My fascination with the Precision Bass began when I saw the late Nokie Edwards, one of my favorite members of The Ventures, playing bass in the group’s early years. I still remember that rich, crisp punch—the deep bass notes that could almost turn into a growl when pushed through a Fender Bassman amplifier.
Even today, that sound immediately transports me back to my teenage years and The Trekkers, when we tried to capture that same driving Ventures sound with our own bass guitar. Music has a remarkable ability to preserve a moment in time. A few deep notes from a Precision Bass, and suddenly I am young again.
In 2025, Kaye declined her induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in the Musical Excellence category. Among her objections was the way the story of Los Angeles studio musicians—and particularly the label commonly used to describe them—had been portrayed and commercialized over the years.
“These Boots Are Made for Walkin’” — Nancy Sinatra (1966)
“Last Train to Clarksville” — The Monkees (1966)
“The Beat Goes On” — Sonny & Cher (1967)
“You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” — The Righteous Brothers (1964)
“Good Vibrations” — The Beach Boys (1966)
“California Girls” — The Beach Boys (1965)
“Homeward Bound” — Simon & Garfunkel (1966)
“Sloop John B” — The Beach Boys (1966)
“Wouldn’t It Be Nice” — The Beach Boys (1966)
“Wichita Lineman” — Glen Campbell (1968)
"Mission Impossible" Theme
"The Addams Family" Theme
"Hawaii Five-O" Theme
For me, this particular Bass guitar is more than an instrument. It is a sound tied to a time in my life—the Ventures, the Trekkers, and the excitement of being young and trying to make music of our own.
By Author: Henri Gann.
Comments are welcome.
