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FENDER | CATALOGS | 1968 FENDER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS... ON THE GO! | FRONT COVER

Fender Musical Instruments.. On the Go

1968 Fender guitar and bass catalog - front cover

1968 Fender guitar and bass catalog - front cover. The front cover shows details of various pages from the Fender '68 catalog - highlighting the new Fender semi-acoustics of the time, the Coronado guitar, and Coronado bass (Wildwood) aswell as a Telecaster, Malibu acoustic, Super Reverb amplifier, Fender Rhodes piano and banjos.

The front and back covers show segments of the images mostly appearing within the catalog.

1968 Fender guitar and bass catalog - front cover
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Vintage Fender guitars for sale

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1968 Fender Telecaster Custom

1968 Fender Telecaster Custom

Encinitas, California, 920**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$21000


Greetings

Up for grabs is a killer 1968 Fender Custom Tele
This is a GOOD ONE!

No issues , all original with original buldwin "Fender" export case

The Feb '68 " B " neck on this tele is outrageous - you will NOT put it down.

It is a fabulous playing and sounding guitar

Email with any questions!

Thx for looking
... more
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Vintage Fender Precision Bass Sunburst 1968

Vintage Fender Precision Bass Sunburst 1968

Brookfield, Wisconsin, 530**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$8999


Vintage Fender Precision Bass Sunburst 1968
PLEASE CONTACT US WITH ANY QUESTIONS OR FOR AN IN-HAND DESCRIPTION
100% original with an ultra cool, true vintage vibe! This bass has that perfectly well-played look about it that just cannot be replicated in any custom shop - this is the real deal folks! With a tight neck / body connection & a powerhouse pickup that delivers that signtuare rich, robust P-Bass tones. Professionally inspected & set up ready to play straight out of the ... more
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Vintage Fender Telecaster Thinline Natural Mahogany 1968

Vintage Fender Telecaster Thinline Natural Mahogany 1968

Brookfield, Wisconsin, 530**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$11999


Vintage Fender Telecaster Thinline Natural Mahogany 1968
PLEASE CONTACT US WITH ANY QUESTIONS OR FOR AN IN-HAND DESCRIPTION
A dynamite player with an ultra cool, true vintage vibe & aesthetic. Lightweight & exceptionally resonant; the neck is super comfy & plays great anywhere on the fretboard. The single coils sound fantastic & deliver clear, bell-like tones. Professionally inspected & set up by the experts here at Cream City Music, so it's ready to play ... more
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1968 Fender Bandmaster Refurbished with 2 1966 Gibson 2x10 Cabinets. CTS Loaded

1968 Fender Bandmaster Refurbished with 2 1966 Gibson 2x10 Cabinets. CTS Loaded

Fenton, Missouri, 630**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2000

1968 Fender Bandmaster Refurbished with 2 1966 Gibson 2x10 Cabinets. CTS Loaded. The amplifiers has been extensively refurbished. New Power Supply Capacitors. New Capacitors on the PCB. New Diode Capacitor. New Metal Film 6L6 Grid Resistors. New Metal Film 6L6 Bypass Resistors. Three Wire Power Cord. All new Hardware. Chassis Straps, Handle, Corners and Feet. All controls cleaned. Tolex has bee cleaned and rejuvenated. Tubes have all been tested. All original parts will come wit the amp ... more
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1968 - 1969 FENDER DRIP EDGE VIBROLUX AMP  68 Transformers Electronics AA864

1968 - 1969 FENDER DRIP EDGE VIBROLUX AMP 68' Transformers Electronics AA864

Millbrae, California, 940**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2750

If you know any Guitar Players named Don or Dan direct, to below post *Type the below into Ebay Search window* Or click (seller's other items)
(Guitar Players DON or DAN Men's Vest (M) No Odors NICE - Tan & Blk - Music Man) *Very Nice, IZOD* ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ok, on to AMP. (OPEN to "REASONABLE & RESPECTABLE" offers .!) BTW, our "Accepted Lowest OFFER Amount" ... more
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1968 Fender Telecaster Thinline

