I am getting a lot of interruptions at work that are preventing me to be able to reply and post a lot of pictures. I hope you all understand. I'll do more tomorrow.
Fender bass prototypes: Do any exist?
I submitted a question to George Fullerton via Tim Page in 2004 about the existence of any Fender bass prototypes. George mentioned that as far as he knew, all of the prototype Fender basses were cut up. Leo had no use for something that he was finished using.
- But –
Bill Carson mentions in his book, that he often had to save historically important things that Leo was going to throw away. Carson, for instance, said that he rescued the pickup winder that Leo had used for the early K&F instruments from the trash can.
Bill Carson also mentions in his book that there were some old Fender instruments of historical significance that he kept in a storage area for years until they turned up missing in the early 60s. He mentioned some basses being among them.
He said that many of these stolen items emerged on the vintage market in the 80’s.
He did not elaborate or name anyone responsible in his book.
I point out this because a Music store called Larkstreet Music in Teaneck, N.J. has an old Precision bass that was supposedly owned by Freddie Tavares.
Here is a picture from their website:
Is it real or not?
It was a test bass for new ideas about finishes and maybe pickguard and finger rest design.
Could this bass be one of the early prototypes resurfacing?
Was this the first hint of the changed pickguard seen on the mid 1957 Precision bass?
Or is this just a modified Precision of no real historical importance?
Please comment
Here is another view of my 1984 SB-2. You can see the wear on the fingerboard if you look at frets 3 to 5.
-bassman
