Fender Telecaster Bass Pink Paisley Solid Body Electric Bass Guitar (1968)
Fender Telecaster Bass Pink Paisley Model Solid Body Electric Bass Guitar (1968), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 211961, pink paisley metallic paper with overcoat of clear acrylic finish, ash body, maple neck, original black tolex hard shell case.
This is a good player's example of an infamous and fabulous looking bass, one of CBS/Fender's most whimsical creations in the summer of 1968. Someone in the CBS/Fender lab came up with the idea of putting pink paisley or blue floral wallpaper on guitars to catch the "Groovy" 1960's vibe at its late-decade high. The slab-bodied Telecaster shape worked well (the contoured Strat proved impractical!) and the instruments were duly released in mid-1968, "Paisley Red pulsates with every beat and swirls in a blinding carousel of colors and forms" claimed Fender's promotional materials, and who are we to argue. Unfortunately these were not big sellers; the paisley basses were made in smaller quantities than the guitar version, and all were out of production by mid/late 1969.
The one-piece maple neck on this bass is stamped 23 NOV 68. The four screw holes in the neck heel for fitting to the body were at some point plugged and moved SLIGHTLY possibly indicating the body and neck, though both correct original period Fender components, may not have originally left the factory together. The neck pocket had all finish removed; we have sometimes seen this on paisleys due to the thick undercoating but this one looks post-factory. The neckplate is original, with a serial number correct for 1968. The pickup appears to be the original cloth wrapped, grey bobbin unit and is dated 4-10-68; it was never lacquered over (some were) but has been wax potted (better for sound if not exactly original). The cloth-covered leads appear darker than most, but that is often the result of the wax process. The pots are matched set dated 66-42 and tone cap are original, the rest of the wires in the cavity (to the jack and the ground to the bridge) are later.
The 2-saddle bridge and is original, the string ferrules in the back look later (sometimes one or more of these fall out and get lost). The clear plastic pickguard, fingerrest and screws and both chrome covers are all correct repro parts. The screws holding everything together appear original (or most of them anyway). While not completely original, this bass looks fabulous and performs exactly as it should.
In 1968 the Telecaster Bass in general was a new instrument in the Fender catalog, although not exactly a new design. it is essentially a straightforward re-issue of the original 1952 Precision bass, with the same straight single-coil pickup, slab body and chrome fittings. The chunky 34" scale round-backed neck is an early example of the recently re-introduced original 1950s style one-piece maple design. The July 1968 Fender price list shows the Paisley Telecaster Bass priced at $289.50 (a $40 upcharge from blonde) plus another $64.50 for the black Tolex case. The pots are coded to the 42nd week of 1966, part of the huge haul CBS bought in that year. In any finish the original 1968 Telecaster Bass is a fairly bright and powerful sounding instrument with its maple fingerboard, slab body and punchy four-pole pickup. Despite its imperfect pedigree this Paisley Pink bass is one of the truly grooviest 4-strings we have had in a while!
Overall length is 46 in. (116.8 cm.), 12 3/4 in. (32.4 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 34 in. (864 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/4 in. (44 mm.)., 9.09 lbs.
As noted above this bass shows some parts restoration and the possible marriage of two different Telecaster basses, though from the outside it appears stock. The paisley-under-clearcoat body finish is original and in better shape than many; it does have the typical heavy crosswise checking but no peeling or flaking. One small chip is off the lower front edge of the neck pocket, otherwise the body is way cleaner than most of these. The body color has faded quite a bit, the pink has turned to a lovely subtle gold shade on the sides. The neck has a very old clear overspray that feels pretty much the same as the original poly with some wear visible underneath, and the heel shows slightly shifted variant filled holes on the underside. The neck pocket had all finish removed.
The tuners, string tree, strap buttons, bridge, saddles, control plate and knobs are original; the pickup appears original dated 4-10-68 and has been wax potted; the pots and cap are original with some re-wiring including new leads to the jack. The clear pickguard, fingerrest and screws, bridge and pickup covers are correct style repro parts; the string ferrules and the jack cup appear more recent as well.
The frets are original, crowned down a bit but showing no heavy wear; the nut is replaced. Whatever its story is this is a great playing and sounding Paisley Tele Bass, weighing just over 9 Lbs. with both covers on and a really cool stage pass guaranteed to impress both visually and sonically. It lives in the original black Tolex HSC, a true 1960s survivor. Excellent - Condition.