1968 Fender Telecaster Thinline

Loveland, Ohio, 451**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$11900

1968 Fender Telecaster Thinline, Rare Maple cap neck, Sweetplaying, Pearloid guard, Light weight, Logo was slightly muddled, Nicely setup, Awesome instrument, Bridge cover, One owner guitar, Clean condition with periodcorrect Fender case
Need a shipping quote or more info please ask.
... more
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Fender Vintage Telecaster 1968 Conversion Refin Pink Paisley w / OHSC

Fender Vintage Telecaster 1968 Conversion Refin Pink Paisley w / OHSC

Renton, Washington, 980**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$17000

Fender Telecaster 1968 Telecaster with Original Hard Shell Case. This guitar was originally a factory blonde finish that was professionally converted into the very iconic "pink paisley" wall paper finish on a solid alder body with a one-piece maple neck with rare maple cap fingerboard. All original electronics include Fender Telecaster single coil staggered pole-piece pickups in the neck and bridge position along with original pots that date to 1966, controlled by 1-volume, 1-tone knobs with ... more
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Fender Bandmaster Amplifier (Amp) 1968 AB763

Fender Bandmaster Amplifier (Amp) 1968 AB763

Collegeville, Pennsylvania, 194**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1487

Welcome. Thanks for stopping in. Up for sale is a Fender Bandmaster Amplifier restoration. This unit is SN-A-28663, circuit AB763, manufactured in the US in 1968. This amp is fully restored and in excellent condition. Intended for guitar, this amp has lots of vintage appeal, plenty of punch and sounds great. The restoration of the amp is extensive so please read the entire description and review the pictures to understand the scope of the work performed
The amp is equipped with two (2) ... more
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Fender Vintage 1968  /  1969 Early Build Fender Drip Edge Vibrolux Reverb AA864

Fender Vintage 1968 / 1969 Early Build Fender 'Drip Edge' Vibrolux Reverb AA864

Renton, Washington, 980**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$3600

This 1968 / 1969 AA864 Circuit Fender 'Drip Edge' Vibrolux Reverb is in excellent condition and sounds every but as good as it looks! 100% perfect functionality
While 1970 was apparently the year that Fender "officially" introduced this fantastic amp, you'll find components from both 68 and 69 which would be common for an early build. The Chassis itself dates to 1969. The Iron all dates from 1968 and 1969. The Speakers however are from 1970, coinciding with Fenders offical release date ... more
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1968 Fender Silver Face Twin Reverb 2 x 12" Electric Guitar Tube Amplifier

1968 Fender Silver Face Twin Reverb 2 x 12" Electric Guitar Tube Amplifier

Harrisonville, Missouri, 647**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1700

1968 Fender Silver Face Twin Reverb 2 x 12" Electric Guitar Tube Amplifier






Description
1968 Fender Silver Face Twin Reverb 2 x 12" Electric Guitar Tube Amplifier
This one is in very good cosmetic condition but it sounds and plays just great. It has non original speakers and a non original lower back plate. It has added ??Kick back?? legs. The tolex has got a few rubs, but it is still an amazing sounding amp that is over 50 years old. I don??t really want ... more
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Vintage Fender Precision Bass Sunburst 1968 with case. tested and confirmed.

Vintage Fender Precision Bass Sunburst 1968 with case. tested and confirmed.

Chester, Virginia, 238**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$8500

Okay here is a rare find for all you Guitar collectors. A 1968 Fender Precision Bass Guitar with original case, polishing cloth, and original set of Fender strings. Very Good to excellent condition. A few chips and wear thru marks but better than most we have seen on Ebay. This guitar was sent to Guitar Center February 4th 2024 to have them go aver and check for issues and get the Fender date codes. Also to check if everything was original. We have copied and pasted the emailed report.
We ... more
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1966 - 1968 Fender Jaguar Sunburst Original Finish & OHSC (VIDEO) Exc Condition

1966 - 1968 Fender Jaguar Sunburst Original Finish & OHSC (VIDEO) Exc Condition

Red Hook, New York, 125**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$6285

This is a 1966 - 1968 Fender Jaguar electric guitar. What makes this somewhat of a rare guitar is that the hardware is all dated to 1966, but the logo on the headstock (which is partially rubbed off) dates to 1968. My best guess on this is that it was assembled in 1968 using 1966 parts, and a 1968 decal / logo put on. The decal on the headstock is original and tested under blacklight. The date stamp at the base of the neck is original. The logo is definitely a transition of sorts, with a "R" ... more
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1968-72 Fender FR-1000 Solid State Reverb Unit Recapped Serviced Sounds Great!!!

