(u) 75-AO13

[rv_bass]

Checking to see if there might be information in the files on 75-AO13.  There is a bit of information in Club posts, but I’m mainly curious about the birth date and if the bridge was originally a single brass bar rather than individual saddles that are currently on the bass.  Thanks very much! 

[edwardofhuncote]

Solid bird tailpiece looks newer than I would have thought to have come on a '75 bass too.


I sure hope something turns up on this one... Smitty is one of my all-time favorites!

[rv_bass]

Maybe I'll look into having the tailpiece and bridge restored to original. Mica, would that be possible?

[mica]

We can surely make the hardware items you would like.

[rv_bass]

Great, thank you, I will give you a call

[mica]

The file doesn't have the index card in it. And most of the AO and AE serial numbers don't have birthdays on them (why?!)

So for now, we'll just have to look at pictures for the details.

Also I'm pretty sure since this is a fretless that the bone nut is original (I've learned a thing or two), and the bar bridge is also typical for a fretless from that era. I'm not sure we need to make any hardware for you.

[rv_bass]

Thanks for checking, Mica.  It plays very well, so I’ll leave the nut, bridge, and tailpiece as is.

As for the birth date, the serial number has year 1975, but I would guess based on the body shape (soft upper horn) that most of the work was done in 1974 and it was finished in early 1975. 74-59 with a soft upper horn has a birth date In June 1974, 74-124 November 1974, and 75-174 with a newer looking upper horn shape was at the NAMM show in March 1975, so probably finished in January or February 1975. So my guess is that 75-AO13 probably falls between those with a finish date in early 1975.  But I guess there could have been some overlap on either side of those range boundaries due to design experimentation. I checked for the birth date for 75-133, that has a soft upper horn too, but could not find reference to it, so wonder how it fits into the 59/174 range as well.

[mica]

Also remember that some projects that aren't specifically for customers get started and then set aside in favor of doing work for specific people. Things for our showroom might span many years, with the bulk of that just waiting for an opportunity of time to finish.

The other thing is that there were very few set specifications for these models. If you ordered in Koa, you would get a Koa top, but the back and peghead veneers would probably be something different. Likewise the body variations were many. It's unlikely that a typical modern customer would be as tolerant of the surprises that came early on. Crack in the top near the edge? Carve that into a rounder horn. Chipout when shaping the body roundover? Add veneers or a laminate as needed to bulk up and glue it on the neck. I actually like the idea of reactionary building like this, but I only have one bass! Some people would think it was cool, but in my experience most people do not appreciate the idea of oopsies turning into custom features. Not that there's anything like that on this bass, it's just where the conversation lead.

And it's not about the expense then vs now - except for the added features on the current Series I/II models, they are just about as expensive now as they were then.

[pauldo]

Think they call that Adaptive Craftsmanship.  😎

[rv_bass]

Improvisation!  Thanks for the insight, Mica…and it still blows my mind that you only have one bass!