Fullerton '57 P-bass Reissue

[thee Donkey]

Hello! I've recently acquired my Dad's old Fullerton (I believe) ser.# V004231. I've been mostly a guitarist my whole life, but I've always been very, very into playing and listening to the bass. Almost switching over completely a few times. Well...i might be doing that now. My Dad's gigged this bass for quite a few years around Seattle...as you can tell(he 'retired' from the scene). It was in pretty decent shape when he got it and he obviously loved playing it as it looks the part of a '57 now. All natural wear. I have an all original '63 Jazzmaster that I've owned for years that I can roughly compare this too. It feels like the real deal. It sounds amazing through my '71 Traynor Bass Mate head (that i bought for guitar..) and an SWR 4x10.

Enough of my rambling..here's some crappy pics!:

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I can take some better pics if anyone would like..enjoy!

 

[bassist 4 life]

hey mate you might want to change the title from Fullerton to Fender. If its an actual 57,if its an actual 57, youve found a gem.

 

[lonote]

hey mate you might want to change the title from Fullerton to Fender. If its an actual 57,if its an actual 57, youve found a gem.

It is a Fender '57 reissue, the Fullertons are very desirable.

 

[SweBass]

Very nice.

 

[thee Donkey]

hey mate you might want to change the title from Fullerton to Fender. If its an actual 57,if its an actual 57, youve found a gem.

i have 'reissue' in the title...there'd be many more "!!!" if it was real

sorry.

 

[JKT]

I have one of these too and the serial number is pretty close if memory serves. It looks about the same too

JKT

 

[Mazinger]

I love seeing basses that look like they've been "enjoyed" throughout the years.

That's definitely not one that was kept in a case under the bed for several years without any playtime.

 

[lonote]

The good ones get played and the dogs get collected.

 

[GregC]

Nice! I have an '83 '57 RI I bought last year from a TBer. Mine's very clean, which is definitely appealing to me. But your mojo'd one is very cool to look at, too.

 

[thee Donkey]

it sounds & feels far too good to not be played. it will be played until it turns to dust.



thanks for the comments, guys...

 

[bassist 4 life]

i have 'reissue' in the title...there'd be many more "!!!" if it was real

sorry.

my bad, im sleepyyy

im off to bed.

 

[GregC]

For comparison's sake, here's my '83, which I'm told spent much of its life in a studio.

 

[thee Donkey]

very clean. how do you like yours?


mine likes the bars.

 

[mikeswals]

Absolutely beautiful fullerton Donkey.
What band you in? I'd like to see it in action sometime...

 

[thee Donkey]

Absolutely beautiful fullerton Donkey.
What band you in? I'd like to see it in action sometime...

well...i've played guitar in a few little bands over the years. mostly psych-rock type stuff. my old bassist is now playing drums and it looks like I might be switching to bass fulltime....but now we'll suddenly need a guitar player. shouldn't be too hard to find. i'll keep you posted when we play out...

i need to get my right hand in shape first. i'm strictly a 'fingers' guy...

 

[GregC]

very clean. how do you like yours?


mine likes the bars.

Oh, I'm loving it. Maybe the best-sounding P I've played, to my ears, and it's under 8 pounds.

Mine hasn't seen any bars yet, but I'm sure it will.

 

[thee Donkey]

i'm a fulltime engineer and i've heard & played quite a few great basses. this one is right up there. my dad is a nazi when it comes to the feel of a bass. this was his #1 for years...and there's no doubt as to why when you pick it up. i need to weigh this, but it is very light. feels perfectly balanced.

let me throw a plug to those old little Traynor's too. this P sounds like 'THEE' tone through my Bass Mate. amazing tone.

 

[JimB52]

The early '57 AVS Precisions are generally very light, resonant 3 piece bodies. The earliest have plastic wiring and body serial #s in the neck pocket. Looks like a beauty.

 

[thee Donkey]

The early '57 AVS Precisions are generally very light, resonant 3 piece bodies. The earliest have plastic wiring and body serial #s in the neck pocket. Looks like a beauty.

i've personally never taken the neck or PG off yet...so i don't know the actual year. it's been routinely serviced at Bass Northwest for years, but i'm not sure he ever had them check the dates. he just played the hell out of it.

when i bring it in...i'm going to have it checked out of curiousity.

 

[JimB52]

Based on the serial #, I'll take a guess and say your bass was made in late September - October 1982.
I'm curious about the dates and particulars of the early Fullertons. Please share whatever info you discover.