Teisco FB-2 Violin Bass Red Burst 1968
Teisco FB-2, red burst, made in Japan circa 1968. This has plenty of swagger. Teisco were doing a bunch of wildly original models in the sixties, and while this one is loosely based on the Hofner models made famous by Sir Paul, this has some pretty wacky touches. The F-hole is a funky shape, it's got a scroll style headstock, the tuner buttons are shaped like undies, it has that weird rotary switch... heck, quite a lot going on there. Our tech installed a new bone nut and gave the electronics a good clean up, so it's playing and sounding really good. It's had the bridge pinned for easy setups and accurate intonation too. The neck is a quirky shape: a fairly fat D type profile, but without much taper as you get up the neck, like many violin style basses. Once you get used to it, it's pretty playable, and the natural resonance of the hollow body is charming. The tone is thumpy and tuneful, with a friendly roundness and short sustain. The finish looks awesome too, it's weathered the decades remarkably well and has that certain vintage-MIJ offbeat sci-fi steeze to it. Very fun.
Model: Teisco FB-2
Made: Japan, 1968 approx
Serial: 334984
Finish: red burst, gloss poly
Body: laminate spruce top, laminate maple back and sides, fully hollow
Neck: maple, rosewood board, 30" scale, 42mm nut, fat D shape
Weight: 2.945kg
Mods: new bone nut installed, bridge pinned into place
Pickups: Teisco single coil x2
Accessories: none
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has minor scuffs all over, some dimples near the bottom corners on the front and chip in the finish on the treble side of the scroll. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, dimples and scuffs and a scratch behind the third fret on the back only. The back has surface scratches on the top horn, middle of the body and back edge, dimples along the back edge as well as widespread light scuffs around the body. The sides have minor dimples around the whole body, nothing nasty. The front has some scratches in the elbow area and near the switch, dimples near the knobs and some play wear on the guard and horns.
Overall: very good condition (8/10)
Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electronics tested and working properly. Wearing La Bella flatwound strings.
Fret life: 7/10, minor wear only