Vintage Fender Telecaster Bass - I'm obsessed!

Nice collection!

I don't have any originals, but I do have a '51 RI and a Modern Player Telecaster and I really like them both.

 

I've been wanting a telecaster bass for quite some time, but sadly I don't have one yet.

 

I bought a new '06 Fender CIJ '51 P RI - enjoyed it's simplicity for a while - ended up not enjoying the mustard colour, and turned it into this.

Tele basses rule in many forms.

 

My Tele isn't 'vintage' but its mate (not a Tele) is -

 

This '68 Telecaster used to be mine. It had to move on in favor of a '65 Precision. Black body refin, white 3-ply PG, everything else is stock:

 

Fender really should release an American Standard and MIM Standard version of the Tele/51P bass.

 

Stuff I've had or have:

 

My '69 Tele bass on the left, '55 CS reissue on the right. Very good sounding basses.

 

Love vintage Fenders and the Tele is my fav. I had a early 70's Tele with mudbucker trying to get close but it was a one trick pony. I just picked up the new VM tele bass, not the same but its cool.

 

Shadven, I particularly love the black and maple one with the humbuckers. That's a fantastic collection you have there. Having not particularly studied the Tele bass, I hadn't noticed that they originally had a more Precision-shaped body. I actually really like the snub nosed version they do now, particularly the Squier models.

 

The black/humbuckers is G&L L2000 loaded. Or, at least, I'd bet $5 on that.

 

I am the original owner of your 68'. That body was once owned by Bobby Vega. I miss the neck. Good to see that it is in good hands.

 

The neck is very, very good on this one. Didn't know Bobby Vega owned the body. Cool. Unfortunately I am probably going to need to sell this one in the next year - I have moved and won't have the space to keep all the toys that I used to. I will post it on this forum when I am ready so hopefully the love for this bass will continue!

 

I'd love to get that back. Hopefully, the timing will work out.

 

I'm in the same boat, I used to be a strictly jazz bass guy, then I switched to double bass... And ever since I laid my hands on a 70s Tele bass (the single coil version), I'm forever changed. I had a mango colored Japan reissue once, sold it again, but right now I'm waiting for a build to finish with a 51 RI neck, new body with blonde nitro finish, and a fralin single coil. I too think that even though it can't be more simple, this is one of the most versatile bass designs ever. I'm hooked.

best
sidecar

 

My restored 69:

Have owned the body since 76, I paid $150 for it. It had a 65 P neck and an ancient humbucker. johnk10 gave it a nitro makeover, I added a neck.

 

I love them too! Here's mine.

L/R- Squier VM, 73 Tele, 69 Tele, 56 P, Sting, Fender Cab.