Tutmarc audiovox model 736: where are they?

[M.R. Ogle]

They were insignificant to "musical" history.

Their significance only plays out in one slim, hair-splitting category.... first (semi-)mass produced electric bass. They're a technicality, like a "trick" trivia question.

Tutmarc produced no significant contribution to actual music. Being "first" is not a significant musical contribution, especially compared to what Leo Fender brought to the world a few years later.

 

[mongo2]

They were insignificant to "musical" history.

Their significance only plays out in one slim, hair-splitting category.... first (semi-)mass produced electric bass. They're a technicality, like a "trick" trivia question.

Tutmarc produced no significant contribution to actual music. Being "first" is not a significant musical contribution, especially compared to what Leo Fender brought to the world a few years later.

First is still first.

There are no degrees of first.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

I'm the first guy to play a red bass in my town this morning. There's some more insignificant musical history.

 

[mongo2]

I'm the first guy to play a red bass in my town this morning. There's some more insignificant musical history.

Manufacturing the first electric bass is considerably more significant no matter how limited the numbers were and it was done 15 years before Leo even thought of it.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

So these were out for FIFTEEN YEARS and still few can recall a single recording made with them, or even remember the brand? Yeah, HUGE impact there, LOL!

It's only interesting to guys like us, but in the big picture of music, it's a footnote for nit-picking purposes only.

 

[mongo2]

So these were out for FIFTEEN YEARS and still few can recall a single recording made with them, or even remember the brand? Yeah, HUGE impact there, LOL!

It's only interesting to guys like us, but in the big picture of music, it's a footnote for nit-picking purposes only.

Impact doesn't matter. The historical significance of the instrument is that it was the first and there's nothing you can post that can ever change that.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

Given. Those were first.

 

[eldoryder]

As much as I am excited by these Tutmarcs, want to know everything about them, want to hear them play, and would like to own a reproduction some day, M.R. Ogle still has a point. History is often a fickle guide to truth, and accepted history becomes permanent.

Who first discovered America? Columbus gets a Holiday, Vikings get zippo.

Who was the first in flight? Wright Bros., says the books. Those Europeans? Nada.

So yes, technically first. But NO ONE outside a a few of us will ever know or care. "History" made sure of that.

No rock 'n' roll band ever announced personnel by saying "Blotto on TUTMARC bass!"

Fender Bass. Kleenex. Jello. etc. etc. History, bah!

 

[mongo2]

Who first discovered America?

Some peoples from what we now call Asia.

 

[Bflat]

eldoryder,
I'm building 2 of them right now, one from walnut just like the one from Nashville and another like the white one..... It seems they, the 3 I know of are all different, hand built, not massed produced. I have parts from the Tutmarc steel to go by.....It will be a month before the first one is done......I'm looking or an original amp if anyone can find one.

 

[eldoryder]

Bflat, that's GREAT. I will subscribe to this thread to keep track, unless you want to start a new one with your build progress. It's like watching living history when things like this are done. I followed your thread about the '51 Precision #17 with great interest, also!

Thanks for all you do!

 

[TN WOODMAN]

No one can dispute that Leo was the man for so many contribution to guitar, bass and amplification, but 1st is always gonna be 1st. These pieces are cool for that fact alone even if they play and sound terrible and aren 't household names.

 

[antonspon]

Who first discovered America? Columbus gets a Holiday, Vikings get zippo.

Um, I think there were already people living there when the Vikings "discovered" it...

 

[Bflat]

eldoryder,
This is going to be fun, The walnut one is being built so it can be reproduced, already have templates made for the wings and neck pieces. I've found some great walnut which hopefully is being shaped this weekend. I'm kind of at the mercy of woodworker and luthier on this one.... the other one is being made of alder and made from one piece...I got the wood this weekend and had it planed to 1 3/4 inches, this one I'll do myself, I'm not a luthier, more of a tinkerer, but I can't wait months for the other one. I bought a fretboard with a 34 inch scale and cut off the first two frets which makes it a 30 1/2 inch scale. I have some 1930's grovers for tuners and the guts of the steel for the pickup, volume and cable, also the bridge. I've got the template for the metal pickguard, trying to decide if it will be copper or brass for this one, the dimensions will be pretty accurate, the first bass will be a test bed for the second one which should be as close to perfect as possible. I detuned the steel guitar and plugged it in my SVT and played it like a bass and it sounded clean and real good can't wait to hear the bass will update with pics as I make progress not much to see yet.
also Nacho Banos added some interesting data to the fender 0017 story that I haven't written in the other thread, I guess I should...
later
dave

 

[ROOTSnFIFTHS]

Manufacturing the first electric bass is considerably more significant no matter how limited the numbers were and it was done 15 years before Leo even thought of it.

I agree and coincidentally I just finished reading "How the Fender Bass Changed The World" so it was killer to se this thread.
Looking forward to seeing some custom "reissues" of the 'Tutmarc' on TB!

 

[barroso]

I like the headstock design a lot, and the different tuning machines!

 

[eldoryder]

Bflat-

Thanks for the update! This is truly fascinating, reading about the work being done to prepare for at least two reproductions of musical historical significance! I do hope that you will use photographs to document the steps along the way. As someone else said, this would truly make for a great story in "Bass Player Magazine" and perhaps some other publications.

It is also exciting that you were able to take some electronics made by the same (man? company?) and produce sound that was actually GOOD! That must make all of this work truly worthwhile.

And yes, I'm still very eager to hear more about '51 Precision #17. Please let us know when you do, and possibly provide a link for those who are unaware of the story.

Thanks again!

 

[design]

It seems they, the 3 I know of are all different, hand built, not massed produced.

Hi Bflat,
I'm intrigued that you know of 3: there's the white one in the EMP, and the one inspected by Moonshine (pics online), is the 3rd one privately owned by the person who owns the white one? What is it like and can we see some photos? Looking fwd to pics of your builds!

 

[Bflat]

Ok here's the first effort at making a repro 736 Bass guitar. its the test bed for making one identical to the one from Nashville. This one is exactly the right dimensions, but has a long way to go.
details when I have a little time

 

[Bflat]

Heres another pic of the steel and the bass for size reference.
I should have the pickguard plate by next Monday and the tuners by Friday. I've never fretted a bass so my friendly luthier will have to do that, add acouple of weeks and maybe she will sing....