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Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2007 7:44 am
by wints
Here's a photo...
You can make out the original four holes that were filled in, and the AI and 61 9 in the horseshoe cavity.
The numbers/letters could possibly be reference to the refinish date, but that early jackplate was allowed to stay.
Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2007 11:39 am
by leftybass
I'll go way out on a limb...
Could it be possible that a bass with the number B7100 had an issue, such as a neck twist, or some other problem that rendered it unplayable, and was sent back to Electro-String, only to be re-born with a later body/neck...?
This bass seems to exhibit features from both very early and 1960-61 4000, and the maple neck does seem way too late to call it a '57.....
AI would translate to Sept. 1961, 61, the ninth month....interesting.
This bass from what I can see didn't have a sliding-mute cover over the bridge...YMMV..
Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2007 2:43 pm
by wints
John,
Could well be...
What you can't see is the back of neck, where at the very end, there actually is still the rout/recess where the original 4 holes were. Possibly a new piece of wood was grafted on there, but the neck is actually two levels, not a flush finish!
Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2007 3:13 pm
by ajish4
Hey!
Sept. 1961....that's my birthday too!
Hope she held up better than I did!
Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2007 4:21 pm
by bassduke49
More clues point to '61 than to any other year. That's what I vote for. Of course, I voted for Al Gore, and look what I got!
Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 6:29 am
by lyle_from_minneapolis
HAR!
Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 12:01 pm
by wints
Most probably there is '61 in the mix there somewhere, but the very early features can't be discounted.
It's a true hybrid in all respects.
Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 2:50 pm
by terry_h
Andy,good news, yesterday I found the original pick-guard, buried in a box in my garage, could be the other missing parts are out there some where,doubtful,but??? Talkin' 'bout 20 years of **** to go through.
Dale thanx for the offer to help w/ my missing parts. Could I e-mail you about this?
Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 3:08 pm
by dale_fortune
Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 11:47 pm
by wints
Terry,
That's great news. Dale could make you a perfect copy, but if you have the original, it's even better.
Hopefully, the bridge is there too...
Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 3:42 am
by leftybass
Finding old parts is goooood.....
Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 5:21 am
by dale_fortune
Terry,,,the bridge should look like one from a 4005 with a base plate from a 800 combo guitar..Finding old parts is very good and will up the value of your Bass.