1968-72 Fender FR-1000 Solid State Reverb Unit Recapped Serviced Sounds Great!!!

Milford, New Jersey, 088**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$500

Here's a super cool Fender spring reverb unit. Model FR-1000. This was made sometime in between 68 and 73. I forgot to note the pot dates when it was being serviced. It was just recapped and checked over. A grounded AC power cable was installed. Some solders were re-melted and one pot was replaced and its working perfectly. The spring tank is in good order. Comes with single button footswitch for remote operation. This is a really great way to get a Fender reverb sound with any amplifier. ... more
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1968 Fender Telecaster Vintage Guitar Blonde Ash Body w /  Bigsby, Case

1968 Fender Telecaster Vintage Guitar Blonde Ash Body w / Bigsby, Case

Seattle, Washington, 981**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$11500

Up for sale, a 1968 Fender Telecaster in excellent condition and in perfect working order, equipped with a Bigsby B5F vibrato and complete with the original hardshell case. Purportedly originally owned by Allan Lainer, co-founder of Blue Oyster Cult and contributor to records by The Clash and Patti Smith, this Telecaster is an extremely soulful example. Unfortunately, no supporting documentation of Lainer's ownership is included, but the story merits inclusion
This ash-bodied Telecaster is ... more
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Fender Bassman Amp Silverface tube amplifier head used vintage 1968

Fender Bassman Amp Silverface tube amplifier head used vintage 1968

West Chester, Pennsylvania, 193**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1200

vintage 1968 Fender Bassman Amp tube amplifier head. In good working condition. Has had a new 3-prong power cord installed. s / n A46046... more
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Fender Telecaster Bass 1968 - 1971 Custom Color BLACK w /  OHSC | Maple Cap, vinta

Fender Telecaster Bass 1968 - 1971 Custom Color BLACK w / OHSC | Maple Cap, vinta

Lee's Summit, Missouri, 640**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$5800


1971 Fender Telecaster Bass Black Custom Color!
Here's a vintage 1968 / 71 Fender Telecaster Bass in factory custom color black. The bass appears to be totally original except for one pot. The body and all components date to early 1971, while the neck dates to late 1968. Maple Cap neck. We would normally say these two were paired together at a later date but the neck matches with the body perfectly including the black finish flakes in the neck pocket that match. We ... more
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Fender Vibro Champ - 1968 - Silverface Drip Edge

Fender Vibro Champ - 1968 - Silverface Drip Edge

Bellingham, Washington, 982**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1095

Fender Vibro Champ - 1968 - Silverface Drip Edge Fender Vibro Champ - 1968 - Silverface Drip Edge
This is a 1968 Fender Vibro-Champ   Cosmetically the amp has some minor nicks / scuffs in the original tolex but is still in very good shape   Amp was recently serviced and it has a new power transformer, filter caps, tubes (JJ's ... more
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Original Vintage Fender 1968 Control Pot

Original Vintage Fender 1968 Control Pot

Albertson, New York, 115**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$150

Up for sale is a cts 1968 control pot works as it should for its age - code date -6840 made 40 th week of 1968 being sold as is working no returns look at pics ask questions thanks for looking
... more
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Fender Telecaster Bass 1968 Neck /  54 MJT Body

Fender Telecaster Bass 1968 Neck / 54' MJT Body

Ingram, Texas, 780**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$4177

1968 Telecaster Bass Neck, 54?? MJT Body ??
This original October, 1968 Telecaster Bass neck is amazing (a beautiful hunk of maple) ??
Original 1968 frets have lots of life left (no jagged edges)??
Original 1968 bone nut ??
Original 1968 string tree ??
Blonde MJT 54?? P Bass Body, nitro finish, light relic (54?? was 1st year of body contour for improved comfort) ??
Gotoh Aged Nickel Relic Clover tuners (gets rid of the neck dive) ??
Duncan Custom Shop Stinger Stack 51?? P ... more
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Fender 1968 Vintage Electric Guitar Duo Sonic II Nice Storage Case

