Who has the oldest bass on TB?

[beaglesandbass]

I know a bunch of people on here have basses from the 50s/60s, but whose is the oldest?

Anyone have any idea whose serial number we can trace back to being the oldest on TB?

(Double bass side excluded because im sure one of them would be older than any of the electric basses)

 

[bholder]

My 1937 Regal Bassoguitar for starters. Or are you just including electrics?

 

[beaglesandbass]

My 1937 Regal Bassoguitar for starters. Or are you just including electrics?

Was trying to look at just electrics. Preferably ones with all original components.

 

[2saddleslab]

Not the oldest and certainly not all original but the body dates to EM (Eddie Miller) Nov 7 51 (thought to be part of the first 23 basses produced) and the neck 11-55.
Bflat, TB member and noted authority, has a prototype bass as well as a bass with the same body date as mine.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

Well, unless anyone wants to break out an older Ric or a Tutmarc, we have our winners!

 

[stonewall]

Wow awesome P

 

[HaphAsSard]

Bflat, TB member and noted authority, has a prototype bass as well as a bass with the same body date as mine.

Yup, we definitely need to page him: @Bflat.

 

[bholder]

So, any competition in the ABG division?

 

[Bflat]

As a lot of you know I have the first P bass to leave the fender factory 0017 with a two hole tug bar, only 3 made in Sept of 1951 and verified by the man that fender gave it to Arlis Mcminn. as fender said to him "Here son you can use this more than I can, show it off to your friends" Arlis is in his 80's and still lives in California.

 

[Bflat]

Here is a video of 0017 in action in 1950's played by Jack McClure but owned by Arlis......other than the few Tutmarcs, this is the first electric bass anywhere not just here on TB......Its an honor to own it. Arlis knows I have it we talk once in a while. Would love to reunite him with it, we have talked about it.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

As a lot of you know I have the first P bass to leave the fender factory 0017 with a two hole tug bar, only 3 made in Sept of 1951 and verified by the man that fender gave it to Arlis Mcminn. as fender said to him "Here son you can use this more than I can, show it off to your friends" Arlis is in his 80's and still lives in California.

If you care to share your story on acquiring the bass I would love to hear it. I am sure I'm not the only interested party.

That is beyond cool.

 

[blowinblue]

My Ken Lawrence Chamberbass has a top cut from a chunk of California Redwood that was over 100 years old when the instrument was built in 2000. Hey, you didn't say it had to be the whole bass. Somewhere on TB there has to be a bass with wood older than that.

M. M.

 

[beaglesandbass]

As a lot of you know I have the first P bass to leave the fender factory 0017 with a two hole tug bar, only 3 made in Sept of 1951 and verified by the man that fender gave it to Arlis Mcminn. as fender said to him "Here son you can use this more than I can, show it off to your friends" Arlis is in his 80's and still lives in California.

Wow, that is awesome!