Tommy's P bass up for auction
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Tommy Cogbill's 66 P bass
- Thread starter REV
- Start date
A whole lot of very expensive history.
Thing is I am fortunate enough to own a early 1959 Fender Precision. If the bass in question is a legitimate 1966 Fender Precision then it’s been heavily
modified to look like one from 1959 including a refinished body, a gold anodized pickguard,and a D’Marzio high mass bridge So, not only is it extremely overpriced IMHO but it doesn’t look anything like a 66 P Bass. Tommy Cogbill was a wonderfully inventive bassist and truly a pioneer and I believe played on some of Wilson Pickets early recordings made in Muscle Shoals. Let’s celebrate the man and his contributions to the art of music. That instrument was just one of his tools for moseying down some of the most delicious bass tracks of rock and soul. Just my take of course. Here’s what a real 1959 P Bass looks like. You’ll notice a similar bridge on both basses. The difference being a rosewood finger board on Tommy’s “customized’ 66.
modified to look like one from 1959 including a refinished body, a gold anodized pickguard,and a D’Marzio high mass bridge So, not only is it extremely overpriced IMHO but it doesn’t look anything like a 66 P Bass. Tommy Cogbill was a wonderfully inventive bassist and truly a pioneer and I believe played on some of Wilson Pickets early recordings made in Muscle Shoals. Let’s celebrate the man and his contributions to the art of music. That instrument was just one of his tools for moseying down some of the most delicious bass tracks of rock and soul. Just my take of course. Here’s what a real 1959 P Bass looks like. You’ll notice a similar bridge on both basses. The difference being a rosewood finger board on Tommy’s “customized’ 66.
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All I can say is that whoever wins the auction better not try to relic it with a belt sander or reduce the weight by lopping off the horns. Wanna do that? Get a cheap used one and go to town on it.
You forgot to mention using a hammer and chisel to add a bridge humbucker!
Bass in the period photos with Elvis sure looks like a mid '59. Slab board, etc. And then there's this:
The studio bass from American which I believe was Chips Moman's (or co owned with Tommy).
There are photos of Tommy playing a mid 60's P with tort guard. I imagine more than one bass at play here - and a possibly changed pickguard (and bridge and pickup). Surely someone like Tommy owned more than one bass?
I've heard he used another studio P bass on the Aretha recordings - but can't know for certain.
The studio bass from American which I believe was Chips Moman's (or co owned with Tommy).
There are photos of Tommy playing a mid 60's P with tort guard. I imagine more than one bass at play here - and a possibly changed pickguard (and bridge and pickup). Surely someone like Tommy owned more than one bass?
I've heard he used another studio P bass on the Aretha recordings - but can't know for certain.
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The pickguard looks over-sprayed and the pickup looks like a Quarter Pounder.
Interesting to see the period photos of ostensibly the same bass. Maybe it is a Frankenstein bass with some '66 parts and some late '50s parts, plus 'upgraded' (debatable) bridge and pickup?
Interesting to see the period photos of ostensibly the same bass. Maybe it is a Frankenstein bass with some '66 parts and some late '50s parts, plus 'upgraded' (debatable) bridge and pickup?
No tug bar holes - it's an aftermarket guard.