Fender 1968 Vintage Electric Guitar Duo Sonic II Nice Storage Case

Kingman, Arizona, 864**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2150

Fender 1968 Vintage Electric Guitar Duo Sonic II Nice Storage Case
Used, But still in Great Shape. This Vintage 1968 Fender Electric Guitar Duo Sonic II is still in great playing condition and has a few minor condition issues. There are some light scratches / dent marks on the from face and back side of the guitar, along with the sides. The case has some wear and tear on the outside with the edges and corner taking most of the damages, the pleather inside is tearing off one side of the ... more
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1971 Selmer guitar catalogue

1971 Selmer guitar catalogueScan of 1971 Selmer guitar catalogue showing the range of electric and acoustic guitars distributed by the company: guitars by Gibson, Yamaha, Selmer, Hofner and Suzuki. 1960s Selmer had always placed Hofner at the front end of their catalogues, no doubt these were the better sellers - but into the 1970s Hofner were slipping somewhat and only appear at the tail end of this publication, pride of place going to Gibson, and to a lesser extent Yamaha. In fact this is the last Selmer catalogue to include the many Hofner hollow bodies (Committee, President, Senator etc) that had defined the companies output for so many years - to be replaced in the 1972 catalogue by generic solid body 'copies' of Gibson and Fender models. A number of new Gibson models are included for the first time: the SG-100 and SG-200 six string guitars and the SB-300 and SB-400 basses.

1968 Selmer guitar catalogue

1968 Selmer guitar catalogueScan of 1968/1969 Selmer guitar catalogue (printed July 1968), showing the entire range of electric and acoustic guitars distributed by the company: guitars by Hofner, Gibson, Selmer and Giannini. Selmer were the exclusive United Kingdom distributors of Hofner and Gibson at the time, and this catalogue contains a total of 18 electric guitars, 7 bass guitars, 37 acoustics, and 2 Hawaiian guitars - all produced outside the UK and imported by Selmer, with UK prices included in guineas. This catalogue saw the (re-)introduction of the late sixties Gibson Les Paul Custom and Les Paul Standard (see page 69) and the short-lived Hofner Club 70. Other electric models include: HOFNER ELECTRICS: Committee, Verithin 66, Ambassador, President, Senator, Galaxie, HOFNER BASSES: Violin bass, Verithin bass, Senator bass, Professional bass GIBSON ELECTRICS: Barney Kessel, ES-330TD, ES-335TD, ES-345TD, ES-175D, ES-125CD, SG Standard, SG Junior, SG Special GIBSON BASSES: EB-0, EB-2, EB-3 - plus a LOT of acoustics branded Gibson, Hofner, Selmer and Giannini

1961 Hofner Colorama I

1961 Hofner Colorama IHofner Colorama was the name UK distributor Selmer gave to a series of solid and semi-solid guitars built by Hofner for distribution in the UK. The construction and specifications of the guitars varied over the period of production, but by 1961 it was a totally solid, double cutaway instrument, with a set neck, translucent cherry finish, six-in-a-row headstock, and Hofner Diamond logo pickups. Available as a single or dual pickup guitar, this sngle pickup version would have been sold in mainland Europe as the Hofner 161.

1971 Commodore N25 (Matsumoku)

1971 Commodore N25 (Matsumoku)Commodore was a brand applied to a series of guitars produced in Japan at the well-respected Matsumoku plant from the late 1960s to the mid 1970s - and sold primarily (perhaps exclusively?) in the United Kingdom. The models bearing the Commodore name were all guitars available from different distributors with different branding. Although there may have been some minor changes in appointments (specifically headstock branding) most had the same basic bodies, hardware and construction. Equivalent models to the Commodore N25 (and this is by no means an exhaustive list) include the Aria 5102T, Conrad 5102T(?), Electra 2221, Lyle 5102T, Ventura V-1001, Univox Coily - and most famously the Epiphone 5102T / Epiphone EA-250.

