Vintage Telecaster Bass Pink Paisley ex. Steve Kilbey - USA 1968

The 1968 Fender Telecaster Bass occupies one of the most unusual places in Fender history. Although marketed as a new model, it was effectively a reissue of the original 1951 Precision Bass design, making it arguably Fender's first ever reissue instrument. At a time when most manufacturers were focused on new designs, Fender looked backwards, reviving the slab-bodied Precision Bass that had disappeared more than a decade earlier.

The decision was driven by more than nostalgia. Fender's new Paisley and Blue Flower finishes were created using decorative Cling-Foil material applied beneath a clear coat, and the flat surfaces of the original Precision Bass design made the process far easier than on the company's contoured basses. The result was the Telecaster Bass, a model that combined the original Precision Bass design with some of the most distinctive finishes Fender ever produced.

This example is finished in the exceptionally rare Pink Paisley finish, one of Fender's most ambitious and short-lived experiments of the late 1960s. Produced for only a brief period between 1968 and 1969, Pink Paisley Telecaster Basses are amongst the rarest production instruments Fender ever offered. While exact production figures remain unknown, most estimates place production somewhere between 120 and 200 instruments, with surviving original examples believed to number only a fraction of that today. Many were refinished over the years as tastes changed or as the delicate Cling-Foil finishes deteriorated, making original survivors exceptionally difficult to find.

Adding another remarkable chapter to its history, this bass was previously owned by Steve Kilbey, frontman and bassist of the iconic Australian band The Church. Steve has personally signed the interior of the original hard shell case, with the autograph visible in the accompanying photographs, providing a lasting connection to its place in Australian rock history. Prior to Kilbey's ownership, the bass belonged to an American session bassist whose career included performances with legendary artists including The Doors, Bob Dylan and many other renowned recording artists of the era. This distinguished chain of ownership gives the instrument an exceptional provenance that complements its already extraordinary rarity and collectability.

While the original 1968 Fender single-coil pickup accompanies the instrument, remains fully functional and is included in the original hard shell case, the bass is currently fitted with a custom-built Jim Dyson single-coil pickup. Hand-wound to capture the character and response of vintage Fender basses while delivering exceptional clarity and balance, the Jim Dyson pickup makes this an outstanding instrument for regular playing. Importantly for collectors, the original pickup has been carefully retained, allowing the instrument to be returned to original factory specification if desired.

Like the original 1951 Precision Bass that inspired it, the Telecaster Bass features a slab body, string-through-body construction, Telecaster-style headstock, chrome control plate and large pickguard. The result is a bass with tremendous fundamental punch, clarity and authority that helped establish Fender's reputation in the earliest years of electric bass design.

With its combination of historical significance, extreme rarity, unmistakable late-1960s Fender aesthetics and documented provenance spanning legendary American session work and one of Australia's most influential musicians, this Pink Paisley Telecaster Bass stands amongst the finest and most desirable examples to leave Fender's Fullerton factory.

Specifications:

Action at 1st Fret: 0.25mm

Action at 12th Fret: 1.75mm

Neck Depth at 1st Fret: 22.95mm

Neck Depth at 12th Fret: 24.70mm

Nut Width: 43.65mm

Width at 12th Fret: 56.80mm

Weight: 3.960kg

Year: 1968

Model: Fender Telecaster Bass

Finish: Pink Paisley Cling-Foil

Body: Alder

Body Style: Slab Body

Neck: Maple

Fingerboard: Maple

Fingerboard Radius: 7.25"

Frets: 20

Scale Length: 34"

Pickup: Original Fender Single Coil Bass Pickup

Controls: Volume, Tone

Bridge: Original Two Saddle String Through Body Bridge

Tuners: Original Fender Open Gear Tuners

Case: Original Hard Shell Case

Crafted in: Fullerton, California, USA