Teisco YB-6 Electric 6-String Bass Guitar (1965)
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Item # 11925
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Teisco YB-6 Model Electric 6-String Bass Guitar (1965), made in Japan, brown lacquer finish, hardwood body, nato wood neck with rosewood fingerboard, black gig bag case.
In the pantheon of 1960s Japanese-made instruments this one stands high: the very rare 1965 Teisco YB-6 6-string bass. This instrument was obviously "inspired" by the Fender Bass VI, but emerges as a worthy creation in its own right. This basic instrument exists in several different variations, some with a more elongated body and some of those with the "Monkey Grip" hole in the rear of the body. This one has a more truncated body shape, slightly less *exactly* Fender styled. It bears a headstock plate stating "World Teisco" so may well have been originally built for export sale, but we're not sure to where! These basses were only made in small numbers (like most 6-string basses of the period) and rarely appear in the US.
This 30" scale bass has a big, deep chunky neck with a bound rosewood fingerboard marked with the distinctive edge inlays characteristic of mid-'60s Teiscos. The headstock is enormous, with a metal faceplate, large decorative bulb on the end and 6 full sized bass machines (doing the Fender one better there!). The body is finished in a sort of undistinguished medium-brown lacquer that would seem to have been about the least exciting choice for such an otherwise striking instrument!
As with the Bass VI there are three single-coil pickups with on/off controls for each, a typical rhythm/solo switch found on many Japanese guitars and a master tone and volume. As with many early Teiscos, the tone is wired in reverse. The pickups sound like they are wired in series, as the sound gets progressively more powerful as all three are engaged. All this is mounted to an odd split textured metal pickguard, the upper half silver/grey and the lower section black. The knobs tastefully reverse this color scheme!
Other hardware includes a fully adjustable 6-saddle bridge suspended from end caps and a surprisingly functional tremolo system; the tubular arm included may not be original but works (and looks) perfectly at home. This is one of the rarest and most sought after Teisco instruments, rarely found in the US and only imported usually under different jobber brands. As vintage guitar-styled 6-string basses go this is an instrument that performs well over its price class, just as it did in 1965. it would also make a nifty baritone tuned guitar with appropriate stringing.
Overall length is 47 1/2 in. (120.6 cm.), 13 1/2 in. (34.3 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 1/4 in. (3.2 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 30 in. (762 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This super imposing 6-string bass is in very fine shape overall, showing some general light wear but remaining nicely original except for possibly the trem bar and an excellent refret, which is pretty much a requirement for earlier 1960s Japanese instruments to play to a modern standard. The all-original finish has minor dings, dents and scrapes but no heavy wear or loss. There is some general corrosion and wear to the plating (most notable on the tailpiece plate and a couple of tuner housings) and some random scratching to the textured metal pickguards. The silver foil Teisco sticker on the back of the headstock has some damage but is still fully legible.
The neck is in excellent shape for one of these and the fret job is nicely done, certainly much more playable than the original Teisco frets which were rather the Achilles' heel of this otherwise excellently designed instrument. This is easily the most well preserved and best playing of these deep-voiced fretted Godzillas we have seen, very playable with a truly monstrous sound. Whatever it once came in is long gone, so a modern gig bag is provided. Overall Excellent Condition.
In the pantheon of 1960s Japanese-made instruments this one stands high: the very rare 1965 Teisco YB-6 6-string bass. This instrument was obviously "inspired" by the Fender Bass VI, but emerges as a worthy creation in its own right. This basic instrument exists in several different variations, some with a more elongated body and some of those with the "Monkey Grip" hole in the rear of the body. This one has a more truncated body shape, slightly less *exactly* Fender styled. It bears a headstock plate stating "World Teisco" so may well have been originally built for export sale, but we're not sure to where! These basses were only made in small numbers (like most 6-string basses of the period) and rarely appear in the US.
This 30" scale bass has a big, deep chunky neck with a bound rosewood fingerboard marked with the distinctive edge inlays characteristic of mid-'60s Teiscos. The headstock is enormous, with a metal faceplate, large decorative bulb on the end and 6 full sized bass machines (doing the Fender one better there!). The body is finished in a sort of undistinguished medium-brown lacquer that would seem to have been about the least exciting choice for such an otherwise striking instrument!
As with the Bass VI there are three single-coil pickups with on/off controls for each, a typical rhythm/solo switch found on many Japanese guitars and a master tone and volume. As with many early Teiscos, the tone is wired in reverse. The pickups sound like they are wired in series, as the sound gets progressively more powerful as all three are engaged. All this is mounted to an odd split textured metal pickguard, the upper half silver/grey and the lower section black. The knobs tastefully reverse this color scheme!
Other hardware includes a fully adjustable 6-saddle bridge suspended from end caps and a surprisingly functional tremolo system; the tubular arm included may not be original but works (and looks) perfectly at home. This is one of the rarest and most sought after Teisco instruments, rarely found in the US and only imported usually under different jobber brands. As vintage guitar-styled 6-string basses go this is an instrument that performs well over its price class, just as it did in 1965. it would also make a nifty baritone tuned guitar with appropriate stringing.
Overall length is 47 1/2 in. (120.6 cm.), 13 1/2 in. (34.3 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 1/4 in. (3.2 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 30 in. (762 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This super imposing 6-string bass is in very fine shape overall, showing some general light wear but remaining nicely original except for possibly the trem bar and an excellent refret, which is pretty much a requirement for earlier 1960s Japanese instruments to play to a modern standard. The all-original finish has minor dings, dents and scrapes but no heavy wear or loss. There is some general corrosion and wear to the plating (most notable on the tailpiece plate and a couple of tuner housings) and some random scratching to the textured metal pickguards. The silver foil Teisco sticker on the back of the headstock has some damage but is still fully legible.
The neck is in excellent shape for one of these and the fret job is nicely done, certainly much more playable than the original Teisco frets which were rather the Achilles' heel of this otherwise excellently designed instrument. This is easily the most well preserved and best playing of these deep-voiced fretted Godzillas we have seen, very playable with a truly monstrous sound. Whatever it once came in is long gone, so a modern gig bag is provided. Overall Excellent Condition.