LeftyBassist.com

I bought this a while back, it's a 1973 Telecaster bass (the other is a guitar that I'll never learn to play).
I bought it off the original owner. He ordered it in 72 and it took a year to get. Back then Fender would only build lefty’s when they had 10 orders or after a year wait. That’s what the dealer told the owner anyway.

As you can see it’s been played a lot! I had to have it refretted and took quite a while to find a vintage repair guy that knew how to do it; the frets were installed from the side back then. He did an excellent job and it plays great. This bass sounds way different than my P’s and J’s, it has more low fundamental but not muddy. It’s a keeper; I’ve been playing this one the most lately.

I really dig both of your teles!

A telecaster (or tele style at least) is definitely my next guitar purchase.

Isn't that bridge cover on backwards? I've seen it done like that before, but I'm pretty sure I remember a discussion about how they had put it on backwards by accident and then decided they liked it that way.

Cover is mounted correctly.

To be honest this is the first one I've seen with the cover. I really like this bass.

Hey! I went to hit BIN on that bass and it had already been snagged. That was you?!?!?!?!? That bass kicks ass!

I guess it was me, if I ever sell it you get first dibbs!

Anyone know who bought that 1960 stack knob lefty Jazz bass? It went for 29,000!!!

when i ordered my 66 Jazz, it took only 6 months and that was with the custom white finish.
Judging from the way it's aging, it looks like they might of just painted over a stock sunburst one that was in stock.

Andy

Fender did often paint right over pre-existing painted bodies. I have a black '75 Tele bass that was previously white (as the majority of the Tele basses were) and they just painted right over it.

Hi, I saw a video of the new owner playing "Opus 17" on it on Youtube, and e-mailed him. The bass was owned by Joe Long (Lobracio) of The Four Seasons. I'm not sure if that bass was on that track, but it almost certainly was on "Oh What A Night." By the way, Opus 17's tricky bass line is a GREAT bass performance by a very skilled bassist, Mr. Long. I'm from New York City, and was playing my own white 1971 Jazz Bass in Da Bronx at the time. I actually made an offer to buy that bass in 1976, to a mutual friend of Mr. Long's, and didn't hear back. I know why...I wouldn't have sold it then either! I think that bass was worth a lot more than the 29k it sold for, it's part of rock and roll history. It will surely appreciate in value over time.. If you search Youtube for the Opus 17 title, you might be able to find that video.

Nope, Joe Long and that bass were not on, "Oh What a Night". Joe was out of the band by then (kicked out, according to an interview, 'cause he was considered a "dinosaur" and they wanted to freshen up the group with a new "disco" approach). Bass duties were taken over by Don Ciccone.

I found the YouTube video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeeDS6xcOuA

The guy plays pretty well for a non-bassist.

Well, either way, Joe was and probably still is a fine bassist!

No argument there.

It's an interesting story, actually. When this bass went up for sale I started reading about him.

Joe was snubbed when the Four seasons were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (for whatever that's worth), much to the dismay of other band members, particularly frankie Valli, who was always opposed to replacing him. Thanks to the success of the play, "Jersey Boys", a whole online blog of fans rallied to get him inducted. They eventually had a his personal ceremony party just for him.