1960 Hofner Colorama II

1960 Hofner Colorama IIThe Hofner Colorama was the name given by Selmer to a series of solid (and semi-solid) body Hofner guitars distributed in the United Kingdom between 1958 and 1965. The Colorama name actually applied to some quite different guitars over the period, but in 1960 it was a very light, semi-solid, set necked guitar with one (Colorama I) or two (Colorama II, as seen here) Toaster pickups. Although an entry-level guitar, it was very well-built, and a fine playing guitar; certainly a step up (at least in terms of craftsmanship) from many of the Colorama guitars that would follow, and a good deal of the guitars available in Britain circa 1960.

1971 Epiphone 1820 bass (ET-280)

1971 Epiphone 1820 (ET-280) bassBy the end of the 1960s, a decision had been made to move Epiphone guitar production from the USA (at the Kalamazoo plant where Gibson guitars were made), to Matsumoto in Japan, creating a line of guitars and basses significantly less expensive than the USA-built models (actually less than half the price). The Matsumoku factory had been producing guitars for export for some time, but the 1820 bass (alongside a number of guitar models and the 5120 electric acoustic bass) were the first Epiphone models to be made there. These new Epiphones were based on existing Matsumoku guitars, sharing body shapes, and hardware, but the Epiphone line was somewhat upgraded, with inlaid logos and a 2x2 peghead configuration. Over the course of the 70s, the Japanese output improved dramatically, and in many ways these early 70s models are a low point for the brand. Having said this, there are a lot worse guitars out there, and as well as being historically important, the 1820 bass can certainly provide the goods when required.

1981 Gibson Marauder

1981 Gibson MarauderProduction of Bill Lawrence's Gibson Marauder began in 1974, with production peaking in 1978. But by 1980 the model was officially discontinued, though very small numbers slipped out as late as spring 1981. Over 7000 examples shipped between 1974 and 1979, and although no totals are available for 1980 and 1981, it is unlikely production reached three figures in either of these years. These final Marauders were all assembled at the Gibson Nashville plant, and had some nice features not available through the later years of production, such as a rosewood fretboard, and in this case, an opaque 'Devil Red' finish. It's a great looking and fine playing guitar!

1971 'Pick Epiphone' Catalog

1971 Pick Epiphone catalogWhen Epiphone production moved from Kalamazoo to the Matsumoku plant in Japan, a whole new range of electric, flattop and classic acoustic guitars was launched. Between late 1970 and 1972 the new models were launched and refined. This 'folder' catalog contains various inserts released over these years detailing four electric six-strings (ET-270, ET-275, ET-278, and thinline EA-250), three bass guitars (ET-280, ET-285, and thinline EA-260), three folk/steel acoustics, four jumbo flattop acoustics, two 12-string jumbos, four classic acoustics, and a banjo.

1981 'Gibson Specials' Pre-Owners Manual

1981 Gibson Specials Pre-Owners Manual'Gibson Specials' was part of the June 1981 pre-owners manual series, but unlike the other folders contained a mish-mash of different guitars: limited editions, test marketing and close outs. "You will find the unusual, the brand-new, and the bargain within this folder". End of line 70s guitars like the Marauder, S-1, and L-6S Custom mixed in with brand new models the The V, The Explorer and the Flying V Bass.
It was the largest folder in the series, with 24 inserts, (19 guitars and 5 basses): Guitars: 335-S Standard, Melody Maker Double, Marauder, L-6S Custom, S-1, RD Artist, Firebird, Firebird II, Flying V, Flying V-II, The V, Explorer, Explorer II, The Explorer, The "SG" Standard, Les Paul Artist, Les Paul Artisan, ES-335 Heritage, ES-175/CC Basses: Grabber, G-3, L-9S, RD Artist Bass, Flying V Bass

1970s Shaftesbury 3263 bass

1970s Shaftesbury 3263 bassRose-Morris were selling Shaftesbury-branded Rickenbacker copy instruments from the late 1960s right through the 1970s. The 3263 bass was one of the first models, (alongside the 3261 six string and 3262 twelve string) available from late 1968 until about 1974. The earliest incarnation was a set neck bass, produced very briefly in Japan. But production quickly moved to Italy. This bolt-on neck example was built by Eko, in Recanati, using the same hardware and pickups as fitted to Eko, and Vox basses built around the same time. It's certainly a fine looking bass, and not a bad player either.

