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SHOW YOUR DISTRESSED FINISHES!
- Thread starter JIO
- Start date
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,623
- 222,165
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
(looks real from my house!)
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,623
- 222,165
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,623
- 222,165
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
In the book "Fender - The Golden Age 1946-1970 on page 66-67 there's pics of a '57-'58 P in a custom jade green with a matching tug-bar. Other than the trade-show specials, from the beginning if you special ordered your bass (w/additional cost) you could choose from a list of colour options.
That red Tele is stunning.
What's a SMF?
Doesn't look like there is any checking so I'd be willing to wager the finish is relatively new...
What's a SMF?
Doesn't look like there is any checking so I'd be willing to wager the finish is relatively new...
That would’ve been my guess as well but according to JIO’s post, it’s a 55 custom color.
It’s always tough to tell from photos but the action looks pretty high for a moder CS Fender. Again, it could be the angle, or maybe someone set it up like that.
The height of that G string did cross my mind, though I have received some Fender CS basses that had high action, IMO.
That action in 1955 was most likely not considered high since players would have been crossing over from a double bass.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,623
- 222,165
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,623
- 222,165
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
I imagine not super extensive - as the ones that have surfaced over the years are of mostly traditional Fender used colours. In the trade show pic (page 57 in "How the Fender Bass Changed The World" by Jim Roberts) one is shell pink, one is a teal and the one lying flat on the table looks to be some sort of Antigua - all from 1954.
CS or original, I know not...just came up in a Fender group with no description. I just saw it and a BOIIING noise happened. If it's CS, they need a nun ruler slap for what appears to be excessively high action though. I could love it into an acceptable height though with some coffee and a couple of screw drivers
Last edited:
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,623
- 222,165
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
CS or original, I know not...just came up in a Fender group with no description. I just saw it and a BOIIING noise happened. If it's CS, they need a nun ruler slap for what appears to be excessively high action though. I could love it into an acceptable height though with some coffee and a couple of screw drivers
That's what makes me think it is original from the 50's (for that price!) and agree with sneha1965 that players then wanted high action being double-bass players and even if say, the neck was bowed - they would just leave it that way on such a valuable instrument.
After reading the story from the eBay add I wonder if the fact that the bass was presumably stored in a gig bag ha something to do with why the condition is somewhat perplexing. Most old Fenders either got the finished played off of them, were stored in hard cases or refinished. The fact that there’s such light checking, no apparent shrinkage or discoloration of the pg and very light oxidation of the metal parts sort of puts it into it’s own catagory....just a theory anyway.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,623
- 222,165
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
I just keep coming back to $44k - that level of asking price better be some really special rare example of a 100% original vintage Fender bass from the 50's that would normally go for 1/2 that price (in brown-burst or trans-white) and still be considered pricy. It's not unheard of to have Strat's, Les Pauls, Tele's etc going for that kind of scratch but for a bass to be at that level - it better be 100% original.
I couldn’t agree more. It’s also interesting that there wasn’t much discussion(that I saw anyway) about the playability or tone. It definitely is another indication, along with the price that there targeting the pure collector market. I respect people wanting to own a guitar because of its rarity and beauty but I feel better knowing they will continue to be played. Playing an instrument and enjoying the sound and feel seems like a higher level of appreciation than displaying it and enjoying the look and vibe.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,623
- 222,165
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
In purely a players mindset - I agree for sure. I feel that way about my '66 P. It's "collecters value" isn't even on my radar screen but it's as valuable as any number/price that would ever be put on it to me because it is a magical instrument. I was just lucky to be on the X when all the stars aligned for me to own it. Investment stock is what that bass is - it's been taken out of the player pool.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,623
- 222,165
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
