Identify This Bass, Please

[selowitch]

I think Johnny Paycheck is the guy singing harmony with George Jones and playing bass in 1965. But what on earth kind of bass guitar is this? It looks like a Fender Bass VI with only four strings, but that can’t be.

 

[bholder]

Definitely not a Fender, 2 tuners on a side. No good shots of the headstock, but the "topknot" with 2 on a side makes me think Teisco or similar.

 

[Thud Staff]

Paging @JIO ...

 

[Camaro69]

Paging @JIO ...

That's like, cheating

I'm sad you beat me to that

 

[Zooberwerx]

Teisco Del Rey EB 200...I think.

Would have been easier if ol' Possum would move out of the way once in a while.

Riis

 

[Beej]

Yup, Teisco Del Rey

 

[lposavad]

 

[JIO]

Paging @JIO ...

Yep - I have two, the two pu EB-200 and the one pu NB-1. Wonderful short scale basses! The NB-1 was converted to fretless (ebony lined)

 

[JIO]

I think Johnny Paycheck is the guy singing harmony with George Jones and playing bass in 1965. But what on earth kind of bass guitar is this? It looks like a Fender Bass VI with only four strings, but that can’t be.

It was referred to then as the "Johnny Paycheck bass". Interesting conjecture on my part - JP was a short guy, and so this short-scale bass was ideal in couple ways. For being a 30" scale bass, it is long - as long as a Jazz bass. (due to a large hs and the bridge location 1/2 way up the body) so it gives the appearance of a full-scale bass. I think that appealed to him as it made more of a visual impression on stage.

Excellent performance!

 

[Fender_Bender]

Yep - I have two, the two pu EB-200 and the one pu NB-1. Wonderful short scale basses! The NB-1 was converted to fretless (ebony lined)

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Plywood bodies?.

 

[JIO]

Plywood bodies?.

No - solid mahogany, and multi-ply mahogany necks w/rosewood fb's.

"banjo frets"

The blue one has a less defined multi-ply mahogany neck (I stripped off the paint)

 

[Tubehed]

Neck dive?

 

[JIO]

Neck dive?

nope - balances really well

 

[selowitch]

It seems like this would be a pleasant instrument to play.

 

[jamro217]

Wow!!! I was familiar with the Teisco line of instruments having had a Spectrum II as my first guitar back in 1972. Had no idea Johnny Paycheck played bass or was with George Jones.

 

[JIO]

It seems like this would be a pleasant instrument to play.

The pu's are the most heralded Teisco bass pu's. With flats it can definitely do the Jamerson thing - that pillowy bass. Being light and well balanced it's fun to play and although the bridge is crude, it can be intoned correctly. I bought mine after I heard one live at a local bar - always liked the way they looked so was sold after hearing it.

 

[Michael4bass]

Another Johnny song.



Bassically, Michael

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Notice how NO ONE is wearing shorts onstage.

 

[Zooberwerx]

Another Johnny song.



Bassically, Michael

Wonder if that's where Sting picked up his right hand technique?

Riis

 

[Relsom]

Yep - I have two, the two pu EB-200 and the one pu NB-1. Wonderful short scale basses! The NB-1 was converted to fretless (ebony lined)

View attachment 4062959

Sharp.... you may be unwittingly turning my opinion of these things around.