1961 Hohner Zambesi

1961 Hohner ZambesiThis very early, and pretty rare British-built guitar is branded Hohner London. Hohner were, of course, a German company, better known for their harmonicas and accordions, but they were keenly expanding into guitars at the birth of the 1960s. This model, along with the Hohner Amazon and (particularly) the Hohner Holborn, bear some similarity with Vox guitars of the same period; furniture manufacturer Stuart Darkins constructed bodies and necks for both brands, with Fenton Weill assembling them using their hardware and pickups. These guitars do have some hardware peculiarities, and they are not the most adjustable of instruments, but they actually play very nicely, being solidly built out of some very nice woods. Check out the video on this page.

1963 Vox Super Ace

1963 Vox Super AceThe Vox Super Ace was a mid-priced British solid body electric guitar, produced by JMI at their factory in Dartford, Kent. It was broadly modelled on the Fender Stratocaster, and a sibling model to the dual-pickup Vox Ace. Both the Ace, and Super Ace (along with several other models), were redesigned in 1963 with a new body shape, headstock style, and pickup layout - only increasing the resemblance to the aforementioned Fender. The Super Ace had a 1963 price tag of £47 5S. It's a pretty nice playing guitar with some lovely sounds - check out the videos on this page, and in the Vintage Guitar and Bass supporting members area

1966 Vox New Escort

1966 Vox New EscortThe Vox New Escort was Vox's version of the Fender Telecaster, at a time when American guitars were out of reach for most British musicians. It was made by JMI in England, for the British market, and unlike the majority of other models, didn't have an Italian-made equivalent. But the New Escort wasn't a slavish Fender copy, adding Vox's stylish teardrop headstock to the tele-style body, with a stop tailpiece and two Vox V2 single coil pickups. And it's a pretty substantial, and nice playing guitar, with a very comfortable neck. Check out the images, specifications, and watch a video of it in action. There is also extra content in the vintageguitarandbass supporting members area.

1969 Fender catalog, Fender Lovin' Care

1969 Fender catalog, Fender Lovin CareCatalog scan. The 1969 Fender Lovin' Care catalog consisted of 48 pages of electric guitars, basses, amplifiers, steel guitars, acoustic guitars, banjos and keyboards. Like the previous catalog, this featured the company's guitars in a variety of interesting settings around California, from the Whiskey-A-Go-Go, to the Hollywood Bowl. Several instruments were making their first appearance amongst it's pages: the Telecaster bass, Montego and LTD jazz guitars, and the Redondo acoustic. It was the final catalog appearance, however, of the Electric XII, Bass V, Duo-Sonic, Coronado I and Coronado Bass I.

1973 Eko Ranger Folk

1973 Eko Ranger FolkThe Eko Ranger series of guitars was incredibly popular in the second half of the 1960s and through the 1970s, selling in very large numbers. The Ranger Folk was 1 1/4" smaller, and 1" shallower than the Ranger VI and XII - and with a narrower waist. Not a bad guitar; a little quiet, but pretty playable. These were great value in 1973, and because they sold so many, they are easy to find and excellent value today.

1966 Vox Symphonic bass guitar

1966 Vox Symphonic bass guitarThe Symphonic bass was built in the UK, by Vox parent company JMI. It was the Vox equivalent to the Fender Precision bass, and was one of the most expensive Vox guitars produced. It was actually a great playing bass, rather similar to the Precision in feel and sound, but was probably just too expensive compared to an actual Fender and consequently sold poorly. When Vox hit financial problems in 1968, unsold guitars and basses were passed on to Dallas Arbiter, who briefly sold the excess Symphonic bass stock as model 4537. This bass, although with a neck date of February 1966, was most likely one of the unsold Vox guitars sold on by Dallas Arbiter. Check out the bass, and the two video demos through 1960s Ampeg and WEM amplifiers.

