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FENDER | CATALOGS | 1970 | PAGE 23, FRETLESS PRECISION BASS

Fender Fretless Precision bass

1970 Fender guitar, bass and amp catalog - page 23

Fender 1970 guitar and bass catalog. Page 23. Details of the Fretless Fender Precision bass. This was the first year fretless was offered as standard, and the first appearance in a catalog. The bass pictured is in a Fender standard colour, Sunburst. For other colour options see the 1970 Fender color chart on page 95.

The Precision bass had a price (without optional features) of $293.50 at this time; at least for Sunburst models as pictured below. The Fretless Precision was priced identically to the fretted, so had increases for custom finishes, left-handedness etc.

A new version of the famous Precision bass. No frets

Fender Fretless Precision Bass- 1970 Fender catalog - page 23
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1983 Fender Precision Walnut Elite Fretless Bass owned 35 years truly Minty !

1983 Fender Precision Walnut Elite Fretless Bass owned 35 years truly Minty !

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 333**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$7495

After the CBS takeover of Fender in the mid-1960's, the following 1970's decade brought about many changes. The guitar market was booming and most U S. musical instrument manufactures attempted to produce their instruments faster and for less money. The Fender instruments suffered a gradual sloppiness associated with the fit and finishes and a subsequent "body bloat" that their instruments experienced up to and including 1981. Simultaneously, Fender's own off-shore manufactured instruments were ... more
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1979 Fender Precision Bass Antigua FRETLESS Maple Neck Vintage 1970s P-Bass

1979 Fender Precision Bass Antigua FRETLESS Maple Neck Vintage 1970's P-Bass

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

$4750

1979 Fender Precision Bass Antigua FRETLESS Maple Neck!
This is a very nice 1979 fender Precision bass In Antigua. The serial number and pots date to 1979, but pickups are 1980 so technically a 1980 with the S9 serial number which is common. S9 went from 1979 to 1982 ish. It's a rare fretless maple neck version. The base is super clean with only a few minor scratches and dings as shown. If not for the little spot on the guard, it would be very close to collector grade. The antigua ... more
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1976 Fender Precision Bass Fretless Maple Neck | Black Finish, Original Case

1976 Fender Precision Bass Fretless Maple Neck | Black Finish, Original Case

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

$2599

1976 Fender Precision Bass Fretless Maple Neck Black Finish, Original Case
Here is a really nice '76 Fender Precision Bass in Black. Fretless maple neck. Interestingly the neck has a "76" serial number but the neck plate also has a late 75 or '76 number. We're guessing that these were either paired at a later date or left the factory this way. Of course you could easily change the serial number plate for one with no serial with no problems. The bass itself is nice and original ... more
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1975 Vintage Fender Precision Bass Guitar Fretless w /  Natural Finish & HSC

1975 Vintage Fender Precision Bass Guitar Fretless w / Natural Finish & HSC

Berkeley, California, 947**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2900


Nice piece of fairly lightweight three-piece Ash body. Serial number is 634290
There are plenty of small dings and light wear around the edges. Some of the finish has worn off where the arm rests. There is a nice gouge a bit over one inch long on the upper bout on the top
The neck is very clean with no dings or signs of wear. The fingerboard is clean and smooth with very little playing wear. It is currently strung with flatwounds. All parts are original except the bridge cover and ... more
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Fender precision bass fretless vintage 1976 Mint - all original - Olympic white

Fender precision bass fretless vintage 1976 Mint - all original - Olympic white

San Diego, California, 921**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$4000

Embrace the classic feel of the Fender Precision Bass, a 1976 vintage model that has been meticulously preserved in its original Olympic white finish. This fretless electric bass guitar is a treasure for both collectors and musicians alike, offering an authentic experience with its timeless design and exceptional playability Crafted with the high-quality standards that Fender is known for, this piece boasts a sleek white body that provides a sharp contrast to the traditional wood tones. The ... more
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1972 Fender Precision Fretless Bass the newest one extant 1 of a kind & Minty !

