Fender Tele Thinline Bass

Claymation · September 14th, 2008, 07:13 PM

So, I was looking on eBay, and found this:

How do they sound? Anybody have any clips?

Gene Machine · September 14th, 2008, 07:26 PM

Never seen one of thhose before. Is it stock or a Warmoth type custom?

I never knew Fender made any like that...

Claymation · September 14th, 2008, 07:27 PM

It is stock. I can get more pictures and a serial number if you would like.

Tim Armstrong · September 15th, 2008, 01:38 AM

I'd be willing to bet money that's a homebrew, maybe with a Fender neck on it. I know that in 30+ years off obsessing on this stuff, I've never seen or heard of a stock Fender thinline bass. Looks like a 70s Tele Bass pickup (along with a Jazz pickup)...

Cheers, Tim

tuuur · September 15th, 2008, 03:28 AM

Never seen one of those either.

It seems this is the sale you refer to, because that one too has a Seymour Duncan Jazz bridge pickup:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=433588

Quoting from that post:

Quote:

I'm not exactly sure what the production year is, but from what I've heard Fender Japan didn't make these for very long.(I've read sometime around 2000, and ending sometime around 2004) So, they don't come around too often. You might find 3 or 4 at most per year on Ebay.

It sounds pretty cool. It's kind of a nice middle ground between a P bass and a Hofner. It definitely has the character of a hollowbody, but the jazz pickup keeps things clear enough that you can use it in quite a few different situations.

There was a post on tdpri about MIJ Fender Thinline basses:
http://www.tdpri.com/forum/bass-plac...ne-basses.html
but the link to the Fender Japan site doesn't work any more.

A quick google returned this other pic of a same bass plus another thinline.

Tim Armstrong · September 15th, 2008, 11:58 AM

Well, there ya go!

Somewhat rare, but certainly exists!

I've still never seen the Loch Ness Monster, guess I need to go on a trip to Scotland now!

Cheers, Tim

ps- ...and it looks like a short-scale, too!

Dave W · September 15th, 2008, 12:16 PM

The bass with the acoustic bridge in tuuur's photo was called the A/E Precision. It was imported to the US in the early 90s. It had a Lace Sensor P and a piezo under the bridge.

The other one was for the Asian market only, unfortunately.

EDIT: the one with the acoustic bridge is probably a much later Japan-only resurrection of the earlier A/E from the same time frame as the other one.

Claymation · September 15th, 2008, 01:20 PM

Very cool! Nice to know its not a fake! I actually bought it and should be here soon.

Shoved BassVIII · September 15th, 2008, 08:33 PM

thats a mudbucker! and that BJ PU is aweful close to the bridge.......got me thinkin.

stevetat · September 15th, 2008, 11:10 PM

Here's an A/E for reference...

Claymation · September 16th, 2008, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shoved BassVIII

thats a mudbucker! and that BJ PU is aweful close to the bridge.......got me thinkin.

What do you mean it got you thinking? Does it look fake?

psychetelec · September 17th, 2008, 12:06 PM

Its not a fake.

ronstackman · January 5th, 2009, 06:00 PM

Hello Everyone - Here is a shot of my Fender Thinline Bass. This one is from 2003. It was indeed a legit not-for-export model. The person I bought it from told me it did not sell well in Japan as they are more interested in classic styles and colors. Hence it's short run. The bass is a kind of a hybrid. Modern bridge, reverse-tuners, old-style P-bass neck (thinner at nut) and Telecaster style body. It has a woody tone and its quite loud unplugged. Sustains forever. Plugged in the tone is big and round with plenty of mids and highs as well. The only negative is that it is quite neck heavy. While sitting down you better hold on! The model number is TNB-110SPL (Thin Line Bass, 110,000 Yen, Special). They also made it in blue burst. This one is a Q serial number. Since One US Dollar is worth about 95 Yen today, the bass would list today in US Dollars at $1179. It came with the Standard Fender Japan gig bag. By the time you paid shipping (about $125) and got a legit case this wasn't cheap but worth every penny. It is an outstanding instrument, beautiful to look at and a pleasure to play. I have tried flatwounds and roundwounds on it and prefer the rounds. Just a personal preference. I have a matching Tele which I think they still make. Cheers!

Shoved BassVIII · January 5th, 2009, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Claymation

What do you mean it got you thinking? Does it look fake?

No...it has be thinking about a bass build with a mudbucker and a tele rail guitar bridge pickup....That baby's certified Fender, and certified cool

September 14th, 2008, 07:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
Claymation NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Virginia Age: 18 Posts: 5	Fender Tele Thinline Bass So, I was looking on eBay, and found this: How do they sound? Anybody have any clips?

September 14th, 2008, 07:26 PM	#2 (permalink)
Gene Machine Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Trenton, Ontario Posts: 338	WOW Never seen one of thhose before. Is it stock or a Warmoth type custom? I never knew Fender made any like that... __________________ * I AM CANADIAN *

September 15th, 2008, 01:38 AM	#4 (permalink)
Tim Armstrong Moderator Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ocean Pines, Maryland, USA Age: 50 Posts: 12,079	I'd be willing to bet money that's a homebrew, maybe with a Fender neck on it. I know that in 30+ years off obsessing on this stuff, I've never seen or heard of a stock Fender thinline bass. Looks like a 70s Tele Bass pickup (along with a Jazz pickup)... Cheers, Tim __________________ http://www.moodswingers.org

September 15th, 2008, 11:58 AM	#6 (permalink)
Tim Armstrong Moderator Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ocean Pines, Maryland, USA Age: 50 Posts: 12,079	Well, there ya go! Somewhat rare, but certainly exists! I've still never seen the Loch Ness Monster, guess I need to go on a trip to Scotland now! Cheers, Tim ps- ...and it looks like a short-scale, too! __________________ http://www.moodswingers.org

September 17th, 2008, 12:06 PM	#12 (permalink)
psychetelec Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Austin,Texas Age: 51 Posts: 196	Its not a fake. __________________ Proud owner of Dee Murray's Steinberger! http://www.myspace.com/shapedsound http://www.eggmen.com

September 14th, 2008, 07:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
Claymation NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Virginia Age: 18 Posts: 5	It is stock. I can get more pictures and a serial number if you would like.

September 15th, 2008, 12:16 PM	#7 (permalink)
Dave W Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2003 Location: Guadalupe County, TX Age: 62 Posts: 1,922	The bass with the acoustic bridge in tuuur's photo was called the A/E Precision. It was imported to the US in the early 90s. It had a Lace Sensor P and a piezo under the bridge. The other one was for the Asian market only, unfortunately. EDIT: the one with the acoustic bridge is probably a much later Japan-only resurrection of the earlier A/E from the same time frame as the other one.

September 15th, 2008, 01:20 PM	#8 (permalink)
Claymation NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Virginia Age: 18 Posts: 5	Very cool! Nice to know its not a fake! I actually bought it and should be here soon.

September 15th, 2008, 08:33 PM	#9 (permalink)
Shoved BassVIII Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lima Ohio Age: 27 Posts: 495	thats a mudbucker! and that BJ PU is aweful close to the bridge.......got me thinkin.

September 15th, 2008, 11:10 PM	#10 (permalink)
stevetat TDPRI Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 78 16 Photos	Here's an A/E for reference...