Old School
Old School: 1963 Fender Jazz Bass
In our last edition of Old School, we shared Mark Anderson’s 1963 Fender Shoreline Gold Precision bass. This time, we’re showcasing Fender’s Jazz bass from the same year, and specifically Jay Fortier‘s ’63 Jazz. Fender introduced the first Jazz in March, 1960, becoming the company’s second bass model after the Precision. In 1963, Fender replaced... »
Old School: 1963 Fender Shoreline Gold Precision Bass
Mark Anderson picked up this 1963 Fender Shoreline Gold Precision Bass in the ’70′s for $300.00. The bass is completely stock, making it even more GAS-inducing. Of course, this is a pre-CBS bass, as Leo Fender hadn’t yet sold his company. That happened two years later. Mark gave us the lowdown on this vintage Fender... »
Old School: 1968 Gibson EB-2D Bass
Bassist Tod Ellsworth got his hands on this 1968 Gibson EB-2D bass about a year ago, expanding his gear and his sound with this unique instrument. The EB2D was first introduced by Gibson in 1966, at a time when electric basses were rising in popularity. The “EB-2D” designates the pickup configurations for this bass: an... »
Old School: 1978 Fender Musicmaster Bass
Fender’s Musicmaster was first introduced in 1971, and in production through 1981. As with Fender’s guitar bearing the same name, the bass was a simpler version of Fender’s Mustang Bass. The Musicmaster was Fender’s budget-priced bass at the time, made from surplus parts from other Fender models. The bodies were from the Mustang production line,... »
Old School: Kay K5915 Electric Bass
The Kay Musical Instrument Company emerged in the 1930′s in Chicago, when Kay founder Henry Kay “Hank” Kuhrmeyer and an invester acquired the Groehsl Instrument Company, which was founded in 1890. Kuhrmeyer was interested in producing electric guitars and amplifiers when he took over the company, and they did just that in 1936 with the... »
Old School: 1965 Teisco Del Rey EB-200
Bassist José Correa shares his 1965 Teisco Del Rey bass with us in this installment of Old School. Teisco was a Japanese instrument manufacturer who built affordable musical instruments from 1948 until 1969. In addition to basses, the company built guitars, keyboards, amplifiers, drums and microphones. The company’s name stands for “Tokyo Electric Instrument and... »
Old School: 1966 Fender Precision Bass
Chuck Hoffman shares his 1966 Fender Precision bass, one he bought about seven years ago, and credits as the source of his love for bass today. The 1966 Fender Precision was the first of the CBS-era of Fender basses, with 1965 being considered a transition year after Leo Fender sold his company to CBS. 1966... »
Old School: 1967 Rickenbacker 4005 FG
This week, Tom Harper shares the story behind his 1967 Rickenbacker 4005 FG, a bass he bought new in 1967, and one he describes as “a little worn, but still sweet!” The Rickenbacker 4005 was introduced in 1965, and featured a new-style, 360 body in a hollow-body bass. “FG” stands for “Fireglo”, a sunburst finish... »
Old School: 1960′s Fender Coronado Bass II – Wildwood
This week, John Roblin shares the story behind his ultra-rare 1960′s Fender Coronado Bass II – Wildwood. Fender’s Coronado line included guitars and basses with a double-cutaway, thin-line hollow-body, designed by Roger Rossmeisl, who originally designed instruments for Rickenbacker. The Coronado line came two years after Leo Fender sold Fender Musical Instruments to CBS, and... »
Old School: 1967 Epiphone EB-232 Bass
In our first installment of “Old School”, bassist Matt Shively shares the story of his 1967 Epiphone EB-232 bass. Make/Model/Year My bass is a 1967 Epiphone Rivoli EB-232, made in Kalamazoo, MI. How long have you owned it? Going on 3 years now. How did you come across it? Well, I have a cousin named... »
