Home › Airline Pocket Bass, Sunburst (1965)
Vintage electric bass guitar with a sunburst finish on a dark background
Vintage bass guitar with a sunburst finish on a dark background
Close up of bridge and tailpiece on a bass guitar
Vintage electric bass guitar with a sunburst finish on a dark background
Close-up of a bass' control knobo on a sunburst finish.
bass guitar with a sunburst finish on a dark background
Close up of thumb rest on an electric bass guitar
Close-up of a bass guitar body with a dark brown and black finish on a dark background
Vintage electric bass guitar with a sunburst finish on a dark background, close up of back
Back view of a bass guitar with a dark finish on a black background
Close-up of a bass guitar headstock with 'Airline' branding on a dark background
Close-up of a bass guitar headstock with tuning pegs on a dark background
Electric bass guitar with a sunburst finish on a stand against a dark background
Electric bass guitar on a stand against a dark background
Airline Pocket Bass, Sunburst (1965)
Airline

Airline Pocket Bass, Sunburst (1965)

Short Scale (Bass) · SS (2 Single Coils) Pickups · Vintage

Currently unavailable
DOCUMENTED HONESTLYEvery repair, every change
VETTED ON THE BENCHBefore it's listed
SINCE 1968Still independent

The ultra short scale and unique electronics of the Pocket Bass make for one of the friendliest playing and downright funky vintage electric basses out there.

1965 Airline Pocket Bass in Sunburst finish made by the Montgomery-Ward company.

The Pocket Bass has held down the position as most compact vintage electric bass for decades now, and it still serves as a go-to option for studio owners who want an instantly recognizable tone that is unlike any of the typical Fender, Gibson, or Rickenbacker options you'll find out there.

While technically a solidbody, the Pocket Bass has some crafty weight relief via a series of 2" holesaw cutouts on the back of the body that are concealed with a large plastic cover. The short double cutaway body combined with the 25.8" scale length neck keeps the instrument tucked in like no other, and nicely balanced to boot. The electronics are comprised of a single coil neck pickup and a saddle pickup wired to master volume and blend controls, respectively. Manipulating the blend control affords some interesting tones that go from full and round to woody and slightly percussive.

This is a very nice playing example that is largely original save for a replaced blend pot. The volume pot is the original Stackpole dating to the 45th week of 1964, so we assume the bass was completed either right at the end of the year or in early '65. It's currently set up with LaBella short scale flatwounds which feel fantastic on this bass.

If you're a guitarist looking for an easy-to-play bass for writing and recording, or a bassist who wants to add a unique vintage model to your stable, few approach the level of cool and fun than the Pocket Bass.

Priced with aftermarket hardshell case.
Condition: Vintage. Fully inspected and set up by TME staff before it ships or leaves the showroom.
Style Solidbody
Body Poplar
Finish Nitrocellulose
Color Sunburst
Pickups Original
Electronics Original volume pot | replaced blend pot
Controls Volume / Blend
Bridge Original
Tuners Kluson
Pickguard Original
Neck Poplar
Binding None
Fingerboard Rosewood
Inlays Dots
Nut Synthetic
Scale Length 25.8"
Serial # I-26611
Weight 7lb
Case Hardshell

Every instrument is thoroughly checked and set up before shipping fully insured via UPS with tracking to your door. We reuse boxes and materials to cut waste when they meet our protection standard.

Inspect it, play it, and if it isn't right, contact us within 48 hours of delivery to arrange a return or one-time exchange. Returns are subject to a 5% restocking fee, and the buyer covers shipping both ways.

Preserving The Past. Played Into The Future.
Whether you're chasing a tone, honoring the history, or building a collection, we seek out the finest vintage instruments and, when needed, perform tasteful restoration to ensure they'll play beautifully for decades to come.
Airline Pocket Bass, Sunburst (1965)
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Pricing

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Glenn Nichols, Repairs & Restorations

Tasteful Restoration

When restoration is needed, we approach it with respect and restraint - always in service of preserving the instrument’s integrity and extending its musical life for decades to come.

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Shipping

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