Tempo Bass MIJ Info please

[Dacs]

Hey all - new on the forum - have got a question re Tempo 4 string bass MIJ.
Can't find much on the internet, wanting to see if anyone here could shed a little light on it, build dates, quality etc - the bass have nothing on it except the MIJ stamped on neck plate and tempo scrolled on head.
It's fender p bass shaped, single pick up.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[spoon579]

Did you find anything out about this? I have the same model (except the pickguard is a tortoiseshell, although it's a little warped, so I suspect it's aftermarket). I got it in Australia at a church stall for $33. Had to replace the pickup, though. Not a bad bass, though!

 

[Reedt2000]

Tempo was an imported brand name distributed by a NY company and production under that name stopped in 1975:

The Unique Guitar Blog: Tempo, Univox, Giannini, and Westbury Guitars


Here's a place you might be able to get more info:

Tempo Guitars

You could also talk to TBers like @JIO

Who started this thread:

Vintage Japanese Basses - for those who appreciate them

It sure looks cool, and the pickup looks interesting. How does it sound?

 

[JIO]

Tempo was an imported brand name distributed by a NY company and production under that name stopped in 1975:

The Unique Guitar Blog: Tempo, Univox, Giannini, and Westbury Guitars


Here's a place you might be able to get more info:

Tempo Guitars

You could also talk to TBers like @JIO

Who started this thread:

Vintage Japanese Basses - for those who appreciate them

It sure looks cool, and the pickup looks interesting. How does it sound?

I have less info on the '70s-'80s MIJ basses/guitars. (more '60s) In the '70s, the Japanese started doing what became known as "lawsuit" copies. These looked very much like Fenders, Gibsons, and other big brands, as the example here looks like a Fender P-bass. $ worth is debatable (not much) so if it plays well and sounds good - just play it! Maybe they will gain cred someday as "collectable" ... but I doubt it. The thing that makes the '60s Japanese guitars/basses valuable is based on player nostalgia, (many started on these basses) cool quirky designs, and '60s vibe sounding instruments. The "lawsuit" ones that are sought after are the "Hard Punchers" and "Jazz Sounds" made by Tokai, early Fender Squiers and some Fernandez's. That's all I can offer.

This '70s MIJ Penco (sexy name right?) plays and sounds as good or better than a Fender from the same era. Like anything - some are really good, others not so much.

 

[Reedt2000]

I have less info on the '70s-'80s MIJ basses/guitars. (more '60s) In the '70s, the Japanese started doing what became known as "lawsuit" copies. These looked very much like Fenders, Gibsons, and other big brands, as the example here looks like a Fender P-bass. $ worth is debatable (not much) so if it plays well and sounds good - just play it! Maybe they will gain cred someday as "collectable" ... but I doubt it. The thing that makes the '60s Japanese guitars/basses valuable is based on player nostalgia, (many started on these basses) cool quirky designs, and '60s vibe sounding instruments. The "lawsuit" ones that are sought after are the "Hard Punchers" and "Jazz Sounds" made by Tokai, early Fender Squiers and some Fernandez's. That's all I can offer.

This '70s MIJ Penco (sexy name right?) plays and sounds as good or better than a Fender from the same era. Like anything - some are really good, others not so much.

View attachment 4075016

Looking around online it seems the Tempo stuff is mainly on the early side including an archtop guitar available in the late 40s, and a really cool looking tube amp.

I tagged you in this thread mostly because I though you might recognize that pickup in the OPs jazz bass, which seems to be the defining feature (otherwise its a pretty standard looking MIJ Fender clone )

 

[spoon579]

For mine, I had to replace the pickup, as I was getting no sound out of it, and when I pulled it apart the pickup was in a terrible state. A friend of mine had a lipstick pickup that, pretty much, fit so we installed that. It's quiet, but has a pretty unique sound. I have used it in a few recordings, but nothing where it is very prominent. There's this one: Seasons (Macca's Song) - Clyp and, for all that's it's a silly tune, the bass is quite clear from about 1 minute into this one: Share, Embed & Upload Audio with Clyp

 

[spoon579]

...so if it plays well and sounds good - just play it!
View attachment 4075016

It does, and I do!