1968 Shaftesbury 'Electric Guitars' catalog

1968 Shaftesbury catalogThe 1968 Shaftesbury 'Electric Guitars' catalog was just four pages long, and contained four guitar models: the six string Barney Kessel-style 3264; and three Rickenbacker-styled semi-acoustic models: the six-string 3261, the twelve string 3262 and the 3263 bass. Shaftesbury was the house-brand of major UK distributor Rose-Morris, and seems to have been launched as a response to the company's loss of it's distribution deal with Rickenbacker. The guitars were mid-priced, and built in (initially) Japan, and later Italy, by Eko

1970 Rose-Morris 'Exciting Electrics Wonderful Westerns Celebrated Classics' catalog

1970 Rose_Morris catalog1970 Rose-Morris catalog, dated April 1970. It featured 6 electric guitars, 32 acoustic guitars, 3 basses and 1 steel guitar. It contains the following instruments, over 20 pages: Electric guitars: Shaftesbury 3261, 3262, 3264, 3265, 3400; Top Twenty 1970; Bass: Shaftesbury 3263, 3266; Top Twenty 1971; Acoustic guitars: Eko Rio Bravo, Rio Bravo 12, Ranchero, Ranchero 12, Colorado, Ranger, Ranger Folk, Ranger 12; Aria 1674, 1675, 1676, 1679, 1680, 1695, 'John Pearse' Jumbo, 'John Pearse' Folk; Rose-Morris 15-11, Kansas, Georgian, Florida; Suzuki 1663, 1664, 1665, 3054, 3055, 3060; Tatay 1713, 1714, 1715; Peerless 3052; Steel guitar: Aria 3425

1971 Rose-Morris 'Exciting Electrics Wonderful Westerns' catalog

1971 Rose_Morris catalogThe sixteen-page 1971 Rose-Morris catalog featured electric guitars by Rose-Morris' own brand, Shaftesbury, and budget brand Top Twenty; aswell as acoustics by Eko, Aria, and for the first time Ovation. The catalog contains the following instruments: Electric guitars: Shaftesbury 3261, 3264, 3265, 3400, 3402; Top Twenty 1970; Bass: Shaftesbury 3263, 3266; Top Twenty 1971; Acoustic guitars: Ovation: Balladeer, 12 String, Glen Campbell, Glen Campbell 12 string; Eko Rio Bravo, Rio Bravo 12, Ranger, Ranger Folk, Ranger 12, Colorado, Ranchero, Ranchero 12, Studio 'L'; Rose-Morris Florida; Aria 'John Pearse' Jumbo, 'John Pearse' Folk

1972 Fender Precision bass

1972 Fender PrecisionA detailed look at an early 1970s Fender Precision bass guitar in custom black finish, with rosewood fretboard. 1972 list price, $307.50. The Fender Precision had been shipping since at least very early 1952 - with just one re-design circa 1957. This example, then, shows a model already two decades old, but barely changed since the '57 revamp. Fender got it right first time around, and although there are numerous minor cosmetic differences, the essence of this bass is effectively the same as it was in '52: a simple, single pickup instrument with a GREAT sound. Check out the demo video through an old Ampeg B15. It's no wonder this is the bass that everybody wants!

1967 Vox Stroller

1967 Vox StrollerThe Vox Stroller was the brand's entry level electric solid body guitar, fitted with just one pickup and a fixed tailpiece. Although aimed at student guitarists, it wasn't a terrible instrument, but did lack somewhat in adjustability, having no accessible truss rod and only a floating rosewood bridge. But this example is actually quite an improvement on earlier versions, with a standard 1/4" jack and a solid mahogany body. 1967 price £18 2s. JMI ceased UK guitar production in late '67, and combined with decreasing demand for the Stroller, this surely must be one of the last examples shipped.

