Fender Telecaster Bass Pink Paisley Solid Body Electric Bass Guitar (1968)
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Fender Telecaster Bass Pink Paisley Model Solid Body Electric Bass Guitar (1968), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 251376, pink paisley metallic paper with overcoat of clear acrylic finish, ash body, maple neck, original black tolex hard shell case.
This infamous and fabulous looking bass was one of CBS/Fender's most whimsical ideas in the summer of 1968: putting pink paisley or blue floral wallpaper on Telecasters to catch the "Groovy" 1960's vibe at its late-decade high. The slab-bodied Tele shape worked well (the contoured Strat proved impractical!) and the instruments were released in mid-1968, The Bass does not suffer any loss of function under this colorful livery. "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 basses were made in smaller quantities than the guitar version, and all were out of production by 1969.
This Paisley bass has a neck dated to July 1968, making it a fairly early example of this eye-popping variation. Coincidentally in the case is a July 1968 Fender price list showing 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 31st week of 1966, part of the huge haul CBS bought in that year.
At the time this one was made the Telecaster bass in general was a relatively 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. 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. Overall well preserved, this is one of the truly grooviest 4-strings we have seen 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 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This bass shows some minor wear overall but remains in all original condition, down to the last screw! In general this is one of the better preserved examples of this model we have seen. It does have a decent helping of the heavy topcoat checking that often occurs on these paisley models when the finish shrinks over the wallpaper applique, but nothing is peeling or flaking off. There are some small chips and dings to the Poly topcoat on the body, mostly along the edges but no heavy wear beyond the checking. The upper edge of the body shows one deeper ding. There is some light play wear to the neck with minor loss to the lacquer along the edge of the fingerboard and a few small dings on the fingerboard and the back, and one scrape on the back of the headstock.
All hardware and fittings are complete and original. The G string tuner is a little bent, and there is a small plier mark on the shaft from someone probably trying to bend it back. It still tunes fine, though these CBS era Fender made tuners are often a bit stiffer than the older Klusons. The original frets show minimal wear and the bass plays and sounds fantastic. Super cool and a rare find, it is complete with the classic original Fender HSC and a copy of the 1969 "Fender Lovin' Care' catalog, the '68 Fender pricelist, the Fender Tolex case tag, a "Fender Lovin' Care button and a well-worn "I Love the Beatles" button. All in all quite a timely and timeless 1960s relic. Excellent - Condition.
This infamous and fabulous looking bass was one of CBS/Fender's most whimsical ideas in the summer of 1968: putting pink paisley or blue floral wallpaper on Telecasters to catch the "Groovy" 1960's vibe at its late-decade high. The slab-bodied Tele shape worked well (the contoured Strat proved impractical!) and the instruments were released in mid-1968, The Bass does not suffer any loss of function under this colorful livery. "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 basses were made in smaller quantities than the guitar version, and all were out of production by 1969.
This Paisley bass has a neck dated to July 1968, making it a fairly early example of this eye-popping variation. Coincidentally in the case is a July 1968 Fender price list showing 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 31st week of 1966, part of the huge haul CBS bought in that year.
At the time this one was made the Telecaster bass in general was a relatively 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. 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. Overall well preserved, this is one of the truly grooviest 4-strings we have seen 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 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This bass shows some minor wear overall but remains in all original condition, down to the last screw! In general this is one of the better preserved examples of this model we have seen. It does have a decent helping of the heavy topcoat checking that often occurs on these paisley models when the finish shrinks over the wallpaper applique, but nothing is peeling or flaking off. There are some small chips and dings to the Poly topcoat on the body, mostly along the edges but no heavy wear beyond the checking. The upper edge of the body shows one deeper ding. There is some light play wear to the neck with minor loss to the lacquer along the edge of the fingerboard and a few small dings on the fingerboard and the back, and one scrape on the back of the headstock.
All hardware and fittings are complete and original. The G string tuner is a little bent, and there is a small plier mark on the shaft from someone probably trying to bend it back. It still tunes fine, though these CBS era Fender made tuners are often a bit stiffer than the older Klusons. The original frets show minimal wear and the bass plays and sounds fantastic. Super cool and a rare find, it is complete with the classic original Fender HSC and a copy of the 1969 "Fender Lovin' Care' catalog, the '68 Fender pricelist, the Fender Tolex case tag, a "Fender Lovin' Care button and a well-worn "I Love the Beatles" button. All in all quite a timely and timeless 1960s relic. Excellent - Condition.