Secrets of my Newport ...

uwe · February 02, 2010, 05:22:03 PM

I have a seafoam green Epi Newport, batwing headstock version. Lovely little bass. With a clear and pure sound emitting from its mudbucker.

Mudbucker with a clear sound. That always had me wondering. The mudbucker looked a little weird, it didn't have any pole pieces/screws sticking out of the chrome cover. Well, I thought, Epi tried something different on that one. Then people in this forum and previous ones would write "the Newport sounds like an EB-0". And I'd think "what do they know, my Newport sounds nothing like an EB-0", much cleaner and clearer with still sufficent ooomph, you could play on Beach Boys albums with it". And there the case rested for many years.

Until today. I plugged the Newport in after a long telephone conference. And when it again defied expectations you have with a mudbucker, I intrepidly took out the screwdriver and dismantled the venomously chrome cover ...

To find what? Bedded in greyish porous foam, an early Fender P single coil in full glory revealed itself. In slanted position to accomodate the narrower string spacing of the Newport but with every pole piece nicely matching one of the strings - string response had always been surprisingly even on this bass, more so than on many a mudbucker-equipped one.

So what I have been hearing all these years is the puristic single coil sound of a Fender pup which had me unjustly doubt your judgement, my dear brethren, that "Newports sound like EB-Os". Of course they do, except when they have a Fender pup camouflaged by that deceptive chrome cover and sound more like a short scale Jazz Bass in front pup mode! Forgive me!!!

And now? Of course I could drop an original mudbucker in - I even have one lying around. But I won't. I know how a mudbucker neck pup sounds in a maho bass and have that combination several times over. But my Newport and I will forever share a dirty little secret ...

sniper · February 02, 2010, 05:35:04 PM

i would like to see a pic of that little seafoam green tater if i may please.

Dave W · February 02, 2010, 07:21:38 PM

What a surprise.

At least you'll know how a single coil P sounds like in a mahogany short scale bass.

EvilLordJuju · February 03, 2010, 03:11:43 AM

Wow,
So is it an original Fender part? Worth as much as the bass itself maybe. I'm surprised it took you so long to take the lid off. Any pics for the people?

uwe · February 03, 2010, 03:49:08 AM

I'll shoot some with my Blackbery in the course of the day.

I never took the lid off because ... there was no reason to! It sounded fine, different , but fine. I thought Newports were meant to sound like that. I have no idea whether it is an original Fender single coil and how old it is. For all I know, someone might have taken it from a Sting bass (I have one myself and love its single coil sound). Did the late sixties/seventies Telecaster basses all feature the Fender chrome humbucker or did some of them still have the single coil?

Uwe

Stjofön Big · February 03, 2010, 05:34:09 AM

Can't remember seeing anything but chrome humbuckers on the Telecasters from 40 years ago. Though there might have been... I'm sure someone here knows.
What an interesting story about the pickup! Is there any way for you to find out how old it is? Looking forward for nice shots!

patman · February 03, 2010, 07:52:44 AM

I first remember the chrome Fender mudbucker in the early 70's 72 or so?

I think late 60's teles used a single coil.

godofthunder · February 03, 2010, 08:02:09 AM

"With a clear and pure sound emitting from its mudbucker." LMFAO If it is to good to be true it probably is

Dave W · February 03, 2010, 08:08:12 AM

The first edition Tele Bass (ca. 68 to 71) had the original 51-style single coil.

uwe · February 03, 2010, 10:14:15 AM

The bass (blurry Blackberry pic):

the mockbucker (cover) as it looked and looks (sans screws):

& the truth behind it all, beware what lurketh underneath!!!

Hornisse · February 03, 2010, 01:10:40 PM

The '68 thru '71 Tele basses had grey bobbin pickups. Does it have string wrapped around the coil? Looks to new to be an original issue so maybe a Duncan single coil pickup?

Pilgrim · February 03, 2010, 01:24:04 PM

After this foine testimony, we'll have nae puttin' down of the Fender single coil noaow, will we, ladds?

'Tis a foine, foine little pickup!

EvilLordJuju · February 03, 2010, 01:30:19 PM

I always take my basses apart immediately. Quite interesting to see the colour difference (or relative lack of) where the pup cover was over the finish.

sniper · February 03, 2010, 01:50:52 PM

oh my, the poles do line up nice don't they?

well, thats a fine how do ya Fender!

Dave W · February 03, 2010, 02:22:47 PM

I've always loved the SCPB sound, just never could love the big-necked basses they came in.

Somebody figured this out well.

Didn't you notice the 60 cycle hum?

Robert's right, if it came from a pre-HB Tele Bass the bobbin would be gray.

Secrets of my Newport ...

Hornisse