Thunderbird Club

[bobyoung53]

Is this your bass or a stock photo? It looks like a '54 P, when they softened the edges to align with their introduction of the 'contoured body' Stratocaster that year. It was also the first year a white pg was available, along with the bake-lite black one. Also has the large barrel phenolic saddles.

Fenders late '60s Telecaster bass was essentially a RI of the slab-bodied '51-'53 P minus the large saddles & bake-lite pg as on the '51 P.

What year was yours made? Is it a new model intro'd by Fender recently? I don't see holes for a pu & bridge cover.

They're 1954 reissues, vintage II, I should know better than to fudge details with guitar builders in the forum . It's a stock photo, mine's on back order. I went back and forth on the color but ended up with the blonde, the two color sunbursts are really nice too. The bridge is probably going to go in the case and I'll put one of these on as they're supposed to fit perfectly, 'American Deluxe' 2004-2010 bridge, 3 screw for string through body Fenders. I had a humbucker Tele bass years ago, these are more comfortable.


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[5StringBlues]

I just realized, are those vintage paisleys or reissues? If they're a reissues I never knew they made them.

The reissues were 90s MIJ IIRC.

 

[bobyoung53]

The reissues were 90s MIJ IIRC.

Thanks, Fender Japan seems to make a lot of nice stuff.

 

[JJR58]

The reissues were 90s MIJ IIRC.

@GBassNorth's are prime examples.
I mean that in a good way.

 

[5StringBlues]

Thanks, Fender Japan seems to make a lot of nice stuff.

The one i tried was very nice.

I almost bought the blue flower around 1998 but this was before I joined TB and had the sense to say to myself, "you don't need another bass".

 

[GBassNorth]

I just realized, are those vintage paisleys or reissues? If they're a reissues I never knew they made them.

I wish they were vintage paisleys, they’d be worth about $25,000 each if they were. Just reissues from the early 1990’s so only worth a fraction of that price, but appreciating quickly. The pink one is a phenomenal player.

 

[JJR58]

The one i tried was very nice.

I almost bought the blue flower around 1998 but this was before I joined TB and had the sense to say to myself, "you don't need another bass".

I had a chance at one in Denver.
Right when they first were introduced.
Both paint schemes.

They were 599 new then.
Stupid light weight and played like a dream.

 

[5StringBlues]

They were 599 new then.
Stupid light weight and played like a dream.

This is exactly my experience.

 

[JIO]

They're 1954 reissues, vintage II, I should know better than to fudge details with guitar builders in the forum . It's a stock photo, mine's on back order. I went back and forth on the color but ended up with the blonde, two two color sunbursts are really nice too. The bridge is probably going to go in the case and I'll put one of these on as they're supposed to fit perfectly, 'American Deluxe' 2004-2010 bridge, 3 screw for string through body Fenders. I had a humbucker Tele bass years ago, these are more comfortable.


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Cool - kudos to Fender for producing an accurate RI.

 

[GBassNorth]

I'm a bent bridge believer.
But i'm just plain bent.

The Fender Bent Bridge is a perfectly functional bridge. I’ve had just about every type of bass bridge Fender offered and the Bent one works good enough. I’ve never even contemplated replacing one with something else. They’re certainly not my favorite bridge and wouldn’t be my first choice on a non vintage correct build, but they work, no need to flip them.

 

[bobyoung53]

The one i tried was very nice.

I almost bought the blue flower around 1998 but this was before I joined TB and had the sense to say to myself, "you don't need another bass".

That sense goes out the window when you join this place. I needed the 1954 like a hole in the head but I've always hoped they'd reissue them and I couldn't resist when they finally did. I'm not going to play it like it's set up though, I'll take the flats right off (I like them though) and put Rotos and that new bridge on it and play it with a pick. I want that Beck-Ola sound. It's going to take a while to get used to the neck though, 1.70 at the nut and kind of deep I believe.

 

[5StringBlues]

That sense goes out the window when you join this place. I needed the 1954 like a hole in the head but I've always hoped they'd reissue them and I couldn't resist when they finally did. I'm not going to play it like it's set up though, I'll take the flats right off (I like them though) and put Rotos and that new bridge on it and play it with a pick. I want that Beck-Ola sound. It's going to take a while to get used to the neck though, 1.70 at the nut and kind of deep I believe.

I got the Squier 51 P when it came out but at some point would like a higher grade SCPB.



1.625 on the Squier IIRC.

 

[bobyoung53]

I got the Squier 51 P when it came out but at some point would like a higher grade SCPB.



1.625 on the Squier IIRC.

These are priced at right about what the NR's are going for now.

 

[JIO]

These are priced at right about what the NR's are going for now.

I think it's marketed at this price-point because both Fender & Gibson went a bit further to sell a more authentic RI of their classic basses.

 

[GBassNorth]

The reissues were 90s MIJ IIRC.

Crafted In Japan (CIJ) is an important distinction when buying one of these.

Thanks, Fender Japan seems to make a lot of nice stuff.

There are a number of CIJ and MIJ Fenders that IMHO were better than their USA counterparts.

@GBassNorth's are prime examples.
I mean that in a good way.

Thanks, they are in mint condition and play so sweet. The Pink one was my October (Breast Cancer Awareness Month) gigging bass. Other than those few shows it never left the house.

I had a chance at one in Denver.
Right when they first were introduced.
Both paint schemes.
They were 599 new then.
Stupid light weight and played like a dream.

Hindsight, gotta love it. I call shotgun seat on the first time machine invention. I’d set the way back machine for key Fender and Gibson bass launch dates!

 

[dagrev]

Personally, I think this is a great idea, release the inner woman!


I'll find you a bow!

Oh this is going to be goooood.



Or really bad. We just might need that eye bleach handy.

 

[JJR58]

Crafted In Japan (CIJ) is an important distinction when buying one of these.


There are a number of CIJ and MIJ Fenders that IMHO were better than their USA counterparts.


Thanks, they are in mint condition and play so sweet. The Pink one was my October (Breast Cancer Awareness Month) gigging bass. Other than those few shows it never left the house.


Hindsight, gotta love it. I call shotgun seat on the first time machine invention. I’d set the way back machine for key Fender and Gibson bass launch dates!

I feel like it's, who's got the ring?
My Karma Accelerator needs improvements.

 

[WillyW]

CIJ = Tokai

MIJ = Fujigen

 

[JJR58]

Oh this is going to be goooood.



Or really bad. We just might need that eye bleach handy.

Really good.
I know this cause i know our Queen.

 

[dagrev]

I already posted this but I joined that club a few weeks ago, it's a Precision but Teles were pretty much the same thing, being P reissues. It's going to my brother's house in Mass.

I think you'll like it!