Author Topic: Nokie's Precision Bass  (Read 2158 times)

Offline abstamaria

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Nokie's Precision Bass
« on: June 07, 2013, 09:22:28 pm »
To record this for posterity (thanks, Walt), the Fender Precision Bass that Nokie used in the early years, including on the all important 1960 Walk Don’t Run recording, appears to be a mid-1957 to mid-1959 model.  This is distinguished from the following model by its all-maple neck and gold anodized pickguard, as shown in the photo.

I wonder when Nokie bought that and how long he used it.  Perhaps others here know.

Andy
« Last Edit: June 07, 2013, 09:36:03 pm by tabalt11 »

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Offline abstamaria

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Pickguard
« Reply #1 on: June 15, 2013, 06:12:30 am »
The anodized pickguard on Nokie's Precision Bass is clearer in this photo.

Offline wstagner

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Re: Nokie's Precision Bass
« Reply #2 on: June 15, 2013, 06:00:15 pm »
What if he was loaned it just for the pic and never played/owned it?

Just axkin.   :P

Offline cockroach

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Re: Nokie's Precision Bass
« Reply #3 on: June 17, 2013, 08:54:53 am »
In recent years I've read a few interviews etc where a number of past bands and players (through their management) seemed to have some sort of product use business deals going with instrument distributors, and the gear used was supplied, serviced and replaced or updated regularly.

Often players originally used their own stuff that they bought, but maybe there were endorsement deals later when they became successful.

This certainly happened with the Shadows from about 1961/2, so it wouldn't surprise me if the Ventures also had deals with Fender, and later Mosrite etc


Offline wstagner

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Re: Nokie's Precision Bass
« Reply #4 on: June 17, 2013, 10:27:57 am »
Mor liklee w/mozrite since @ the time the V were the us distributors.  4 all we no, those geetars were obtained from some 1 just for the pix.  I woont trust what was in any V pic until In Space w/Mozrite geetars.

Offline Gandy Dancer

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Re: Nokie's Precision Bass
« Reply #5 on: July 04, 2013, 02:41:32 pm »
Why doesn't someone just ask him?  ???

Offline wstagner

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Re: Nokie's Precision Bass
« Reply #6 on: July 04, 2013, 02:57:04 pm »
If U R on FB, friend Judy E. and axes her to axes him. ;)

Offline Jeff Green

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Re: Nokie's Precision Bass
« Reply #7 on: December 31, 2015, 09:06:50 pm »
According to Del Halterman's book "Walk-Don't Run...The Story of The Ventures":

In 1959, a few months after Don and Bob met Nokie, he(Nokie) came into "The Blue Moon" with a guitar case.
When it was time for Don and Bob to take a break, they went to sat with Nokie, and Nokie opened
his guitar case and showed the guys a Sunburst Precision Bass with a gold anodized pickguard.
The bass looked almost new, but was actually a pre-owned bass that Nokie bought for $125.00 from a pawn shop.
Nokie was invited to sit in with Don and Bob that night, he did, playing bass and then switching to guitar.
(This was night that Bob played a bass for the very first time, and it was in front of a live audience!)

This is the same bass that Nokie played on American Bandstand in 1960, and on the albums, "Walk: Don't Run!",
"The Ventures", "Another Smash", and "The Colorful Ventures".
After recording "The Colorful Ventures" album, Nokie loaned his bass to Judd Hamilton(formerly the groups road Mgr.),
for a live band job.  Afterwards, Judd left the bass to overnight in his car.  Next morning, the bass was gone...
Even in 1961, it wasn't safe to leave your instrument visible in your car; somebody smashed a window and grabbed
Nokie's bass.  Judd couldn't afford to replace Nokie's bass, but Leo Fender presented Nokie with a brand-new
Precision bass and a brand-new Jazzmaster.

Offline wstagner

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Re: Nokie's Precision Bass
« Reply #8 on: January 02, 2016, 12:08:25 pm »
It's good 2 hav frens in hi places. ;)

Offline Jeff Green

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Re: Nokie's Precision Bass
« Reply #9 on: January 04, 2016, 01:18:46 pm »
Thanks Walt!

Maybe I'm just high enough at 5' 9"... and Hey!, I don't use any drugs! LOL! I'm high on life!

Offline Rich Miller

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Re: Nokie's Precision Bass
« Reply #10 on: February 25, 2016, 08:26:10 pm »
The real question Jeff is? Did Nokie use flat wound strings, which I believe was all that was available at this time? Or did he use round wound strings?

Those flat wound are just dead sounding but definately identifiable when heard and very distinctive.

Bill Kestell preferred flat wounds on bass but I hate them.

Rich Miller

Offline Jeff Green

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Re: Nokie's Precision Bass
« Reply #11 on: February 25, 2016, 08:33:04 pm »
Rich,

I have 2 basses. but I don't practice with them very often because the guitar itself keeps me very busy.
So all I can say string-wise, is that I much prefer round-wounds on my guitars.
They are 9>42 (Same as Nokie)

Jeff G.

Offline Rich Miller

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Re: Nokie's Precision Bass
« Reply #12 on: February 25, 2016, 08:49:06 pm »
I concur on the round wounds 10-42's are my choice.

Rich Miller

Offline wstagner

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Re: Nokie's Precision Bass
« Reply #13 on: February 26, 2016, 10:23:00 pm »
I d test string changes, so over the past 2 years I've bin usin these:
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/16542
3 sets for less than 20 bux is a grrrate deal and I only change 2x/yeer

Offline Rich Miller

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Re: Nokie's Precision Bass
« Reply #14 on: February 27, 2016, 07:07:50 am »
you buy and then they sell you a Gretsch guitar?

Rich Miller