1961 Supro Pocket Bass, Black SOLD

This is pretty rare and very cool - from 1961, the Supro Pocket Bass, a guitar-scale bass with huge tone. Some call it one of the best recording basses.

 

The Supro Pocket Bass was built between 1960 and 1968 and features a double cutaway semi-hollow body - the body also appeared with a guitar neck - with a very short scale (24.75 inch, Gibson size) neck. There's one large Valco pickup towards the neck, and the the moveable rosewood bridge houses a piezo pickup for 'acoustic' bass sounds; the controls blend the two pickups. There are a pair of clear plastic thumb or finger rests on the top, and the back carries a large removable backplate for access to the electronics. A set of Kluson Deluxe tuners and a trapeze tailpiece round out the hardware.

 

The Supro Pocket Bass is small, even compared to short scale basses like the Gibson EB-0 or the Hofner Beatle Bass, but it has a big sound. Apparently GE Smith, sideman to many and a bandleader for Saturday Night Live, called them "the best recording basses around".

 

This example dates to around 1961 and is in good working order. It has some wear; Supro finishes weren't particularly thick or durable, and there is a spot just past the finger rest where the finish has worn off. It's very comfortable to play and very cool. The original hardshell case is included.