Vintage Fender Telecaster Bass - I'm obsessed!

Great examples, everybody!

Always been a fan of the original P bass having owned a '52 & '56 and multiple Telecaster basses in both single coil and humbucker versions.

My current lineup includes Marilyn, a Nov '51 (body) and Nov '55 (neck).


A pair of custom built slab bodies.


And a recent Cabronita (currently being modded).


Mods now complete.

 

Would love to try that fiver.

 

I have a Sting P that I love and congrats on a nice collection.

 

I love them too. Planning on building myself one this year.

 

Just picked up a 1968 Fender Telecaster. Unfortunately it's been refinished and the pickup/pickguard changed.

Plays and sounds great, although it's heavier than the average bear. I played 5 strings all last year so I don't really notice it.

 

Thinking about a warmoth build of one of these! You guys give me gas

 

You can buy a cabronita or a used 51 reissue way cheaper than a warmoth build, fwiw

 

Chef, you should shoot "Bass Porn" for a living.

 

My '55 neck and '52 P bass have huge U shaped baseball bats. Every early '50's slab I've seen had the same. My '56 did have a pronounced V which I loved and replicated on the custom builds.

 

My first bass was a 72 Tele. I bought it in '82 from the largest music store in Florida, at the time. Now get this -- it was in a bargain bin (guitars that couldn't sell) with about 10 other guitars. I was a kid, didn't know the first thing about guitars. All I knew was I needed a bass for my first band. I paid $100. It was the nicest playing bass I ever owned. Unfortunately, I traded it long ago, and I don't think I'll ever own another one, unless I can gather up an extra $3000.

 

Great collection!
I dig the butterscotch one, especially with the relaxed-paisleyish shirt. Great pic! (The paisley on the bass, though.... Well, whatever keeps your raft afloat ).

best
sidecar

 

Thanks for the kind words- I am just the current custodian of these treasures.
The 56 has a lovely soft V neck profile- just a dream to play- it actually doesn't feel as wide as it actually is.
The 56 is ash and very light- close to 8lbs with covers. Interestingly, I am unable to find a join seam in the body- there must be one there but I can't find it.
Here's a shot of the back. I have looked inside the control cavity and no sign of a seam there ?

The 69 has a big C neck while the 73 has a slightly narrower B neck like my 73 P Bass.

 

Wrong guy but I'd play that bass and wear that shirt. ;-)

 

I don't see any Tele headstocks in this thread, just a whole lotta original Precision headstocks!

 

I just finished assembling and setting the intonation on this Precision/Tele (original Precision, @bholder ;-) ) one last night. Fender body, Warmoth neck, Geezer pick ups.

 

I love the look of the 54 P but with a split coil P, instead of a single. Mike Dirnt style. Nothing better than that! So much so that I reshaped the headstock on a Yamaha attitude Plus to look like a Tele...and I'm trying to design a 51 style pickguard for it.

 

Some old pics

Spoiler: my avatar LOL