The Fender Telecaster Bass Guitar: A Pioneering Reissue and its Enduring Legacy

The 1968 Fender Telecaster Bass holds a distinctive position in Fender’s history. It wasn’t just another new instrument; it marked the company’s first foray into the realm of “reissue” instruments, a concept that was quite novel at the time. Decades later, reissues have become a cornerstone of Fender’s product line, but back in the late 1960s, under CBS ownership, the idea of looking to the past for design inspiration was a significant departure from the forward-thinking approach that had defined Fender’s early years.

The Telecaster Bass emerged from this retrospective design philosophy. Interestingly named, it was essentially a revival of the original 1951 Precision Bass. Despite bearing the Telecaster name, its connection to the iconic Telecaster guitar was tenuous at best, limited primarily to the headstock shape, which, notably, was also a feature of the very first Precision Bass.

To truly understand the Telecaster Bass, it’s crucial to delve into the evolution of its ancestor, the Precision Bass. The Precision Bass, a revolutionary instrument in its own right, underwent two significant redesigns within its first few years of existence. First in 1954, and then even more dramatically in 1957, Fender refined the Precision Bass. These changes were so substantial that the late-1950s Precision Bass bore little resemblance to the groundbreaking 1951 model.

It was this earlier, almost forgotten design – the blueprint of the original 1951 Precision – that Fender resurrected in May 1968, presenting it as their “newest” bass guitar: the Telecaster Bass.

Echoing the specifications of the original Precision basses, the 1968 Telecaster Bass featured a slab body, a single-coil pickup, the Telecaster-style headstock, and a string-through-body design. It also included a two-saddle bridge, large chrome covers for both the bridge and pickup, and a pickguard that spanned the entire upper portion of the body. The controls were mounted on a classic Telecaster-style chrome plate. When introduced, the Telecaster Bass was priced at $302.50, positioning it as a more affordable option than the Jazz Bass ($356.50) but slightly more expensive than the standard Precision Bass ($293.50).

While clearly inspired by the 1951 Precision, the 1968 Telecaster Bass did incorporate subtle differences. The pickguard was white instead of black, and the string ferrules were smaller and slightly raised, unlike the flush-mounted ferrules of the ’51 Precision. Initially, the Telecaster Bass featured a two-piece maple cap neck without the characteristic “skunk stripe,” although later 1968 models adopted the one-piece maple neck reminiscent of the early Precision basses. Some of the earliest Telecaster Basses even sported the paddle-shaped Fender-made tuners that were also found on the 1966 Jazz Bass.

Adding to the intrigue of these early models were the headstock decals. Three distinct variations appeared. The rarest was a standard silver Telecaster guitar logo with “bass” added underneath – this decal is believed to have only been used on prototypes. The second iteration featured a larger black Telecaster Bass logo, with “Bass” written in the same script style as “Fender.” The most common decal showcased the silver Fender script logo with “Telecaster Bass” printed in a sans-serif font beneath.

Perhaps one of the most visually striking and unusual aspects of the 1968 Telecaster Bass was its brief availability in Fender’s eye-catching pink paisley and blue floral finishes. These unique finishes were achieved by applying paisley and floral wallpaper to the top and back of the instrument. The sides were then shaded using a sunburst technique to seamlessly blend with the wallpaper, and the entire instrument was encased in a thick clear coat.

This original version of the Telecaster Bass remained in production until 1972, when Fender introduced significant modifications that essentially transformed it into a new instrument altogether.

The 1972 Telecaster Bass model brought about readily noticeable changes. The most prominent alteration was the replacement of the single-coil pickup with a larger, more powerful humbucking pickup.

Despite Fender’s long-standing association with single-coil pickups, the company began to explore humbucking designs in the late 1960s. They even recruited Seth Lover, the very inventor of the humbucking pickup, from Gibson in 1967. Lover was instrumental in designing new humbucking pickups for Fender, which debuted on guitars like the Telecaster Thinline (1971 version), Telecaster Custom (1972), and Telecaster Deluxe (1973).

The 1972 Telecaster Bass benefited from Lover’s expertise, undergoing a significant sonic and visual transformation due to the pickup change. Further modifications included the removal of the chrome control plate in favor of a larger pickguard that extended over the lower body bout. A three-bolt neck plate with a tilt adjustment mechanism was introduced, along with a bullet truss rod allowing for headstock-end adjustments. The headstock decal also changed from silver to gold with black outlining.

This second iteration of the Telecaster Bass continued to be produced throughout the 1970s until it was discontinued in 1979.

The design of the first version Telecaster Bass remained dormant until 1994, when Fender Japan reintroduced it as the ’51 Precision Bass reissue. This Japanese reissue can also be interpreted as a reissue of the 1968-1971 Telecaster Bass. Notably, this instrument incorporated the larger, more historically accurate string ferrules found on the early 1950s Precision basses. This model remains available today and has since been accompanied by slightly modified variations like the Mike Dirnt and Sting Precision Bass models.

The second-version Telecaster Bass design resurfaced in the spring of 2007 when Squier, Fender’s value-oriented brand, launched the Vintage Modified Precision Bass TB. This Squier instrument featured a large humbucking pickup, a large pickguard, and a Telecaster-style headstock, directly inspired by its 1972-1979 predecessor. It also remains available in the Squier lineup.

Although the Telecaster Bass may have experienced only modest commercial success in its initial runs, it garnered a reputation as a solid and powerful rock bass. Today, original Telecaster Basses in good condition are highly sought after in the vintage instrument market, commanding substantial prices. Notable bassists who have played the Telecaster Bass include Charlie Tumahai (Be-Bop Deluxe), Paul McGuigan (Oasis), Victor Damiani (Cake), Dusty Hill (ZZ Top), George Porter Jr. (Meters), Ron Wood (Jeff Beck Group), Lou Barlow (Dinosaur Jr.), and Mike Dirnt (Green Day).

In conclusion, the Fender Telecaster Bass, while initially conceived as a reissue of the original Precision Bass, carved out its own unique place in Fender’s history. From its innovative reissue concept to its evolution and eventual resurgence in modern forms, the Telecaster Bass continues to resonate with players and collectors alike, solidifying its legacy as a significant chapter in the Fender story.

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