed case with gold interior provides secure protection for transport and storage.

Five Decades of Sessions Behind One Singular Bass

Few bassists have left their fingerprints on as much recorded music as Lee Sklar, whose career has placed his unmistakable low-end feel behind artists including James Taylor, Carole King, Jackson Browne and Phil Collins, along with hundreds of other performers across more than five decades of studio and touring work. Through it all, Frankenstein remained a defining part of Lee's sound, evolving through years of purposeful modification into a deeply personal instrument shaped around his approach to tone, feel and performance. With the Lee Sklar Precision Bass, Fender honors that remarkable history by bringing one of popular music's great working instruments into the Stories Collection with the details that made it unmistakably his. Equal parts tribute and player-focused instrument, it offers a rare opportunity to experience the distinctive character of a P Bass refined not by convention, but through a lifetime of making music.