American Standard label question

Jazzman · #1 01-12-2005, 07:53 PM

I have searched and not come up with anything. I have also searched the US Patent records website. So, my question is, what year was the patent for the American Standard basses granted?

I am trying to date my bass, and the serial number info just points between 1925 and 1939. But, at the bottom of the label, it says "PATENT APPLIED FOR." I am hoping this can narrow it closer than a fourteen year range.

FWIW, it is "NO. 410"

Ike Harris · #2 01-12-2005, 09:01 PM

Jazzman-

Go to the HNWHITE.com website. You will see that the basses began in manufacture around 1936. I've done some research and there are really no confirmed manufacture dates known to me, but the basses seem to be numbered consecutively (presumably)from single digits, as we know there are some with 2 digits existing. There is a well-discussed thread on this here: American Standard #2090, anyone know year/origin of this bass?

That being said, I think yours is from the late thirties/early forties. Mine is #2047, maybe late 40s/early 50s.

Ike

Don Higdon · #3 01-13-2005, 06:58 PM

arnoldschnitzer · #4 01-14-2005, 12:26 PM

I have a copy of an old ad, the headline of which reads, "A New American Made Wood Bass". It originates from 1936 and features the American Standard, priced at $110! As it was described as "new", I assume they started production in or about 1936.

Jazzman · #5 01-14-2005, 06:18 PM

Arnold...you sold me my bass. Do you have any idea how old it is? This is Chris Brusa.

arnoldschnitzer · #6 01-15-2005, 08:27 AM

Chris, yours is the improved 2nd generation model. I think mid-1950s.

Jazzman · #7 01-15-2005, 08:31 AM

Wonderful, thanks alot for the info.

Eric Rene Roy · #8 01-18-2005, 04:35 PM

We just picked up two American Standard basses today, #40 and #368. They need some work...but they are great basses. They both have the "patent applied for" statement on the tags. I'll post some pictures soon.

Ike Harris · #9 01-19-2005, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eroy

We just picked up two American Standard basses today, #40 and #368. They need some work...but they are great basses. They both have the "patent applied for" statement on the tags. I'll post some pictures soon.

Congrats, Eric, you now have the lowest AS serial # (40) on our little list. Do you know any history on these?

Ike

Eric Rene Roy · #10 01-19-2005, 06:03 AM

Ike, all I know is that they were sitting in a basement, forgotten to the world, decaying. We picked them up in the greater Providence, RI area.

I'll actually have some questions for the board on the direction I should take them in regards to the restoration of them. I looked over that thread and linked website that chronicled the restoration job done by Peter Mix's crew. A really good job, but it seems against my training to ditch the scroll and the original finish. Both these basses will need new necks, and I would rather just do a neck/scroll graft. I like to remove as little original material as possible.

Anyway, it'll be some months before I get cracking on them as we are hip high in repairs as it is now. I'll check in and keep you posted.

I would love to know what the lowest numbered American Standard is that is known to still exist. It would be quite the honor to think we may be sitting on it...

Jazzman · #11 01-19-2005, 11:32 AM

[quote=eroy]...but it seems against my training to ditch the scroll and the original finish. Both these basses will need new necks, and I would rather just do a neck/scroll graft. /QUOTE]

I will give my input. My American Standard had a new bass bar, new neck (and scroll), tail block, finish, etc. as part of the restoration.

I couldn't be happier. It sounds great. The neck is very comfortable, and will last a long time...besides, now that ugly finish is gone. Basically it is a new bass with old body wood.

I say keep the body wood and redo the rest.

Don Higdon · #12 01-19-2005, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ike Harris

Congrats, Eric, you now have the lowest AS serial # (40) on our little list. Do you know any history on these?

Ike

Whoa, hold on. I'm having another look at my #87. Maybe there's a decimal point between the 8 and the 7.

Don Higdon · #13 01-19-2005, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazzman

...besides, now that ugly finish is gone.

Wait a minute. My American Standard lost the ugly bass contest because voters thought the ugly finish looked hip.
http://lordonly.net/Images/John/talkbassass/don4131/
Admittedly, it's hard to top the green sludge in the neck joint on Chris' entry.

Ike Harris · #14 01-20-2005, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Higdon

Wait a minute. My American Standard lost the ugly bass contest because voters thought the ugly finish looked hip.
http://lordonly.net/Images/John/talkbassass/don4131/
Admittedly, it's hard to top the green sludge in the neck joint on Chris' entry.

What pickup are you sportin' on that big fiddle, Don? K&K? I've tried the old Fishman, Gage & Underwood, and reluctantly leaning toward the Underwood for now. I'd like to try the Full Circle on mine.

Ike

Jazzman · #15 01-20-2005, 11:27 AM

I am not Don, but I will say that I didn't like the sound of the K&K pickups on my American Standard. They were great on my old bass, but just didn't match well with the AS. My bridge won't fit the Full Circle, so I went with the Realist. It sounds great with this bass. Slightly boomey, but so is the bass.

Paul Warburton · #16 01-20-2005, 03:10 PM

Damn, I forgot how ugly that Mother is Dono!!!!!!!

Don Higdon · #17 01-20-2005, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ike Harris

What pickup are you sportin' on that big fiddle, Don? K&K? I've tried the old Fishman, Gage & Underwood, and reluctantly leaning toward the Underwood for now. I'd like to try the Full Circle on mine.

Ike

That's a one-of-a-kind K&K that Bob Golihur got them to make for me. It's two piezos, one under each bridge wing, stereo lead to a pre-amp, mono lead to the speaker. It was superior to the Realistand everything else at the time. Now I have an AMT mic which blows away all pickups, inluding Pick Up the World, which I have on my New Standard hybrid. PUTW was superior to all prior pickups, but not the mic.

Don Higdon · #18 01-20-2005, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

Damn, I forgot how ugly that Mother is Dono!!!!!!!

Flatterer!

53richb · #19 02-21-2005, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arnoldschnitzer

Chris, yours is the improved 2nd generation model. I think mid-1950s.

Arnold:

I assume you are referring to design changes that were incorporated into the old American Standard line as opposed to the changes that you made to improve this particular bass.

If that is the case, would you mind being a little more specific about what these improvements were?

Thanks in advance.