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  #1  
Old 04-08-2012, 10:18 PM
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Weight of a 1968 telecaster bass

Anyone have an idea on the weight of a '68 telecaster bass? I've been loving the looks, with the slab and lollipops. Thanks!
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Old 04-08-2012, 11:03 PM
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My '68 Tele weighs 8 1/2 lbs. if that helps.
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Old 04-08-2012, 11:12 PM
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oh man, i played one tele bass (i think it was a 72) and it was the heaviest bass i've ever put on my shoulder. i was atleast 10-12 pounds! sure did sound great though
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Old 04-08-2012, 11:14 PM
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True. Pal of mine has an old Tele. I think it's 70s, maybe. And man was it heavy. That was compared to my late model Ibanez SR, but still.
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Old 04-08-2012, 11:18 PM
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Originally Posted by muzikman7 View Post
My '68 Tele weighs 8 1/2 lbs. if that helps.
Wow, thanks. That's one amazing looking bass. Same color as the one I'm looking at. The neck is huge on this one, but I like it. Is yours the same?
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Old 04-08-2012, 11:29 PM
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Also, the one I'm looking at has lollipos but is supposed to be all original. Do you know if they came with both types of tuner?
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Old 04-08-2012, 11:49 PM
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The paddle gear (lollypop) was introduced in 1966. Installed on the Jazz Bass until the late 60's, it was unusual to find this style on a Precision Bass. There was a guy on ebay that was making them a while back. Who knows?
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Old 04-09-2012, 12:19 AM
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Somewhere between 7 and 11 lbs.

Seriously ... they vary...no way to get a definitive weight on them.

And yes...sometimes Fender used lollipop tuners on Tele basses.
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Old 04-09-2012, 03:45 AM
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I recently sold mine- it was a '70 and weighed fair bit below 9lbs, but more than 8 1/2 lbs, which would be considered on the very light side for a Tele bass. I would be very surprised if any were lighter than that, with their big necks and slab bodies.

I've played about ten and they were all up in the 10lb range, FWIW.

Lollipop tuners seem to be common on the earlier ones. Headstock decals changed a bit over the first years, and the nitro guards on the first two years' production often disintegrated and are rare to see intact these days, FWIW.
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Old 04-09-2012, 07:20 AM
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Ok, just checked with my friend. He says his is a 73. My subjective experience of it was that it was pretty darned heavy.
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  #11  
Old 04-09-2012, 07:47 AM
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Like DarkHorse said.
Variable.
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Old 04-09-2012, 08:33 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 1bassplayin
The paddle gear (lollypop) was introduced in 1966. Installed on the Jazz Bass until the late 60's, it was unusual to find this style on a Precision Bass. There was a guy on ebay that was making them a while back. Who knows?
Hipshot makes a drop-in replacement as well.
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Old 04-09-2012, 08:36 AM
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Originally Posted by lowjoe1 View Post
Anyone have an idea on the weight of a '68 telecaster bass? I've been loving the looks, with the slab and lollipops. Thanks!
The one I tried two weeks ago had about the same weight as a medium sized paper towel.
Unfortunately it belongs to someone who wants to keep it.
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Old 04-09-2012, 08:58 AM
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How will it sound vs. a precision? I know the pickup is original--it looks way crusty.
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Old 04-09-2012, 09:05 AM
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Time to tell the truth: how much does your bass weigh?

Check the last spreadsheet, available on page 15. The only tele in the database is a 1972 at 9 pounds, 10 oz.
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Old 04-09-2012, 09:07 AM
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My uncle had one a long time ago and it weighed a ton.
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Old 04-09-2012, 09:18 AM
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I know this is hard to do and subjective, but can anyone tell me the difference tonally between the tele and a regular precision?
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Old 04-09-2012, 09:25 AM
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The single coil is nearly Jazz bass-ish.
Broad band, even response; some single coil hum.

Split-P is low-mid forward, and very little hum
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  #19  
Old 04-09-2012, 09:32 AM
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Originally Posted by lowjoe1 View Post
How will it sound vs. a precision? I know the pickup is original--it looks way crusty.
The first carnation of the Tele bass is a reissue of the original P bass, so it'll pretty much sound like one.
If you know what a '51-54 style P bass sounds like , you know what that T bass will sound like.
The one I tried is a slightly later one with a different ( but original ) pickup.
I am not sure how it compares to a P, but I am sure that it sounded real good.
I wouldn't call it a tone for everyone though.
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  #20  
Old 04-09-2012, 09:39 AM
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Originally Posted by lowjoe1 View Post
Also, the one I'm looking at has lollipos but is supposed to be all original. Do you know if they came with both types of tuner?
This is my '68 with lollipop tuners. Weight is 9lbs.14oz.

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