Custom Fender Telecaster Bass 1968 Black - Tuxedo

1968 Fender Telecaster Bass - This bass is in great shape and plays like a dream. It also has an an interesting story. The guy I bought it from said the original owner back in Arkansas had the body modified to Black Tuxedo. Tuxedo is black with white binding. He saw a Fender Telecaster guitar like that and wanted his bass to look the same. The body was planed to be slightly thinner and the binding was added. They did a great job. When I bought the bass it had a clear plexiglass pick guard. But the body was so nice and didn't have any routing, so I removed the clear guard and had the front refinished and holes filled so it would be just solid black with out a pick guard. It looks great, it's a player and show piece for a collector.

The bass came with the original 1968 pickup, but in my infinite wisdom I put in a Seymour Duncan, but the original pickup works fine (is quite collectable) and will be included with the bass (the pickup is dated 1968).

This is one of the nicest, fattest Telecaster necks I've ever played. It is date stamped 23 JUN 68C. The neck has NOT been re-finished, but it has been over-sprayed and the frets are in nice shape.
 
When I took the neck off I saw a name in the neck pocket, "Don Garrett, L.R. AR". Well, I was told the bass came from Arkansas, so I put 2 and 2 together, and figured, that must mean Little Rock, Arkansas. I googled the name and it appears the Don Garrett was a bass player in Little Rock in a band called "Merging Traffic". Merging Traffic had a minor hit called "Bit By Bit" on Decca Records. Bit By Bit was a hit single in 1970, and this is a 1968 Bass. So, it is very possible this bass was used to record the song. The song isn't bad and the bass is way up in the mix.

I am only selling this bass because I bought an even older Pre-CBS P-bass, and the deal with my wife is one in and one out (in this case 3 out).

Ask me any questions you might have. I can take more pictures if required.