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original 1951 precision info needed
- Thread starter Bflat
- Start date
What year is it then? 
Will do. Neurosurgeon who owned about 25 Pre-CBS custom color j's and p's. He bought the '51 from Chicago Vintage or Norms about 8 yrs ago for about 20-25K. Sold it before the economy went to hell and he made a few bucks. Everything he owned was of tippy tops in condition. Gruhns about **** when we kept bring them in for appraisal...lol.
I wish! I play my Classic '51 RI fairly frequently and have found that it kills for living-room jams. Leo designed the instrument for his era, when amplification was much less powerful than today. I've played mine in a great acoustic room through a '70 or so B15N and you could get in that bass tone and drive it around the block.
They run into the noise domain when you crank them up, but at lower volumes they are deep and rich, and their quick attack and fast decay thumps like nothing else. I didn't mention that I LOVE the vintage frets and chunky neck.
Leo was a genius.
They run into the noise domain when you crank them up, but at lower volumes they are deep and rich, and their quick attack and fast decay thumps like nothing else. I didn't mention that I LOVE the vintage frets and chunky neck.
Leo was a genius.
Bflat, that is a seriously awesome collection! I also really like your Guilds, especially that JetStar. Never played of those before.
Thread Resurrection
The Heel Date
TG-11-20-51
Pocket Date
EM-11-6-51
Bridge Plate SN 0213
Fretboard
Full Front and Full Back
From my limited research abilities it looks like a 1951 and after reviewing the receipt that I still possess the Date on the receipt is December -5 1951 the 5 was written over the 4 in 194 and transferred on the carbon so difficult to read then a 1All Hardware is original to this instrument for sure it lived in the closet in our living room for the majority of it's life, wish the original case still survived.
Let me know if you want to see more of it.
The Heel Date
TG-11-20-51
Pocket Date
EM-11-6-51
Bridge Plate SN 0213
Fretboard
Full Front and Full Back
From my limited research abilities it looks like a 1951 and after reviewing the receipt that I still possess the Date on the receipt is December -5 1951 the 5 was written over the 4 in 194 and transferred on the carbon so difficult to read then a 1All Hardware is original to this instrument for sure it lived in the closet in our living room for the majority of it's life, wish the original case still survived.
Let me know if you want to see more of it.
BurningSkies
CRAZY BALDHEAD
- Feb 20, 2005
- 27,956
- 20,350
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
Thread Resurrection
The Heel Date
TG-11-20-51
Pocket Date
EM-11-6-51
Bridge Plate SN 0213
Fretboard
Full Front and Full Back
From my limited research abilities it looks like a 1951 and after reviewing the receipt that I still possess the Date on the receipt is December -5 1951 the 5 was written over the 4 in 194 and transferred on the carbon so difficult to read then a 1All Hardware is original to this instrument for sure it lived in the closet in our living room for the majority of it's life, wish the original case still survived.
Let me know if you want to see more of it.
Of course people want to see more. As many high quality detail pictures as you're willing to put up. That's how it works around here. Add to the knowledge bass with all the finer details of your instrument.
Back story, my dad was a working musician at the time played bass and sang. I have 78 RPM records with my dad's voice on them. He passed away in 1991, I was away in the military and returned home in 98, The Bass was still in the house in the closet, I brought home my gear and guitars, basses, amps etc.
These were all in a single room in Mom's house for a while then in 2011 there was a fire, all the instruments were in cases. but the amps did not fare so well.
The US standard Fender Cases (SKB) were melted like shrinky dinks, the Tweeds are hopelessly smoked, Anyway after rescuing these from the rubble I have them now at my home.
Here are a few more pics of Dad's 51
These were all in a single room in Mom's house for a while then in 2011 there was a fire, all the instruments were in cases. but the amps did not fare so well.
The US standard Fender Cases (SKB) were melted like shrinky dinks, the Tweeds are hopelessly smoked, Anyway after rescuing these from the rubble I have them now at my home.
Here are a few more pics of Dad's 51
BurningSkies
CRAZY BALDHEAD
- Feb 20, 2005
- 27,956
- 20,350
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
Its in great shape. I'm glad it made it out of the fire alive...that would be a huge loss, given how few 51's exist. If you haven't shared this with the vintage Fender community, there are a number of people and places that track early Fender instruments and document the variations as well as the detailed specs (like neck thickness at the nut, neck shape, pickup output, markings in the neck pocket, neck heel and control/pickup cavities, nail holes for painting, etc.). If you haven't talked with Nacho Banos, you should.
That neck makes me think that this instrument didn't see that much use.
That neck makes me think that this instrument didn't see that much use.
I would love to know more about it. I never saw dad play it and I never played it out any. I bought my own. When I was growing up it sat in the closet and I got yled at if I picked it up. I don't know if there are any pictures of dad playing it anywhere. How do I contact Nacho Banos?
BurningSkies
CRAZY BALDHEAD
- Feb 20, 2005
- 27,956
- 20,350
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
He's mostly a Telecaster guy, but can tell you more about the basses than most experts.
[email protected]
http://www.theblackguardbook.com/
I used to be friendly with him about 15 years ago, and he's super friendly guy.
You may know already that the TG on your Bass' neck stands for Tadeo Gomez, widely considered to be the a VERY sought after maker of vintage necks for Fender.
Link Removed
http://beaucoup-bucks.blogspot.com/2010/05/tadeo-gomez.html
You may also be able to pin down who did the wiring and/or who wound the pickup by the markings there too (usually on masking tape, etc., in those locations).
Any WAG on the value of it?
I discovered when dealing with insurance after the fire that it would likely not be covered since it was not valued and itemized.
Luckily I only lost one instrument in the fire... A jackson Dinky pro. Never really liked that one anyway!
BurningSkies
CRAZY BALDHEAD
- Feb 20, 2005
- 27,956
- 20,350
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
LOL. In that condition with original invoice. Lots. Time for a visit to a real serious expert to give it a once over.
