If you look very closely you can see at least 4 of the guard and cover screws that have been carefully plugged. If there’s finish over the plugs that’s another indication of a refin.
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68 Telecaster bass
- Thread starter Lofreakwencee
- Start date
Probably worth buying an aftermarket body, and making it the instrument you want it to be.
Keep the original body as is, and start doing some serious research / detective work about "The Monster".
If it turns out you've picked up a storied piece of recording history, you might be on to a winner (and If you haven't, well if you decide to sell it one day : you've still got it as original as it's ever going to be, or the option of a restoration).
You don't want to be the person who bought Jamerson's Funk Machine, then de-fretted it, and put in an active preamp, and a pair of soap bar pickups.
Yes I have played it. It sounds very “Thumpy” but I guess the j pickup has a wider range as opposed to the original.
I couldn't agree more!
I'm consistently surprised by the responses of my TB brothers and sisters to our shared musical heritage - probably because it's too recent to really value its historical context. Jammerson is a really good example of this.
IF what the seller said is true and you have a unique musical relic in your hands, my suggestion is that you make it playable but keep as near enough as you found it. I'd then be doing some research on it's provenance. It could be a porky, but can't think of any benefit the seller got from telling you that story.
For my money, as has been said, you're already ahead of the game just with that sweet neck.
Not sure about "wider range" as that depends on how that jazz pickup is wound. It is likely to have less attack than the original (4-pole vs 8 pole) and so be more studio friendly.
Is there any way to control the tone or volume?
My guess, from where I stand, it's a good chance it's a replacement body. ... I really loved those old late 60's Tele-necks. Nearly bought one back in about 73. ... The best sound from a pickup is to by pass the controls and hard wire in. ... Maybe, whom ever owned it before figured that out. ... I wouldn't rush into changing it, it may be best left as a one of a kind.
can you explain this? Hardwire straight into a board? How and why? If this is the best way, why are basses all made with controls, preamps, etc.?
Very well put! Thanks for that. The only way to control the tone is on the amp or mixer.
I guess that’s the sound that they wanted. Previous owner mentioned that Ted Irwin had something to do with the bass.
I own two Fender Rhodes pianos and I bypass the electronics on them. It gives you a clearer tone. The electronics on them just “muddy” the sound for my liking and I can still control the tone on my amp. The pickups on a Rhodes are magnetic.
Lol! Bonus! The bridge and string ferrules are pretty significant inclusions too.
If this is the same "Teddy Irwin", then there's some serious mojo in that bass of yours!
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Why is the top cutaway rounded and the bottom not? Look at the neck pocket pic. To me this does suggest original body.
Dude, that's rad for 5 bills. I'd put a pickguard and pots back on, and rock it.
I just plugged this bass into my 62 B15N and it sounds “HUGE”! It just filled the room with great vintage tone!
