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Birth year basses

#46
khutch said:
I'm a Fender fan and I recognize the Audiovox as the first true bass guitar. Facts are facts. The Fender bass was a somewhat better design, in part because technology had advanced, but Fender hit the market at the right time and just did a better job of selling his new bass. The Precision came into the world a few months before I did so technically I could get one. Economically, it ain't gonna happen! But I would be happy with a reissue....

Only a couple of Tutmarc senior basses are known to exist so fat chance of getting one. They seem to have been made from 1937 to perhaps 1950. Tutmarc junior started making Serenader basses in 1947 until ?? So there could be some of these out there somewhere. If you were born between 1937 and 1952 your choices are either get a DB from those years or look REALLY HARD for one of the two Tutmarc instruments. Let us know if you find one!
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No - I don't deny it's existence, I just deny its as significant as people who want to de-throne Leo claim it is.

Until someone can prove Leo saw it, it's a historical curiosity rather than an innovation. It's essentially not playable (weighs a tonne and is a stupid awkward shape - hence the "optional" end-pin) which is kind of an important detail in claiming to be the first electric bass guitar - otherwise that solid body bass by Loyd Loar could claim to be the first as it was small enough to hold in the Spanish position too. Virtually none were produced (two known a few more rumoured to have been produced) so it made no impact on music or the market - it's right up there with the Italian who supposedly invented the telephone but never bothered marketing it - making it a telecom at best and not important to the development of telecommunications because it didn't influence or create anything.

If you want the legalistic argument, Leo patented it. Meaning that there was no conflicting patent and Tutmarc did not think he had anything significant enough to copyright (admittedly, he obviously was careless with this stuff given what happened to his pickup design which became the Rickenbacker horseshoe pickup and which they DID patent - but Beauchamp was a bit of a mercenary to say the least).

As far as the more advanced state of the technology - that was largely Leo - he designed that pickup (for guitar and then adapted it) his solid body is better because it is actually MORE conventionally guitar like (though the double-offset horns are his innovation) and the amp was better because he made an amp for bass - and it was still only a little better (low power, open back) - which is what he tried to fix with the 59 Bassman: 45 watts of earth-shaking power into 410s can you imagine what that was like for bands at the time? A revelation if not a revolution. He didn't get THAT right until the piggy backs which allowed a closed back cabinet.

Rant-ble over.

P.S. I LOVE this kind of jaunty debate - so don't feel I'm attacking and please refute any faults in my facts or logic - that's why I come here. :)

EDIT: P.P.S. Tutmarc's bass is really the first bass electric Hawaiian guitar.;)
 
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#48
Smooth_bass88 said:
There's pretty much no point in owning a "birth year bass", other than saying you own a bass from the year you were born. Besides, in my case for example a 2008 US Lakland in infinitely better than a bass from my birth year (in my humble opinion of course).
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I pretty much agree - though I do enjoy the fact that my bass is only 2 years younger than me - I love telling people I bought it new. It really confuses them.
EDIT: I should also qualify that with the fact that I did once try to buy a car strictly because it was my birth year (and still pretty much new - which is more than I can say for myself OR my bass).
 
#49
How about Tokai? The MIJ stuff from the late 70s/early 80s is great.
Or Wal.
Steinberger.
Status.
Hayman.
Shergold.

Lots of great basses that aren't stupid and pointy

I have a 1980 Tokai Jazz that's awesome

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(Although this is my birth year bass)
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#50
To me trying to dismiss the fact that Tutmarc invented the first bass guitar (that we know of) is like trying to dismiss the fact that Fender invented the first five string bass guitar. Both inventions are well established facts and neither one went anywhere until someone else made a success of them. Fender's place in history is as secure as anything human can be. You cannot diminish his accomplishments by promoting Tutmarc and you cannot enhance them by dismissing Tutmarc. Tutmarc invented the first bass guitar, Fender invented the first bass guitar to have any significant effect on the world as we know it. That is how it is and will remain until evidence of an even earlier bass guitar comes to light.
 
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#51
There's a gold 1982 (my birth year) Fender Jazz that's shown up in the classifieds a few times over the years that I absolutely love. Maple neck with white binding and dot inlays. Which is a super cool and extremely uncommon set of features. It's always way out of my price range, and way more than I think it should be worth. I can't recall ever seeing another '82 Fender Jazz for sale, but I'd love to get one some day.
 
#54
My birthday is 1/27/61, right in the wheelhouse of classic Fender J's and P's. Man, I would loooove to have a birthdate era Fender...maybe someday. Some $ needs to fall from the sky...in my direction. For the time being, I will just drool over those that do possess those fine instruments.
MJ
 
#57
Thanks everyone! These are some GREAT suggestions. I had forgotten all about the Kubicki Ex-factor! It isn't anything that's gonna happen soon since I am not exactly loaded with cash, and I already some really nice basses. I like the precision elite too. A nice 4003 would be a cool find as would an '84 G&L. For some reason, the idea of Japanese made basses as birth year basses doesn't seem quite right to me. I'm not saying they didn't make some great basses, but I wasn't made in Japan. Lol.
 
#58
A 1986 Fender holds little to no appeal to me. I don't see the allure of a birth year bass. I've owned basses older than me and I never felt right modifying them to suit my style. If (and when) I sell an old bass I always think a collector will be interested, who wants a modified example? I know I prefer to find them stock so I can see what the hype is about.
 
#59
Speaking of Matsumoku, don't forget Washburn. You can buy basically anything from them up to 1985 blind, apart from the F-4 series, which are a bit too much on the entry level side. Here's my 1983 Force-40 EQ, neck-thru, string-thru, active with sweepable mids and a neck to die for.

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Only outpassed by this one: 1984 Force-8 BBR ("BBR" for Black, Black & Red), the reason why I am not going for a Wunkay.

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