I absolutely love the original Precision Bass and Fender's first reissue in 1968 when they introduced the Telecaster bass. The bass feels, sounds, and looks perfect. The single coil pick-up has a wonderful tone and thump. It can completely modern or old school. I've been playing for many years and I've owned many basses over the years and to me it's an absolutely wonderful gigging and recording bass. I have a nice collection of early P and Telecaster basses... it's a disorder, I just can't get enough! Are they any other telecaster appreciators out there?
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 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. {}
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: {}
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.
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'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.