From 10 years ago:
Tommy Cogbill's old bass, only 95K
The Historic American Sound Studio 1959 Fender Precision Bass
Tommy Cogbill's old bass, only 95K
The Historic American Sound Studio 1959 Fender Precision Bass
The Historic American Sound　Studio's　1959 Fender Precision Bass Guitar Serial #38726
Yes, this is this bass guitar you see in Elvis's lap!! Whether relaunching the musical career of Elvis Presley or the launching of numerous others, American Sound Studio in Memphis TN　produced 122　charted recordings between 1967 and 1972("an unmatched achievement") and this bass was witness to it all. History oozes out of this axe. This Fender P. was the house bass at American Sound Studios　and　played on the majority of these hits. (There was a Hofner there and occasionally others　but　they were　seldom used)　This bass was used mainly by legendary Bassist and producer Tommy Cogbill and the equally legendary Bassist, arranger, and producer Mike Leech, who owns and is selling this instrument. These two guys have influenced a plethora of bass playing luminaries over the generations. This was the bass Tommy and Mike played that made them legendary. This bass, as authenticated in supporting documents, played on Elvis's incredibly significant comeback recordings in Memphis TN in 1969 including but not limited to Suspicious Minds, In the Ghetto, Kentucky Woman, Daddy Don't Cry, Trouble, Power of Your Love, Stranger in my Own Home Town, and all songs from these sessions. This is just the tip of the iceberg. This bass has to be nominated as the Holy Grail of Rock and Soul Bass Guitars when you consider the long list of hits it has played on. Memphis Soul Stew by King Curtis (with the crazy legendary bass solo intro), Memphis Underground by Herbie Mann, Sweet Caroline, Brother Love's Salvation Show (Neil Diamond),Aretha Franklin's Respect, Chain of Fools, A Natural Woman, Baby I Love You, Do Right Woman-　Son Of A Preacher Man, Dusty(Springfield) in Memphis, B.J. Thomas-Hooked on a Feeling, I Just Can't Help Believing, Somebody Done Some Body Wrong Song, Eyes of a New York Woman, -Drift Away and Lovin Arms　by Dobie Gray,- Funky Broadway, Land of a Thousand Dances, Midnite Mover, I'm in Love and many others by Wilson Pickett, James Carr, Joe Tex, James and Bobby Purify, Arthur Conley, and other　soul masterpieces.　Grammy Award winning, Always on my Mind by Willie Nelson. The first two albums by John Prine, Guy Clarke, and the first two recordings by the　The Highwaymen. (Producer Chips Moman told Mike Leech before The Highwaymen Sessions to make sure and bring "the magic bass." He knew what he meant), Billy Swan's I Can Help, Sleepin Single in a Double Bed, Barbara Mandrell, Cry Like a Baby-The Boxtops, Rings by Cimmaron and just more hit records than I could possibly name here.
The bridge on Cogbill's bass is not original, and neither is yours. It's interesting that both basses had a similar upgrade. The original bridges were stamped steel with threaded saddles.
Also the original bridges on '57-'59 are specific to those years and changed in '60.
Looks like it got the 70s aftermarket parts treatment, pickup included. It’ll probably never be played again so whatever.
I remember an interview with him where he said he used to dip his fingers into a jar of Vaseline in the studio to help with his technique.
I femember Schecter used to produce gold anodized pickguards. They also sold P Bass bodies cut from Zebra Wood and Purpleheart alongside necks that were solid rosewood. Beautiful to lock at but kind of heavy.
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This bass definitely falls into the 'period mods' camp, which is quite cool. A lot of working instruments went through this treatment.
Slightly galling when players took 1962 Stratocasters, refinished them a brighter colour, added a locking trem and hotter pickups, only for Pensa Suhr to come along and build the guitars these players were trying to mod their way towards in the '70s and '80s.
Related but in the other direction, I worked in a repair shop in the early 90's and saw too many vintage Fenders to count that had the hippie refin treatment of being stripped to bare wood (and often clearcoated in whatever or given walnut stain, etc) and more than a few with rare custom colors under the guards/in the cavities. One of the worst was a very clean '56 Strat ('just' two tone burst) that someone did a Kahler locking trem (and nut...) install on WITH HAND TOOLS (like hammer and chisel - very poorly). Seriously, probably saw more that had been stripped and/or modded than stock. Also bad were the first version Badass bridges as the often got countersunk into the body on Fenders.
The bass being auctioned looks like a ‘66 with mods. It has a transition logo.
But I’m almost certain it’s not the same bass as the one Elvis is holding. Look close at the Memphis boys photo and you can see that the tug bar was moved above the pickguard as a thumb rest. The holes are visible in the pg on the treble side, that’s an original gold pg not the aftermarket on the auction bass. If the thumb rest was later removed, there would be visible holes in the body of the auction bass. Also, the 12th fret dots have pre-cbs spacing.
My best guess is the bass in the Elvis photos is a late ‘59.
But I’m almost certain it’s not the same bass as the one Elvis is holding. Look close at the Memphis boys photo and you can see that the tug bar was moved above the pickguard as a thumb rest. The holes are visible in the pg on the treble side, that’s an original gold pg not the aftermarket on the auction bass. If the thumb rest was later removed, there would be visible holes in the body of the auction bass. Also, the 12th fret dots have pre-cbs spacing.
My best guess is the bass in the Elvis photos is a late ‘59.
Lookee there, the ‘59 that @Dynacord posted has thumb rest holes above the pg on bass side. That’s the bass Elvis is holding.