This is a good player's example of an infamous and fabulous looking bass, one of CBS/Fender's most whimsical creations in the summer of 1968. Someone in the CBS/Fender lab came up with the idea of putting pink paisley or blue floral wallpaper on guitars to catch the "Groovy" 1960's vibe at its late-decade high. The slab-bodied Telecaster shape worked well (the contoured Strat proved impractical!) and the instruments were duly released in mid-1968, "Paisley Red pulsates with every beat and swirls in a blinding carousel of colors and forms" claimed Fender's promotional materials, and who are we to argue. Unfortunately these were not big sellers; the paisley basses were made in smaller quantities than the guitar version, and all were out of production by mid/late 1969.
The one-piece maple neck on this bass is stamped 23 NOV 68. The four screw holes in the neck heel for fitting to the body were at some point plugged and moved SLIGHTLY possibly indicating the body and neck, though both correct original period Fender components, may not have originally left the factory together. The neck pocket had all finish removed; we have sometimes seen this on paisleys due to the thick undercoating but this one looks post-factory. The neckplate is original, with a serial number correct for 1968. The pickup appears to be the original cloth wrapped, grey bobbin unit and is dated 4-10-68; it was never lacquered over (some were) but has been wax potted (better for sound if not exactly original). The cloth-covered leads appear darker than most, but that is often the result of the wax process. The pots are matched set dated 66-42 and tone cap are original, the rest of the wires in the cavity (to the jack and the ground to the bridge) are later.
The 2-saddle bridge and is original, the string ferrules in the back look later (sometimes one or more of these fall out and get lost). The clear plastic pickguard, fingerrest and screws and both chrome covers are all correct repro parts. The screws holding everything together appear original (or most of them anyway). While not completely original, this bass looks fabulous and performs exactly as it should.
In 1968 the Telecaster Bass in general was a new instrument in the Fender catalog, although not exactly a new design. it is essentially a straightforward re-issue of the original 1952 Precision bass, with the same straight single-coil pickup, slab body and chrome fittings. The chunky 34" scale round-backed neck is an early example of the recently re-introduced original 1950s style one-piece maple design. The July 1968 Fender price list shows the Paisley Telecaster Bass priced at $289.50 (a $40 upcharge from blonde) plus another $64.50 for the black Tolex case. The pots are coded to the 42nd week of 1966, part of the huge haul CBS bought in that year. In any finish the original 1968 Telecaster Bass is a fairly bright and powerful sounding instrument with its maple fingerboard, slab body and punchy four-pole pickup. Despite its imperfect pedigree this Paisley Pink bass is one of the truly grooviest 4-strings we have had in a while!
Overall length is 46 in. (116.8 cm.), 12 3/4 in. (32.4 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 34 in. (864 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/4 in. (44 mm.)., 9.09 lbs.
As noted above this bass shows some parts restoration and the possible marriage of two different Telecaster basses, though from the outside it appears stock. The paisley-under-clearcoat body finish is original and in better shape than many; it does have the typical heavy crosswise checking but no peeling or flaking. One small chip is off the lower front edge of the neck pocket, otherwise the body is way cleaner than most of these. The body color has faded quite a bit, the pink has turned to a lovely subtle gold shade on the sides. The neck has a very old clear overspray that feels pretty much the same as the original poly with some wear visible underneath, and the heel shows slightly shifted variant filled holes on the underside. The neck pocket had all finish removed.
The tuners, string tree, strap buttons, bridge, saddles, control plate and knobs are original; the pickup appears original dated 4-10-68 and has been wax potted; the pots and cap are original with some re-wiring including new leads to the jack. The clear pickguard, fingerrest and screws, bridge and pickup covers are correct style repro parts; the string ferrules and the jack cup appear more recent as well.
The frets are original, crowned down a bit but showing no heavy wear; the nut is replaced. Whatever its story is this is a great playing and sounding Paisley Tele Bass, weighing just over 9 Lbs. with both covers on and a really cool stage pass guaranteed to impress both visually and sonically. It lives in the original black Tolex HSC, a true 1960s survivor. Excellent - Condition.