Fender ABG Prototype

[Engine207]

Several years ago, I had a Michael Kelly that I really wanted to like, but the body was too thick and uncomfortable. I really don't need an acoustic bass guitar, but I thought it'd be fun to have a light, decent sounding, playable bass I could grab if I didn't feel like plugging in. I wound up selling it...for lack of use.

Today, while I had a little time to kill, I stopped into a little shop and found this bass. The purveyor said it was a prototype, made in Korea. I know lots of companies like Fender build these, but for whatever reason decide not to continue with mass production. With Fender headquarters in nearby Snottsdale, it wouldn't surprise me if the story were pretty close to true. In any case, the body was nice and thin, the neck felt like my solid-body Jazz and played quite nicely. It really projected as good as any ABG I've ever played.

Any idea when this might have been made, or any other information about it? I'm really thinking about jumping back into this acoustic thing, on the strength of this bass...

 

[trunkshope6]

That 2, piece neck definately isn't fender

 

[JavierFarias]

That 2, piece neck definately isn't fender

exactly! the headstock looks wrong, but looks cool overall.

 

[fretlessguy]

It might be a good idea to email these pics to Fender and see what they say. We would all be interested in that. Do this before you buy.

 

[One Drop]

Now, why would Fender make a prototype in Korea?

It's not a Fender.

 

[Orangeclawhammr]

.

 

[Engine207]

Yeagh...I'm not knowledgable enough about Fender's inner workings to know if it's real or fake, or how they do product development, but two things are for sure:
1. This was the most comfortable playing ABG I've ever used...and it sounded better than most.
2. The shop it was in had some really nice old vintage gear, about which the shopkeep was pretty knowledgable.

I'm hoping some of the TB folks with insider Fender knowledge pipe in here. Hell, I may not even need much arm twisting to get it anyway...even if it's not real Fender.

 

[jim777]

It might just have been a very poor selling model, not a prototype They made acoustic Strats and Teles back in the (early?) 90's that sold in the $250 range and this looks like a 1st cousin, no question. I was very pleasantly surprised by the Strat i played back then, too. Not enough to buy it mind you, but it was very decent.
Edit: Here, can't find anything on the bass but check the logo and bridge shape on the Strat and Tele- pretty much just like on this bass.

 

[gigslut]

One thing that comes to mind is that the preamp fits the curvature of the body nicely. If this is counterfeit, they bought the preamp first and designed the bass around it. I'd like to see a shot of the sticker inside. I don;t think they'd bother with a sticker and serial # on a prototype. I'm thinking this was made offshore for foreign market, and made it's way to the US somehow.

 

[Engine207]

It might just have been a very poor selling model, not a prototype They made acoustic Strats and Teles back in the (early?) 90's that sold in the $250 range and this looks like a 1st cousin, no question. I was very pleasantly surprised by the Strat i played back then, too. Not enough to buy it mind you, but it was very decent.
Edit: Here, can't find anything on the bass but check the logo and bridge shape on the Strat and Tele- pretty much just like on this bass.

After looking at the link, I think you're on to something. I bet this is their bass version of the StratAcoustic guitar...not a prototype at all. I'm still trying to google my way through the limited information.

In any case, they wanted way too much for it.

 

[gigslut]

Two things that set this apart from the Stratacoustic, the bullet trussrod end, and the Stratacoustics have a one piece fiberglass back and sides.

 

[funkyjudge]

I recently saw and played a Fender EAB at my local Guitar Center, and it looked EXACTLY like this one ... right down to the electric bass-like headstock and Fender logo with no model name, plus the bullet truss rod.

 

[WoodyJ]

I'd like to see a close-up of the label inside the body. Aside from the plain-looking logo, it appears to be a real Fender product.

 

[gigslut]

I recently saw and played a Fender EAB at my local Guitar Center, and it looked EXACTLY like this one ... right down to the electric bass-like headstock and Fender logo with no model name, plus the bullet truss rod.

Was it new or used?

 

[gigslut]

Fender did make some two piece headstock necks. In Korea no less. Here's a Squier II with one.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Engine207]

I'm still kinda swilling the idea around in my head. I won't buy gear that I can't get my money back out of (or close to it), in the event it doesn't work out. In this case, I've already bought and sold one ABG.

These appear to have sold for $250ish, new...and this shop wants plenty more than that. I may go back and take a second (closer) look at it and see if they have any wiggle room with the price.