Leo's prototype

ilan · Post by **ilan** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 9:06 am

I know this should go in "The Others" but... Over at the FDP there's a very interesting thread about what could turn out to be an historical find - Leo Fender's Precision Bass prototype:

http://65.23.158.135/forum.html?db=&topic_number=613977

thx1955 · Post by **thx1955** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 9:38 am

Wow, that would be a very interesting find if it turns out to be genuine.

s4001 · Post by **s4001** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 9:41 am

Might very well be true. There's that kind of stuff floating around this area. Including a certain greenglo factory bass.....

86kubicki · Post by **86kubicki** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 9:52 am

Hmmm... I've never heard about that one Scott. Do tell!

s4001 · Post by **s4001** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 12:41 pm

A drummer friend of mine plays with a bassist that has it.

I've told him that if he ever sells it, I'm all over it like white on rice.

s4001 · Post by **s4001** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 12:42 pm

Oh, '72. Toaster and check binding.

86kubicki · Post by **86kubicki** » Sat Feb 17, 2007 4:01 am

Egad!!! If you could ever get your friend to take some pics, I'm sure a few of us here would be interested!

morrow · Post by **morrow** » Sat Feb 17, 2007 5:21 am

My knickers get in a twist whenever I see an original SCPB let alone one of the prototypes . I've been keeping an eye on that thread.

One of the first 51 Pbasses surfaced around here several years ago but it had been modded ( with a later telebass humbucking pickup of all things )

86kubicki · Post by **86kubicki** » Sat Feb 17, 2007 6:16 am

I wonder if many of those early P-Basses with the small single coil pickup were "upgraded" with other more "manly" pickups. I have a couple of 51 reissues and the pickup sounds fine, although it's not terribly comfortable if you like a big solid pickup for a thumbrest.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sat Feb 17, 2007 6:45 am

I saw a bass on ebay years ago that was supposed to be the prototype of the jazz bass ... it looked like the pickups routing was dine with a screw driver ... was it real? I have no idea ...

ilan · Post by **ilan** » Sat Feb 17, 2007 7:35 am

Jeff: I think it was real. IIRC it was routed for wide Jazzmaster-type pickups. But when it was on eBay it had standard-looking J pickups inside the big routes.

winston · Post by **winston** » Sat Feb 17, 2007 7:50 pm

I'll only believe it when I see pics that confirm its existence.

ratso · Post by **ratso** » Sun Feb 18, 2007 2:05 pm

Great Story, I hope it has a happy ending!

winston · Post by **winston** » Sun Feb 18, 2007 5:30 pm

I'll take the bass on the left...and the one in the middle, oh to hell with it, I'll take em all!

s4001 · Post by **s4001** » Sun Feb 18, 2007 6:50 pm

I dig those 51's.