1972 Fender Precision Fretless Bass the newest one extant 1 of a kind & Minty !

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 333**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$6495

Check out this really cool & collectible 1972 Fender Precision ??Fretless?? Bass that literally is like new from back in 1972. It has an original bold colored Sunburst finish over an alder body, its very colorful Fretless Rosewood fingerboard is on the white-ist maple neck w / some killer grain & some nice figuring we??ve seen in years. Its also has a minty tortoise pickgard. Its split pickup is super smooth. It??s insane to find one from under the bed ever & for a 53 year old ... more
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Fender 1979 Vintage Fretless Precision 4str Bass

Fender 1979 Vintage Fretless Precision 4str Bass

Brentwood, Tennessee, 370**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$3300

Vintage 1979 Fender Fretless 4string Precision Bass!!! W / HSC
Notes from Seller: This bass has been used on a lot of great recordings, professional and indy. Wonderful sounding and playing bass! If you're looking for that classic fretless P bass sound with the vintage tone, this is it! This bass is in great condition considering it's age. It's been very well taken care of. It has the normal wear and tear for a vintage instrument but no major dings or problems. We are committed to selling ... more
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Fender Precision Bass Fretless 1978 USA

Fender Precision Bass Fretless 1978 USA

Port St. Mary, IM9***, UNITED KINGDOM

£3100

1978 Fender Precision Fretless Bass in Sun Burst finish. Fantastic condition, what a delight
Ash slab with maple neck and rosewood fretboard
Super clean, all original example, with original non Fender case, manual and original payment card. Original covers and thumb rest with original screws
No repairs; slight dings to body as shown on photos. Matching serial number stickers on the body and pick guard match; S8 Serial number
Super playing & sounding P-Bass that is in fantastic... more
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1976 Fender Precision Bass Fretless USA Sunburst

1976 Fender Precision Bass Fretless USA Sunburst

Montpellier, 34***, FRANCE

€2700

Basse Fender Precision Fretless ?? Made in USA 1976.
Manche Touche Palissandre - Corps Sunburst
Très bon état. Son fantastique
Nous contacter pour envoi avec assurance via transporteur UPS ou DHL
Fender Precision Fretless Bass - Made in USA 1976 Rosewood Handle - Ash Body - SunburstVery good state. Fantastic SoundShipping to Europe, USA and JAPAN - Please contact us via phone call +33 6 522 521 28
Return to the buyer's charge
... more
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Vendo Fender Bass precision fretless made in US A. 1978

Vendo Fender Bass precision fretless made in US A. 1978

Siracusa, 96***, ITALY

€3600

Vendo Fender Bass precision fretless made in US A. anno 1978
Regolato e revisionato , ottimo stato di conservazione , tutto originale, introvabile per la precisione del suono e lo stato della vernice, dell'elettronica e della meccanica. Prezzo trattabile La custodia è compresa
... more
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Fender Precision Bass Fretless 1977 Natural

Fender Precision Bass Fretless 1977 Natural

St. Albans, AL4***, UNITED KINGDOM

£2499

Fender Precision Bass Fretless from 1977 in the Natural finish
Comes in weighing 9lbs 1oz
Spec wise you get;
1 x DiMarzio Patent Applied For P Bass Pickup1 x DiMarzio Patent Applied For Jazz PickupMaple Neck & FingerboardThe bass is in good shape. Especially for its age. It has had a jazz pickup fitted and routed and some point in its life. It has some wear around the body, neck and headstock which can all be seen clearly in the photos. No breaks or repairs
The electronics ... more
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Fender Fretless Precision Bass, Alder-Nat, 1976 Style. Upgraded, Mods Av??able!

Fender Fretless Precision Bass, Alder-Nat, 1976 Style. Upgraded, Mods Av??able!

Stafford, ST17***, UNITED KINGDOM

£899

A stunning Fender Fretless Precision Bass in a Natural finish with matching headstock, in good condition. With either Chrome or Gold hardware, buyers choice. Other optional modifications are listed further down the description. It has to be played to understand how amazing this bass is. Grab a mid 70??s vintage looking bass for about a quarter of the price, which plays like a dream. This version is based on a 1976 model

This bass has a fully loaded Fender Japan PB70-70US Vintage ... more
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Fender Fretless Precision Bass, Walnut, 1979 Style. Upgraded, Mods Available!

Fender Fretless Precision Bass, Walnut, 1979 Style. Upgraded, Mods Available!

Stafford, ST17***, UNITED KINGDOM

£920

A stunning Fender Fretless Precision Bass in Walnut with in great condition. It has to be played to understand how amazing this bass is. Grab an early 70??s vintage looking bass for about a third of the price, which plays like a dream. This version is based on a 1979 model

This bass has a fully loaded Fender Japan Hybrid II Alder body in a Walnut finish with original pickups / bridge / thumbrest / chrome flat top knobs / black pickguard. The original bass cost £1, 299. It has been ... more
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1977 FENDER PRECISION BASS NECK USA - FRETLESS

1977 FENDER PRECISION BASS NECK USA - FRETLESS

COLOGNE, GERMANY

€2197


1977 FENDER PRECISION BASS NECK USA - FRETLESS :
* nice dark rosewood fingerboard
* super hard to find !
... more
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1972 FENDER PRECISION BASS NECK - FRETLESS - made in USA

