Tutmarc audiovox model 736: where are they?

[moonshinegtrs]

I'll do my best to build one

You didn't happen to take any basic measurements of anything, did you ?

And thanks a TON for the pics !

My basic notes were all. No problem on the pic's (I do have more, though the ones presented pretty well cover everything).

I would love to see you build one!

Send your pics to Brian Fox at bass player mag. You will be a hit and published for sure. Tell Brian I sent ya.

I'll do that this weekend Tom... Thanks!

Moonshine

 

[Dark Horse]

My basic notes were all. No problem on the pic's (I do have more, though the ones presented pretty well cover everything).

I would love to see you build one!

Moonshine

Well, believe me...that's more than enough, and GREATLY appreciated !

I probably wouldn't try to replicate the pickup though. More likely I'd just put a pickup under the guard as a "stealth" pickup. It would be functional and would retain the looks of the Audiovox.

Man, thanks a ton .... you rule.

 

[Korladis]

Dark Horse, if you do build one, are you going to make a build thread? I'd love to see that.

 

[nukes_da_bass]

There were probably a million BetaMax tape machines made, too... but once those proved to be a vastly inferior offering, I'm sure MOST of them just went into the trash.

The Tutmarc bass is only appealing to geeks like us.

LOL!
Betamax was superior in quality. It was the high pricetag and giant size of both the units and cassettes which sunk the betamax.
Not to mention the higher price point.

 

[Rip Topaz]

Wow that's cool. Thanks for the pix!!

 

[Dark Horse]

Originally Posted by M.R. Ogle
There were probably a million BetaMax tape machines made, too... but once those proved to be a vastly inferior offering, I'm sure MOST of them just went into the trash.

The Tutmarc bass is only appealing to geeks like us.

LOL!
Betamax was superior in quality. It was the high pricetag and giant size of both the units and cassettes which sunk the betamax.
Not to mention the higher price point.

I had thought about responding similarly until I saw that he didn't say that the Betamax was inferior in "quality"...he said it was a inferior "offering", which it was. Betamax definitely had better record quality, and that's why it was used by pros...much like Tascams DA-88 was over ADAT. However, as an "overall" product it was inferior. Betamax was large, expensive, and had a maximum record time of 60 minutes, which meant that you couldn't record/play a movie on a single cassette, unlike the VHS....so it didn't make sense for the average consumer. Yes, the Beta's transport was better in quality, but as an overall "package", the VHS was a better choice for consumers.

So in reality, BOTH of your comments are correct. M.R. Ogle is correct that VHS was a better "overall" product, but you are correct in that Beta was "higher quality".

 

[M.R. Ogle]

Yes, I knew as soon as I posted it that someone would chime in with the "but it was better quality" defense of the BetaMax technology. I know.

Just like CD's vs. vinyl... one is considered in many circles to be superior but the convenience of the "inferior" quality product buried the "better" offering.

 

[mongo2]

Thanks for the pix Moonshine!!!...

 

[NWB]

The museum question is called EMP (Experience Music Project). It's located in the Seattle Center near the Space Needle. It's a grotesque looking building that, the last time I was inside, was almost entirely devoted to Jimi Hendrix. Cool place, but not as cool as the City would have you believe.

Yep. It's quite an eyesore isn't it?

There are some cool basses in there though. I think Noel Redding's '62 jazz and some really old Gibsons. Plus the Tutmark. I remember reading somewhere about the development and use of the Tutmark bass. I can't remember where now though. Damn old age.

 

[sanfordandsonny]

This is amazing!
Bass and format nerding in one post.
Those pics are awesome! I love that pickup!

PS
Whereas Sony had either been unwilling or unable to license Betamax technology (depending on which account you believe), JVC had been more than happy sharing their VHS format. This would later prove a critical factor in the demise of Betamax.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[gregstj114]

I love topics like this! Whether it's this bass or any other Fender prototype basses, this is a goldmine of information for me! The pictures are unbelievable Moonshine! And I hope you get to build a replica Dark Horse! I wonder if there are any other 19 year olds who research this history of the bass guitar like I do lol. Awesome thread!

 

[Meddle]

How does that pickup work? Is that a big horseshoe magnet under there?

 

[Just George]

Here is another picture of one of Paul Tutmarc's Audiovox basses. I found this pic last year while searching the internet.

 

[jbossolo]

Cool pics indeed. Thx for sharing! I'm sure y'all have seen thiis, but just in case:

http://tutmarc.tripod.com/paultutmarc.html

It's written by Bud, Paul Tutmarc's son.
Some interesting facts about how his father came to create his instruments.

 

[Jack B]

I have a AudioVox double neck guitar, not playable as of right now.

 

[moonshinegtrs]

I have a AudioVox double neck guitar, not playable as of right now.

Very Cool!

Please post some pics of it, I'd love to see it.

What is the story on it?

Moonshine

 

[ggvicviper]

The museum question is called EMP (Experience Music Project). It's located in the Seattle Center near the Space Needle. It's a grotesque looking building that, the last time I was inside, was almost entirely devoted to Jimi Hendrix. Cool place, but not as cool as the City would have you believe.

Not only Hendrix, but Nirvana too.

The cool thing about the museum is that they had jam rooms where people could learn and play. What sucked is they had only one bass. I took a few picks tho.

 

[TRichardsbass]

Including the pix that my TN FRIEND POSTED HERE, I have seen 4 total in my 50 years on the planet. I found one in a guys barn, completely destroyed, rotted, insect eaten and couldn't find the guts. That was about 10 years ago by accident helping clean a friends granddad's estate out.

The others were in private collections. I don't know where they are today.

 

[elroyjetsn]

That was an earlier model with the the single coil located closer to the bridge. His son Bud later moved the pickup 6 inches from the bridge for a fuller sound and used 2 coils. One on each pole for noise cancellation.

Seriously considering building a replica, if I could get ahold of some black walnut. Neck and body were black walnut with an ebony fingerboard and 18 frets?? and the steel cover plate was painted in some fashion.

I think most were sold to touring Hawaiian steel bands and gospel groups in the Seattle region for $65 with the matching 18 watt amp(Jensen speaker) costing $75. starting in 1937.

The "TBer worked on one once in Tennessee somewhere" would be me. I was fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time when this came in. If you think about it, in the grand scheme of things, 100 instruments is not a lot considering how long ago these were built. I do agree that at least one or two more should have surfaced, which leaves me to doubt that even 100 were made.

As I remember, the sound wasn't that great; to be fair, it had strings that were about to disintegrate, but overall the sound was pretty thin. I would of loved to put some newer strings (flatwounds) on it & have been able to do some set up work on it, but my job was to authenticate it, not make it play better.

Still, it was pretty cool to be able to be able to take it apart:

I never thought about building a replica, but it would be pretty cool.

I do have a few more pictures; I have to find them, but I would be more than glad to share what I have if someone wants to build one (...Andy???) .

Moonshine

 

[elroyjetsn]

Just came across this on the Les Paul guest book:

"59 - bruce
Jun 23, 2005 at 3:53 am
I have always loved Les and Mary. Even had a few Les Paul and JR,s in my time. I have their album # HL 7333, Harmony Records,(if anybody needs to try to find one), "The Fabulous Les Paul and Mary Ford" album. Also has a # XLP 78768, on it.
I have an old Epiphone I still pick on once in a while, But my prize is a 1948 "Serenader" Electric Bass my dad bought new in 1948, by Bud-Electro co, seattle, Washington.
It dose my heart well to hear that Les is well and fine. I wish him all the best. Bruce."

"Bud-Electro" was company run by Bud Tutmarc after he took over from his dad's "AudioVox".