Fender Precision Bass 1951/55 - sunburst finish, contoured body, original condition

From the listing

Seller's description

I used to work in Hollywood and many days I spent my lunchtimes cruising the numerous music stores and guitar shops along Sunset Blvd. One afternoon, I was in the vintage room at Guitar Center and a dark, distinctive shape caught my eye, hanging in the corner at the very top of the barnwood wall - an old Fender Precision Bass, like I’d seen Sting playing, of late. I asked to see it and the GC associate wrangled a tall aluminum ladder over to get it. As he handed it down to me, I could tell it was something special. My first impressions were that it was amazingly light and that it had a beautiful patina that gave it a unique aura. The four-digit serial number on the bridge (starting with a zero) confirmed it. The kid didn’t know much about it but he said the buyer was in the store and trundled off to get him.The buyer told me that a few days before, some old man had brought in all his gear to sell and that this bass was really the only thing of any value. But he didn’t have the heart to make the poor soul haul it all back out to his car, so he bought everything, lock, stock and barrel. He said this guy told him that he had been a stuntman in old Hollywood and had a little band that played around town with his wife, who played the bass. The wife had died, the band… disbanded.The instrument had an almost slick feel and a dark cast to the (obviously original) finish, doubtless from many nights in smoke-filled clubs. No pickguard but everything else was there: the tug bar, the ashtrays, the strap pins. And it was so lightweight - as if every ounce of moisture had been drawn out of it along with all the music - that it seemed like the neck might be heavier than the body. On the top of the upper bout was a small, well-worn hole. From a thumbtack? Holding index cards with chords or lyrics?How’s that for mojo? Of course, I purchased it, on the spot.I posted this on a vintage bass board, believing that it was from 1953. A few commented that it must be a prototype. This has GO