I've often wondered about its vintage, though. You've all been very helpful. I'm glad I revived this thread!

 

[JIO]

For mine, I had to replace the pickup, as I was getting no sound out of it, and when I pulled it apart the pickup was in a terrible state. A friend of mine had a lipstick pickup that, pretty much, fit so we installed that. It's quiet, but has a pretty unique sound. I have used it in a few recordings, but nothing where it is very prominent. There's this one: Seasons (Macca's Song) - Clyp and, for all that's it's a silly tune, the bass is quite clear from about 1 minute into this one: Share, Embed & Upload Audio with Clyp

First off - welcome to tb! So I was just about to answer Reedt2000 saying I think the pu in the OP's P-copy is a mod. I have a '60s Conrad hollow-body with a modded single-coil similarly framed with pg material as this one has. It sounds really good so I never wanted to find an original to replace it.

So the one you replaced - was it like the one that the P has or ? Lipstick pu's can sound really good. I have a few basses vintage (Dano) and new (mine) that have them and they are among my favorites.

 

[spoon579]

First off - welcome to tb!

Thanks!

So the one you replaced - was it like the one that the P has or ? Lipstick pu's can sound really good. I have a few basses vintage (Dano) and new (mine) that have them and they are among my favorites.

The pickup I had (before I replaced it) looked very similar to the OPs (first pic, vertical - the pickup has a kind of flat top).
The one I replaced it with (second pic) is more rounded, but I honestly couldn't tell you anything about it. Was just kicking around my friend's workshop (he's like that). I've never been a technical kind of guy, this was my first go at pulling anything apart, so I really was just observing!

 

[spoon579]

Interesting, I just found THIS post, and this bass looks IDENTICAL to mine (pickguard, knobs and thumb rest included), except the branding on the headstock.
Where does my "Bird Electric Bass" come from?

 

[JIO]

Looking around online it seems the Tempo stuff is mainly on the early side including an archtop guitar available in the late 40s, and a really cool looking tube amp.

View attachment 4075019

I tagged you in this thread mostly because I though you might recognize that pickup in the OPs jazz bass, which seems to be the defining feature (otherwise its a pretty standard looking MIJ Fender clone )

That is a very cool amp!

 

[JIO]

Thanks!



The pickup I had (before I replaced it) looked very similar to the OPs (first pic, vertical - the pickup has a kind of flat top).
The one I replaced it with (second pic) is more rounded, but I honestly couldn't tell you anything about it. Was just kicking around my friend's workshop (he's like that). I've never been a technical kind of guy, this was my first go at pulling anything apart, so I really was just observing!

Ok, so the 'surround' threw me off. Not sure why one is there if that's the original pu. The lipstick style pu is most likely generic. There's tons out there.

 

[spoon579]

Ok, so the 'surround' threw me off. Not sure why one is there if that's the original pu. The lipstick style pu is most likely generic. There's tons out there.

Huh, I didn't even notice the surround. Funny how when I saw this post an hour ago I thought "thats EXACTLY the same as mine!" and now I'm seeing all these differences!

 

[Judd Hyland]

Hey there, it's Judd, the bloke who put the lipstick pickup in Rob's bass. From memory it was either a Chandler or Kent Armstrong guitar pickup. I had a couple of each floating around at the time. Sounded better than expected for a stop-gap repair.

 

[spoon579]

Hey there, it's Judd, the bloke who put the lipstick pickup in Rob's bass. From memory it was either a Chandler or Kent Armstrong guitar pickup. I had a couple of each floating around at the time. Sounded better than expected for a stop-gap repair.

That's me. I'm Rob.