1963 Vox Clubman Bass (left handed)

1963 Vox Clubman Bass left handedA nice example of the Vox Clubman II bass, built by JMI in Dartford, Kent in 1963. This is a lightweight bass, short (30") scale and very easy to play. It is an early example, and as such has a thin black scratchplate and side mounted, coaxial output jack. JMI offered left handed examples of their solid body Vox guitars and basses at 10% premium. Production numbers are unclear, but left-handed examples rarely come up for sale

1977 Gibson ES Artist 'prototype'

1977 Gibson ES Artist prototypeNot to be confused with the Gibson ES Artist launched by Gibson in 1979; this ES Artist was an early model designed by the Gibson research and development team in Kalamazoo in 1977, the instruments themselves constructed by Gibson artist Chuck Burge. It was planned for launch as a high end semi acoustic with 335-style construction (central maple block) and innovative circuitry - but was pulled at the last minute, being deemed too expensive. Apparently, several examples were produced with varying specifications, though exactly how many actually left the Kalamazoo plant is unclear. Certainly two guitars were sold to LaVonne Music by Gibson in around 1980. Read more about the development of this guitar, with details from Chuck Burge and the story of it's sale to LaVonne music

1959 Hofner Committee

1959 Hofner CommitteeThe Hofner Committee was a truly beautiful guitar produced in Germany, primarily for the UK market. It was a large bodied (initially 17 1/2") guitar with a carved spruce top, available as an acoustic or electric guitar. By the early sixties the carved top was replaced with a laminate, and although still a very fine guitar, the earlier carved top examples, with frondose headstock (like the example shown here) are far more highly prized amongst musicians and vintage guitar collectors.

1965 Gretsch Chet Atkins Tennessean

1965 Gretsch Chet Atkins TennesseanThe Gretsch Chet Atkins Tennessean, or model 6119 was Gretsch's best selling hollow body of the 1960s. This wonderfully faded example from 1965 was originally Dark Cherry Red, but has turned a mid-orange brown. The original color, however, can be seen underneath the pickup surrounds. 1965 specs: maple body, two-piece neck, Brazilian rosewood fretboard and Hi-Lo 'Tron single coil pickups. Nickel plated Gretsch Bigsby tailpiece.

1965 Gretsch 'For the Spectacular Sound of the Times' guitar and amp catalog

1965 Gretsch catalogThe 1965 Gretsch catalog, or catalog #32, featured 10 hollow body electric guitars, including the newly launched Gretsch Viking; four solid body electrics, including the Astro Jet - making it's only catalog appearance; just one bass, the single pickup PX6070; nine acoustics and 12 tube amplifiers. Pride of place went to the Chet Atkins Country Gentleman that adorned both the front and back covers. 24 pages, six of which are in full color.

Guitar Repair: fixing fret buzz and sharp fret ends

Guitar Repair: fixing fret buzz and sharp fret endsLoose frets are especially problematic in certain old guitars, but are generally very easy to fix. You'll be amazed at the difference you can make with just a few tools, a bit of knowledge, and a little time. Fixing loose frets can eliminate fret buzz, remove sharp fret ends, and greatly improve the tone of any guitar. If your luthier bill will be greater than the value of your guitar, definitely time to have a go yourself!

1966 Hagstrom 'worlds fastest playing neck' catalog (Merson USA)

1966 Hagstrom guitar catalogHagstrom guitars were distributed in the mid-1960s United States by Merson of USA. This eight page 'worlds fastest playing neck' catalog, printed in two-colors contained six solid body electrics, three solid body basses, two electric acoustic guitars, two electric acoustic basses and five acoustics.

1965 Hofner President

1965 Hofner PresidentThe President was produced by Hofner in Bubenreuth, Germany, specifically for Selmer, who distributed the brand in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and other commonwealth nations. The President was a hollow body electric acoustic, available as a full body or thinline, and with blonde or brunette finish. It was a great playing guitar that sold fairly well in the second half of the 1950s, throughout the 1960s, and into the very early 1970s. The example shown here is a full-body depth guitar in blonde - and as a 1965 guitar, one of the last to feature the rounded Venetian cutaway. From late 1965 until 1972, the President sported a sharp Florentine cut. Naturally, such an electric acoustic suggests jazz and blues, but many of the original British Hofner President players were part of the rock 'n roll, skiffle and beat scenes of the late 50s and early 60s.

1963 1964 Fender catalog

Fender 1963 catalogue"The Choice of Professional and Student Musicians Everywhere" This eight page catalogue was included as an insert in the 1963 annual "school music" issue of Downbeat magazine (September 1963). As well as keyboards and pedal steels, this catalog contains seven guitars, three basses and ten amplifiers - from student guitars such as the Musicmaster and Duotone to professional models like the new Jaguar.