Conference napalm::guitar

    I used to have one.  They're heavy mothers.
    
    Peter O

    The Telecaster bass was introduced by Fender in 1968.  It was actually
    a reissue of the early (pre-1954) Precision Bass, with a slab body,
    Tele style metal control plate and headstock, single coil pickup and a
    bridge with only two saddles.  Both the pickup and bridge had metal
    covers, and the strings were strung through the body.  The fingerboard
    was maple. 
    
    In 1971 or thereabouts, they upgraded the model to have a single
    humbucker mounted close to the neck, and the pickguard was altered
    so that the controls were now mounted to it and the metal Tele-style
    control cover was removed.

    I am not sure what they are worth today, but I would guess that
    either version in good condition would be $300-$500, with the humbucker
    model worth slightly less than the single coil.  Either model would
    have a much deeper tone than a split-pickup Precision.

    
    
    The one I remember is the humbucker model.Do you have any idea
    when they were *last* issued? 
    
    I remember a guy in high school (~10 yrs ago) had one that he
    bought new.
    
    tomg
    

    I once played in a band with a guy that had one with a pink paisley
    finish.  Looked kinda garish for my tastes, but it had one of the
    nicest necks I've ever seen on a bass - kinda wide and flat like
    the tele guitar.
    							joe

    
    They stopped making them in the mid seventies sometime.  I had a
    1973 catalog that showed one, but by the time I got out of the army
    (1977) they were gone.....
    
    

    George Gruhn has a '76  humbucker version for $450. Jimmy Brown
    (Guitar Emporium) has a '67 single coil for $550. Merry Christmas.
    
    Danny W

    I thought the Telebass was Fender's very first Electric Bass.  I
    used to borrow one occationally from a friend in the 70's.  They
    are heavy and have a real muddy sound.  Really nice for playing
    50's and early 60's stuff.
    

    Nope, the "Slab" Precision was Fender's first Bass. The Telecaster
    Bass was a reissue of the Slab, with slightly differant dimensions.
    The Telecaster bass with single coil pickup, and Tele-like control
    panel was very close to the original Precision, but the later model 
    with the Humbucker, and one piece jack plate/control panel, looked 
    very differant than an original "Slab". 
    
    I would assume that you could replace the original single coil pickup
    in an early tele bass with a Seymour Duncan, and get a pretty fat
    sound out of them, without altering the looks. Of course it would
    be worth more to a collector with the original pickups, but swapping
    pickups is something that can easily be reversed.
    
    Mark
    
      

    
    Re: .7, .8
    
    The confusion over the Tele and the original Precision is quite
    common.  For some reason, by the late 60s, when the Teles came out,
    few players were using 50s Precisions.  Even today, they are quite
    rare, and extremely pricey, although folks like Dusty Hill of ZZ
    Top and Keith Ferguson of the Fabulous Thunderbirds and Tail Gators
    (hmm, they are both from Texas) use them.  Where did they all go???
    
    

    The new GP has a column on a 6-string Tele bass guitar. Looks just like
    a standard maple board tele except for the 30.5" scale. Since it's a
    custom shop model, it's about $1800, but it was implied that if it
    became a catalog item, it would be much less.
    
    Looks beautiful. I'd love to own one at the lower price :-)
    
    Danny W.

Speaking of Tele Basses, did anyone see the custom made reproduction
of the original P-Bass in the recent Fender propaganda mag?

It was complete faithful to the original '50's P-bass right down to the
bakelite bridge saddles. 

If Fender ever re-issued this bass a a Vintage series instrument, I'd
be the first guy on the block to own one.

-Tom
(who loves old p-basses, but certainly can't afford one....)

    
    To bring back another old note....and just dreamin', mind you :-)
    
    The Fender Bass book has pictures of the Tele bass 2nd edition,
    with the humbucker. I've always kinda liked them as well, but
    have never heard one. Just curious, has anybody ever plugged
    one of these things in; if so, how does it compare to a standard
    P-bass of similar vintage soundwise? Also, has anybody seen any
    for sale lately and what is the price range these days?
    
    Regarding Tele basses; Prosound had a '51 reissue on the wall
    a few months back. As long as one was not fussy about country
    of origin, it looked like it might be a fun bass. Again, I didn't
    plug it in (and I doubt it'd sound like an original as it sure
    felt light like it might be basswood). In typical Prosound fashion,
    it didn't have a pricetag on it (must be free) and the salesperson
    couldn't be bothered so I dunno what that thing cost. Another case
    of idle curiosity.
    
    I've also futzed around with that *nice* G+L ASAT at Rice....a
    modern Tele bass but I can't afford the $1K price.
    
    If the late-70's Fender basses are still lacking in snob appeal,
    the 2nd edition/humbucker Tele bass could interest me....I do so
    need another bass :-).
    
    DAP
     

    The Tele bass with humbucker would have a much deeper tone than a
    P-bass because the pickup is crammed up near the neck rather than
    mid-body.  No idea on current used price ranges.
    
    The Japanese '51 Precision reissue sells for about $450 new.  There are
    also Custom Shop "reissues" which have the same style body but have
    modern-day PJ pickups instead of the single coil.  I have no idea on
    these, but would guess about $1200 at least.
    
    							Brian

    I see humbucker equipped Tele basses up here (Boston) for $500-$600
    for a nice one, less if it's beat.  My guess is you'd be disappointed
    in the sound as it's very muddy, but ya never know.  I've been tempted
    myself by one of these more a few times.  It'd make a great reggae bass
    mon :-)

    
    RE - last couple.
    
    Thanks for the info! As I said in my initial reply, I'm mostly
    gathering data. My favorite flavor of Fender remains the Jazz Bass...
    love the neck! I did own a Japanese P-bass for awhile; of the
    basses I've owned and played I probably spent more time on it
    than any others....but I didn't miss it when I traded it. I also
    doubt that I'd replace it with another P-bass.....but a Tele bass
    is just different enough, IMHO. I do like humbuckers on a bass;
    but also don't miss my old EBO......a bit too rich, (the chocolate
    mousse of bass pickups :-).
                                                       
    I'd love to be able to plug in one of these Tele basses just to
    see how it sounds, but have yet to see one locally.
    
    DAP
     

    
    I played 2 60's vintage basses in 1970. I didn't like either of them,
    but I can't remember why: if it was the neck or the sound.
    
    Guy
    

    A trip to Cambridge Music last week remined me of something.  They've
    had a '68 Tele bass hanging there for a few months now.  It's been
    refinished Candy Apple Red (cool color, and the refin is old and beat
    enough that it looks original) and has an EMG replacement pickup.  The
    pickup is a direct fit for the original single coil pickup slot and
    seems to have been specifically intended for retrofit on old Precision
    and Tele basses.  They've been asking $950 for it but the price just
    got dropped to $700; like most instruments down there, it's on
    consignment.  The original pickup might still be available on it too.
    I've played this instrument a couple of times, and to be honest it didn't
    do much for me.  But hey, if you're in the Cambridge area and want to
    check one of these out...
    
    /rick