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The Few, the Proud, the Cowpokes. (official Fender Cowpoke club)

#528
I have a '95 (I think) that I got new in '96, and it has been my primary bass on stage and on recordings ever since, until just recently when I acquired a Carvin SB5000. I've only made two modifications to it over the years - I added a hipshot detuner and a new bridge when the stock one got kind of corroded.

Here are the two of them together (the Carvin color scheme is a tribute to my tried-and-true Cowpoke):

2012-06-19_19-01-29_343.jpg


And here is one of my favorite action shots (great view of the bass, but you don't really have to look at me):

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I have started using the Carvin more, and it has been my primary for the last few months, but I will NEVER get rid of my Cowpoke. Cold, dead fingers, etc.

What's my number?
 
#530
chunkstyle_mm said:
I have a '95 (I think) that I got new in '96, and it has been my primary bass on stage and on recordings ever since, ...

What's my number?
Click to expand...

Please, correct me if I'm wrong but ..... your hipshot D-tuner's lever seems to be on a side of the neck that seems rather odd. Mine have always been pointing up ... to the ceiling ... like, up and sh**.

Besides all that; that's a fine, FINE looking Cowpoke you got there. I went for the Ivory one as well. I've posted it's pic a few times in this thread. I chose to mod it with all black hardware to really give mine a 'finished' look about it. It's had a ton of electrical mods too but I gotta tell you, even before the mods, recording engineers LOVED the sound of my axe with the stock pups ... I just made it more better with some Nordstrands and the Audere preamp. It's a keeper indeed. The Carvin looks pretty sweet, I suppose, but MAN, that bass to the left of it .... SCHAWINGGGG! ;)

OH what the hell, here it is yet again ...
46813_IMG00041_122_581lo_zpscb14875f.jpg


Yes, I had to drill a wee hole. Sue me.

EDIT: Now that I look at it, I really need to get a black anodized, D and G string, holder-down, thingamee-bob on the head stock.
 
#532
wabbit said:
Please, correct me if I'm wrong but ..... your hipshot D-tuner's lever seems to be on a side of the neck that seems rather odd. Mine have always been pointing up ... to the ceiling ... like, up and sh**.
Click to expand...

The hipshot is engaged in that picture, so it's in drop-D. I found that unless I swing the lever all the way down, I end up hitting it and knocking myself sharp.

I REALLY like the look of your antique white with the black hardware. When I bought that new bridge, I thought about getting a black one, but then I would have felt compelled to replace the tuners also.
 
#533
chunkstyle_mm said:
The hipshot is engaged in that picture, so it's in drop-D. I found that unless I swing the lever all the way down, I end up hitting it and knocking myself sharp.

I REALLY like the look of your antique white with the black hardware. When I bought that new bridge, I thought about getting a black one, but then I would have felt compelled to replace the tuners also.
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Okay. That makes sense about the Hipshot. I don't seem to have that problem myself but I guess everyone's different.

I kinda took the plunge with the hardware all at once as my income tax had come in and I had a bunch of money just lying around collecting dust. :smug:
 
#537
So I've owned my "Cowpoke" since 1994 or 1995. I bought it new for about $400, as I remember, from a local music store in Gainesville, Fl. After a few months with the cowpoke I had fallen deeply in love with it. I seemed to be able to get any tone for any style of music that I wanted. It has been my primary bass since then and I've had absolutely no problems with it. The only mod I have made was to replace a tuning machine grommet that just disappeared into thin air while changing strings and then about a year ago I put a meatier Gotoh bridge on it. This made a huge difference, adding way better sustain than with the cheaseball Fender stock bridge. I have seen others (used) in music stores from time to time and even thought about picking up a second one to have one with flat wound strings, but they never seem to sound as good as mine even before I replaced the bridge. Mine has a MN serial number indicating it was made in Mexico, but nowhere on the bass does it say "Made in Mexico". Every other one I have seen does. I have searched this forum to find one that doesn't but still haven't seen one. Does anybody know if there might be any difference. To my knowledge any imported item by law has to have this stamp or sticker. Were there any of these made in America? or is it possible that the dealer bought it straight from Mexico?Link RemovedLink RemovedLink RemovedLink Removed
 
#539
mjac28 said:
Nice bass and nice upgrade I think you raise a great question because there is a US deluxe bass they call the boner that has the same body shape as the cowpoke?
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As I recall the bass you refer to had all the trappings of a Cowpoke, except the pickguard (it had no pickguard). Made in the early/mid 90's.

I have a Precision Plus (MIA)...the boner...that has the body, and a jazz neck, but is different (from the one I described above) in that it has a "regular" Precision pickguard, with conventional electronics attached. The bass you are referring to was made after mine, before Fender moved production to Mexico, and put on the unique pickguard the Cowpoke is known for. And yes, I agree, it did exist (although only for a short time).
 
#540
Interesting? They are some very mysterious basses yours could have very well been made in the US? I think Fender was all over the place during that time period. I have mine hanging on a wall but I could never part with it.
 

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