Jamerson sig bass ?

I keep reading that they have made a Jamerson bass I know theres not much to it just a stock 62 with flat wounds but.Does anyone know if this is true.

[wade1127]

I keep reading that they have made a Jamerson bass I know theres not much to it just a stock 62 with flat wounds but.Does anyone know if this is true.

To my knowledge there has never been nor will there be a Jamerson artist series P-bass. There is a USA 62 Reissue which is pretty much as close as you can get to his Funk Machine. It is as close as Fender will likely come since his bass was completely stock. The real difference was the player.

James Jamerson only ever owned two electric basses in his entire life. Both were P-basses. He is most associated with a stock sunburst '62 P-bass which he owned from the time his first generation single coil P-bass was stolen. Up until Chili Ruth gifted him that old beat up first generation Fender P-bass in 1960 Mr. Jamerson had only played acoustic double bass. He didn't actually like electric bass bass at first. Many of the recordings during this first-generation P-bass period, 1960 to 1962, utilized double tracked bass lines with James first playing the upright and then doubling in the electric bass.

In 1962 his first generation single coil bass was stolen, so Mr. Jamerson went shopping and bought a new stock 1962 sunburst P-Bass. He did no functional mods to it beyond sometimes inserting some foam under the strings near the bridge. This bass would become the famous and mysterious FUNK MACHINE.

A real Jamerson artist P-bass would have to be nitro sunburst, with a warped neck, a tortoise guard, pickup/bridge covers and would have "FUNK" carved with a switchblade knife into the heel of the neck filled in with blue ink, sort of like a prison tattoo. I doubt that will happen.

Should the Funk Machine be recovered, maybe Fender could replicate it after reaching a deal with the Jamerson family. But as long as it is missing in action it remains the "Holy Grail" of basses and it would be irreverent and dishonorable to replicate it.

I don't think even Indiana Jones could find it. I am very fearful that it was destroyed a long time ago. The statute of limitations for prosecution on any theft charges ran out nearly 20 years ago and there have been some substantial rewards offered for the return of the instrument and yet it has never appeared.

This instrument was stolen from Mr. Jamerson's Los Angeles residence while he lay on his deathbed. Whoever took it knew what it was and once the heat was on they probably burned it. If it was going to show up, it would have by now. While it belongs in the Hall of Fame, I really believe it is lost forever.

While Mr. Jamerson's German upright acoustic double bass sold for $197,500 at auction, the Funk Machine Precision is truly a priceless touchstone for a turning point in music. If it was going to show up, it would have by now. I truly am afraid that while it belongs in the Hall of Fame it is lost forever.

EVERY electric bass that James Jamerson ever owned was stolen from him. That my Fender Forum friends is the saddest thing I've ever heard.

You can protect youself from theft starting right now for free by clicking this link:
http://brotherdave.com/add_protectyourgear.htm
_________________
Bookmark my electric bass resources page at: http://brotherdave.com/resources.htm

[brotherdave]

To my knowledge there has never been nor will there be a Jamerson artist series P-bass. There is a USA 62 Reissue which is pretty much as close as you can get to his Funk Machine. It is as close as Fender will likely come since his bass was completely stock. The real difference was the player.

James Jamerson only ever owned two electric basses in his entire life. Both were P-basses. He is most associated with a stock sunburst '62 P-bass which he owned from the time his first generation single coil P-bass was stolen. Up until Chili Ruth gifted him that old beat up first generation Fender P-bass in 1960 Mr. Jamerson had only played acoustic double bass. He didn't actually like electric bass bass at first. Many of the recordings during this first-generation P-bass period, 1960 to 1962, utilized double tracked bass lines with James first playing the upright and then doubling in the electric bass.

In 1962 his first generation single coil bass was stolen, so Mr. Jamerson went shopping and bought a new stock 1962 sunburst P-Bass. He did no functional mods to it beyond sometimes inserting some foam under the strings near the bridge. This bass would become the famous and mysterious FUNK MACHINE.

A real Jamerson artist P-bass would have to be nitro sunburst, with a warped neck, a tortoise guard, pickup/bridge covers and would have "FUNK" carved with a switchblade knife into the heel of the neck filled in with blue ink, sort of like a prison tattoo. I doubt that will happen.

Should the Funk Machine be recovered, maybe Fender could replicate it after reaching a deal with the Jamerson family. But as long as it is missing in action it remains the "Holy Grail" of basses and it would be irreverent and dishonorable to replicate it.

I don't think even Indiana Jones could find it. I am very fearful that it was destroyed a long time ago. The statute of limitations for prosecution on any theft charges ran out nearly 20 years ago and there have been some substantial rewards offered for the return of the instrument and yet it has never appeared.

This instrument was stolen from Mr. Jamerson's Los Angeles residence while he lay on his deathbed. Whoever took it knew what it was and once the heat was on they probably burned it. If it was going to show up, it would have by now. While it belongs in the Hall of Fame, I really believe it is lost forever.

While Mr. Jamerson's German upright acoustic double bass sold for $197,500 at auction, the Funk Machine Precision is truly a priceless touchstone for a turning point in music. If it was going to show up, it would have by now. I truly am afraid that while it belongs in the Hall of Fame it is lost forever.

EVERY electric bass that James Jamerson ever owned was stolen from him. That my Fender Forum friends is the saddest thing I've ever heard.

You can protect youself from theft starting right now for free by clicking this link:
http://brotherdave.com/add_protectyourgear.htm
_________________
Bookmark my electric bass resources page at: http://brotherdave.com/resources.htm

And where are you reading this?

It is pretty much up to his estate (family) to authorize something like that.
_________________
Bookmark my electric bass resources page at: http://brotherdave.com/resources.htm

[brotherdave]

And where are you reading this?

It is pretty much up to his estate (family) to authorize something like that.
_________________
Bookmark my electric bass resources page at: http://brotherdave.com/resources.htm

There was a Jamerson tribute made in a special order for the Bass Centre (London/LA), just 100 basses. I'll try and get some extra detail on that...
_________________
1996 Fender Precision '51 RI, Blond
2004 Fender Precision Std, Black-as-yer-'at
2007 Squier VM Precision TB, sunburst
Markbass CMD121H and ext cab

[Telebass]

There was a Jamerson tribute made in a special order for the Bass Centre (London/LA), just 100 basses. I'll try and get some extra detail on that...
_________________
1996 Fender Precision '51 RI, Blond
2004 Fender Precision Std, Black-as-yer-'at
2007 Squier VM Precision TB, sunburst
Markbass CMD121H and ext cab

[brotherdave]

Cool Ill start looking that way. BD I read it on JJ web site and a couple other places.Thanks Telebass.

[wade1127]

Cool Ill start looking that way. BD I read it on JJ web site and a couple other places.Thanks Telebass.

How much?
_________________
Bookmark my electric bass resources page at: http://brotherdave.com/resources.htm

[brotherdave]

How much?
_________________
Bookmark my electric bass resources page at: http://brotherdave.com/resources.htm