1972 FENDER PRECISION BASS NECK - FRETLESS - made in USA

COLOGNE, GERMANY

€1597

1972 FENDER PRECISION BASS NECK- made in USA:
* converted to FRETLESS, slots are filled with wood putty
* last 3 frets have some double cuts and are filled a bit UNPRO
* headstock has a few small holes drilled at top end
* finish on back has wear
* neck is straight
Over 1000 more
GUITARS-BASSES-PARTS in our OTHER
AUCTIONS !!!!
TAKE A LOOK !!!
... more
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1979  /  82 FENDER PRECISION BASS NECK - FRETLESS - made in USA

1979 / 82 FENDER PRECISION BASS NECK - FRETLESS - made in USA

COLOGNE, GERMANY

€1850

1979 / 82 FENDER PRECISION BASS NECK - made in USA :
* FRETLESS version, rare
* fingerboard is clean
* extra tuner screw holes on back
* finish is clean
* 1979 serial number on headstock, butt stamp is 11 3 82
* neck is straight
Over 1000 more
GUITARS-BASSES-PARTS in our OTHER
AUCTIONS !!!!
TAKE A LOOK !!!... more
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1978 FENDER PRECISION BASS MAPLE NECK - FRETLESS - made in USA

1978 FENDER PRECISION BASS MAPLE NECK - FRETLESS - made in USA

COLOGNE, GERMANY

€1995

1978 FENDER PRECISION BASS NECK - made in USA :
* FRETLESS
* all maple neck with skunk stripe on back, super rare
* finish has a few dings & chips=check pic 9
* fingerboard is clean
* neck is straight
* brass nut installed
* original chrome tuners are included
Over 1000 more
GUITARS-BASSES-PARTS in our OTHER
AUCTIONS !!!!
TAKE A LOOK !!!... more
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1977 FENDER PRECISION BASS NECK USA - FRETLESS

1977 FENDER PRECISION BASS NECK USA - FRETLESS

COLOGNE, GERMANY

£1699

1977 FENDER PRECISION BASS NECK USA - FRETLESS :
* nice dark rosewood fingerboard
* super hard to find !
... more
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1973 Hagstrom Swede Bass

1973 Hagstrom Swede Bass The Hagstrom Swede bass, or model HB 903, was only built in small numbers: just 1479 basses shipped between 1971 and 1976. Unlike the current range of Hagstrom guitars, the 1950s-1980s Hagstroms were built in Sweden. This example comes from 1973 and is pretty typical: translucent cherry finish, mahogany body, mahogany neck with an ebony fretboard. It's a really nice bass, beautifully appointed with a very wide tonal range, and a great playing feel. It is relatively heavy though for a mahogany instrument, mostly due to its thick solid body. Very cool bass, and certainly one of the very best basses produced by Hagstrom.

1973 Shaftesbury 3400

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1971 Epiphone 1802T

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1971 Shaftesbury 3400

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1981 Gibson Victory MVX

1981 Gibson Victory MV-XThe Gibson Victory MV-X, or Victory 'Multi-Voice' 10, was so-named because of the 10 distinct switch settings: although on first glance this guitar is very much a 'super-strat', with its three-pickup 5-way switch wiring configuration, the original advertising, sounds like... all of 'em underlines that this isn't just a Stratocaster copy, having the sounds of both Gibson humbuckers and Fender single coils available with a flick of a switch. The model was short-lived, with the first instruments shipping from Kalamazoo in Summer of 1981, and the last (excluding any stragglers) leaving Nashville by early 1982. This one was stamped on August 3rd 1981 in Kalamazoo.

1970 Rosetti Epiphone guitar catalogue

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A World of Guitars by Rosetti - 1971

1971 A World of Guitars by Rosetti catalogueScan of 1971 Rosetti catalogue (UK) featuring guitars from from numerous manufacturers worldwide: guitars by Epiphone, Hagstrom, Levin, Hoyer, Egmond, Eros, Moridaira, Kiso-Suzuki, Schaller, and Tatra.

1971 Selmer guitar catalogue

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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

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1971 Commodore N25 (Matsumoku)

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1960 Hofner Colorama II

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1971 Epiphone 1820 bass (ET-280)

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1981 Gibson Marauder

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1971 'Pick Epiphone' Catalog

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1981 'Gibson Specials' Pre-Owners Manual

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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 bass Rose-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 Zambesi This 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 Ace The 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 Escort The 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 Care Catalog 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 Folk The 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 guitar The 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