Ric Telebass???

[bassduke49]

And it looks like it is lifting, too, not surprising with the vintage 3-screw mount. The tailpiece looks much like the one that Dane Wilder recently modified for one of his projects.

[aceonbass]

I think the reason this tailpiece lifted was because it didn't have the mute section to stabilize it, otherwise I think it would have been fine since I've never seen a 3 screw tailpiece that lifted.

[bassduke49]

Yes. In essence, the pivot point being right under the bridge on this one, there is so surface "forward" of the pivot. Yeah, come to think of it, you're right, the old aluminum ones didn't have many problems. Didn't seem to hold the plating well, though. Was that something in the chemistry?

[ilan]

I knew it reminded me of something... the late 50's Magnatone bass - they even had dual truss rods!

[dr_wahnsinn]

In November 1989 I requested and was granted a brief visit to the Rickenbacker Museum. This bass was one that I noticed and, because of its oddness, I made sure my then girlfriend took a photo of it. I never forgot about that bass and in November 2001 contacted John Hall about it. He wrote back (thank you, Mr. Hall!) telling me that the bass was built about 1970 as a prototype in the old factory by Forrest White. Mr. Hall went on to say that the instrument was really out of their market and they declined to produce it. Forrest White later left Rickenbacker and started up a company with his buddies Leo Fender and Tommy Walker, and took the 3+1 headstock with him.

Hope this helps. Thanks again to John Hall for supplying the information.

By the way, that bass is so odd that I just can't help liking it.

[wim]

I knew it reminded me of something... the late 50's Magnatone bass - they even had dual truss rods!

experimental.JPG

this is exactly the same.

[rickaddict]

I kinda like it, but it is a blatant rip-off of the 50's Magnatone bass pictured. And the most original part on it, the 3+1 headstock looks very wrong with a Rick TRC IMO. I think the bass would look way better with a 3001/2030 headstock.

[gearhed289]

Did Mr. white work at Magnatone perhaps?

[johnallg]

Forrest White was VP and GM of Fender from 1954 to 1966 so probably he did not work for Magnatone. But he knew Bigsby who did design instruments for Magnatone. Who knows....??

[gii_patrick]

I don't know, I'd still like to give that bass a whril.

[marc61]

I definitely like the finish contrast with the gold guard