Fender CS '66 Slab Body P Bass - wow!

Fender32 · #1 09-01-2010, 11:47 PM

Not mine, and not ever likely to be at this price, but here's something I saw that really caught my attention ....

http://www.thomann.de/gb/fender_66_s...ass_cc_owt.htm

About 5 years ago, when I had more money than sense

, I was seriously thinking about having one of these rare P Basses recreated by the Custom Shop, after playing a real one and rather liking it

.

Many of you will know the history of this model, but to cut a long story short, there were only a small number made (25-35) in 1966 and they were all (I believe) exported to the UK market. The unique features were the the slab (ash) body, the two-piece maple neck/fretboard and different wiring (not sure of the actual differences) which gave the bass a very aggressive tone.

John Entwhistle was a big fan of these, back in the day, and can be seen at the bottom of this page (Link ...) cradling one of the few that he owned.

There's even a book about them (which I really must buy

) ...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fender-Bass-.../dp/1438946627

So, not everyone's cup of tea perhaps, but certainly a bass that I'd like to get my hands on

.... (dream on

)!

johnk_10 · #2 09-02-2010, 12:12 AM

i had an original one back in 1986, and i gave it to my best friend for his birthday.
i was a pretty good bass, but it was kinda heavy, it being a slab body.

steveinohio · #3 09-02-2010, 01:02 AM

I've always wondered why Warmoth or All-Parts haven't offered this as a body option. I would get one hands down.

johnk_10 · #4 09-02-2010, 01:06 AM

these guys could make you one:

http://guitarmill.com/cart/index.php...roducts_id=187

Fender32 · #5 09-02-2010, 02:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnk_10

i had an original one back in 1986, and i gave it to my best friend for his birthday.
i was a pretty good bass, but it was kinda heavy, it being a slab body.

That's interesting, John. The one that I played in London's Denmark Street, 4 years ago, was feather-light (well, appx. 8lbs

) and made from wide-grained swamp ash. That was selling for about the same price as this Custom Shop one, but will no doubt appreciate in value over the years.

Just shows how much timber can vary in weight (and how inconsistent Fender's choice of body wood was

).

This bass weighs 9.2lbs, apparently, so it's somewhere in the middle and (IMHO) just about the ideal weight for a P Bass

.

Spinal Tapper · #6 09-02-2010, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveinohio

I've always wondered why Warmoth or All-Parts haven't offered this as a body option. I would get one hands down.

I think you could get a slab body ordered from Warmoth or somewhere (with wood of your choice) and ask for it to be routed for split P PU's...slap a maple neck on and BAM! Save yourself 4 grand.

Killer bass though. Ive been thinking about building one of these for years. I already have a maple neck that would be perfect for it...I even have a slab Squier II body that I could sand down and paint white...if I had the space and resources...
I think I'd go with some PU's that were extremely hot and bright with Roto steel strings for that edgy Ox tone. Not necessarily the 62 PU's they put on the CS model.

Gord_oh · #7 09-02-2010, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnk_10

i had an original one back in 1986, and i gave it to my best friend for his birthday.
i was a pretty good bass, but it was kinda heavy, it being a slab body.

i have a birthday coming up. BFFs?

LuvMusic · #8 09-02-2010, 09:44 AM

I've also found these basses interesting. I was browsing MF the other day and noticed this...appears newer. Fender CS does a reissue?

http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend....uct?sku=620948

johnk_10 · #9 09-02-2010, 10:10 AM

yeah, and they appear to be correct with the laminated maple board as opposed to a one piece maple neck too. destined once again to be quite a rare bird.

Kink Rimson · #10 09-02-2010, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fender32

Not mine, and not ever likely to be at this price, but here's something I saw that really caught my attention ....

http://www.thomann.de/gb/fender_66_s...ass_cc_owt.htm

About 5 years ago, when I had more money than sense

, I was seriously thinking about having one of these rare P Basses recreated by the Custom Shop, after playing a real one and rather liking it

.

