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Identity of this Bass
- Thread starter RubioClaves
- Start date
I think it may be a Telestar brand. Could be bought at eithe Sears, JC Penny or stores like that. Probably from the late 60's or early 70's. I had someone give me a Telestar guitar years ago and it had the exact headstock on it.
Looks suspiciously like the abomination I purchased from the 1979 Sears Holiday catalog.
Suitable for wall-hanging or fire -starting. Bass playing? Not so much.
Good luck to you!
I remain,
Your Obedient Servant,
The Terror.
I couldn't remember if the made these things after the mid 70's. They probably marketed them under a bunch of different names. They were pretty tremble.
I don't know but it looks like the first bass I ever bought somewhere around 1966-67 used from a friend's older brother except mine was a long scale. Mine didn't sound or play too bad, paid 25 bucks for it and it took me months to pay it off, in fact my friend used to have to come looking for me.
I don't know but it looks like the first bass I ever bought somewhere around 1966-67 used from a friend's older brother except mine was a long scale. Mine didn't sound or play too bad, paid 25 bucks for it and it took me months to pay it off, in fact my friend used to have to come looking for me.
I think I got my first one from JC Penny and it actually played pretty good. It didn't sound the best in the world though. Got me introduced to the bass anyway.
I saw one on eBay a wile back and I think they wanted around $275.00 for it. Looked like it was in mint condition. If they don't want too muck for it may make an interesting project to have some fun with.
That looks a lot like the basses I used to see hanging in the Music department at Sears, usually with a 1/2" action the 12th. Commonly hanging next to some bizarre Japanese fever-dream of a guitar with odd switches and a whammy bar. Provenance or original builder name may be elusive at best. Usually best as wall hangers, but you never know. I had a strange 60's Japanese Hofner clone that played pretty well.
Reminds m of a Tiesco.
The necks tended to be madel out of what looked like popsicle sticks. They were stable units, inexpensive hardware.
The neck is painted on the back I'm guessing? Can you see any evidence of longitudinal lamination due to paint shrinkage?
If it plays well, go for it.
Not a fan of short scale but I understand the love for them.
you mean like this?
Originals worth $3k-$5k these days. They made a line of reissues in numerous colors not long ago for around $2k each.
Another vote for Kent, saw lots of these around in the 60's. There were lots of different names on the headstocks, they all looked and played the same. They were cheap and better than nothing. Got a lot of folks playing. Now, a fun wall hanger in the basement bar!
Jim Carr
Dr. Jim
- Jan 21, 2006
- 16,223
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- Disclosures
- fEARful Kool-Aid dispensing liberal academic card-carrying union member Musicians Local 72-147
Of course it is. If you had read the description, you would have seen that the neck is a swap-in.
Two of you beat me to it.
