[leezeppelin]

I'm looking at a '66 Mustang Bass in a natural wood stain, is this finish original? It looks in great condition so I'm considering investing it, importing to the UK, any tips for what to look out for, prices etc?

Thanks

[jules]

My sixties catalogues and price lists show only red white and blue....

The seventies start with the competition red, and competition burgundy (the blue one?) which have the stripe and (sometimes) coloured headstock. I love that finish!

by 74 the colours available were black, white, walnut, sunburst and custom colours (no natural)

The 1976 catalog is the first (I own - don't have a 75) to show natural (along with walnut, blond, black, white and custom colours)

I guess there would have been many exceptions to the catalogue and price list listings - but by the old thumbrest location yours looks like an older one.

If its a refin, will you get it redone - or keep it as is?

Jules

[leezeppelin]

Cheers for the info Jules. I've been sent a few more pics and its not as good as I hoped, so I'm gonna keep looking. I have found this http://www.gbase.com/Stores/Gear/Gea...x?Item=1515071 which I adore, but it's out of my price range as it'd probably cost me $100 to ship it here and then I'd pay 17.5% tax. You guys in the US are so lucky with guitars, we have nothing here in England and pay double when something does turn up!

[jules]

Check these two - i'm tempted myself

1969 Fender Mustang - competition orange

1960's Fender Mustang Bass Guitar! NR!

[pike_tt]

I really like the stripes - the competition finish. Was it available on other basses too or just the mustang?

Both basses look stunning I must say

[eb2]

That bass has been stripped. The scrap wood construction was meant to be covered in an opaque color.

Natural finishes, as well as maple fingerboards, are rarer and from the later 70s.

I believe the competition stripes were to play on the Ford Mustang cars, and to move the things out the door. Only the Mustang guitars and basses got them.