Many of you will know the history of this model, but to cut a long story short, there were only a small number made (25-35) in 1966 and they were all (I believe) exported to the UK market. The unique features were the the slab (ash) body, the two-piece maple neck/fretboard and different wiring (not sure of the actual differences) which gave the bass a very aggressive tone.

John Entwhistle was a big fan of these, back in the day, and can be seen at the bottom of this page (Link ...) cradling one of the few that he owned.

There's even a book about them (which I really must buy

) ...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fender-Bass-.../dp/1438946627

So, not everyone's cup of tea perhaps, but certainly a bass that I'd like to get my hands on

.... (dream on

)!

There's no mention of this CS replica having the unique tone circuit... If it doesn't have, that sort of defeats the point IMHO.

If it does have that Entwistle sound, I would sell all my worldly possessions to get hold of one.

LuvMusic · #11 09-02-2010, 10:41 AM

GC is listing it also (no surprise). I wonder if this is a MF/GC CS special run? No mention of this bass on Fender's CS web site.

JustOpenYourMind · #12 09-02-2010, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kink Rimson

There's no mention of this CS replica having the unique tone circuit... If it doesn't have, that sort of defeats the point IMHO.

If it does have that Entwistle sound, I would sell all my worldly possessions to get hold of one.

I really wonder what can be that famous ''tone circuit''

After all, in a P-bass there's not a lot that can vary...

It was either different pickups or higher pot values, maybe a different capacitor, aside from that I don't know....

Was there really a difference?

Anyone knows?

One Drop · #13 09-02-2010, 11:05 AM

He claimed the PUPs were more aggressive sounding on them. I know he had one of the slabs rewired to try for a stereo effect with the PUP's output split to two circuits, but he said it sounded horrible and put it back to stock, leaving a hole or an extra knob in the P/G.

I think the guts of one of them made it into one of his FrankenPs, the one that sounded so amazing at Leeds.

BTW, just got the remastered DVD of Live at isle of Wight- the sound is fabulous and you can really hear how he varies his tone and attack through the Tommy sequence.

Spleenface92 · #14 09-02-2010, 11:15 AM

I want.

Kink Rimson · #15 09-02-2010, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by One Drop

.

I think the guts of one of them made it into one of his FrankenPs, the one that sounded so amazing at Leeds.

BTW, just got the remastered DVD of Live at isle of Wight- the sound is fabulous and you can really hear how he varies his tone and attack through the Tommy sequence.

On the Isle of Wight DVD, he's playing a standard Precision, chosen for the occasion to match his skeleton suit.

It's a very similar sound to Live at Leeds, but noticably different at the same time - The Leeds set, played on Frankenstein, has a noticably more trebly, growly sound to it. Still a P-bass, but with just a little more teeth. The IOW set is very recognisably a regular Precision.

Kink Rimson · #16 09-02-2010, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fender32

There's even a book about them (which I really must buy

) ...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fender-Bass-.../dp/1438946627

So, not everyone's cup of tea perhaps, but certainly a bass that I'd like to get my hands on

.... (dream on

)!

It's a good book, but frustratingly sheds no light at all on what gave them such an amazing sound.

Fender32 · #17 09-02-2010, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kink Rimson

It's a good book, but frustratingly sheds no light at all on what gave them such an amazing sound.

Thanks, you've just saved me £16.95

.

One Drop · #18 09-03-2010, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kink Rimson

On the Isle of Wight DVD, he's playing a standard Precision, chosen for the occasion to match his skeleton suit.

It's a very similar sound to Live at Leeds, but noticably different at the same time - The Leeds set, played on Frankenstein, has a noticably more trebly, growly sound to it. Still a P-bass, but with just a little more teeth. The IOW set is very recognisably a regular Precision.

Thanks for the info! I only have Live At Leeds on vinyl, time I got a copy I can play on these newfangled 'Compact Discs'. Time to listen to it properly again (I've been youtubing it...)